Disclaimer:
Ukyou Kuonji,
Parasyte are not
our own. Hands off the others!
-Haiku
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| Budoka no Jinsei:
| EPISODE 4:
| Satsujin, Part 4
|
|
| The Omega Tournament orchestrated by:
| opaj
| The super-spaztastic characters in this episode brought to you by:
| Hero, Spam_BIT, Cain, ragingtofu, & Nabiki
_______________________________________________________________________________________
***Day 5***
"LAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Have we got a surprise with you!" the announcer warbled into the microphone. "As a special thank you for being our loyal viewers, we have decided to change the schedule for today- instead of three average, boring fights, we're giving you one single four-way BATTLE ROYALE!!!! Yes, our four finalists, Hime, Amanda Yenah, Saburo Shinmen, and Luke Masterson will battle it out to find out once and for all, who is the Omega Warrior! So, let's get ready to FIIIIIIGHT!"
Saburo was the first to emerge from the ring, somewhat shocked at the announcement but confident none the less. After all, he had made it this far.
Taking his stance in one corner of the arena, he drew katana and kodachi, holding them once again in his favorite "staff" formation.
Luke followed soon after, taking the corner exactly opposite Saburo. He was wearing a pitch-black gi, and was wearing the two gauntlets he had recieved from Mirsky the night before.
Meanwhile, Fuante was staring at Luke. He knew those gauntlets from somewhere. Suddenly, recognition dawned on his face.
***Flashback, Tengu Realm***
As Kenji returned to a more solid foot-hold, carrying the unconscious Aoashi, Mirsky frowned. By his calculations, Aoashi should have been no problem for Kenji. Mirsky shrugged and stood up. As he rejoined the others, he pocketed three oversized, golden gauntlets.
***End Flashback***
*****
Hime looked around for Corianna. She hadn't seen her all night and she didn't like that. This pissed her off. And it pissed her off that she had more senseless fighting to do today. Sharping her claws, she practically shredded the carpeting. A matenance person tried to shoo her away. Hime simply blinked at the man, and then attacked and ate him.
"Mmmm... human. Okay, now I'm ready!" she said to herself, licking her chops. She sashaided onto the platform and cleaned her fur elegantly. She contracted her claws and checked for chips. Then, glaring at the other fighters, she growled in her best full room vibrating growl...
***West Lobby***
Amanda was a bit shocked, yet amused at the prospect. Two guys, a panther, and a girl... this was definitely going to be the strangest fight ever. As she began to walk out, she felt a hand on her shoulder through her dark blue judo gi. She spun around, and nearly kicked Tofu in the face. "Sorry," she said, embarrassed. "I'm a little jumpy."
Tofu just laughed in return. "I couldn't let you go against that Saburo guy without a weapon," he said, strangely happy. "So, I got one for you. It's not a sword, but I know you can use it." He kicked up a bamboo staff into his hands, and handed it to Amanda. "Since you lost your other one, I thought I would find you a replacement. Has your initials and everything."
Amanda was shocked. It was just like her old one in every way. She threw her arms around Tofu in a tight hug, said "thanks," and ran off to the arena.
Meanwhile, Jake, talking to Dave in the corner, said, "I told you that they would make a nice couple."
Dave, seeming irritated, replied, "...like you have been telling me for the past two years. Now just drop the subject..."
***Arena Floor***
Just as Amanda entered the arena, she sneezed. Again. {Isn't there just ONE time that I can fight here without the stupid cat form?} She thought angrily. She brushed it off, however, and wrapped her tail around her waist. Staff in hand, she took her own personalized stance (the "Cat" Stance, of course), and readied herself for the bell. If she could win this, she would prove herself as one of the strongest fighters in the world.
Things were going to get interesting.
The buzzer rang, and all of the contestants but Luke sprung to action. But just before anyone could come to blows...
"ENOUGH!"
The three stopped mid-charge, and turned in the direction of Luke. Behind him, lurking in the shadows around the platform, was the hunched over figure of Mirsky. Perched on his hand was the falcon from last night, and around it's neck was the third Tengu gauntlet.
"I am afraid that you all are too late, so sorry. You see, the tournament is already over, and it's champion is my pupil. This was just a test to see if he was ready to inherit my gift, the gift of invincibility in the martial arts. And he has succeeded."
***Meanwhile, in the North Lobby***
Mitsuko looked on in horror. She knew this man from somewhere...
***Flashback, Naha, Okinawa, 1946***
"Crazy old fool?" Mirsky retorted, black energy seeping out of his body. "Would a crazy old fool do... THIS?" He swept his foot backwards, into Kimiko's stomach. She crumpled to the floor, coughing up blood.
***End Flashback***
{Mother...} was all that Mitsuko could think.
***West Lobby***
Dave tensed up and literally fell out of his chair just as the old man appeared. As he picked himself back up, he met face-to-face with Tofu.
"'Ya feel that, too?" asked Dave, still rubbing his head.
"Yeah," replied Tofu, sword already in his hands. "And with the results of the last Omega Tournament... we had better be ready for anything."
***Arena Floor***
{What's with the old coot?} thought Amanda. {And how did he get in, anyway?} She wasn't about to let he and his appearent student ruin the tournament, that was for sure. But the more she thought about it, the more she was beginning to understand what may have been going on. Luke was wearing two gauntlets. This guy had the third. There must have been a connection.
Luke had already killed two people, without really suffering even a scratch. Was he really "invincible," like the old man said he was? She thought she could feel some sort of unusual energy from Luke's direction. Was it Luke himself? The gauntlets? The old man? Her eyes moved to the other fighters. What were they going to do?
"Invincible my tail," said Amanda with a smile. "I'll see to it that you're proven wrong," she finished, bringing her staff into an attacking position.
Saburo nodded at Amanda's statement. This guy seemed on-par with both Bisen and Fuante. He shouldn't have a problem.
Hime, on the other hand, merely turned her head to look at Mirsky, but didn't let her guard down. She'd seen this guy before somewhere and wasn't sure she liked him. His bird looked tasty but Hime stayed where she was to hear what this humanish thing had to say.
Mirsky snortled at them. "You don't have to believe me- your emminant deaths will be proof enough! Now behold, the ult-"
At that moment, Tiger burst in from the other side of the arena, giving a earth-shaking growl much like the one Hime had at the beginning of the match. However, as his eyes strayed first two the gauntlets on Luke's arms, then the one around the bird's neck.
***Flashback, Tiger's Memory***
I don't like this human, but I can't escape him. He's a predator, but I don't think he's going to harm me. He took me from the city, from my mother and my sisters and brothers.
I wonder why the master took me out to this field, though. There isn't anything here but him. And why is he holding that little black cat? This is very odd.
The one who is holding me made a noise and gave something shiney to the other one. He's doing something with them, but I can't tell what. No! He's putting something around my neck- but I can't escape!
