Folder 1: Bust out the B / The Good Guy is a Dopant?
It was the dead of night. A young man lay face down in a pool of what was clearly his own blood. He was going to die, that was for certain. "I don't want to die.", the boy muttered raggedly. His whole body was shaking, a mere step down from the violent convulsions he had been having earlier on. "I don't want to die.", he repeated. Despite the stubborn show, he knew that his time was at hand. "I don't want to die.", he continued. "I definitely don't want to die. Soon his sight grew blurry, fogging up what was left of his vision from the dark's doing. The smell of salty tears mixed with the nauseous copper of blood. I don't want to die.
"You.", an old man's voice carried over to the prone youth. "Are still alive.", it was a statement, not a question.
A switch clicked within the young man's mind, demanding him to look up. His eyes could not discern even this elder's features, neither could his other senses perceive anything but the blood about him. One thing that pierced through all the muddled senses however was fear.
The figure shifted in the young man's sight, a slight change in position of a blurred dark blob of black and some unknown colors. "Are you here to finish what he started?", the youth questioned.
Another slight shift that the youth detected sent another shiver down his spine. Cold mirthful laughter spliced between the elder man's words as he spoke, "Me? Align myself with such filth as that? No, I am not here to finish what he started, rather I am here to finish him.".
He referred to the youth's attacker, a middle-school student just like the dying boy. He was in possession of a gaia memory. Gaia memories were the fad nowadays compared to guns, they gave the person more power than any firearm and the crimes were cleaner than any cover-up give or take how careless the user was. The two boys had somewhat of a history which resulted in a long term vendetta. The culmination of it all was at a time of ten minutes ago.
Now the dying young man was not stupid. His brain was foggy but functional. "You killed him.", his accusation silenced the elder man.
"Yes.", the old man verbally smiled, "Yes I did.".
"Then…", the youth closed his eyes. The darkness embraced him, calling him away from the warmth and into the cold. "You'll kill me too.".
"Kill you?", the old man sounded puzzled. "Why would I kill you boy?".
The boy opened his eyes, "Do you need a reason to kill at all?".
The elder man remained silent, pondering the boy's words.
"Then you're going to kill me?", the boy asked again.
Pensively, the old man spoke, "I merely came out here because someone was causing a ruckus within my grounds. I cannot tolerate such.".
"So you'll leave me here to suffer then.", the boy sighed wearily. "A death so close and yet so far.", he mused with a bitter smile.
"Terror.", the old man spoke again.
"?", the boy replied as intelligently as he could.
"Are you not terrified of me boy?", the old man questioned. "Many have come before me and quailed at the mere sight. No, the mere presence of me sends them running away in a frenzy. Despite your dying state, why do you not fear me?".
"Soon.", the young man spoke. "I'll die, that's for sure.". The tone was grim and final, no hope nor resigned despair, merely acceptance. "Why", he continued, "should I be afraid of the person who could make things easier for me? What else should you be afraid of when you're at death's door?".
A snort of disgust escaped the elder man. "I see that you are still a child. You believe that death is the answer and shun life while you are still clinging by a thread. You are still immature for you speak with such cheek.".
Silence fell upon the two. The youth was silent, so much so that the old man had been convinced that the boy had already passed on. He was about to walk away when he heard a strangled snarl. "What do you know?", the voice hissed. "What do you know about dying when you aren't the one bleeding your life away?".
The old man turned to the youth once more with an impressed expression. "You would preach death to an old man who is closer to death than a child like you?".
"It's true that you're always standing closer to death than I do, but right now. Death is at my side, waiting for my heart to stop beating. He's much closer to me than to you at this moment.", the boy coughed from forcing himself to speak. He could feel his lungs weakening from the thinning blood. "Even though we're here.", he gasped for breath, "even if we accept our death.", he coughed up blood. "We are definitely, clinging to life.", some sort of sick heady feeling took over the youth. He could feel his insides shut down one by one. "Definitely and desperately.", he cried. His eyes closed and unconsciousness claimed him. Tears flowed down in a steady stream.
The old man watched the boy in his final moments. He heaved a sigh, pulling out a gaia memory. "Boy.", he rolled the youth over. "Appreciate well what I am doing for you. In return, fight till this life I lend you is no more.". The old man pressed the button upon the gaia memory, activating it, before stabbing the object into the youth's left wrist.
A few months later
A young boy ran across the street. Car horns honked and people screamed profanities at his sudden act but he didn't care. He pushed and shoved as hard and as much as it took, just as long as he could run away from them.
The bullies were chasing him again. For some time they had stopped bothering him, he thought it had ended when their leader passed away. In a few weeks time however, his theory was proven otherwise when they beat him senseless after school.
The boy jumped up a mesh fence, knowing full well that his own neighborhood was just past it. He was just a moment too slow at his climb as a hand latched onto his ankle. He felt it pull him down roughly. The sound of bone slugging pavement was unpleasant to hear and even more so to feel.
"A bit on the slow side aren't we, Kagami-kun?", the lead bully spoke. "And here I wondered why Gon was always having trouble with you. Right boys?", the tall boy grinned over at his clique of cronies.
