Absence - By Kirika
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Chapter 13 - Hellfire
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Tsubasa increased his pace to keep up with Megumi as she walked briskly towards the Ragnarok nightclub, the beat of rave music matching their footsteps. It looked like your standard ravers hangout, built out of a large warehouse. Not a place that Tsubasa would have went to willingly... before he met Megumi, fighter of justice of course.
There are probably all sorts of debauched things going on in there
Tsubasa was still soaking wet from the Daily's sprinklers and his shoes squelched uncomfortably with each step. Megumi was still drenched too, but it didn't seem to bother her. Tsubasa surmised that there were lots of youma in the nightclub but there had to be humans in there too. Tsubasa looked at Megumi, hoping she wouldn't just torch the place as soon as they entered.
The two approached a heavy-set bouncer who was standing guard at the double door entrance of the club. As they got nearer, the bouncer's eyes widened then bugged out of his head. He unfolded his arms and pushed the doors open, running into the Ragnarok, screaming something. Tsubasa frowned. Megumi wasn't that strangely dressed to cause such a reaction.
"I'll be right back," said Megumi. She walked over to the double doors, pushed them open and entered, the doors swinging shut behind her.
Tsubasa nodded and leaned against the wall beside the doors. He hoped Sanjuro was okay; he had seemed pretty messed up. That ugly purple youma must have done something horrible to him. Tsubasa had started to wring out his sodden shirt while his mind wandered when the double doors of the club burst open, swarms of people running out and screaming. He heard inhuman cries and whooshing sounds over the music, plus Megumi yelling out now and then. The people continued to run out and Tsubasa pressed himself against the wall as much as he could, trying not to get swept away in the crowd. A frosted glass window blew outwards next to him, some sort of blue energy blast flying off towards the sky. Many people ducked as the glass and the blue beam flew over them. Tsubasa looked to his right as a flaming figure staggered through the doors, causing the crowd to part. It gave guttural shouts as it stumbled about aimlessly, flailing its arms all over the place and then fell forward,
unmoving, the flames still burning high. Tsubasa covered his mouth and nose with a wet sleave, trying to block out the stench of burning flesh. People had stopped running out of the club now and Tsubasa was the only one left standing around. He jumped as an arrow seeming to be made entirely of fire slammed into one of the doors. The door burst into flames and swung backwards, tearing off its hinges and clattering down the street.
Tsubasa was considering running like hell when everything went quiet suddenly, only the music being heard. He could still hear muffled shouts though they seemed to be coming from far away. Tsubasa gathered up his courage to take a look inside the club. He prayed he wouldn't see any charred human bodies. As he was about to look inside, more people hobbled out. These people looked hurt bad... but their wounds seemed old and they were covered in dirt as well. Tsubasa looked more closely and noticed some had broken chains dangling off manacles on their wrists and ankles, the edges of the broken chain links glowing hotly.
Those things kept prisoners... Tsubasa realised.
The music in the club began to wane, getting more distorted as time went by. Tsubasa looked inside the Ragnarok. He really hoped the owners had insurance. The place was like a war zone. Small fires burnt nearly everywhere and the fast decaying bodies of strange creatures decorated the dance floor. The bar was a blazing inferno, and Tsubasa thought he could see limbs sticking out from behind it. The DJ booth was partially aflame, causing the music to be affected. Tsubasa looked upwards to the ceiling, seeing waves of fire travel along it. Raindrops of flame fell down, setting tables and chairs alight.
This place isn't going to last thought Tsubasa, Megumi better hurry up... where is she?
Tsubasa heard a bestial scream that was cut off abruptly and then Megumi appeared from a door near the stage. She walked over to him.
"He wasn't here," she said, "there's a Honda factory not too far from here. That's where he is."
Tsubasa assumed she meant the youma leader. Megumi walked past him to the exit and Tsubasa hurried after her, dodging falling fire drops. Tsubasa saw her clothes had dried off, probably from all the fires. He could also see she had sustained some injuries, but didn't mention them. He could see that Megumi was determined to finish them all off tonight. Tsubasa just hoped the whole ordeal didn't finish her off as well.