He's doing something to the cat's collar now. What is he- what the? The gauntlets... they're... moving... it... hurts...
***End Flashback***
"Ah, I was hoping that you would be able to witness this! Behold, the ultimate transformation!" He pushed some sort of button on the back of the collar.
"AAAARGH!" Luke cried as the gauntlets started to shift and grow around him. Within minutes, he was completely encased in the golden metal. As this transformation was happening to him, the falcon was also encased in gold, but as soon as it's encasement was complete it shrank away into nothingness.
In the middle of the transformation, Kenji also burst in, only from Saburo's side this time. When he saw what was happening, memories similar to Tiger's sprung to his head.
***Flashback, Kenji's Memory***
Today is the day my master finally makes me an official member of his school. I've been training for this day since I was twelve, and it's finally come! After six long years, I'll be a certified martial artist!
Now there is another human. He smells younger, but he also smells like the one who's holding me. I don't like it.
"Put these on," he says, giving me a pair of gold gauntlets. Of course I obey, and as I do, he puts a golden collar of some sort on the cat. It must be some sort of ceremony.
He's choking me! Why can't I escape this human? What did I- Pain! No! Escape! Kill! Save me!
***End Flashback***
***North Lobby***
Mitsuko stared intensely at the newcomer. Now she knew him from somewhere, too. But where...
***Flashback, Naha, Okinawa, 1946***
"Kimiko..." Kenji said, the last thing she would hear, "I love you."
{Save mommy! Please, save her!} Mitsuko thought, too afraid to put it in words.
He ended it for her, before she could feel any more pain.
***End Flashback***
{He... killed her...}
***Arena Floor***
Hime relaxed slightly but frowned. She hated being threatened in any way and Mirsky's appearance was threatening to her. As Luke screamed Hime's growl began to rumble in her throat. She didn't care what kind of shit was going on between these people. She didn't know what was happening but she did know that she didn't like Mirsky, so she gave him a threatening stare.
***Somewhere in the Audience***
A sole female figure pushed her way through the crowd. Making her way to the observation window, she cupped her hands against the glass, and yelled out....
***Arena Floor***
"Amanda, if anything happens to you, your mother is going to kill me!!"
Amanda saw Tofu's mother watching from above. Letting out a sigh, she turned back to what was now a strange, golden ball. {Well,} she thought, {I can either sit here and let this stuff happen like a bad anime, or I can try to do something. Choices, choices.}
Amanda went for the second choice. She ran towards the sphere, and leapt up, hoping to jam her staff into it and... {Break it or something... I guess. Didn't really think that out...} But before anything could happen, some sort of force pushed her away, as she landed (ungracefully) near where she started. Rising to her feet, she figured that she had made a complete idiot of herself while trying to be heroic. {So much for that idea....}
Suddenly, there was a loud boom and a displacement of wind as a form tore through the air towards Mirsky. To the more experienced fighters in the arena, Fuante was seen soaring across the arena in a flying kick. As he neared his target, his body was enveloped in a thin layer of dark ki. {Let's see how you like my Heavy "Fist".}
Unfortunately, Mirsky would not be taken by surprise, as he demonstrated by grabbing the offending limb before it made contact. Fuante's heavy aura was quickly extinguished as the Russian brought his own darkness into play. Fuante screamed in agony as he was drained.
"Such insolence," Mirsky said with sadistic glee. "Did you really think such an obvious ploy would work?" To make his point, he brought his hand down quickly, slamming Fuante hard into the ground. Then, with a casual gesture, he flung the unconscious martial artist into the arena wall, which resulted in a sickening crunch. Fuante's broken body sunk to the ground, a pool of blood quickly forming.
Meanwhile in the stands, Ukyou had let screamed at the sight of her husband's limp form sliding to the ground. She was about to run to him when she was held back by Shinichi.
Turning back to the Big Ball'O'Gold that Luke had changed into, Mirsky roared, "My time has finally come! Now you will all know the ultimate power of the Heavy Fist!" Focusing on Kenji, he continued, "And my brother shall be avenged!"
As quickly as it had formed, the ball tightened into a new form, a form whose very presence in the arena caused the plexi-glass viewing windows to vibrate.
It was approximately seven feet tall, broad shouldered and heavily muscled. Adorned in several pieces of golden armor, it had the form of a man but the features of a falcon. Taloned hands, fierce beak, and impressive wingspan made it seem a force to be reconed with, not to mention the extreme amounts of energy it was emitting.
"So, Luke, the transformation is complete. Now, destroy our enemies!" Mirsky commanded.
Turning a gold-flecked eye on his master, 'Luke' suddenly charged him with an inhuman screech. Mirsky's eyes went wide as the creature threw a upward punch at his chest, completely impaling him.
Mirsky grasped the offending arm as he looked up into the eyes of his assailant. "Why... I gave you... so much power..."
Luke flung Mirsky into the center of the ring, and as he spoke, he slowly advanced. "You have destroyed that which we were! We feel pain, anguish! We can never go back!" He pulled Mirsky back to his feet by the hair. "No mortal can ever understand the anguish we know!"
"We can!" Kenji and Tiger had stepped up onto the stage, and edged ever nearer to the birdman. "Mirsky's brother did the same thing to us that he has done to you!" Looking at his trembling hands, he continued. "We know what it is to have your mind smashed together with another's, to have everything you are shoved out of place..." Kenji faced Luke directly. "Please, don't do anything you will regret. Eventually, the spell binding the two of you physically will wear off, and while you may never fully recover, you will get better..."
Luke glared at Kenji, lifting Mirsky off the ground. "You cannot understand. We must destroy everything! Only then will we be satiated!" He punctuated his point by slamming Mirsky into the ground.
Now covered in his own blood, the old man feebly looked up at his nemesis. "Kenji... I'm... sorry... I understand... now... forgive me..."
Kenji's face was one of confusion. He could hardly believe his ears. All these years, and it had taken Mirsky's impending death to make him realize the errors of his ways. And then, Kenji noticed the energy build-up...
"SAMO'OOBEEYSTVO PYEVRYEV POOCH!" With that cry, a very precise beam of sickly-green energy engulfed both Mirsky and Luke.
"Samo'oobeeystvo Pyevryev Pooch," Kenji muttered. "Russian for Suicide Lion's Roar Beam."
Taking this opportunity, Shinichi leapt from his seat into the fighting area with a gush of wind, quickly rushing to Fuante's side. In addition to his healing powers, Shinichi was also a certified doctor and he began to assess his friend's condition. He wasn't comforted by what he saw. Fuante had sustained a serious concussion, several broken ribs, and he was bleeding profusely. Turning his gaze downward, Shinichi also observed a broken leg. He was also sure that ankles were not supposed to be pointing in that direction.