"What do you want Koga.", Kagami Teo grunted in pain. He rolled onto his side, reaching for the back of his head. The pain from the sudden impact was still throbbing as he took a kick to the gut.
"Tch, When does trash like you refer to Koga-san like that you little punk?", a dread locked boy with a Jamaican styled beanie of bright colors grunted. He continued to kick the defenseless heap with no mercy.
"Hey, hey. Calm down Ryou. If you beat him down too badly then we can't make him convince her to come with us.", the group's blonde smooth talker shrugged with mocking disappointment. He looked towards his leader, "That'd be pretty bad, right Koga-san?".
"That's true Ichiro.", Koga's grin turned to a sinister smirk. "Fuyumi would be mad if we killed this little punk.". The Lanky teen approached the beaten down boy. He pushed Ryou away since it would be difficult to communicate with someone who was being treated like a soccer ball. He bent down to Teo's level. "So Kagami-kun, had enough?", he asked the pathetic looking youth.
"What do you want?", Teo repeated in a defeated voice. The boy felt his whole body groan with every move he made. Breathing was impaired as well after all those kicks to his ribs. This was bad, the real pain had yet to begin and Teo knew it. His only hope was to conform to whatever errand they were to set him on.
Koga grabbed Teo by the boy's short black hair. "What I want is for you to tell Fuyumi Asakawa that we want her to do us a couple of favors.", he said nastily.
"Favors.", Teo repeated. These guys were sick and he hated that. The only chance that he wouldn't have to pay hospital bills again was to give in to this demand.
Teo knew Fuyumi Asakawa personally. Heck they were childhood friends bordering family. He had stayed with her family after his father passed away. His parents had divorced when he was still a baby so he didn't understand anything then. She hadn't come to take custody of him either after his father's passing. He always believed that she hated him since all his relatives did, saying he was a stain to the family name.
Within the Asakawa household, Fuyumi was the elder sister Teo never had. She always looked out for him and protected him even though they were of the same age. She would listen to anything he said, as long as it was for his sake. He knew it, they knew it. The knowledge of it all made Teo's gut swirl in nauseous patterns.
Teo grit his teeth. "What kind of favors are we talking about?", he feigned ignorance to the gang's malicious intentions towards his adopted sister.
"Eh?", Koga gave him a funny look. "I knew you were stupid Teo.", the lanky teen stood up. He sighed, "But I didn't know it was this bad.". Quick as a flash he hit in the face, sending the young man sprawling once more.
"You must be all sorts of blind.", Koga continued. "I mean, can't you see those curves? Those sexy hips and that rack, any guy worth his nuts would tap that.", he said as a lecherous grin spread over the faces of the whole gang.
"We're only 14. How could you think of rape and exploitation so easily?", Teo grunted through the pain.
Koga snorted. "God, you're such a loser. 14's the age of rebellion man. We do what we want, when we want, where we want, if we want to.", the gang leader leaned his face down to Teo's level, "And there isn't anyone around who can stop us.".
Kill
Teo shuddered under the gang leader's declaration.
Kill them
Teo's hand weakly reached for his school blazer's inner pocket.
There is no choice. KILL THEM!
The injured boy's hand hesitated as it neared the hidden space. Should he really do it? Were his options so limited now? Did he have to resort to that?
Teo retracted his hand from his pocket. No, he had another choice. It would be hard, it would be painful, but everyone would be happier, right?
"I won't do it.", he answered with determination. "I won't tell her to go with you guys. I never will!", he shouted.
"You bastard.", Ryou walked up to deliver another kick to Teo's swelling face.
The victim braced for impact. Instead of feeling pain, he heard it instead from another's voice.
"Y-you!", Ryou's familiarly ratty voice grated in outrage.
Teo opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him was not entirely unwelcome. It was Fuyumi at his rescue. Her unevenly layered raven hair was as neatly wild as always, swaying with the dusk wind. Her sharp eyes which were usually rounded with kindness currently burned with a fire rivaling a sword's forge. "What have you been doing to Teo?", she hissed in demand.
"Fuyumi-chan", Koga went up to her. "You're as beautiful as always.", he began good-naturedly.
The girl had none of it, immediately clocking him in the face. "Don't you come near me you traitorous lapdog.", she growled at him.
Teo knew what the name meant. Koga had been a relatively pleasant acquaintance of both himself and Fuyumi for awhile. It was actually through him that they met up with the first person to ever bully Teo, Gon. Gon had taken a rather deep-seated interest with Fuyumi, physically. Teo had intervened and that started the whole mess, including Koga backstabbing them to side with Gon's much larger crew.
Koga had two fingers pinching his nose while he struggled to straighten himself up. "Wow!", the lanky teen chuckled with shaking knees. "You almost broke my nose there.", he stared at her straight in the eye. "I think that's kinda sexy. Wanna be mine?".
Fuyumi bristled at the comment. "Not even after I die.", she snarled.
She turned on her heel and knelt down to Teo's level. Her expression changed from enraged to kindly so fast that the wounded boy would have been amazed had he not grown used to it already. "Are you alright Teo?", she asked him softly. Her eyes and hands quickly perused him of all his injuries. "They got you real bad.", she said with a sad smile.
"Guess they did.", Teo offered a strained smile, though it dropped as he winced from his aching ribs.
