Fighting Spirit
By: Spitfire_Zadien
Rating: R
Genre: Romance/Action
A.N.
Zadien: Hello *Sae waves* We've collaborated on a new fic with plenty of action and swords!! *Sae parries and thrusts with her katana, Zadien rolls eyes* This chapter is kind of crap as it mainly centres on the main characters, Amber and Sonia. But this will be much darker than anything I've ever written and probably a little more comical than Sae's stuff.
Sae: You saying I'm not funny?
Zadien: Something like that. Anyway summary is: The world has gone to hell after the Blood Wars, especially Bakuten. Now every day people try to get on with their every day lives trying to ignore all the violence that appears on the news everymorning, noon and evening. But some people strive to fight the evil and make this world much more safer for them. They are known as the Hearts. They are strong and they are united. This fic follows the lives of two very different young women in their journey which leads them inevitably to the hearts and to finding their hearts with someone else.
Sae: Pairings are pretty damn obvious. They're the same as they are in every fic we've wrote and also in ChibiTaris; AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa; and Animerle's fics.
ChibiTari: Dancing on a live man's grave
AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa: On the edge of a sword? (Sorry I'm really bad with names, if I got this wrong, yell at me!! *Sae grins and points accusatory finger at Zadien who shakes her head*)
Animerle: For the love of Kane
Disclaimer: We don't own Beyblade. We do however own Amber and Ruin (Zadien) and Sonia (Sae). Miyami belongs to ChibiTari. Arista and Aspin haven't turned up but they belong to AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa and Animerle respectively.
Please review!
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Chapter One: Street Fighting
She strode down the street confidently well aware that she could take on everyone on that street and survive. This confidence exuded off her in almost visible waves. Anyone who saw her that night would have seen a beautiful yet aloof young woman of barely 18 years. Her strawberry red hair was chopped jaggedly just below her jaw bone, her features were Irish-American, some would have said cute, animated when she smiled. But she didn't smile, preferring to wear a scowl or an chilly demeanor, it had been a long time since she'd smiled. There was a tattoo of an artists impression of the Greek Goddess Artemis on the side of her abdomen, only it was hidden at that very moment by the hilt of her Katana which was resting in it's sheath under her long black duster. Her eyes were a dead bottomless black, and impossibly large. She could freeze any ones blood with one deadly cold glare. When fighters looked they saw a warrior, and her enemies saw death.
Right now she couldn't see anyone. The street was deserted, or it looked that way, but she knew better. No one knew better than Amber Benson; the dangers that lurked in the shadows. She could feel their eyes watching her, observing her smooth movements as she passed under the orange spot lights of the street lamps. She could feel the darkness pressing in around her as they edged closer. Her hairs stood on end, she could feel them coming nearer to her.
This was the most dangerous time to be out in the town. Ever since the *Blood War* of three years ago, the world had become much more dangerous, the people more deadly. The *Blood War* had been between the Scorpions and the government. The Scorpions had won, and now gangs ruled the country, while the government tried to hold on to a little bit of authority. People joined the Scorpions to keep themselves and their families safe, and some to get rich off drugs and the like. If you weren't a Scorpion then you were the enemy. But the gang members couldn't remain civil to each other and the groups divided, forming their own rules and policies, and destroying every other bands whose ideas conflicted with theirs. Many innocent people got caught in the crossfire, and it wasn't as though the police could help, which meant more and more people joined and got killed in other fights. It was a vicious circle.
Anger rose bitterly in side her as she let her gaze skim the high line of the roof tops. She was sure she was being followed but she guessed not. Not that it mattered. She'd find trouble, or more to the point, trouble would find her. It usually did. In the horizon the sky was stained with an flaming orange hue. More fires, she thought darkly. The rival gangs were constantly starting fires on rival territories and properties, trying to eliminate their enemies as quickly as possible with minimum effort.
She headed into the rough part of town, skirting the barrels of fire which lit up the back alleys. She knew this part of town like the back of the hand. She knew how to avoid gangs and knew the various types of gangs. Most avoided her like the plague, but recently others had been searching for her. She remembered a few bounty hunters who had come for her, one had even got into her apartment that morning.
