Chapter 16: The War Begins II

After a whole week, Tokyo stepped out of the lab fully repaired and his own ABHS installed. He must have been very grateful that I helped him back to the mansion, because he volunteered to help give me the upgrade Magus made for me. The old man accepted the extra pair of hands, and I enjoyed Tokyo's company. Since I privately made up my mind about him, I didn't mind having him around. I had finally decided that I was in love with him.

The days passed by quietly and peacefully. On the last day of the operation, I decided to celebrate by swimming in the ocean. With the old man's "okay," and with the bikini London had gotten for me, I walked out to the beach heading for the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean.

I loved my bathing suit: a French cut bikini with a red and black checkerboard design. London said he saw it in New York, and thought of me. It looks really great on me. Naturally, my body was designed to perfection so that I look good in everything…as long as it's not pink.

The weather was a little breezy, and the ocean was freezing cold, but I still had a good swim. It was good to stroke and paddle through the endless sea green of Emerald Bay. It felt like being in another world apart from reality, where I could forget about dragonoids, and operations, and especially that creep Ghost.

I learned two things while I went swimming:

One, I could stay under water for an indefinant amount of time.

Two, don't stick your face too close to a soft-shell crab.

Both facts I found out the hard way.

***

"YEOW! OW! OW! OW! OW!"

I broke the surface of the water screaming. I had an angry beach crab clamped tightly onto my nose. It decided not to let go, and really make things difficult. The three Irish twits: London, Corey, and Glynn, who were fencing on the beach nearby, heard me. They took one look at me and started laughing their butts off. Since that wasn't helping to get the crab off my nose, I naturally got pissed off.

"SHUT UP!" I yelled at them, sounding very nasal. "Get it off! It really hurts!" Hearing my voice, they just laughed louder. Glynn had fallen over and rolled around in the sand laughing like a hyena with the hiccups. I was getting very pissed off and I was ready to punch their faces in when I heard chuckling behind me. I turned to see Tokyo sitting on some large beach rocks, chuckling lightly.

He looked very handsome that day. Instead of his usual black gi and stuff, he was wearing a yellow tanktop and dark blue jeans. His long, black hair was twisted into a long braid and tied off with a leather strip. He looked really good, and I couldn't help but feel attracted to him. Sure I admitted my feelings for him, but he had been shut down and didn't hear me.

Even thought I had calmed down a notch just by looking at Tokyo, my nose was still in pain and I was still angry.

"Don’t just sit there and laugh." I growled at him. "Please help me."

"Gladly." He agreed, standing up and stepping off the rocks. He put a hand over the crab, and pinched my nose with his other hand. "Hold still now." That was not what I wanted to hear.

"You're not gonna do what I think you're gonna do?" I worried. "Are you?" Tokyo nodded. "Oh God…" I groaned, then he squeezed the crab's claw and started tugging slightly. "Ow!" I yelped. "Tokyo, that hurts! Stop it!" The stubborn-ass crab wouldn't let go, so Tokyo had resorted to yanking with all his might. My poor nose! And the three Irish stooges nearby were enjoying the show.

"Quick! Get the camera!" London urged. After Glynn had gotten up and looked at us he was back on the ground rolling and laughing. He's a dead man, I took a mental note.

Finally, the crab decided to let go of my nose. Tokyo set it down on the beach and it scampered back to the ocean. I covered my throbbing nose with my hands in pain and embarrassment. Tokyo looked at me and put his fists to his hips.

"Now, how did the idiot let that happen to herself?" he scolded.

"Well," I began, blushing, "I saw it walking along the bottom, and I wanted to get a closer…" Then I realized he had insulted me. "HEY!"

Tokyo laughed as walked past me.

"Too slow." He pitied. "Too slow."

"I am not an idiot!" I shouted at his back. "First you tug-a-war on my nose, and then you insult me! Jesus Christ, Tokyo!"

" 'Jesus Christ' yourself." He huffed over his shoulder. "All of that shouting over a mere 'idiot' remark."

"You know I hate being called an idiot." I whined. He turned his head at me.

"I could have called you something far worse." He growled. "Then you would have something to whine about." I scowled at him and turned away. I had been trying to avoid any fighting with him for the last week, and I was slowly losing my patience with him. So what if I loved him, if he pissed me off, I'd kick his ass!

I walked back towards the mansion to dry off and change. London invited Tokyo for a spar, so he would be out of my hair for a while. Corey walked with me up to the house.

"How could yu stand the likes of thaat jerk?" he asked.