His adoptive sister frowned. "They've gone too far.", she motioned to stand.
"No.", Teo held her back. "Forget it. Let's just leave. We shouldn't get into trouble."
Fuyumi held Teo's hands in hers. "You may forgive them for everything.". She carefully placed them by his side. "But I can't.", she gave him a warming smile. "Or more of I won't.", she declared, getting back on her feet.
Ryou who had been hit earlier before his boss stood back up. "Oh you're in for it now.", he pulled out a knife from his pocket. He yelled a battle cry as he charged forward.
Fuyumi regarded him coldly. Reflexes that were well honed from years of practice kicked in. A pair of accurate kicks later and the sole of Fuyumi's foot was embedded in Ryou's face while the knife was sent flying into a wooden fence.
The dread-locked youth slid down to the ground unconscious. The femme fatale proceeded to give every other gang member a cold once over. "Anyone else?", she challenged.
They all looked to their leader who regained his bearings some time ago. Koga shrugged, "If she wants us all at once then why not?". His nasty grin came back. "Get her.".
"Every one of you is dead.", Fuyumi's stony gaze made them hesitate in their advance. It was all she needed to weave amongst their ranks. She beat them down, one after the other without pause.
Three minutes hadn't even passed when the last body fell, that of which was Koga's. From it all, the only sign Fuyumi had been in a fight at all was the sweat glistening against her flawless peach skin.
"Are you okay Teo?", the victorious girl came to the fallen boy's aid. "Can you stand?".
Teo looked around before commenting, "Don't worry. Compared to those guys, I'm much better off.".
A mischievous smile replaced the worry on Fuyumi's face. "That's good to know.", she easily dragged Teo up to support him on her shoulders. "That tells me that I've hurt them enough.", she frowned a bit cutely. "Though I'm pretty sure I should have done worse.".
The injured boy swung his weight which wasn't being supported by Fuyumi, almost knocking them both off balance. He had her in his arms while his laugh echoed about.
A bright red flush heated The girls cheeks, feeling Teo's body pressed so close against hers. "Thanks for looking out for me.", she heard him whisper between laughs. "Fuyumi-nee-san.".
Fuyumi looked torn as she listened to his words. Though Teo could not see it, something was tugging at Fuyumi's heart. All she could do was reply, "I'll always look out for you. From now on and till the end of time.".
It didn't take long for them to reach home. As was said, they were pretty much in their neighborhood anyway, it was only a few blocks left.
"Okaeri!", the pair greeted as they entered the house. It was quiet, just as it always had been in the Asakawa household. Both parents were hard workers whose jobs were in the service of people. Mrs. Asakawa is a doctor and usually came home on her breaks, though because of her expertise as a surgeon she would be called away on various emergency cases. Mr. Asakawa on the other hand is a policeman. His position was only patrol but he held great pride in it as shown by how he treats his motorcycle so well. Sadly he was also absent from home till late at night since he held double shifts.
The teens quickly changed to their house shoes after which Fuyumi promptly led Teo to the living room couch.
"Stay there.", she commanded. "I'll just get the first-aid kit from the bathroom. Don't move okay?".
Teo shook his head, "I won't, promise.". He watched her go with a sigh. Really now, his knees were still shaking from all those hits he took earlier. She was expecting him to get up and walk off?
The young man lied on his back, appreciating the softness of the couch for all its downy goodness. He looked around himself, at the furniture, at the walls, the house and its hominess. No matter how many times Teo told himself that this was his home now, he still felt like a stranger. This house was too big and too empty. There was a living room cum dining room for the family to spend quality time together. They also had a large kitchen. It was warm but the warmth wasn't for him, it was for Fuyumi. The sick feeling from earlier came back and he contemplated shutting himself up in his room on the second floor which was alongside everyone else's.
Kill
'Stop saying stupid things', Teo mentally berated himself. It was the voice again.
Kill them and run away.
The boy grumbled. "Crazy.", he tried to convince himself. This voice was crazy, he shouldn't listen to it.
This isn't where we're supposed to be.
"Then where do I belong?", he challenged the monstrous voice.
"What are you talking about? Of course you belong here."
Fuyumi had returned with the promised kit in hand. She set it down by the table in front of the couch. "Really.", the girl huffed up. "How many times do I have to keep telling you.", she produced a bit of cotton and dipped it into peroxide with the aid of a pair of medical tongs.
Teo instinctively flinched when the piece of fluff was held against him sharply. He felt relieved when the stinging medication was applied with utmost care. He opened his eyes to stare right at Fuyumi's. He had expected to see a bit of anger and irritation like always. He didn't know what to think when disappointment, sadness and to some extent despair were set in those reflective onyx gaze. "Sorry.", the boy apologized without thinking. He didn't know why but he felt like he had just said something horrible.
The saddened girl tried to brush it off. "It's okay.", she heaved. "It's just", her hands paused in their work. "I always thought that you'd be here with us Teo.", she began, "but as the years go on. It feels like you're drifting farther and farther. When I think about you deciding if there's somewhere better than here, I can't help but wonder if there's something I could do to make you stay.". She rested her hands against her lap. "I'd do anything.".