She had gone running that morning to let off some pent up energy. When she had returned home, she had felt something was wrong. The hall was too quiet; although most people should have been up and awake, getting ready for work.
She had turned the handle, bending down to examine her foot as a sharp pain shot up it. As she did; there was a series of pops above her head. She had realized immediately what it was. Bullets. She had rolled to the side drawing her 9mm automatic. She didn't understand why the person had shot at her when she hadn't even been in the door. Amateurs.
More to the point *she* could have been one of her room mates. They were totally innocent and would have died for Ambers' mistakes. She wouldn't have been able to bear it if one of her best friends had gotten hurt or died because of her. Luckily, Bethan Hudson had been staying at her boyfriends a lot recently while Midge Davis had left earlier that evening to go on a field trip. She wouldn't be back until later on that day and she would go straight to the school instead of the apartment. It was with these thought whirring through her head that she had entered the room, unfortunately for the man behind it.
She had kicked in the door, gone in low and fired catching him in the hand, then on the knee. Her favorite place to shoot a man, was the knee caps. Their knee would buckle under their weight and also it meant she could glean him for information. And it was good for torture. She had drawn her Katana as she crossed to him, idly circling it over his larynx. She had kept her face emotionless as he watched her, fear consuming his eyes making his pupils dilated.
"What the fuck do you think your doing in *my* apartment?", she had asked coolly.
"I won't tell you.", he answered defiantly.
She had simply narrowed her eyes, placing the tip of the blade on the smooth skin of his throat. Letting him know that her threats were not empty. A cold sweat broke out in his forehead.
"Now I don't really want to draw blood, mainly because I don't want to clean my blade. So please just tell me. I won't ask so nicely again."
He had hissed in pain, and tilted his chin up in defiance. Why when he was scared did he still have to keep his goddamn word? Who the hell was he working for anyway? She had grimaced as blood -from his bullet wounds- seeped into her beige carpet. Blood was the worst stain to remove from any type of fabric.
Getting pissed she had placed some extra pressure on the sword and watched as it pierced his skin. He had gasped in pain, as blood trickled down his skin to his white shirt. Obviously he wasn't very good at his job. Anyone who dealt with blood did not wear white or any other colour that showed up blood, it drew unwanted attention.
"I want the info, so tell me now, who put the hit out on me?"
He had merely shook his head. Then in the next minute he jerked forward, eyes widening, he let out a gasp. He had slumped to the ground, and she caught sight of the small bloody hole in his head. The blood matted his blonde hair. She frowned slightly, feeling a slight wave of sympathy at his untimely death, which she hadn't caused. And she was still no closer to finding out who had placed a hit on her. Maybe she'd consult Tempest, she knew he'd probably have heard some of the word on the street.
But it would mean she would have to go *home* again. She didn't want to go back to the mansion. She had left home to become self sufficient, believing she didn't need her family holding her up for the rest of her whole life. She didn't need them ruling her life. She sighed. And she really didn't want to be [art of that life anymore.
It had been two years since she'd left to make it on her own. Two years since she'd left the sanctuary of being in a gang. It had taken her a while to get use to it, but soon she found her skills and expertise put into practice when she had been hired as a bounty hunter, earning herself the nick name *Huntress*. People were scared of her. They knew her reputation for always getting her mark. After awhile she began taking revenge on gang members who hurt innocents, raped women, or killed children. It didn't pay but it made her feel a little better. And then she got the big gig of taking down the Biovolt corporation.
Her cell ringing made her jump slightly in her skin. She reached for it and flipped it open, punching the little green button.
"Yeah?"
"Amber? It's Salima. Robert's got the info for the job. You up for it?"
Amber checked her watch and sighed. Robert had been previously checking out the location of a man she knew had organized gang rapes on a group of women in the surrounding area. The so called police had nothing on him, so therefore couldn't stop him; it could also have something to do with the fact that Amos had the Commissioner eating out of his hand. She had taken it on herself seeing that one of the women was a friend of Midge's. She had promised that when she found out where he was, she would hunt him down and kill him and that was exactly what she intended to do.
"Yeah, I'll get my stuff and get him tomorrow. Where is he?"