His assessment complete, Shinichi picked up his friend and ran as fast as he could toward the medical section. He prayed that Fuante's healing abilities kicked in quickly. This would be close.
"And I thought I had seen everything," muttered Amanda. This wasn't your normal, everyday occurance. She closed her eyes, trying to register everything that was going on. for some reason, this kind of thing seemed familliar. Or was it? The harder she thought, the more stress she felt, and the more stress she felt, the dizzier she became...
***Flashback***
{It's the first day of Summer vacation, and the first thing that Jake does is use me in this stupid experiment of his.} Amanda was sitting, rather angrily, on a raised platorm with the number 1 painted on the side. Jake was busy at some sort of machine in the corner, adjusting knobs and flipping switches. "You wanna tell me what's going on, and why I have to do this? I'd rather be asleep now," grumbled the unhappy Amanda.
Jake just glared back. "Remember, you owe me one, and this is it. Besides, whenever Dave even gets close to this thing, it goes haywire. Now just sit still."
"Like I've been doing for the last 15 minutes. Are you ready yet?" Jake, deciding to ignore the remark, just continued with a few checks.
"I'm getting it ready for human transportation. Well, almost human in your case. Okay, here we go... all ready."
"Finally," sighed Dave, who was in the corner. He had a bad feeling. Then again, he always had a bad feeling when Jake was doing something with his "inventions". Jake once again spoke.
"Okay, this thing takes about ten seconds before it does anything, so just stay there."
Amanda relaxed a bit. {Sounds simple enough,} she thought. {Jake doesn't have the best track record on his inventions, but this should go well. I hope.}
"Five seconds," shouted Jake.
That's when Dave noticed a strange black and white ball of fluff speed by. He also noticed something strange about Amanda's necklace. It was... glowing? Amanda didn't see the necklace, but did identify what was moving toward her. "Hey, get back, Sparskter!" she yelled over the noise. The fuzzball turned out to be a small kitten. Once again, Amanda shouted. "Sparkster, get away from here!" As if the kitten had fully understood her master, she turned around to run...
***End Flashback***
Amanda was surrounded by a light green glow, as well as the staff she was holding and her necklace. As if from nowhere, a small, black and white kitten leapt at her. Everything after that seemed to move in slow motion. "Sparkster?" said Amanda, turning towards what had become a cat-like rocket. When the kitten touched her, however, she got a strange, familiar feeling, as if she was falling. When she realized what was going on again, she felt strange, like something had changed. What she didn't notice was that she looked much different than before. She was a bit taller, her hair had white streaks and was more spiky than usual, and the cat ears and tail were more prominent than before. Even her eyes sparkled a yellow-green in the light.
Frankly, she looked older, and even more cat-like than before.
***West Lobby***
"Jaaaa-ke," Tofu said, his eye twitching a bit. "Is this one of those 'unforseen side effects' that you always tell me about your little experiments?" Jake himself was absolutely shocked.
"I... I have no idea what the hell just happened, but... say... where did Sparkster... go? Wait... could it be... could it be the missing- I've got to go check this out!" With that, Jake went flying out the door. Dave, who was unusualy quiet, simply said, "Her energy is quite a bit stronger now."
***Arena Floor***
Amanda, who had no idea what had just happened, simply moved around a bit. {Nothing broken,} she thought casually. {That's good.}
{Hey, what about me?} came a high-pitched voice that sounded like it came from the back of her head.
{Oh no... now I'm insane. Perfect,} thought Amanda, even more confused than before.
{No,} came the reply. {It's me, Sparkster! But... how can I understand you? That only happened one time before...}
Amanda, although wishing she could keep this interesting conversation going, decided she would figure things out later. She quickly made her way over to Kenji (although it felt like there was quite a bit of resistance), and asked, "Would you mind explaining what's going on?"
Quite suddenly, huge, gut-wrenching explosions ripped through the Arena Complex. A few panes of the foot thick glass in the stands cracked slightly, and the fans were thrown into absolute chaos and confusion. The fighters in the arena looked around slightly, but were far too concerned with the fight at hand to give much thought to the new development.
Yet even at the moment, literally hundreds of men dressed in black suits stood, all of them holding a hand to their ears as if listening to a report. Mere seconds later, all of them began making their ways to the exits.
The lobbies were a mess. In the lobby that held the Human Tank, a gigantic hole had been blown open. Cement, plaster and steel was everywhere. And on the ground lay the still and lifeless body of the Human Tank.
Taking a tiger stance to brace himself against the explosive force of Mirsky's attack and too busy to take heed to the latest developments, Kenji replied to Amanda's question. "We have enough time before the energy subsides; just stay on guard while I tell you," he said in a voice loud enough for all to hear over the racket.
"Nearly one hundred years ago, before the first World War, a man named Stroppa Mirsky took me as his apprentice in the martial arts style known as the Heavy Fist. Six years later he took me to an empty area, telling me that it was my rite of passage into adulthood.
"When I got there, he was already waiting, with a black cat in his arms. That was Tiger. He had somehow gotten his hands on some sort of magical device that could combine a human with a feline, giving them disproportionate, almost god-like power." Kenji chuckled at the coincidence of Amanda's more recent transformation. "What he didn't realize was that the action of mashing the two distinct minds together would cause his new 'super warrior' to go insane. My memory of what happened next is fuzzy at best, but I can remember feeling more pain then any living being should ever be forced to feel. What I do know is that I killed him, and ever since his brother, Mikhail Mirsky, has been after me."
Slackening his stance somewhat, he stared at his trembling hand. "What is even worse is when the spell wears off... I have tremendous gaps in my memory... After my tenth birthday they're filled in with Tiger's memories, but before that, they are entirely blank... I lost all sense of self... And even the power and increased lifespan that was left over is a curse, because almost everyone I know will grow old and die while I am still in my prime..."
Saburo, who had made his way to join them during Kenji's lengthy speach, chose to break in at that moment. "Who cares? There's no way that guy could have survived this!"
Kenji snapped his head up to meet the newcomer. When they met eye to eye, however, both paused, yet another look of confusion on Kenji's face. Shaking it away, he said, "Sharpen your senses! He survives!"
"Damn straight!"
Everyone turned to face the voice. The beam had suddenly dissipated, and 'Luke' stood there, appearantly unharmed. There was no trace of Mirsky. "I'm surprised the old man had it in him." As he said this, Luke popped his neck, and his chestplate suddenly fell to the ground in several pieces. "All you have to do now is hit me with the same force fifty more times!"
Kenji steeled himself, as did Tiger. "We have two options. The spell will wear off in about four hours, seventeen minutes, and fifty-six seconds, or if we can destroy all of the remaining pieces of armor."
"Why fifty-six seconds?"
"What, did you think it would be a round number? That would be wierd."