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Khairephon was busy shouting orders to the three youma who were preparing to open the dimensional gate. He was growing impatient; he should have been back at the Ragnarok by now.
"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
A fiery arrow burst through the back of one youma's head, then erupted into flame. The youma collapsed over the pattern it had been drawing, its head burning to ash.
"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
Khairephon turned around to the entrance of the car factory as he felt the heat of another arrow sail past him, slamming into the stomach of a second youma and causing it to fly backwards into a stack of metal drums. The remaining youma growled and prepared to attack, but Khairephon raised his hand signalling it to hold back.
"So. You must be the human that has been fighting my youma... you don't seem very special at all," Khairephon mocked.
The girl lowered her arms from where they had been previously wielding a bow made of fire.
"You don't seem special either," she replied.
Khairephon smirked. He spared a glance at her male companion then dismissed him from his mind. He was no threat, just a normal human.
"How did you know I would be here?"
"I asked someone. By the way, I wouldn't go clubbing at the Ragnarok for a while... seems it's become a real fire hazard..."
Khairephon blinked at her. She couldn't have destroyed his headquarters. Sure, the youma there had only been a few of his and the rest made of up Thrinakie's, but still... there had to have been a dozen there at least. He saw his last remaining youma tense beside him out of the corner of his eye. Khairephon walked closer to the human.
"Well, it was time I faced you anyway... I've been dying to test this human body out in real combat. Shall we dance?"
Khairephon moved his body into a combat stance and grinned confidently at her.
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Sailor Mars moved into her own combat stance and looked coldly into Khairephon's eyes.
"You better run," she whispered out the corner of her mouth to Tsubasa.
Tsubasa ran off to the right, deeper into the car factory. Mars noticed the surviving youma follow him. She ignored it and focused on Khairephon.
"You know, I've never lost a fight..." Khairephon said, still grinning at her.
"I've heard that before, back in Tokyo. That youma died,"
Khairephon's eyes widened in confusion. "You're... you can't be..." he started.
Enough of this
"FIRE SOUL!"
A fireball streaked at Khairephon and he darted to the side and ran at Sailor Mars. He moved like quicksilver, punching at her face. Mars redirected the blow away from her with an arm and countered with a left hook. Khairephon ducked and executed a leg sweep, tripping Mars onto her side. She rolled to her left as a heavy boot crunched down on to the floor where she had lain. Mars flipped to her feet and preformed a spinning heel kick at Khairephon, catching him in the side of his head. He shrugged off the hit and smashed both palms into Mars' chest pushing her back off her feet to the floor. Sailor Mars rolled backwards to a standing position and strafed to the right as Khairephon flew past her, trying to hit her with a flying kick.
Sailor Mars shook her right arm painfully. It hurt from redirecting Khairephon's first punch. She was sure she had two palm shaped bruises on her chest now too. Mars couldn't afford to let him get any solid hit on her.
Khairephon spun around, kicking at Mars' head. She moved backwards quickly.
"FIRE SOUL!"
A fireball smashed into Khairephon's chest, the close range making it impossible to dodge. He growled and gritted his teeth. Mars ducked and rolled to her left as Khairephon's fist rammed into a steel girder behind her, buckling the metal. Mars jumped to her feet and kicked him in the face. Khairephon reacted fast and grabbed her leg, ready to bring his elbow down and snap it like a twig. Mars leapt up into the air and delivered a kick to his face with her free leg, causing him to let go. She landed on her stomach and kicked out with both legs behind her, supporting herself with her hands. Sailor Mars' feet collided with Khairephon's stomach, forcing him back towards the girder. Mars flipped over back to her feet and followed up with a spinning side kick, crushing her foot into Khairephon's head. He shook his head and smirked at Mars. Khairephon cartwheeled to his left and smoothly followed by lashing out his arm at Sailor Mars. Mars ducked and punched as hard as she could
into his groin. Khairephon's smirk was wiped from his face and replaced with a very painful expression. Mars gave Khairephon an uppercut to the face as she rose.