"Don't", Teo placed a caring hand over hers. "Don't lose yourself over me. You've got so much ahead of you nee-san. You're pretty, you're smart, you're strong, and you're even good at chores. I'm sure somewhere out there is someone whom you'll make very happy and can make you happy as well.".
It hurt. It hurt to say those words to her. He felt like he was resigning himself to a fate that should be alone. Of course he wanted to stay with the Asakawas, he wanted to be a part of the family badly. He could feel it though, something akin to curse that would not let itself be identified intertwined with his future. He felt that he was born into a miserable existence that would be able to do nothing but bring misfortune. That feeling turned into reality whenever he recalled the events of months past. That one night at the museum, the night Gon died and he survived.
The boy looked around, trying to find someway to lift the dark mood that had come over them. The TV at this afternoon would be nothing but news. A movie would just be awkward so no DVD. "Oh.", he exclaimed when something caught his eye.
"Teo?", Fuyumi looked up to him. "What is it?".
The aforementioned boy just smiled at her. "How about some music?", he suggested. He took his companion's silence as a yes so he limped his hurt self over to the antique radio that Mr. Asakawa had bought and doted over for as long as he could remember. He twisted the dials as static began to clear into a discernable voice.
"21.0 FM! Wind Wave! Get that power song!", the familiar jingle played.
"Teo.", Fuyumi gave him a flat stare. "What are you doing?".
Teo shrugged despite the pain he was in. "Thought I'd lighten things up. You love her show right? Wakana-hime's.", he stated as a matter-of-factly.
As if to prove his point, the radio idol's debut single Naturally began to play. "Sonozaki Wakana's Healing Princess!", the radio cooed mystifyingly.
Fuyumi flushed a light pink. "You know about that?", she asked him sheepishly. It was a somewhat secret hobby of hers, her fandom for the Sonozaki idol that is.
"I should know.", he sat down gingerly back in his seat. "We're siblings after all.".
Again, that torn smile from before adorned Fuyumi's lips. "Yeah, siblings.", she echoed. "Now move over so I can get at those bruises.", she pounced him. The sudden light-hearted act surprised him. With her, Teo felt that any day could get better.
"It's time for Fuuto Mystery Tour.", the radio chimed.
"It seems we've missed the start.", Teo murmured underneath all the bandages and plaster on his face.
"Mou and it's all your fault.", Fuyumi slapped his arm playfully.
Teo rubbed his arm. "That's a bit too much strength. I'm still injured you know.", he mumbled out.
Fuyumi's response was to thrust a pillow in the boy's face to silence him, "Shh quiet! This is my favorite part.". She balled herself up on the couch. All her concentration focused on the radio.
The injured boy just sighed, she's always been into superstitious stuff. There was nothing he could do about that trait of hers, besides appreciating it as one of her endearing quirks.
"Today's letter comes from radio name Namae. Namae says: "Dear Wakana-hime-sama", The radio idol paused for a while as a small laugh could be heard over the radio. "I've been called Wakana-hime and Wakana-sama a lot but I've never been called Wakana-hime-sama. It's a bit of a shock you know. Oh? I should carry on? Haha the director is glaring at me through the glass again. Anyway, ahem "Wakana-hime-sama, I've been seeing some very strange things at night in Ayumi park. Sometimes I see shadows playing in the moonlight but when I look, there's nothing there. It's very very scary. Actually I once thought to catch this shadow but when I arrived at where I believed it to be, I saw a fallen sparrow all dried up enough that when I touched it it crumbled into sand. It was very scary. Poor bird I hope it went peacefully. Your fan, Namae.".
Wakana paused for a breath. "Ooh, what a scary urban legend we have today. I wonder if it's related to all those dry spells we've been having in the various parts of the city. It's really strange no? Anyway everyone is feeling uneasy about these events.", the idol gave an audible shudder, "I hope kamen rider can do something about this scary thing ne?".
"That's not an urban legend.", Fuyumi said quietly from her fetal position on the couch.
"Hm?", Teo turned to her.
"The dry spells are no urban legend.", she told him solemnly. "I've seen them, those things in Ayumi park. Flowers, animals, a lot of them, crumbling into dust.", she went quiet. She bent her head down shutting everything out.
Teo watched hesitantly, not knowing what to do when his adoptive sister was in this pensive state. It must have affected her deeply, for her to be like this.
He reached into his pocket, feeling the ribs that were embossed from the objects rectangular body. A bad vibe came over the boy as he kept on thinking about the urban legend and his sister's words of witnessing the after effects. It was more than that, he was sure. If worse came to worst, then he would use it when the time came. He prayed that time would never come to pass.
-----
Fuuto museum also known as the Sonozaki Estate
The rich cream walls were bright with the chandelier lights bouncing off of them. Within the grand hall was a long table where three individuals sat whilst two maids waited on them.
"Otou-sama.", one of the extravagantly dressed individuals, a woman in her mid-twenties called her father's attention at the table head.
The old man referred to as the father and owner of Sonozaki estate, the one rumored to be the most influential man in Fuuto, Sonozaki Ryuubei grumbled childishly as he replaced the fork of pasta he had been trying to feed the family cat with. "What is it Saeko?", he questioned patiently, "I was feeding Mikk his dinner, I hope this is something important.".