"I dunno." I admitted. "The two of us have stopped getting violent lately, some progress is being made."

"If I didn't know betta," Corey frowned, "I'd say he likes it when yu yell at him."

"No way!" I gasped. "That's how we get into fights. He loses his cool, and then we try to kill each other."

"Maybe thaat's whot the sicko wants." Corey brainstormed.

"But why would he want me to fight with him?"

"I don't know. Maybe he's bored."

"If he was bored, he would be playing Mortal Kombat with you guys or something."

"Are yu kiddin?!" Corey cried. "He's solid stone! He caan't have fun like normal people!"

"Naturally." I smirked as I walked inside the house. "He's not normal." He was going to accuse me of something, but I closed the door on him and didn't hear him.

Sheesh, what did a guy like Corey have against Tokyo?

***

I dried off my hair and changed into a white blouse and black skirt. I had Tokyo on my mind all day. I pictured him turning his head to look at me and smiling sweetly, being glad to see me. I thought he looked cute when he smiled. I used to say he was kinda cute, but now he's really hot. Imagine that, me drooling over the guy I said I'd never hook up with. Ha!

After I was dry, I strapped on my belt and sheathe, and walked outside. Magus, Ayla, and Kaguya were working on something in the den, so the majority of the humans were busy. Outside, on the beach, London and Tokyo were locked in sparring with their swords in hand. Actually, London was using his kitchen knife, and he appeared to be winning. Glynn and Corey were watching and cheering London on. I stood and watched on the edge of the beach.

Tokyo sweeped over London, causing the European android to fall on his back. Tokyo lunged for his fallen opponent, but London lifted his feet onto Tokyo's stomach, and flipped him up, over, and away. Tokyo landed on his back but swiftly rolled over and got up as London stood. Their blades clashed and London used his free hand to punch Tokyo in the face.

I quickly got bored, knowing that London was going to win, and I walked up to the two Irish spectators.

"Hey Glynn!" I called, drawing my sword. "I'll spar ya."

"Shore!" he accepted, drawing his sword. We walked away from the Tokyo vs. London fight to a spot where we wouldn't disturb the other show. We lifted our swords and leapt into action. We both swung and our swords clashed in a blade lock. Glynn assumed defensive mode, and I swung in attack while he blocked. Unlike the Tokyo vs. London a couple yards away, Glynn and I were more or less practicing rather than actually fighting.

"You're not bad." I evaluated, then blocked as he swung to attack. "As expected of the grandson of Gash."

"I've had lots of baatle experience." Glynn smiled as he swung. "Aand yu fight just aas guud as a man."

Whaaaaaat… I mentally growled. I swung so hard that Glynn's sword flung out of his hand and in the sand next to him. I triumphantly pointed my sword tip at his throat.

"Funny," I retorted, "I was going to say the same about you." Glynn laughed in good nature and I lifted my sword away so that he could get his.

"Sorry." He laughed as he picked up his sword. "I forgot about the 'equality' matta here in America."

"Don't they have lady Slayers too?" I wondered.

"Shore." Glynn nodded. "But they only a gifted few. Noot many."

"I see." I smiled. "But that doesn't mean we women aren't capable of being Slayers. Take Kaguya and Ayla for example."

"Guud exaamples." Glynn nodded. Then he looked over at the Tokyo vs. London fight, and started laughing. I looked, and saw Tokyo sprawled on his back, and London had one foot on his fallen opponent's chest, and was making the peace sign with both hands, and grinning like an idiot.

I told you London was gonna win.

"Thee winna," London was announcing in a New York dialect, "and world champine, Londoooon Kiiiiiid!"

"London…" Tokyo groaned.

"Ladies and gentlemen," London continued, "the world famous, wonderful, talented, powerful, and incredibly handsome London Kid!" Then he made that annoying crowd sound by breathing out of his mouth. "Hhyaaaaaaaaaa!"

"London…" Tokyo growled through clenched teeth. He was ignored.

"Hhyaaaaaaaaaa! Yes, the crowds going wild! Hhyaaaaaaaaaa!"

TOINK! Tokyo flung a shuriken onto London's forehead. London fell over and Tokyo stood up and dusted himself off.

"Okay, okay!" Tokyo snapped at London, pissed as hell. "You won! We all get the idea, jackass!" I sheathed my sword and ran to Tokyo.

"Are you alright?" I asked, dusting off his shoulders. Suddenly, I felt a hard blow to the face and I fell over backwards.

"Don't touch me!" I heard Tokyo yell as my nose started hurting all over again.

"Hoye!" Corey yelled. "Wot yu backhand her for?"