Khairephon staggered backwards and fell to one knee. He reached up to his face and looked at the blood that appeared on his hand in astonishment. Khairephon glared at Sailor Mars with pure hatred.
"Human bodies are weak anyway," he seethed.
Khairephon let out a demonic cry as his clothes started to split apart. There was a crackling sound as bones elongated and strengthened. His human skin ripped open, revealing dark red flesh, the colour of brimstone decorated with hideous blue veins. Khairephon's eyes bulged and grew, turning yellow as each pupil was squashed into a black vertical line. A quadruple set of horns came out of his head and a bright red mane matching the hair on his human head sprouted from his back. Khairephon continued his cry, its pitch turning more bestial with every passing second. His jaw cracked and lengthened, his teeth turning into daggers. Khairephon continued to grow larger; his hands now twice the size of a human head, with nails like swords. A tail grew from his back, the end growing bony protrusions. His transformation complete, Khairephon stood up on his powerful legs and roared, flexing his arms wide. The windows of the factory shook and some even shattered with his animalistic
shout.
Sailor Mars looked at the skin and clothes left behind by Khairephon, then back up at the huge beast. How such a big creature could fit in a human body was beyond Mars. Her first impression was that he was some kind of demon straight from the pits of Hell. Whatever Khairephon was, he had to be destroyed.
Khairephon smiled evilly down at Mars. "Now you see the real me... and why I've never lost a fight!" he said, clenching one hand into a mighty fist, his huge muscles making cords on his arm.
Mars looked up at the demon and swallowed hard. This was certainly not good.
"See me... and know fear..." Khairephon whispered.
Mars' heart was suddenly gripped with an unnatural terror. It was like she was reduced to a child afraid of the dark, cowering in a corner. She collapsed to her knees, her head bowed. Mars couldn't look at Khairephon; he was fear incarnate. She was paralysed, all will to fight fleeing from her mind. Her heart beat fast and faster, as if trying to rip out of her chest. Mars heard Khairephon's booming laugh echo around her, causing the terror to strengthen its icy grip on her heart.
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Tsubasa ran a little faster when he heard a truly horrible cry coming from behind him. He hoped that was Megumi striking the killing blow to the youma leader or something like that. Tsubasa stopped running and leaned against a car chassis, catching his breath. He got a sudden urge to look behind him. Standing partially in the darkness between two stacks of car parts was the last youma. It was green and possessed scales like a lizard.
Looks like a giant crocodile... oh no... where the hell is Megumi?! She's supposed to save me from this stuff!! Tsubasa panicked.
Tsubasa bolted just as the youma's extra long tongue flew out of its mouth towards him, just missing his leg. Tsubasa ran like his life depended on it... in fact, it did. Tsubasa's mind raced trying to think what he should do. He couldn't go back to Megumi; what if she was still fighting that punker guy?
Tsubasa screamed as he felt something wrap around his ankle. He grabbed onto a forklift's blade in front of him, and turned his head behind him. The youma's tongue had attached itself around his ankle and was trying to pull him into its fang filled mouth. Tsubasa whimpered loudly and held on even tighter to the forklift.
Oh god, I was right; I'm going to get eaten by a youma! I knew this would happen, damnit, why didn't I stay with Sanjuro or at the apartment?! You idiot, you just had to stay with her, you sap! She doesn't even like you! Oh god what if this thing eats like a snake?! I'll be digested for days!!
"Oh nooooooo!!" Tsubasa howled.
Tsubasa heard a whisper behind him and felt a gust of wind. He suddenly fell flat on his face onto the floor as the youma soared over him riding a whirlwind. Tsubasa covered his eyes as the youma was impaled on the two forklift blades, its blood splattering all over him. Tsubasa blinked up at the creature dangling on the forklift, twitching slightly.