Saeko nodded, "Of course otou-sama. It is about the memory I gave you to examine for approval. It was still a prototype so I was wondering if we should begin mass-producing it for distribution.".
Ryuubei thought for but a moment before answering, "Ah yes, that memory. That was the one you sent to me about two months ago is it not?".
"Yes, otou-sama", Saeko politely nodded.
"We will not make copies of it yet, rather we cannot.", the old gentleman took up his fork to feed the family cat once again.
Saeko's brows raised to unimaginable heights for the maids had never seen her so distressed. "What do you mean otou-sama? Is there something wrong with the memory?".
On the other side, a familiar snicker caused the elder Sonozaki child, Saeko, to glare at her younger sister across the table.
"What do you find so funny, Wakana?", Saeko spoke coldly with half a mind of showing her sister just who was superior between them and who had the right to laugh at whom.
"Oh.", Sonozaki Wakana, radio talent and second child of the Sonozaki family quieted herself. "Sorry onee-sama", she spoke with as much politeness as she could muster.
Ryuubei sighed, he missed his daughter's former spitfire self. Ever since that incident with the violence dopant, she had become rather soft so to speak. "Saeko.", he broke up the impending scuffle between the two. "The memory you had me appraise is no longer in my possession.", he firmly declared. A smile was on his face as he watched Mikk finally nibbling on the Italian dish.
"But that memory was something we struggled hard to recreate! It was of the highest purity amongst our stock. What could have happened to it?", Saeko went into an internal panic. The words were said with relative calm and, God forbid, curiosity. "Did someone steal it from you?", she could not help but ask her father. Was someone even powerful enough to steal something from the grasp of terror incarnate himself?
The Sonozaki head waved off his daughter's suspicions. "Think nothing of the sort. I merely gave it away to an interesting boy.", he continued on feeding Mikk.
"An interesting boy?", Saeko felt faint. That memory's data quality was almost impossible to obtain, to just give it away. "Why otou-sama?", she could not help but press for an answer.
"Like I said.", Ryuubei repeated. "He is interesting. I look forward to seeing how far the memory will evolve in his hands.".
"Does he have what it takes? Even if he reaches level 2, he might die before providing any useful data.", Saeko reasoned. "Please give me permission to retrieve it.".
"Saeko.", the elder Sonozaki spoke with firm authority that scared everyone in the room. "Though it pains me that you have so little faith in me, I understand your concern for the memory's well being. It has yet to be activated since the night I gave it to him.", he conceded.
"Then give me permission.", Saeko's voice bled desperation. Something Ryuubei never forgave Saeko for was weakness. Desparation was clear sign of such weakness. Luckily for her the old man was deep in thought over the memory.
Ryuubei replaced his fork as he stroked Mikk's fur. "The memory stays with that boy.", the Sonozaki head declared. "He will evolve, beyond even Kirihiko-kun could ever reach.".
The room fell silent for a bit. For different reasons, Sonozaki Kirihiko, the son-in-law was mourned for. The one who mourned him most but at the same time despised the man was Wakana. The last time she had seen him, he seemed refreshed and prepared to take on the world. Imagine to her shock at the knowledge of her brother by law being called in dead the same day. "If I may be so bold Otou-sama.", Wakana raised a question. "What makes this person so special? I don't think you would have given him a driver. He would just be a regular dopant.".
"Hmm?", Ryuubei looked pleased that his younger daughter was finally taking a serious interest in their wares. "My dear child Wakana.", the kingpin smiled. "Think for a moment about his situation. A mere bio-connector and yet he's already kept himself from using it for two months. An amazing feat is it not?".
Wakana nodded warily, not sure what kind of person would be able to fight off the intense cravings brought on by the illegal technology. "I suppose, but such restraint, would it not hinder his growth? I mean the memory's growth?".
"For once I agree with Wakana.", Saeko added. "We should eliminate him while we are at it. Someone who can control his gaia memory addiction may tell others of us.".
"He will not.", The father of the two spoke. "I know he won't, because I remember those eyes he had when he escaped from here using the memory's power.", Ryuubei smiled. "Those were the eyes of a beast, a beast that is struggling to survive. That memory will be his only lifeline.".
Curiosity took hold of Wakana when she decided to ask, "What do you mean otou-sama?".
The old man chuckled as he relayed to his daughters, "It is nothing of importance my dear. It is merely a game I am playing. Soon that memory will come alive once again and we will see what that boy can truly do.".
-----------------
The next day, on the streets of Fuuto
"C'mon! Hurry up Teo!", Fuyumi called back to her adoptive sibling.
The aforementioned boy came ambling up the sloped street. "Hold up, I'm still injured you know.", he grumbled slightly, referring to all the bandages on his face, not to mention grabbing hold of his ribs every now and then which truly hurt from yesterday's meeting.
"But we're gonna be late!", The raven-haired girl glared with hands akimbo.
"No, you're going to be late. It's like 5 o'clock in the morning. Classes don't start till 8 you know.", the boy grumbled. He could not stifle the yawn that escaped his lips. As if to prove the point of it being too early, even the cats that were curled up on the brick walls yawned widely.