*****
Meanwhile, in the medical ward, Shinichi, Ukyou (who was carrying her daughter Suzuko), and a doctor were standing over Fuante's bedside. He was still unconscious, which was to be expected after the beating he was just given.
Suddenly, Fuante awoke with a gasp as a wave of power passed through the room. The heartbeat monitor was beeping like crazy as Fuante's ki reflexes took over and tried to counter the blast. The doctor was barely able to hold him down.
Without a word, Shinichi once again took off, a gust of wind following in his wake. In no time, he had arrived on the arena to be greeted with the sight of a most terrifying bird-type creature that somehow resembled Luke. He also saw the members of the MAA (Martial Artists Anonymous) preparing for battle.
Shinichi quickly reached behind his back for his katana before realizing that he was not in his combat attire. {Crap.} Looking around, he spotted Saburo. "Hey, kid." Saburo turned to see Shinichi pointing at him. "Spare me a weapon?"
Saburo glanced at Shinichi. He tossed his katana into the air and quickly drew his bokken, throwing it to Shinichi just before grabbing his own airborn weapon.
"Enough!" Luke interrupted. Raising his hand to face level, he added, "Who wants to die first?"
"You will!" shouted a voice across the arena. Luke and the other fighters looked around for the voice but there was none.
"SWORD OF DARKNESS! ATTACK, HIME!" said the voice again as a sharp sword was rammed into Luke's back. He grunted with a little bit of pain and sent an elbow to his back. The invisible figure was knocked off and now floated in the air, her bat wings expanded and flapping in place, her sword glowing green with gold. But Hime hadn't moved. She glared up at Corianna.
"I'll do what I want!" she growled and went to pounce on Luke.
Jumping along Hime's right side, Saburo said, "Who cares what you want! Let's just trash this clown!" He didn't even bother contemplating how or why he could understand the panther's words.
*****
Bisen watched the slightly unsettled Hiroshi through his peripheral vision from where he sat. "Are you going to help fight?"
*****
Tofu didn't wait any longer. Things were happening, and he was sure that he should be a part of it. He ran up to the door leading to the arena. He couldn't push it open, so he immediately rammed it with his shoulder. As he reeled back in pain, Dave walked up.
"Let me show you how it's done," said Dave. He pulled the door open... in Tofu's exitement, he hadn't thought of that fact. It didn't take him long, however, to rush in to where the action was going on, followed by Dave.
Amanda started to realize that something was different at that point. Normally, she met Tofu eye-to-eye, but now she had to look DOWN at him. "Hey, did you get shorter? Because-" Before Amanda could finish, however, Tofu pulled out one of his two katanas, allowing Amanda to catch her reflection in it. "Wh- what the..."
"Yes yes, my thoughts too," said Tofu to the stuttering Amanda. "But we've got much more important things. If you haven't noticed, Luke there has appearently become extremely powerful... and it's not going to be easy to stop him. Dave," he said, motioning to his friend. You join the panther and Saburo over there, and help them out. Amanda, remember that attack you did when your tail was grabbed?"
Amanda, shaking off the shock of seeing herself, replied, "No... but I can do the Omega Flare. How's that?" The question caught Tofu a bit off guard. He had found himself staring at Amanda a bit, and was in mid thought.
{Why doesn't anything cool like that happen to me...}
"TOFU!" yelled Amamda, startling her friend.
"Right. Uh... what? Oh, yeah. That should do. Okay, now as soon as Dave and the others attack, we'll attack, okay?" muttered Tofu, drawing his other sword. Meanwhile, Amanda was having a conversation with Sparkster.
{Okay, now,} thought Amanda. {If we're going to do this, we have to work together. Got it?}
Sparkster replied, {Okay... got it.}
Amanda sighed. "I hope this works...."
With that, Dave launched himself into the melee.
Luke howled in a mixture of rage and excitement as he deflected Dave and Saburo's attacks, sending them careening in two different directions, and using his leg to punt Hime straight ahead. Using his wings to slow down, he landed lightly on his feet and sneered. "You can do better than that!"
Meanwhile, a somewhat late Nicole jumped out from her lobby to join Tofu, Amanda, Kenji and Shinichi. "I- I'm here, too!"
Luke payed no attention to the newcomer, however. Instead, he turned around and looked up to Corianna. "So, you want a rematch already?"
Corianna smiled, "You bet I want another match!"
*****
From the shadows of the arena, a white haired teen in ningenki street clothes watched the happenings. She knew that boy Mirsky had taken had to worth something. She adjusted her shades and red eyes scanned the crowd of fighters, noting that her rival was not present. However, she knew everyone would arrive to see the final battle through..like it or not.
*****
"There goes my idea," mumbled Tofu. That's when something shined into his eye. He suddenly realized that it was Jake, who had managed to kick out a piece of plexiglass and was aiming his blaster right at Luke (he had already cleared out any spectators in case of a counter-attack). "Okay, I've got another idea," whispered Tofu. Turning to Nicole, he began to form a plan. "See Jake, the guy up there with the gun? As soon as he fires, you and I are going to run around to his left." He spun around, adressing Amanda this time. "Amanda, see if you can swing around to his right and attack, okay?" Both girls nodded.
"Let's do this!" yelled Tofu, as Jake fired.
Meanwhile, on the side opposite Jake, Saburo had slowly gotten to his feet. Spitting out some blood to the side, he tossed his katana boomerang-style at Luke.
The katana broke in two as Luke deflected both projectiles with a single swipe of his left talon. Right about then, the three reached him, Nicole coming in with a left to the neck, Amanda kicking at Luke's neck from the other side, and Tofu punching at Luke's face.
At the same time, the sound of glass shattering could be heard above.
Before Luke could respond, the monstrosity staggered forward as an arc of white-hot ki scorched his back. "AHHH!" he screamed. Looking back, he came face to face with a glowing Shinichi wielding an equally glowing bokken.
Corianna's sword glowed a sick green again and she wielded it at Luke screaming, "SWORD of FIRE!" She attempted to set fire to Luke's wings, but he slapped her before she could get close enough with it with his wing throwing her to the side. She rebounded off the plexiglass, but was unharmed.
Weakened from the combined force of both sword techniques, Luke had no option but to go with the force of the trio in front of him. He flipped back, kicking both girls away, and was about to follow with a taloned grab at Shinichi's face when Bisen and several large shards of glass came careening at him from above. Luke gasped in pain as Bisen's elbow connected with the open wound on his back, but he did another mid-air roll and tossed the latest attacker into the air.
"Hah! You'll have to do better than that!" Corianna taunted.
"So, you didn't like my Tenno Kaze Ken?" Shinichi asked with an evil grin. "Perhaps it's an acquired taste. Let's find out!" Once more he channeled his holy powers and life energy into the blade.