What... what happened? Did Megumi...? Oh god, this is disgusting...
Tsubasa pried the dead youma's tongue from his ankle and tried to wipe the blood off his face. He turned around to his saviour.
"Megumi, you have... you're not... who are you?"
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"Such a pity," mocked Khairephon, "here I thought I had finally met a worthy opponent, but it looks like you'll die like all the others who have faced me."
Sailor Mars had never felt such fear before in all her life. She knew at the back of her mind that it wasn't real, that the terror was some sort of power Khairephon possessed, but still she was completely petrified. Mars' breathing was quick and shallow as adrenaline pumped through her veins at a frenzied rate. Sailor Mars knew she had to move or she would die but just couldn't do it.
Khairephon chuckled and swatted her like a fly with a large hand. Mars was knocked onto her back and slid along the floor. She curled into a ball, her eyes tightly shut. She was aware of blood trickling out her nose but it only served to heighten her terror even more. She heard Khairephon laugh evilly at her again.
Don't let it end like this...
Sailor Mars wondered where that thought had come from. Didn't she want it all to end? She had thought she did... but Khairephon was still alive. But Mars had fought so hard already; didn't she deserve to finally rest? Her body hurt all over. The demon was still laughing at her. Her heart beat hard in her ears. No, this was the end... she had always thought she would go out in a blaze of glory, not quivering on the floor like a coward. Mars gasped suddenly. She felt something; deep inside her... it was like a force was pulling her, calling her. It wasn't strong, it was barely there in fact... but she still felt it. Sailor Mars blinked her blurry eyes open. Her photo was in front of her face, the one of her and Usagi. It must have fallen out of her coat sometime during the fight.
No... I can't give in; I can't let that beast go. I can't die, not when... I'm needed...
The stray thought was getting stronger. Sailor Mars was needed. If she died here, who would destroy Khairephon? He would be able to re-establish his hold on Yokohama, bring more youma... the other Sailor Senshi didn't know about him. But that didn't feel right... was that why she was truly needed? It didn't matter; Usagi would be put in danger no matter why she was needed. Mars eyes focused on Usagi's face in the photo. Khairephon was a powerful being, if Mars fell here Usagi and the other Senshi would have to fight it. Usagi could be hurt or even killed. Sailor Mars trembled; not due to her terror from Khairephon, but from the fear of what could happen to Usagi. No fear from a monster could ever compare to that.
The icy grip on Sailor Mars' heart evaporated. Khairephon stopped laughing and roared, bringing his sword-nails down at her. Mars uncurled and rolled backwards onto her feet, Khairephon's nails raking four deep lines in the floor.
"FIRE SOUL BIRD!"
A bird of flame flew at the demon, colliding with his wide chest and spreading flames around him. He laughed at her useless attack and took another swipe at her. Mars ducked desperately, knowing that a single strong hit would be enough to kill her outright. Khairephon's claws tore a steel girder asunder, the ravaged metal squealing loudly.
I need a plan right now!
Mars leapt over a conveyer belt just before Khairephon ripped the whole thing out of the floor and threw it at her. Mars dived and rolled under a large shelf that stored crates full of car engine parts. The conveyer machinery smashed into the shelf and caused it to topple. Mars threw herself out of the way as crates fell down, cracking open and spilling parts everywhere. The great beast roared again, the foundations of the factory shaking. Sailor Mars stopped running and turned to face Khairephon, her feet sliding slightly backwards on the floor. She whipped out an ofuda.
"Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, sai, zen. Akuryou taisan!"
Sailor Mars threw the ward at the demon, the paper landing on his leg. Khairephon sniggered as the ofuda disintegrated.
"You really think that pathetic ward can stop an entity of my strength? My power?! DIE WORM!!" he screamed.