"Yeah!" I yelled too. "What did you hit me for, Tokyo?!"

"I don't have to answer that." Tokyo snapped as Corey helped me up. London walked over to Tokyo and pointed a finger at him.

"Now you can slap me around all you want," he declared, "but a lady like Clara is very different. I want you to apologize to her right now."

"Who do you think you are?" Tokyo glowered. "My mother? Paris deserved that…"

"Clara!" I corrected angrily.

"…and I'm not apologizing."

"Do it!" London demanded.

"No."

"You see this kitchen knife?" London pressed, holding up his main weapon.

"What about it?"

"You want me to shove it up your ass?!"

The whole beach went silent, as though Mother Nature was appalled. Breaking the silence, Glynn and Corey started laughing hysterically. I fought back the urge to laugh. London was serious about his threat, and knowing him, he was going to do it.

Tokyo and London stared at each other for a long time. Tokyo daringly turned his nose in the air, and London sighed, rolling up a sleeve.

"Alright," London began, "drop 'em and bend over."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, yes I would. Now are you gonna apologize to Clara, or are you gonna walk funny for a week?"

"You guys!" I yelled. "Tokyo doesn't have to apologize." London blinked at me.

"What are you doing on his side?!" He wondered. "He hit you."

"Please don't worry about it." I urged. "It's alright."

"What's 'alright' about it?" London urged back. "He hit you."

"The both of you shut up!" Tokyo outbursted.

Suddenly, Glynn screamed something…then we heard a loud bang…we all turned to Glynn as he fell to the beach…he was bleeding to the head…I screamed…London ran to Glynn to see if he was alright…Corey started to run for the house for help…another bang sounded…Corey fell over screaming…

It all happened so fast…

***

"Ghost!" Tokyo snarled, turning quickly to the lot. I looked too, and I saw Ghost dressed in his Snake robes, pointing his smoking rifle at Corey. He had shot them! He shot Glynn and Corey! Were they dead? Oh God! How did Ghost find us? We weren't followed…

I felt so frightened…

"What do you want, Ghost?!" I shouted at him. He lifted his gun and turned his head to me. Then, he grinned, and I could see his vampire-like fangs. I felt frozen in ice, unable to move or think. Why was I so scared?

"London!" Tokyo called over his shoulder. "Corey's been shot too! Check on him! Hurry!"

"But…" London protested, scared stiff. I could hear in his voice what had happened to Glynn.

Glynn was dead.

"Corey is still alive!" Tokyo shouted. "Go to him! Now!" Not needing to be ordered a second time, London made a run for Corey. Ghost turned away from me and aimed his rifle at my running friend. Tokyo took the distracted moment to lunge at Ghost and slash his sword down on the gun four times. The rifle fell to the ground into five pieces. Ghost slowly turned his head to the grinning Tokyo. Their eyes would have locked in a gaze of hatred if Ghost didn't have on that blindfold.

Ghost slid off the hood of his cloak with his thumb, then reached behind his back with both hands. He was going for his swords. His dragonoid swords. I unsheathed mine and silently charged foreword towards the renegade android.

London carried Corey into the mansion and Tokyo and I clashed blades with Ghost's two swords. Ghost blocked while Tokyo and I attacked fiercely. Ghost had improved greatly since the last battle, and I forgot to log into my ABHS. The battle was in favor of the bad guys if Tokyo and I lost our cool. Fortunately, we didn't, so there was still hope of a turning tide.

I grabbed the hilt of one of Ghost's swords, and used my sword to slash down on his face. His blindfold was cut off, and a deep gash appeared across the bridge of his nose where I had cut him. Ghost turned his eyes to me, and I shivered as the fear really intensified.

His eyes were blood red.

He parted his jaws, showing his fangs, and hissed like an angry snake. I froze again. I hate snakes! Ghost raised his left arm to slice off my head, but Tokyo sliced off Ghost's arm at the elbow first. Then, he kicked Ghost over on his back. I was released, and I backed away for breathing space. Tokyo stood on Ghost's chest and pointed his katana at the android's throat. I took the moment to log into my ABHS to prepare for any more surprises Ghost may have had. I sensed through the System that Tokyo was already logged in, and I could see him remember what happened to him on the country road. Tokyo had serious revenge on his mind.

"You killed a man, and you almost killed me." Tokyo quietly threatened. "Now, I will kill you."