Fuyumi gave him a disapproving look. "Don't be such a lazy butt. Archery practice starts way earlier in other schools.", she huffed up.
"God.", The young man resisted the urge to bash his head against the same wall where the aforementioned cats were. The lack of sleep was making his head buzz.
Here
Teo shook his head to clear the lethargy, it was getting so bad that he was hearing voices.
Through here
The youth had the sudden urge to look over at the brick walls. "This is…", he breathed.
"Ayumi Park!", Fuyumi ran up beside him. Unlike Teo, she looked fresh as a daisy. An idea struck the girl as her expression betrayed that fact. "Hey!, we can cut through here to our school! I might be able to get to practice on time after all.", she ran in the nearby entrance without another thought.
"Fuyumi-nee-san!", Teo yelled after her. "Ugh, morning people.", he grumbled as he jogged to catch up. Due to his sleepiness or some other fate, he grazed the gate but ignored it as he continued on his way.
That section of the gate crumbled into nothing but dust.
Another is here
It was getting harder for Teo to breathe so he stopped for a sit at a nearby fountain. He wasn't used to physical exertion so it was no surprise he had completely lost sight of his athletic sister. "I need to get out more.", he vocalized his regrets. Then again, whenever he stepped out for a casual stroll he'd usually get mugged, beaten up or both.
Teo sighed dejectedly, "Nothing ever goes my way does it?".
Mreowr
The teen jumped at the sound. He looked down to his feet where he was sure the noise came from. "Oh", he breathed relief, "It's just a cat.".
Some things are more than what they seem
"Crap, I'm seriously getting some shut eye once I hit my seat.", Teo scooped a handful of water from the fountain and splashed it on his face.
"Mreowr", the cat came closer and nudged his leg.
The boy looked puzzled. "What do you want?", he asked as he picked the feline up.
It was fat and gray with a physique that just showed how little it moved about. The most interesting thing was the note attached to its back via the belt wrapped around it.
"Huh", the young man said in wonder, "Messenger cat, how about that.". He decided that it must have been some kid's practical joke or something so he released the cat of its burden.
It deftly leapt off his lap with agility and finesse unexpected of its build. It gave another snotty meow before it left Teo alone.
The boy watched it stalk off with a proud gait as he said uncertainly, "Uh, your welcome?".
He shook his head at his own antics for talking to a cat. "I'm going crazy. First I hear voices in my head, now I'm speaking to cats. What's next? I get a death threat?", he threw his hands up in exasperation. The act caused him to spot the piece of paper in his hand. He got curious and pulled it closer to read, it was a letter.
Boy
How are you? It is I, that old man from that night two months ago.
Teo stopped dead. Two months ago, that was the time when he got it, the time he almost died. He dove down to continue the written message, trying to figure out if this was coincidence or truly meant for him.
You had exceeded my expectations with the gift I gave you. I look forward to your future growth. However it seems that this is being hindered by your lack of its use. Not to worry, I'm sure the right circumstances will present itself in due time. Right now would be a prime example.
Good luck,
Terror.
P.S. I pray for your sister's safety.
By the time he had finished with the letter, Teo's hands were shaking like crazy. "Two months ago. Terror.", he remembered the old man. He had said that word "Terror" and for some reason that was what clung to the boy. "This can't be real.", he grabbed at his hair. In vain he tried to believe that this was all a product of his imagination.
Oh but how real it is
Teo felt the familiar pressure in his head. His hand reached into his pocket to pull out a horrific ribbed mutation of a USB drive.
The proof of reality
The young man felt bile rise up his throat at the thought. How he wished he could just throw it away, but no matter what he did, he felt that it would be wrong to just dispose of the memory. As crazy as it sounded, he felt like the memory was calling to him, a part of him even. "I should've just died then.", he hung his head in regret.
AAAHH!!
A blood curdling scream cut across the morning air.
Teo immediately bolted upright on his feet. "Nee-san", he gasped breathlessly. If the letter was serious then she'd be in danger right now. He did not think of questioning the letter's authenticity, neither did he think about what he should do when he met up with his sister. All he knew as he ran was that Fuyumi screamed, and when she screamed hell always breaks loose one way or another.
So it begins
Teo forgot all about the tiredness he felt earlier. His body was filled with adrenaline, pushing him way over what he was used to. He jumped off the path and broke through the brush that separated him from the source of the scream.
When he arrived, the lush grass and plant life of the clearing had become a virtual desert. Dunes of sand piled up everywhere, turning into miniature dust storms as winds whipped in unhindered by trees. Fuyumi stood in the middle of all this like a deer-in-headlights. Her body was rigid whilst her eyes quivered in fear of something approaching her.
The gales died down, clearing away the storm and the shadows that veiled over whatever was scaring Fuyumi.
He's here!
"Dopant.", Teo whispered in disbelief. The monster had bandages wrapped all around him, the cracks between them leaking sand. His shoulders had armor that had carvings resembling those of humans gasping for air. The chest plate had a weather worn design in contrast, as if it was cracking from dehydration. It did not have feet, instead there was sand swirling about and retracting back into the bandages that ended just above the calves. The face was unforgettable, It looked like the bandages were falling off to reveal a very dried up face. The bandage covered just one eye while the crown of the head was showing cracked bone white. The single showing eye was also dead white. The place where the mouth should have been was sewn shut over the bandages. It looked like a mummy that was half-way to dying or being revived.