Harmlessly but effectively sweeping Tofu back several yards with his wing, Luke took a stance facing Shinichi. "You want to fight me, priest? Come and get me!"
Bisen landed heavily on his feet just under Corianna. Tossing his cape and mantle aside, he yelled up to her, "If you can get another one of those Sword of Fire things ready, I'll lend a hand!" Smirking to himself, he added, "Fire's my specialty!"
With that, he started to internally prepare his strongest Karyuudan fire blast.
Luke was about to take the holy magic user out of commission when he was broadsided by a wave of blue ki. The attack stung, but was easily shrugged off. He growled in annoyance.
"Dangit! I was hoping for a little more effect," Hiroshi complained as he followed up on his Blue Flame technique with a charging punch to Luke's gut. Unfortunately, Luke effortlessly blocked the offensive fist and retaliated by trying to crush Hiroshi's head into jelly. The attack was dodged by mere millimeters and Hiroshi cursed as he flipped away.
Shinichi was, to say the least, relieved at the two arrivals. Filled with renewed hope, he positioned himself once again behind Luke and explained his strategy. "Bisen! Get in front! Let's sandwich him! Hiroshi! You and Corianna distract him!"
"Great," muttered Hiroshi. "Why do I get elected 'cannon fodder'?" He sighed. "Oh, well. Looks like you're with me, toots." As he got into position, he raised his eyebrows at the sight of the golden aureole surrounding Shinichi. {Not bad.}
"I'm already commited here!" Bisen snarled. "Geppu, you take my spot and I'll back up Corianna!"
"I got it!" Saburo had somehow managed to get in front of Luke, and had his shinai leveled threateningly.
"I'm here too!" Nicole took a cat stance at Saburo's right side. Both were somewhat hurt, but not so much so that they couldn't put up a fight.
"I'm... Right... HERE!" Luke cried, launching a large bolt of dark energy large enough to counter Shinichi's holy magic right at him.
Shinichi's mind froze in terror. He had been planning on building up his power in a steady, controlled fashion. Luke didn't seem to want to comply.
Just before the blast hit, Shinichi's body surged with adrenaline as his muscles bulged and blood poured down his brow, his capillaries having burst from the stress. The impressive aura of golden energy surrounding him instantly became a supernova of awe-inspiring brightness. "SEI KEN HA!" he screamed as he extended his fist at Luke's blast. A wave of undeniable power formed and tore through the attack like tissue paper.
Luke's eyes widened at the unexpectedly successful counterattack. Totally unprepared, he didn't have time to react as the wave hit him full on. With the wind knocked out of him, he didn't even yell as he was thrown against the opposite wall.
Shinichi, with the last of his strength, grinned as he fell to the ground. As he closed his eyes, he missed the sight of Luke slowly standing up. Said monstrosity gave a colossal roar as he quickly closed the distance between him and his tormentor.
Amanda, Dave, and Tofu had all recovered from the attacks they suffered in the interim. Dave immediately charged Luke, while Amanda began to charge an Omega Flare. Tofu, in the meantime, had already made it to Shinichi. Once again, he put his hands together, and sent an orange beam of energy into the fallen fighter's body. {I hope this works,} thought Tofu.
Quite suddenly, another gigantic explosion tore through the complex. Once again, the fighers took barely any notice to the shudderings and distant thudding sounds. But this time, something very different happened.
From the rows where the fans had once sat they came: at least a hundred men in army fatigues. In their hands were weapons a myriad of weapons, ranging from MP5's Sub-Machine Guns to Desert Eagle pistols. Only a few of the fighters took much notice of them, what with the obviously enraged monstrosity of Luke looking for blood. They all landed from their short flight of rope with soft thuds on the outskirts of the arena, their weapons pointed down. All the soldiers looked on, and if their faces could have been seen, they wore expressions of grim anticipation.
When it seemed as if they would merely monitor the situation, one of the Lieutenants barked out a single order as a man in a white lab coat sprang into a closer location to the arena.
"OPEN FIRE!"
With that, every man unleashed a barrage of bullets. Ballistics of every type richocheted off the arena floor and walls. A few grenades exploded in midair. Yet the soldiers weren't hitting for the fighters at all, not even the freak that was Luke.
Whatever was happening, or whatever their intentions were, the soldiers ceased firing the moment the man in white was safely behind their lines. Seconds later, each soldier began filing out of the arena through the exits in a hasty retreat. They knew it would only be a matter of time before someone reacted to their arrival and exit.
*****
In the smoking hallway where the dead body of the Human Tank lay, a number of soldiers discovered the fallen fighter. They slowly began picking up the massive man.Looking around, one of them muttered, "Looks like a firebomb."
The others nodded in consent.
Not uttering another word, the men began to carry the body out of the wrecked room, and out of the Complex where the other soldiers were regrouping for a hasty exit.
*****
Meanwhile, back on the arena floor, another figure had entered the melee. Looking like the spitting image of Mark I, the man leaped onto the arena floor, making a dead run for the concentrating figure of Amanda. Upon arrival, he literally tackled Amanda to the floor. The girl fell with him, completely shocked.
Grimacing, the new arrival slugged the concentrating confused dead in her chest. Laughing shrilly, the figure leaped out of Amanda's counter-attack, and swinging his leg bashed the girl in the side. His shrill laugh echoing in the arena again, the man leaped again. This time, high up onto one of the military's ropes, and climbing quickly, made his way into the fan stands.
One last time, the disturbing laugh resounded, and the figure vanished into an exit.
*****
Luke spun to strike Dave with his right talon, but it was intercepted by Saburo's shinai, which he was propping up against his shoulder to make up for the difference in their strengths. "High bridge!"
Dave, taking advantage of Luke's surprise, ducked under the attack and punched Luke right in the gut, while Nicole roundhouse-kicked the back of his head from behind.
With another cry of rage, Luke pushed down and out, breaking Saburo's shinai and sending him skidding across the floor. He then proceeded to elbow Dave in the back with his right while lifting Nicole off the ground by the throat with his left. "You continue to fight even though you can't win?"
The sound of appluase permeated the room, grabbing everyone's attention. A tall willowy woman in a black trenchcoat and boots stepped into the room from the shadowy depths, her face hidden beneath a page boy cap. Her gloved hands clapped loudly as she approached.
"Bravo, Bravo, Bravisimo. Mirsky has done an even better job than I had originally imagined. However due to the fact that the old man had been on my little agenda for awhile, I feel it is time for some divine intervention. After all, this does feel like a... mm... family reunion... of sorts." She lit a cigarette as she spoke and slowly blew out a thin stream of smoke. "Then again, the idea of killing you all does appeal to my inner id..."