The voice on the other end of the line paused. "That's the deal Am's, it won't keep until tomorrow. From what Robert has dug up, it seems Amos has a journey to make tomorrow. He's got a flight booked for six thirty."
"Asshole, who does he think he is; fleeing town just before I avenge Teddy?!", she demanded bitterly.
Salima chuckled softly. "Robert asked me to leave you some toys in the warehouse, with a nice view into Amos' home."
That was Robert always making sure she was well looked after. She was after all his most competent bounty hunter. She deserved it.
"I just hope he doesn't have any last minute entertainment tonight. Ok give me the address.", she ordered.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Several minutes after she had received Amos' address she stood opposite his apartment. He owned the whole top floor apparently. Rich Bastard. Turning round she stole round the corner of the derelict warehouse. Amber stopped at the broken down door way. She stepped through the door way, pausing for a few minutes to let her vision adjust to the dark gloom. She made out the outline of a stair case and made her way to it. Carefully treading up the stairs being careful not to step on any rotten stairs, she reached the top floor. She glanced to the window and gratefully thanked Robert when she caught sight of the weaponry sitting by the window over looking Amos's apartment.
She cooed over the long; smooth; slender barrel of the sniper. It was one of the best snipers, -an R-36- one of her favorites. Her grin widened when she caught sight of the infra-red attachment.
"Ooh pretty.", she drawled as she slotted it onto the rifle.
After focusing the lens for a better view of the apartment, she skimmed the gun along the length of his apartment looking for any signs of life. She flicked the switch to turn on the infra red sensor, shifting the weight of the gun so that it was more comfortable. Her vision was dyed a bottle green, she searched for the tell tale red blotch. At first she couldn't see anything and for a moment she thought that he had already left but then on skimming back for the fourth time, she caught sight of it lying horizontal just a few feet above the ground. His heat was radiating equally round his body. He was asleep. Very easy.
She zoomed in on the figure and steadied her finger on the trigger. She made sure she would have a clean shot, focused on his head for a swift death. She squeezed the trigger feeling the body of the gun jerk under the pressure of release. She watched the body spasm and then lie still. The red splotch began to spread around the bed turning to a gold yellow.
"Another job well done. If I do say so myself."
She grabbed her cell out of her pocket and pressed the #3 button. She listened to the number being sped dialed. It rang once before it was answered.
"Yeah?"
"It's done.", she replied in a monotone voice, betraying no emotion. She hung up placing the cell back into her pocket again.
She laid down the gun, dismembering it again; so that if any young people came across it before Salima picked it up; they wouldn't be able to use it. She listened to sirens in the distance. No one would know about Amos's untimely demise till he didn't turn up for his appointment and by then it would be too late and she'd be long gone. They'd be unable to tie her to his death. Of course that would piss Detective Lee off. He had an inkling that the huntress was behind the last couple of murders of accused rapists. But so far he couldn't prove anything, especially since he didn't have a clear idea who the huntress was. He suspected of course, but had no real proof.
She made her way out of the building chuckling softly imagining Lees face when he came across the body. She knew he would curse the Huntress, but he would still be frustrated at not being able to do a thing about it. She continued down the street reveling in the tranquillity of the night. Adrenaline pumped through her, making her head buzz and her heart pound. The only sound on the street was the slapping of her boots on the cold cement pavement.
She folded her arms against the nip in the air. She should probably return to the apartment, now. She had warned her friends not to go home that night at school that morning. She supposed Beth would stay with her boyfriend Paul, again. Midge was staying at her parents home, Amber was supposed to go stay their that night. She wanted to check out her apartment before she went to Midge's. They needed to get their stuff, but she wouldn't let them go unless she went with them.
She was just about to turn to go home, when she noticed a young girl; not much older than herself; cross the street out of an alley, and duck into another side alley. Then she was followed by two men who skulked after her; both with a malicious aura surrounding them. Amber caught sight of the familiar long electric blue hair of one of them and sighed heavily; before chasing after them.
"Oh I know I'm so gonna regret this."