"Mine.", the dopant spoke in a scratchy voice. "You'll be mine forever, Fuyumi!", The bandages that were dangling loosely over its body came to life. They struck out like live limbs intent on taking the petrified girl into their grasp.
Teo moved quickly, crossing the distance of a dozen or so meters in barely a few seconds. He tackled his sister out of harm's way, landing them both on the dusty ground. He quickly recovered and took hold of Fuyumi. "Nee-san!", he shook her. "Are you okay? Nee-san!". He called out to her as she closed her eyes, trying to block everything out. "Nee-san!", Teo shouted out again.
Slowly, Fuyumi opened her eyes again. The first face she saw was the one she prayed to see. "Teo!", she grabbed onto him, crying.
The boy was taken aback. Never had his sister clung to him like this as she was breaking down. He could do none else but hold her close and try to comfort her.
"You!", hissed the dopant. "Get away from her!", it approached with its serpentine bandages swinging.
Teo saw them coming but his sister was in no condition to move. He jumped in to take the hit which could have hurt his sister. The dirt synthetic linen smashed hard against his back, hurling both him and Fuyumi, who was still in his arms, a ways away.
The young man grimaced from the pain in his back. His cares were redirected though when he felt the pressing of a familiar body underneath him. "Nee-san!", he cried. He quickly got off to make sure she was alright. He got no response no matter how many times he called her name.
"Let her go.", the scratchy voice of the dopant reached his ears once more. "Look at her, she's been hurt because she's with you. Let her go!", the dopant demanded.
Teo looked between Fuyumi and the monstrosity approaching them. He could not help but think he would regret this decision in the long run as he let go of his adoptive sister and primed his legs for the fastest sprint he'd do in his entire life.
The dopant seemed to give off the air of someone smiling as it spoke, "Yes. Just like that. Leave her with me.". It came closer, savoring every step it took towards its prize.
That feeling quickly went downhill when Teo speared the dopant backwards, not enough to fall over but enough to hold him down. "Fool!", the dopant hissed as it struggled against the desperate youth.
"I won't leave nee-san with you!", Teo shouted determinedly. "I definitely won't!".
"Filth.", the dopant grunted out. With a heave, he tossed the young boy aside, continuing his path towards Fuyumi.
"Ugh.", Teo coughed up the air in his lungs entering and exiting in unnatural intervals. "No.", he mumbled. "No.", he repeated, shaking his head. "NO!", he screamed with a lunge at the dopant's legs.
"Let go of me!", the mummified monstrosity growled. It tried to pry itself from Teo's grip but the boy held firmly. "I don't have time for this.", it hissed.
Teo felt whatever he was holding onto suddenly lose shape, like ice suddenly melting into water. "What's going on?", he shouted in surprise.
"A little trip.", was all the answer the boy was given as the dopant turned into a storm of dust, rocks and bandages. It completely enveloped the boy tossing him about like a rag doll. "Say hello to the birds for me.", the dopant chuckled evilly at its own joke before catapulting Teo a fifty feet through the air.
The feeling of flying through the air was both exhilarating and terrifying. Exhilarating because of the sensation of air whipping through your hair and clothes gave an almost addicting high. The terrifying part was the fact that the landing could kill, especially when you're free falling from thirty feet high and fifty feet across.
Teo was lucky this time, the forest trees caught him just right that they broke his fall. "That really hurt.", he couldn't help but mutter. He was on his back, staring up at the trees. "Nee-san.", he mumbled out the first word that came to mind. "I couldn't protect her.", he told himself guiltily. "I'm useless.".
Then use me
Teo remained silent as he brooded over his current state.
Use me and we can beat him
The youth clenched his fist tightly, He contemplated, was it the right thing? Would it be for the best? Should he fight?
Not to worry, I'm sure the right circumstances will present itself in due time.
In return, fight till this life I lend you is no more.
Teo grit his teeth as he gingerly moved his hands with what little strength was left to him. He reached into his pocket to retrieve a gaia memory, the same one from earlier. He pressed on the button, activating it as it gave a vocal confirmation.
Diamond
The boy plugged it into his left wrist which had the bio-connector and let the power flow into him.
With Fuyumi, the dopant was taking its time admiring her unconscious image. It ran its hands over her, appreciating the soft curves that jutted against the many layers of the schoolgirl's uniform. Under his touch, the fabric began to chip and crack. Soon those parts just turned to dust.
"I've wanted you for so long.", the dopant spoke half-way filled with lust and the other half with love. "Now I'll finally have you, my little pet.". The monster was about to lift her up but stopped as shots were fired at it, causing the dopant to lose balance and fall over.
It stumbled to its feet due to the attack's after effects. "Who? Who dares attack me?", the monster hissed in the direction where the shots were fired off.
In the distance near the border where trees were left standing around the miniature desert, a lone figure glinted against the rising sun. It was coming closer, slowly but surely if the brightening glint wasn't enough. It had one arm raised forward pointing right at the dopant molesting Fuyumi. It only said one thing as it came enough to hear, "She's not an object.".