The girl shed her cloak and hat revealing her short bobbed lavendar hair and blue eyes. With a jester like wink, her appearance began to change. Her street clothing slowly disolved into a body hugging black leather ensemble that drew every man's attention. Her hair slowly curled and spiked, ever lightening in color until it resembled blanketed snow on a cold winters morning, save two violet hued bangs framing her stoic face. Silver runed cuffs adorned her wrists with a matching bracer around her slim neck. Her silvery voice laughed gently at the fellow fighters astonished eyes.
"Did you miss me everyone? The dark mistress of the Makai is back at long last. Oh, and for those of you whom have not been graced with the honor of meeting me, I am... Kyorei."
Corianna nodded her head at Kyorei. She had liked this one a lot and admired her power. Hime who was hiding in the shadows let out a low growl of greeting to Kyo.
Luke, on the other hand, glared at Kyorei. "You aren't killing these people. I am."
Kyorei called her bardy to her, holding it lightly in her right hand. "I guess that makes us enemies," she said, grinning evilly.
Corianna suddenly signaled to Bisen and her sword instantly turned the sick shade of green again. "Together!" she yelled.
Kyorei glanced out of the corner of her eye, and getting the idea, took a stance of her own. "Koori no Kokoro..."
"What--?" was all Luke could say before he began to feel... chilly.
"Karyuudan!" Bisen shot a powerful stream of heat energy into Corianna's sword, turning it white-hot.
"SWORD OF FIRE!" she yelled, bringing it straight down at Luke's head.
"AAARGH!" Luke had tossed Nicole aside and was now blocking the attack with both arms crossed. The difference in temperature between the icy Luke and the flaming sword caused a giant fireball to issue from the weapon, completely engulfing Luke and blocking Corianna from view.
Seconds later, Corianna's sword was flying straight up and Corianna herself was flying straight out. Bisen jumped up to catch her in her fall, but only succeeded in slowing them down enough so that when they hit the stadium wall, they didn't actually go through it. "You okay?" he asked through heavy breathing. That attack had drained a lot from him, and taking the hit for Corianna hadn't helped much.
The smoke surrounding Luke abated just as Cori's sword hit the ground. His left armpiece was completely obliterated, and all that remained of his armor was a very heavily damaged right armpiece, a helmet, and two golden boots. He scanned the area for those who could still put up a fight. Jake, Kyorei and Geppu were still in peak condition and Corianna and Hime were just slightly hurt. Tofu was trying to recharge Shinichi, but even if he succeeded, Shinichi's holy attacks would no longer be pure and he would not be as much of a threat. And of course Kenji and Tiger were there... But Luke knew why they didn't attack. They didn't want anyone else to die. He smiled to himself as a new plan formed in his mind.
But Kyorei wouldn't give him the chance to think.
Kyorei smiled almost gently as she shifted stances. The poor boy in front of her really had no idea who he was dealing with anymore. She had progressed greatly in the past few months and learned more than a few new tricks.
She began a slow kata and opened her palm revealing white rose petals. She blew them into the air with the barest hint of smile gracing her pale cheeks. The petals fluttered around her and then seemed to dance as millions of tiny snowflakes whirled about them. The waltz increased in tempo as each petal began to emit a ringing tone, as if a tiny crystaline bell was being struck, and glowed impecibly more translucent. "Winter Solstice Dance" came her lilting voice as the mirage of ice and rose hit Luke with the force of a winter gallstorm.
She laughed gaily as the attack met with Luke's body...
*****
As the fighter Kyorei made her eventful return, Phillip Xerxes, Dan Suder and Mark I were attempting to find their way out of the destroyed lobbies. The military raid and the firebomb explosion had left the fighter waiting areas in ruin, and debris was everywhere. It took the combined effort the three distantly related fighters to get each other out of the mess.
Once in clean air (as clean as the air in the arena could be called), Dan Suder plopped down. His right arm was strangely stiff. Mark I looked on the battle with a somber look, knowing that this final battle would only result in more destruction, and perhaps more death. His mission to destroy Xim was complete, but, with the military raid, he knew he would be called upon yet again. Phillip Xerxes was staring at the shattered panes above, and the harried but excited fans milling about.
Mark I turned to face Phillip Xerxes. "You know I'm also supposed to kill you," he muttered.
Xerxes smiled. "Yea, I know."
Mark I turned away from Xerxes, a look of distress on his face. Seconds later, with the fight raging beyond control in front of him, Mark I started running for an exit. In a minute he was gone from view.
Xerxes, grimacing, turned to Dan Suder. "Well, how about you? You going to take a shot at me?" The Parasyte cracked his mouth open unnaturally wide. "I know you're on the same crusade that Shin and Lefty were on. Aren't I your enemy?"
Suder looked up, tears in his eyes. "You're different, Xerxes, I know you are," sobbed the teen. "And Jeff knows that too. We have no intention of hurting you." Suder held out his left arm suddenly, his hand extended. "We're allies now in the coming darkness."
Xerxes hesitantly took Suder's left hand. Then, his strange mouth returning to a natural looking smile, replied, "I'm glad you see the truth in that statement."
With that, Phillip Xerxes strode to an exit, and vanished from sight.
Dan Suder, alone, tired, and worried, stood up, and, taking one last look at the fight, made his way to an exit.
*****
Tofu, ignoring the raging battle before him, gave up on reviving Shinichi. He couldn't take the risk of using up ALL his energy, after all. Meanwhile, Amanda had picked herself up from the unknown assailant, and Jake had just made his way to the arena floor. "Hey," he yelled, I think I figured out what happened to you, Ama --"
"I think we should stand back and let THEM do the fighting," said Amanda. The rest agreed.
Meanwhile, Luke took the hit, blocking his eyes. "That... HURT!" He excentuated his point by tossing the shattered remains of his last arm piece to the side. "Take this!" With that, he shot at Kyorei with an open-palm strike to the face.
Kyorei deftly drew her palms together in front of her and created an energy shield reflecting Luke's oncoming assult. "Tsk, tsk, boy. Didn't your mother teach you some manners? Never hit a lady! I will reteach you the meaning of the word 'pain.'" She remanifested her bardiche into her hands and tensed, waiting for his next move, her cold eyes glittering.
*****
As the two superpowers continued to clash, another battle was being waged elsewhere; a losing one. In the medical ward, the doctors were struggling to stabilize Fuante's vital signs, with little luck. He had already flatlined several times.
As the doctors prepared for another electic pulse, a figure entered room, dressed in robes similar to those that "Ryuu" had sported. In his left hand he held a black-sheathed katana. The head doctor whirled on him. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Visitors are NOT allowed! This is a clean room! Now, get ou--" He was interrupted as the stranger dashed forward and tapped the doctor's sleeping spot. The rest of the medical staff were quickly silenced in similar fashion.