Amber watched the young girl reach a dead end and turn around only to be confronted by her two stalkers. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. Her brilliant blue eyes widened and she stiffened as one of the figures stepped forward and pressing her against the wall; licked up the side of the young girls face, making her cringe.
"Oh God, please don't."
The man murmured something in her ear and the girl whimpered, making Amber's blood boil. 'Oh for that he's gonna pay.'
The figure stepped back to stand beside the blue haired man. He leaned in and whispered something to 'blue hair', who then walked up to the girl. She watched him with frightened eyes as he stood there doing nothing.
Not waiting for anything else to happen, Amber took her chance and expertly crept forward, hidden by the shadows. She emerged out of the shadows behind the man who had licked the girl. He didn't catch onto the danger he was in. The girl was too preoccupied by her terror to notice anything around her, while the blue haired man had totally spaced.
The Huntress braced herself and placed her hands around the man. Twisting violently she snapped his neck with an audible crack. His body gave out beneath him and he slumped to the ground, head lolling to the side. Blue hair realizing something was wrong whirled round only to have his head snap round again, when Amber swung her fist at his face. He fell forward with the force. Not waiting for him to recover, she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and forced her knee into his face. She let go, letting him stumble to the side, dabbing his nose delicately. His hand came away stained with blood.
"Rayne what have I told you about terrorizing little girls? Didn't I put it well enough the last time we met?"
Blue hair, also known as Rayne spat out a mouth full of blood. "You didn't say anything, Huntress."
"Not with words no, but I think I spoke pretty well with my fists."
He cursed something in his native tongue, then rose to face her holding his nose with one hand, his hand gun -a p2k- with the other. He wore a self satisfied smirk on his lips. She gazed coolly at him. Before swinging up her foot, lighting fast. Her foot connected solidly with the hand holding the cold metal of the gun, wrenching it from his grasp. The trigger was pulled but the bullet went wide.
Rayne stared at her shocked. This time he had felt sure he had had the upper hand on the huntress, but yet again, she managed to surprise him. He stood facing her unarmed, while she, he had no doubt was probably armed to the teeth. As though reading his mind, she pushed back her duster to reveal a wicked looking hilt; which he knew from personal experience belonged to her Katana.
Damn the woman. She spoiled all his fun. She had destroyed Storm's fleet of ships carrying drugs earlier that week. Storm had been furious and was quick to lash out at the person closest to him and as always it had been Rayne. He winced at the memories. And here she was again, stopping him torturing a no good for nothing commoner, while his gang was fighting the rest back at the restaurant. Tonight was the night they destroyed the Hearts and put them out of commission. He wanted desperately to be there but he had his orders to find this young one, torture her, scar her mentally and physically and send her back to Tempest as a warning of what they would do the next time one of his men turned up on Storm's turf. Now instead of carrying out his orders and returning to fight with Storm, he was facing the *Huntress* unarmed.
This was not his night. He placed his left foot forward in a fighting stance, and brought up his hands to guard his torso and face. The *Huntress* eyed him bemused. She thought he was foolish to engage in unarmed combat with her. So did he. But he'd never survive Storms anger if he fled the scene. Not so soon after his last punishment. He eyed her warily, waiting for her to move, or reach for her weapon of choice. She sighed heavily and looked to be considering something, weighing her options. He stepped back as she drew her Katana and threw it to the side. His eyes widened.
What was she doing? Was she mad?
As though she read his mind she answered. "It wouldn't be fair for me to fight you with a weapon."
He smirked, laughing at her foolishness inwardly. He was going to be famous. He was going to be the man who killed the Huntress. Not the man who wounded her, but the one who killed her. His reputation would soar. He'd be head of the gang in no time. He glanced at the tattoo on his palm. The *Eye of Horus*, the symbol of the Scorpions. This would protect him. He had faith in it, and a good feeling for tonight.
Amber watched him, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. He was becoming over confident. Granted he had never seen her fight, only heard about it. And she had to admit, she was a little nervous, fighting hand to hand combat with Rayne. She knew he was an excellent fighter. He was the number one street fighter and that worried her. She had never been bested in unarmed combat yet, but there had been some near misses, when only her quick thinking had saved her. She figured he had to know her moves, from others accounts. She on the other hand, had never felt the need to study his moves, because she had never believed she'd be engaged in unarmed combat with him.