"I refuse to give you that pleasure, boy." Ghost threatened back, holding his injured arm stub up to Tokyo. The ABHS detected something weird in Ghost's system at that moment, something called Instant Plasma Regeneration… Suddenly, wires and a gooey pink substance oozed out of Ghost's injury and shaped itself into an arm. Then, the pink goo dried into skin, and completely replaced his lost hand. He used his newly grown appendage to punch Tokyo off him. Tokyo fell on his back and dropped his sword.

I can't believe it! I thought in horror. He just…grew back his hand! That made me more determined than afraid. Then I'll just have to cut off his head!

I lunged at Ghost and our swords clashed noisily. Caught in a blade lock, we both struggled to push each other over.

"Why are you doing this?" I growled at Ghost. "Who sent you to kill us?"

"You're a smart girl." Ghost growled back. "You can figure it out for yourself."

"You're mixed in with the dragonoids, I know you are!" I deducted. "How did they get the technology to make you? Not even they are that advanced!"

"The dragonoids did not create me." Ghost answered. "Humans did."

"Humans?" Tokyo wondered, standing up. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye to see if he was alright. Red oil was oozing out of the corner of his mouth, but he didn't seem to mind. "How could humans create a monster like you?"

"Why don't you ask my creator?" Ghost dared with a smile. "He would be more than happy to answer any questions you have." Suddenly, something zipped over my head and sunk between Ghost's eyes. A shuriken! I ducked down as Tokyo flicked another one past me and it stuck into the gash in Ghost's nose. Ghost cried out in pain, and electricity zapped and sparked throughout his body. My ABHS buzzed with static and suddenly shut off. Tokyo must have hit Ghost's computer brain, and the killer android would shut off and possibly die. I trotted to Tokyo's side to avoid random bolts of electricity.

"Where do you keep those ninja stars?" I asked him. "You seem to pull them out of nowhere."

"Shinobi trade secret." Tokyo answered. Suddenly, Ghost stopped screaming, the electricity disappeared, and he calmly yanked both shuriken out of his face. I bit my lip, a back up system must have booted up. Ghost flung the stars back at us. I ducked one headed for my head, and Tokyo effortlessly caught his. We both logged back into our ABHS, and discovered that Ghost had suffered a lot of damage. A retreat command flashed into his head. Someone was calling him back.

"Fools!" Ghost yelled at us. "You could never hope to defeat me! I have the qualities of all three of you! All of you together are no match for me!"

"Shut up, scrap heap!" I snapped at him. "You're damaged goods, and only one of us can take you out now."

"I'll be back, and I'll be stronger and more invincible when I do." Ghost threatened. "I know where the three of you reside! I can come whenever I want and destroy you when you least expect it!"

"Just like you did our friend? Do you think we're stupid enough to let you do something like that again?!"

Suddenly, I detected another ABHS from the mansion and heading towards us.

"You have no idea." Ghost growled from his evil grin.

"Hold it right there, buddy!" I heard London yell from the porch. The third ABHS struck a command into Ghost's system and the enemy android went limp, shutting off. I turned my head to see London running towards us. "Are you two alright?"

"Yeah." I answered as Tokyo nodded. "What the heck happened?"

"I found his switch off command," London explained, "but he'll boot back up in a few minutes."

"So, what do we do with him?" I wondered.

"Destroy him." Tokyo suggested, picking up his sword.

"Wait." I stopped. "He can grow back body parts. Even if we cut off his head, it'll grow back and he'll come back for us."

"Dammit…" he muttered in frustration. London unsheathed his kitchen knife.

"Hold on a minute, I've got an idea." He then stabbed deep into the gash in Ghost's nose, and something zapped from inside his skull and the ABHS felt a huge power down. "That was from Glynn to you, you little bastard." London muttered at his foe. "Let's go dump him on the road like we did last time. Whoever repaired him will find him and take even longer to repair him, especially since all of Ghost's memory is gone."

"Good thinking, London." Tokyo nodded. "But I really think we should kill him."

"How?" I pressed again. "He'll just heal any wounds like his arm."

"…" Tokyo remained silent.

"I'll go dump him." London volunteered. "You guys…" His gaze wandered back to Glynn's dead body, and he sighed heavily. "You guys stay here, just in case."

"Very well." Tokyo nodded, heading for the house.

"Be careful." I wished London as he slumped Ghost's body over his shoulder and started off for the open country road. I walked towards Glynn's body, and bent down to it. There was so much blood and he looked so lifeless that I almost went into hysterics. I just couldn't believe that he was gone. I stood up, and started crying. A tear fell on Glynn's face, and trickled down his nose. It looked like he was crying too.

I wish he was.

It would have been some form of life…