The stranger turned towards the bed. "Pathetic," he muttered to the sleeping forms on the floor. "After all these years, doctors still have no idea what they are doing." Then, he placed his right hand on Fuante's still chest. "Awaken, warrior. You still have much work to do." The hand started to glow golden with a power that Shinichi had demonstrated several times before. However, Shinichi had never done anything quite like this. The bright glow started spreading all over Fuante's body. Within seconds, his breathing had normalized and all his wounds were closed.
Sighing, the mysterious savior headed towards the door. As he was about to exit, a second voice seemed to emanate from... somewhere. One of these days you will have to abandon these silly powers of yours. "Shut up," the stranger growled. "I will not become you." It is unavoidable. It is shameful the way you spend your time, when I could teach you to harness your true nature. All you have to do is release me...
"NO!" the man shouted as he gripped the hilt of his sword with is right hand. Panting in frustration, he looked down at the weapon in his hands. Wrapped around the sheath were Shinto spirit wards, although the ink had started to fade. {They'll have to be replace soon.} "You will never leave your prison, demon... not while I still breathe. After that, I'll drag you to hell." With that, he left. A second later Fuante shot up in bed, wide awake.
*****
With Kyorei now engaged in battle with Luke, hope of victory seemed to be in sight. Yet even as the fighters looked on, Luke seemed to be gaining the upper hand, once again.
Yet on the outside a dastardly plan was brewing. The military had not left: quite the opposite, they were setting up camps. In the sprawling city of Las Vegas, the passerbys thought it merely a show, but the soldiers knew otherwise. APC's began letting out their men, helicopters began to be unloaded, and military Jeeps were being prepped. Rumor was going through the lines that tanks were on the way. What they were preparing for, they had no idea. They were just the soldiers, the grunts; the administrative stuff was done by, well, the administrators.
As Mark I slowly began to exit the Omega Complex, his five senses blared with a warning of danger. The military had arrived!
(Now, as you might have deduced, Mark I had been buried under plaster and steel when the military raid had commenced and ceased, so he had had no idea that the government men had arrived). Cursing, Mark I dashed back inside, only to colide with the exiting Phillip Xerxes, and a moment later Dan Suder stepped into their combined presence.
Glancing only slightly to the confused fighters, Mark I dashed back into the wrecked lobbies, where he began looking for a hiding spot. Though wary, Phillip Xerxes and Suder realized something was amiss, and followed Mark I's example.
*****
Luke gave a sideways glance. "He's awake." Grinning, he turned back to Kyorei. "Before I send you back to hell, I'm going to let you in on a secret." Shooting forward so that their faces were barely an inch apart, he continued. "You can beat him now."
Kyorei winced as her ribs cracked as she slid from the indented wall to the floor. Spitting out blood she forced herself to stand noting her left arm was growing numb.
With that, he shot her a right that sent her flying into the wall. Cocking his eyebrow, he commented, "You seem to be the strongest I've fought so far. That should have killed you."
"Now Luke, it isn't nice to hold a temper tantrum. See, while I was away, a few things happened you may not have been aware of. Yes I grew stronger, but unfortunately my will is no longer my own. I serve another and for this purpose he wishes you eliminated. Two, see these nice little cuffs that I wear? They keep me in line but at the same time allow me to harness energy from my oh so gracious host. Three, when I lose control things can get quite nasty. Sorry my dear boy, I just came from hell and I have no intention of returning. At least not without your sorry carcass."
Her eyes seemingly dancing with light, she called upon one of her favorite toys to play with. The room immediately grew colder as she let a barrage of icy daggers rain down upon Luke.
Luke quickly took a wide horse stance and spread his wings. Dark energy swirled around him, and the daggers slowed in their descent, finally stopping in mid air. "You have no choice in the matter," he said through strained teeth. As his energy seeped into the ice, making it pitch black, he continued. "Now... Cool it!"(Author's note: Bad pun alert!)
The dagger flew at her, appearently melting as they went. When they reached their target, however, they engulfed her and resolidified. Straightening his posture, Luke said, "That should hold her for... maybe about five minutes." He smiled evily as he turned to face Kenji, who hadn't moved an inch throughout the whole ordeal. "Now for some fun!"
With that, he charged Kenji. He came in with an uppercut, which Kenji barely dodged. He didn't even get a chance to avoid the jab to the face, or the knee to the stomache.
As they seperated, Kenji landing flat on his back and Luke lightly on his feet, Luke sneered. "I knew it! You can't use your full power or you'll hurt everyone here! It's like fighting you with both hands tied behind your back!"
Tiger, on the other hand, didn't seem to have the same problem. Letting out a low growl, he slowly advanced. Or was about to, if Kenji's foot hadn't gotten in the way of Tiger's chin. Kenji gave a sickly smile as he turned back to face Luke. "When we split, he got all of the self-preservation instincts, while I got the compassion for humanity."
Luke laughed heartily, stopping abruptly as he again slammed Kenji in the face. This time, Kenji didn't just fall back- he flew straight into the ground, leaving a crater. He didn't move, smoke rising from his body.
Nicole quickly pulled herself to her feet, running to the edge of the crater. "Kenji!" She couldn't get any closer because of the heat. "Is he--?"
Luke smiled. "Probably."
"YOU!" Nicole spun around, trying to hit Luke in the face. He easily tossed her aside as if she was a rag doll.
"How annoying," Luke said, following his prey to where she had landed.
Meanwhile, Nicole had broken down. "You... Just like that... I've followed him all these years... and you just..."
"Stop crying!" Luke was about to reach her when a kodachi blocked his way. One of only two weapons Saburo had left.
"Pick on someone your own size!" He had no idea why, but a single tear had come from his eye, as well.
"Shove it!" Saburo was sent flying back into a wall.
"And I... Never told him... How I felt..."
Luke looked back at Nicole. "How you felt? You mean you--" He paused for a second. "That's really gross! I mean, he was like a hundred or something!"
"I..." Nicole slowly climbed back to her feet, a intense dark aura gathering around her. "Loved..." Red strands shot throughout the aura, turning it into a sort of blood red. "HIM!" Finally, it shifted to green, forming into a ball in her hands. "GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Luke didn't know what hit him. One minute he had been bullying possibly the weakest fighter of the group, the next he was in the line of the biggest ki blast he had ever seen. How did she manage to do that? It was just Nicole... Just Nicole...
*****
The arena had been totally leveled, and the building had become, for all intents and purposes, four huge walls nothing but a flat surface and several dozen martial artists. Luckily, the blast had been focused on Luke, so nobody else really got hurt.
As Nicole lay there, too weakened to stand up, she wept into the ash that she was surrounded by. She didn't notice Luke, dressed in the tatters of what he had been wearing before, returned almost to his normal self(he still had talons). She didn't notice the huge falcon lying next to his prone body. She didn't even notice the hand shooting out from where Kenji had been buried.