She cursed her foolishness. How could she have endangered herself and the girl like that? Never mind herself, what about the girl?, a nagging voice chided her. That was all that mattered. She had been challenged, another part of her argued, the part which had made her do all the stupid stuff she'd done when she was younger, without thinking about the consequences. She couldn't back down from a challenged, not when she was younger, not then either. It was the way she'd been raised, to never back down from a challenged, no matter how much the odds were stacked against her. She risked a glance at the girl who was still frozen against the wall. She would win for the young woman.
She took her fighting stance, and circled Rayne warily. He jabbed out his right hand and she ducked to the left, and fired a round house kick at his chest. It caught him unguarded and he stumbled back. She closed in on him for the attack and kicked out her left leg. Rayne caught it grinning viciously, and twisted it hard. She had no choice than to follow it with her body or risk breaking it. She twisted with it and landed hard on her face on the ground. Rayne stepped forward, and she struck out her foot. The heel caught his knee and he faltered. Then raising his leg straight above her body, he brought his foot crashing down towards her body. Amber yelped as she rolled to the side and winced and she heard the slap of his foot against the ground. Knowing surely that the force would have cracked or broken her ribs. She pushed herself to her feet, swinging out her leg and sweeping out his legs from under him. She backed off to recover slightly.
She watched as Rayne rose slowly, panting heavily. They began to circle warily. The young girl watching all of this amazed. She had seen people fight before, including a lot of women. But this woman was different. She had skill but she also thought on her feet a lot. Using what ever moves possible to get herself out of danger. She watched as she twirled round the side of the one named Rayne, and dealt a vicious uppercut to his abdomen. He whirled round and lifted his left foot in a round house kick and followed with a jumping round house kick. The Huntress stepped back blocking both assaults. She ducked round to the side and step kicked his knee. Rayne leaned on his left leg and shot his fist straight out. It slammed into her solar plexus and she fell back, air whooshing out of her lungs. She landed on the ground with a thud. She lay there winded, then just had time to block a flying side kick from Rayne before it hit her throat. She grabbed his foot and rolled her body to the side, pulling her opponent to the ground. She rolled backwards to her feet and kept an alert stance up as Rayne rose again.
The whole time they battled, the young girl noticed they said nothing to each other. They traded no witticism or quips, unlike the people she watched who battled. They were forever trading insults as well as blows. These two on the other hand were totally focused on the fight, on nothing else. It was amazing. The way they moved fluidly, it was like some sort of exotic dance. She watched the man jump into the air, execute a perfect spiral before whipping out his leg to catch the woman, but she ducked round under him; and not breaking rhythm rose hitting out with both sides of each hand, but the Rayne back flipped out of the way.
Amber was getting tired and she wanted to get this battle over with so she could get the girl home and so she could get back to her apartment. But this battle with Rayne was slowing her down and tiring her out. Physically she was almost spent, but she had her duty, she would not fail the woman. Rayne advanced on her, and she noticed he was limping on his right leg before she had to guard herself from the onslaught of kicks. Her fore arms were bruised from guarding her chest and face. He punched at her again, but she blocked it; first his left, then his right arms were pushed to his side. She threw off his arms, making him stumble back unguarded. She jump kicked him in the chest, winding him. He stumbled back, but still he recovered.
Now he stood before her dazed. She put all of her strength into the next move and hoped it would be enough. Skipping off on one foot she delivered a hard kick to his right knee. There was a loud crack and his leg gave way before him. Soon it was followed by the other leg and he crashed to the ground. She moved back to regain her strength knowing she should really finish it right then but she didn't have the strength to move yet. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with cool damp air. It would rain soon she decided, risking a glance at the night sky. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of movement and immediately cursed as her gaze collided with the flash light reflected off metal.