Khairephon charged forward trampling everything in his wake, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Mars cursed and ran, the demon chasing after her and roaring. Mars ducked as a half finished car sailed over her head and crashed into a pile of oil drums. Mars had no idea what she could do. Khairephon seemed to be unstoppable. She wished Mercury were here with her computer to find a weak spot on the creature.
Maybe I can use his size against him
Mars gasped as something grabbed her long coat, lifting her off her feet and into the air. She smelt sulphur. Sailor Mars turned her head and saw that Khairephon had snapped up her coat in his mouth. Mars reacted fast and slipped her arms out of her coat, falling into a crouch on the floor near the beast. She ran quickly through his legs and behind him. Khairephon let her coat fall and lashed out with his tail at Mars. Sailor Mars dived forward letting the bony tail swing over her. She curled into a roll and turned to face the demon.
"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
Sailor Mars drew her fiery bow and shot an arrow into Khairephon's back. The arrow imbedded in the demon and exploded into flames. Khairephon growled as the fire charred his muscle, his tough hide having been slightly penetrated by the arrow.
Good, I've pissed him off
Mars leapt onto the main car production line, running down the conveyer belts. Khairephon turned after her and charged. Sailor Mars ran through a heavy spray paint machine, enclosed in hard metal on all sides. Khairephon continued his enraged charge, barging into the machine trying to get Mars. Sailor Mars kept running like crazy, breathing hard. She ran through the other end of the machine just as Khairephon's large mouth chomped at her, his teeth lightly scraping her back. Mars cried out and stumbled forward, falling on her stomach. She rolled over and looked into Khairephon's demonic eyes, his head and some of his shoulders sticking out of the distorted paint machine.
"Gotcha," panted Sailor Mars, "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
Khairephon's eyes widened as Mars fired an arrow of flame. The arrow soared true, and pierced one of the demon's yellow eyes then burst alight. Khairephon howled in agony, his eye destroyed and brain starting to melt.
"NOOOOO! You can't! I don't lose!! I DON'T LOSE!! I NEVER LOSE!!"
"First time for everything," smiled Mars grimly, "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
A second arrow ripped into Khairephon's other eye, despite him closing the eyelid. He screamed an unearthly death cry as the arrow exploded, cooking his brain, his sulphur breath enveloping Sailor Mars. Khairephon's huge head collapsed on the conveyer belt and lay still, smoke billowing from his empty eye sockets. As Sailor Mars watched, his body turned a sickly green and began decaying at a tremendous rate.
Sailor Mars lay back on the conveyer belt. She had won. She had killed the youma leader, Khairephon. Sure, there were probably still some youma survivors out there but she doubted they could do any real damage without their leader. Mars let out a deep breath, disturbing the wisps of smoke coming from Khairephon's body. She had won and she was still alive. Sailor Mars didn't know how she felt about that.
Back to my miserable life I guess... I wonder if I still have my job...
Mars frowned. She still felt that tiny pulling deep inside her... that minute call... but Khairephon was dead, there was nothing else she was needed for. However, Sailor Mars still felt the call, she felt an urge to get up and move somewhere.
Sailor Mars was woken from her thoughts by footsteps to her right. She rolled her head towards the sound, expecting to see Tsubasa... or the last youma. Tsubasa was there, but someone else was beside him. A woman with long dark green hair and dressed in a Sailor Senshi fuku. The staff she carried rapped on the floor as she walked. Tsubasa and Sailor Pluto came to a stop a few feet from Mars.
"...She... she saved me from that other youma," said Tsubasa, nervously looking at the huge rotting corpse of Khairephon.
Sailor Mars looked up at Pluto from the conveyer belt, her stomach tightening in fear. She had come to get her... that could only mean one thing: Usagi was in some sort of trouble and needed Sailor Mars. And not just any trouble; but trouble that was seriously dangerous, that would threaten her princess' life.
Sailor Pluto stared at Mars' battle weary body for a moment and then looked her in the eyes. Pluto opened her mouth to speak the words Sailor Mars knew were coming but dreaded nonetheless...
"That time has come..."
Part fourteen |
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