Saburo had dragged himself to the hand, and gave Kenji the pull he needed to dig himself out. Kenji stood up, spitting some blood to the side. "Luke was too maddened to realize that just because I can't withdraw my energy doesn't mean that I don't have it. It would have taken several more punches to kill me." Looking at the prone trio, he sighed. "This is quite a mess, however. Where do I start?"
"How about telling us who you are?" Everyone turned to see where the voice had come from: Mitsuko Shinmen.
Kenji's eyes went wide. He looked at her, then at Saburo, then back at her. "Mitsuko..."
"How do you know me?"
Recomposing himself, he said, "Later. We've got to much to do." Walking towards Nicole, he added loud enough for everyone to hear, "Luke and the bird are now under my protection. Anyone who wants to harm them, has to get through me."
*****
Fuante looked around the medical ward, his vision a bit blurred. "What hit me?" he groaned. Then, after a few minutes, he remembered. "Mirsky!" He leaped from the bed and bolted for the door.
"He is dead," came a voice from his right. Leaning comfortably against the wall was Bisen. "It's all over. You've missed quite a lot, Fuante." He grinned.
Fuante grinned back. "You'll have to tell me about it. Shall we?" He motioned towards the door. Bisen nodded and proceeded to follow.
"By the way," Bisen said as they walked down the hallway, "you still owe me that fight. I didn't come all the way to this tournament for nothing, you know."
"I figured as much. Could you at least wait until I've recovered? I think I've done enough fighting for this week."
"I will wait."
*****
Corianna looked all around at the debris and landed lightly. Turning back into her caped beautiful self she couldn't help but to gag at the sick love going on, although it did take care of the menacing beast. She formed a beautiful warm aura around her, and her hands glowed golden as she touched the solidified Kyorei on the shoulders and melted the dark ice- she wasn't Queen of the Damned for nothing. Corianna strolled away towards Hime while Kyorei muttered a "Thank you" to her. Corianna merely turned back with a small smile and asmall bow.
"Hey are you hurt?" Corianna bent over the sleeping Hime.
"No. Just mad at you! You signed me up in this bloody (author's note:no pun intended!) tournament and then you walk out on me!"
"Ohhh... that! Hmmm... I wonder where he is now?" said Corianna looking quite distant. Hime bit her gently (it means she only drew a little blood) on the arm. "Hey! Okay I'm sorry. Geez, I couldn't have a little fun?" said Corianna looking slightly sheepish. Hime rolled her eyes and got up slowly to her feet,stretching and yawning.
They tried to head for the exit but were stopped by someone. She was a girl in a wheelchair wearing Harley Davidson apparal (leather jacket, leather pants...) and a few more rings and bracelets and piercings than looked nessesary on a human.
"Stop! There is no way to get out! The building is blocked!" said the young lady.
"Oh, really? Well, the only thing I see blocking the way is you. And I'm really hungry," said Corianna, darkening at her. She was tired and didn't want to be stopped by anymore weirdos. She tried to go at the girl but was stopped by a hand that held her at her throat. The young girl had taken a short handled battle axe out of the back of her wheelchair and now put it up to Corianna's throat.
"We can either work together or I can kill you, Corianna."
"How did you know who I was?"
"Everyone in my business does."
"And what business is that," growled Corianna, her eyesflaming now.
"That's not important. What's important is that I show you what's at the door so you don't try to get out." Releasing herself from the clutches of the young girl Corianna sneered at her.
"Let a bunch of American army creeps get in my way!? Haha! CLOAK OF DARKNESS!" Cori called and Hime and she were invisible. "See you around, Slayer!" said the Queen. And she headed towards the exit and out of the building. Two soldiers looked at each other funny as they felt something brush them but didn't see the two that came out. Corianna opened her cape and picked up Hime and they flew off into the coming darkness.
*****
"It's over..." whispered Amanda. She began to calm down from the frantic battle, and most of her stress resided. However, she suddenly felt weak, and colapsed to her knees. A flash of light engulfed what was left of the arena, blinding those who were watching. As everybody regained their sight, they noticed something interesting -- Amanda was back to her 'normal' form (well, as normal as a girl with cat ears can be), with a kitten sitting on her shoulder.
"And I thought I'd seen EVERYthing," mumbled Dave.
Fuante and Bisen walked out into the remains of the arena. Much to their relief, Shinichi was relatively fine, currently being carted out on a stretcher, followed closely by Ukyou.
Meanwhile, Kyorei grumbled as she absorbed the ice particles back into her body- no use wasting good ki after all. Since Luke was taken care of, albeit not by her own hands, her business here was through. Her features blurred as she took on yet another human disguise, this of a girl with lavendar hair and two odangos on either side of her head. Wrapping a woolen scarf around her neck and checking that appearances were set, she began to exit only to stop short when she caught sight of Fuante. Grinning, she blew him a kiss and winked knowingly, then disappearead into thin air as she walked out of the arena.
Kenji gently rolled Nicole onto her back. "You okay?"
Nicole's eyes went wide. "Kenji! Y-you're alive!"
"Yes, I am... Everything's okay, just relax..." He glanced around for a second, before his eyes finally rested on Geppu. "Hey, you! Could you spare some energy over here?"
Making his way to them, Geppu retorted, "Why should I?"
"How about, 'because she just saved us all?'"
"Um..." Geppu gulped. Opening a channel, Geppu gave Nicole enough energy to perform normal, everyday things. "Fine. But if she hadn't done it first, I would have!"
"Right," Kenji said. "Can you stand?" he asked Nicole.
"Y-yeah..." Getting to her feet, she said, "Listen... about what I said..."
Kenji quickly turned his back to her, his visage noticably darkened. "I was... unconscious... I didn't hear anything..." he lied.
"Oh..."
"She said that she loves you!" Saburo limped towards them, assisted by his mother.
Kenji's eyes bulged, and his mouth gaped open, but before he could say anything...
...the sounds of people dying started coming from the stands.
***EDITOR'S NOTES***
Well, all I�ve got to say is that this one was fun to write. Now, if only we had some fans...
The characters Stroppa Mirsky, Mikhail Mirsky, Kenji Nakamura, Tiger, Nicole Peters, Luke Masterson, Bisen, Saburo Shinmen and Mitsuko Shinmen were created by opaj.
The characters Mark I, Xim, Human Tank, Phillip Xerxes, Dan Suder and the government guys were created by Nemesis.
The characters Fuante Kyojin, Suzuko Kyojin, Shinichi Mamono, Hiroshi Geppu, Kevin Front, Akaro, and mysterious guy with sword were created by Spam_BIT.
The characters Corianna and Hime were created by Cain.
The characters Tofu Sushi, Amanda Yenah, Jake Hazuki, Dave Ryo, Rando, Sparkster and Sara Sushi were created by ragingtofu.
The character Kyorei was created by Nabiki.
The character Ukyou Kuonji was created by Rumiko Takahashi.
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