Rayne grinned. He had her now. As he lay on the ground, he had caught sight of something glinting in the darkness. On further inspection he had realized that it belonged to the barrel of his P2K, which the Huntress had knocked out of his hand earlier. They had forgotten all about it, and he blessed the Eye of Horus for his good fortune. He had reached for it ignoring the pain shooting up and down his leg from his crushed knee cap. This time he was going to make her pay for all the grief she had put him through. He rose enough so that he could level it at her. Keeping the gun steady he watched her eyes widen and her shoulders slump with resignation and defeat. She knew it was over and that she had lost for herself and for the girl. His grin widened until it was almost painful. This moment was delicious. He was going to be famous and worshipped, feared by all who had hurt him in the past. He lowered the gun, closed one eye focusing on where he was pointing.
Then he swung the gun over to point it at the girl. The Huntress had only a moment to register what he was doing. But it was enough, as he fired, she threw herself in front of the girl. The bullet slammed into her chest and flung her back to the floor. He licked his lips. Yes. Rayne rose slowly to his feet, and made his way closer, dragging his right foot behind him. The Huntress had managed to drag herself up so that she was sitting against the wall. Her face was etched with pain, her breathing shallow as she tried to bring in oxygen into her over worked lungs. He could see her glazed eyes watching him. He stepped over her so he was closer to the girl. He raised the gun to fire.
A sharp pain stabbed through his thoughts and shot up his back. He looked over his shoulder to see the Huntress leaning against the wall, with her Katana in her hands. She was holding it steady with both hands directly over his heart.
"Back off Rayne. You've got your wish. You've killed the *Huntress*. Now leave the girl alone, or I swear I'll drag you to hell with me.", she stated, words slightly slurred with pain, but the tone was lethal. She meant every word she said.
Rayne backed off. He may be evil but he wasn't suicidal. He wanted to die as much as the next person. A slight smile graced his lips as he watched the *Huntress* slump to the ground, still watching him, still holding her Katana in a death grip. At least he had killed the *Huntress*. He was a little disappointed that he couldn't watch her die, but he knew it would come soon. With that happy thought he faded back into the shadows.
The young girl waited until she was sure he was gone, before she rushed to the Huntresses side. The woman gasped in pain as she tried to stand up.
"No, no don't move. you've been shot.", she ordered. "If you move, you'll loose more blood. Wait and I'll call an ambulance.", she reached for her phone and was about to dial, when a hand with a surprising grip snaked round her slender wrist. She looked down at the Huntress.
"Is there something you want?", she asked confused. Surely the Huntress didn't want to die. That was insane. That was suicide.
The Huntress shook her head, and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, just a wordless noise. She cleared her throat before trying again.
"Don't worry Kid.", she replied, noticing the girls blank expression and anxious gaze. "I'm fine. Shit they never tell you that getting shot with a vest on still hurts like hell.", she muttered pulling open her shirt to reveal a bullet proof vest wrapped around her slender body.
She studied the whole where the bullet had gotten stuck. "Dammit I only got this vest new."
The young girl stared at her. "So your not dying?"
"Doesn't look like it, kid."
"But you were in so much pain.", the girl answered kneeling beside her. She fingered the hole, then looked at the bullet that the woman had extracted from her vest. "I've never seen a bullet like this before, not even at home.", she murmured, making Amber glance at her oddly.
"No it's a custom made one for the Scorpions."
"Oh, so that's what gang they're in."
"Hmm.", Amber got up, hissing in pain, then crouched beside the one she'd killed earlier.
She reached for his hand and turned it round to the inside, where she knew the Scorpions had their tattoos painted. She frowned when she came across unmarred skin. Her gaze skimmed the body, taking in every detail. She unarmed him of his two pistols and Swiss army knife, knowing that children would be Beyblading in that alley the next morning. It was when she was removing his second gun, that she noticed the blotch on his lower back. On closer inspection, she noticed that it was a little green shamrock. This unnerved her. She knew every gang that was in this country and their symbol but she had never seen a shamrock before, at least she didn't think she had. There was something incredibly familiar about it. She shrugged off the nagging feeling and turned to the girl.
"What's your name, kid?"
The girl glared at her. "Stop calling me kid. I'm seventeen years old, and I don't like being referred to as kid."
"Sorry, k...It's just someone use to call me that. I hated it too, I'm sorry for falling into the same trap. So what's your name?"
"I'm Sonia Martini.", she answered proudly.