The mummified dopant felt anger stir up within it. "She's mine!", it roared rushing forward.
"Not if I can help it!", the newcomer gave a shout of equal intensity.
The sandy dopant rushed forward with sand and bandages whipping about. It threw forward a right hook that the other just ducked under. The newcomer reciprocated with a hit to the gut that sent the dopant sliding back.
"Ugh.", the dopant grunted out. "What are your fists made of? Diamonds?", it cursed the amount of agony it was going through from a single hit.
That was exactly what the dopant was up against though. A dopant made of diamonds, the diamond dopant. For a dopant it looked quite normal compared to most. Its face was a four-sided diamond shaped similar to those of playing cards. Its arms, legs and body looked like they were flowing with liquid crystal. Its forearms, shins, chest and torso were encased in solid diamond. What made it so unique most probably was the crystalline structure around its waist that resembled a belt along with the two spikes that stuck out of its head like antennae.
The diamond dopant completely ignored the sandy dopant's question, preferring to keep the battle going as it shot diamond bullets out of its left hand's fingers. The sandy dopant took the shots but this time it was prepared.
The diamond dopant looked confused as the shots just seemed to sink into the sandy dopant. In return the one being shot at just laughed, "Hahaha, you may have ridiculous offensive powers given to you by that diamond body, but that means nothing when you're fighting against something that's not even solid.".
The sandy dopant roared, "You're dead!". It charged forward with surprising speed. It had taken its sandstorm like form to overwhelm the diamond dopant. It threw the diamond dopant around till it was satisfied with the amount of craters that were beginning to form in the desert landscape. It then slammed the diamond dopant on the ground one last time. "I'm gonna drain you dry.", it howled in glee.
"Idiot.", the diamond dopant replied. "Crystals don't have any moisture.", it reached up and grabbed the closest bandage that flew past. One hard tug caused the whole sandstorm to stop as the diamond dopant threw its adversary a ways off.
The sandy dopant shook its head free of the dizziness from that last hit it took. It was not given enough time to recover however as a rain of blows came down on it.
The diamond dopant realized that the sandstorm like form of its opponent was still incomplete as proven by how solid whatever that thing on the other end of the bandage was. The key now was to beat the sandy dopant before it could assume the sandstorm form again.
The sandy dopant was smart enough to realize this so it launched its counterattack before the diamond dopant did its deed. The counter attack caught the diamond dopant off guard as the sandy dopant ripped its sewn mouth open and released a jet of water.
The sandy dopant fell to one knee as it gasped for breath as if it was dying. "I must have lost too much water.", it glared in the direction of the diamond dopant. "I'll remember this you bastard. I'll kill you next time.". The mummified dopant disappeared in a swirl of dust and cloth, as if it had never existed.
Meanwhile, the diamond dopant had just gotten back on its feet. It scanned the surrounding area as quickly as it could. "He's gone.", it noted.
Its sights turned to Fuyumi. She lay helplessly against the sand laden ground, alone and unprotected. Another one to kill, another one to test its power against, that was its decision as it crossed the distance between them. Its right hands drew over its head, ready to strike down and crush the girl's skull, ready to spill the blood and gore that pulsed within this human.
Stop!
The dopant tried to move but could not. "You again.", the diamond dopant grunted as it forced the raised arm to descend but to no avail.
This isn't you. Wake up!
"Shut up. I want to use this power. It doesn't matter if it's the real me or not. I'll destroy, I'll annihilate, I'll absolutely rampage just as long as I can have this high.", the dopant cackled.
Teo! Take control! Using the gaia memory at such a weak physical state has made you lose control.
"Shut up!", the diamond dopant spun wildly, lashing out with its limbs. "You're a nuisance. This is what I want, what I truly want.", the dopant now identified as Teo chuckled darkly.
"Now.", Teo turned back to Fuyumi. "it's time for me to lose it, and I'll start with you.", it brought up its hand again. "Die for me and let me experience absolute pleasure.". The dopant brought its fist down with enough force to smash steel.
Nee-san
The diamond fist stopped right before it could make contact.
"Urgh.", Teo grunted, "what's going on?". He looked down at the fallen girl. "Nee-san.", he repeated. "What am I doing?", Teo grabbed hold of himself. He spread his arms out and cried out in anguish.
It was unexpected that at the diamond dopant's time of grief, a heavy sword smashed into him. The sword sent Teo tumbling into a sand dune, while stabbing itself deeply into the ground.
Accel
"Hen-", a man in a red-hot racer jacket and equally hot-rod style pants came onto the scene. In his hands he had a Gaia memory with a speedometer styled 'A' on it. "-shin.", the man concluded, thrusting the memory into his belt buckle which resembled bike handles. The man walked forward as he revved up the buckle as he would a normal motorcycle.
Accel
Red energy formed into pistons that surrounded the man in a ring of them. The energies crashed into him, forming a bulky crimson armor that was now gaining fame as the description of Fuuto's second kamen rider, Kamen Rider Accel.
Accel walked up to the sword and pulled it out with relative ease. He said, "Now.", he began smoothly with an over head spin of the sword. "Let's swing this around.".