"Martini, huh? Spanish. Nice.", Amber studied the young woman. She was probably not much taller than herself and was pretty slender but athletic. Her hair was a garnet streaked with gold with gold bangs. Her eyes were a crystal sapphire blue; heavily lashed. Her face was tanned a light gold and it was warm and open. This was the face of someone who had never been in a gang war. There was no hint of wariness in her eyes or hidden pain. Instead there was a innocence that would attract unwanted attention to her especially with her looks. Her hair was hidden under neath a Hawaiian blue bandanna which matched her pedal pushers and her top was a faded peach and cream cotton sweatshirt; which clung to her curves and the sleeves ended just after her elbow and on her feet she wore a pair of silver blue sketchers.
"What's your name?", Sonia asked innocently.
"That doesn't matter Ki-Sonia. So what were you doing out here?"
Sonia looked uneasy, wondering how much to tell the woman who had saved her life. She sat back against the wall and studied her palms. "I wanted to get away from everyone."
"I can understand that, but this town isn't safe anymore. Bakutens gone to hell with these gang wars and someone as pure as you won't last long, especially in the bad lands.", Amber frowned and paused. "Do you have a beyblade?"
Sonia nodded slowly, putting her hand into her pocket and fingering her blade before pulling out a sky blue and peach blade. "Yeah."
"Bitbeast?"
"Yes.", she placed a slender finger over the picture of the banshee in the bit-chip. "This is Faeden."
"Listen, Beyblades are the key to our survival in this town. Learn to harness your bitbeasts power Sonia, and fast. If you don't I dread to think what could happen to your pure soul."
Sonia nodded. "I'll get my step sister to teach me. She's amazing."
"Good. Well Sonia, I'm gonna go, get that Bastard for what he did to you. No one, and I mean no one harms a defenseless girl!", she declared voice deadly cold.
She placed her Katana in her sheath, and took of her vest which was beginning to chafe. Sonia watched her in awe as she caught sight of the tell tale Tattoo of the huntress on her side. So it was true, this strong and courageous woman was the one that they all talked about. This was amazing. She had finally come face to face with Seths first *Heart*. The one Regie had mentioned. She could see why Seth would never have a bad word said about her and how he would never believe all the hype over those murders she was linked too.
Amber got to her feet and turned to pull Sonia to her feet aswell. "I want you to go home, right now. Don't stop for anyone at all, just get home, OK?"
Sonia nodded dumfounded. "Where are you going?"
Amber turned round and smiled, but the smile wasn't friendly. It made Sonia's blood run cold. It was a smile of death.
"I'm gonna pay Rayne a little visit."
"Be careful, Huntress."
Amber smiled warmly and winked at the young girl, she knew she'd be meeting again. "Call me Amber."
Sonia nodded and waved before disappearing round the corner.
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"Duck and Cover!", a man's voice yelled over the blasts of machine gun fire.
A figure dove over the bar and drew his two hand pistols before returning fire at his enemies. His dark cherry-wood eyes narrowed angrily.
"Get those Bastards!", he ordered his tone deathly cold.
Another figure appeared by his side.
"Kai, we have to get out of here. We're severely outnumbered.", he informed his leader.
Kai nodded before rising up and firing at the nearest man catching him high in the chest. He pressed his finger to his ear.
"Miyami can you see him?"
"Iie, not yet. Don't worry Cap'n, I'll keep ya posted.", a female voice crackled over the frequency, followed by static.
He turned to his companion who had just lobbed a grenade into the far corner. There was a blast, followed by male anguished screams and debris began to fall all around them. The thick plumes of smoke rose up setting off the smoke alarms and the sprinklers. Water fell down all around them soaking them to the skin.
"Tala, I want you to get some men and take them in that direction.", he pointed to his left. "Cover the exits. Not one of them is to leave this building alive. You hear me? I don't want him escaping again. This time he dies. If you need to, use Wolborg."
Tala nodded, then motioning to a couple of their men, they scurried off to their left. Kai provided cover fire, grimacing as he saw two fall as soon as they left the cover of the bar. He ducked down as a bullet flew by narrowly missing his ear. Something shattered above his head showering him with shards of glass. He grimaced as a sharp piece nicked the back of his exposed neck. He hissed in pain as he felt his neck and came away with blood.
"Shit."
There was a scream above him. He glanced up to see one of his men jerk several times as he was shot repetitively at close range. The man stumbled back and the barrier gave out beneath his weight. He toppled of the second storey and fell with a sickening thud onto the ground. Dammit he was losing so many men. He began to wonder was it really worth it, then shoved that idea out of his mind. Of course it was. These bastards were gonna pay for what they did to them, to those who died. They hadn't deserved to die and for that they deserved revenge. Needed it. He rose up and aimed his gun at the Scorpion on the second level. He fired and grinned when he saw the other man fall to the floor.
Behind him there was a loud shot followed by a gurgle of female laughter. He turned round to catch sight of a black haired woman with gothic makeup standing behind him, holding a smoking double barrel shot gun. She winked at him before whirling round and firing at another Scorpion.
"Kai, next time we go out we should warn Ruin that she can not have an orgasm with a shot gun."
Kai laughed at Miyami's comment. "Next time Yami. What's going on up there with you?"
"Just shot three guys with my wicked cool infra red gear. Remind me to thank Tempest, when we get back."
He shot another Scorpion point blank in the head, wondering if Miyami realized she had said *when* they get back. Probably not, she generally believed she could get out of anything.
"Bang, Bang; you're dead baby.", she whooped across the frequency.
He caught sight of another Scorpion topple from the balcony, shot in the back of the head. He had to admit, Miyami was the best sniper he had seen in a long time. of course telling her so would only make her head swell. She was a good kid and loved her cousin like her brother. He was proud of the girl.
He caught sight of something that looked out of place. A man with raven black hair, was fighting a ninja along the balcony railing with swords, not worrying about his surroundings. There was a red light dancing on the back of his head.
"Miyami, there's a sniper. He's pointing at Ray."
"Hai, Kai. You get Ray, I'll get the little fucker."
Kai threw himself over the bar and tucked himself into a ball before rising up, and firing at the man fighting Ray. He raced forward yelling at Ray to get off the damn rails. He stormed up the stairs taking two at a time. Slamming the butt of a gun onto the head of a Scorpion who was in his way. All the time not taking his eyes of the red dot dancing along Rays' head. Shit he wasn't going to get there in time.
He knelt to the ground and fired in quick succession on Rays' opponent hitting him in the head and chest. Rays' head whipped round, a flicker of annoyance crossed his golden cat like eyes before the window to his left smashed. Ray lost his grip and fell to the floor.
"Nooo!", Kai yelled racing towards the neko-jin, fearing he'd been hit.
He looked over the railings to see Ray hanging onto the railings for dear life. He reached over and caught his friends hands, before hefting him up. The two of them fell to the floor laughing in relief.
"Man, that was close.", Kai sighed.
"Kai, I got the mother fucker."
"Thanks Miyami."
"Oh shit Kai. There's a bogey heading in towards you guys. He must be incredibly important because I couldn't get at him. He was under heavy cover fire.", she yelled angrily.
Kai whirled round and scanned the floor for the new comer. He spotted the blue haired, heavily beaten man scurry up the stairs opposite him and head into a small room, turning only briefly to return fire on the other gang.
"Dammit, that's where Storm is, in that little room over there."
Kai made a move to leave but Ray grabbed his arm, and pulled him down as a hail of bullets slammed into the wall above their heads.
More glass broke and there was another scream as they witnessed Ruin run another man through with her sword. She laughed evily as her blood lust grew. Another figure broke a man's neck before heading towards the exit to secure it.
"Hey Capn' heads up, hot female heading towards you guys. I don't know where she came from but she looks totally pissed. She'll be entering the window opposite you guys in a couple of seconds."
"Why don't you fire on her?"
"I don't think she's on their side.", Miyami replied grinning.
"What do you mean?", Kai demanded resigned. "Miyami?"
"Gomen (sorry), I'm just a little busy here."
"Tell me if you get visual o.....", he trailed off as he watched a figure, climb in the top story window and stride angrily all along the second stage, not seeming to give a damn about the people fighting around her or the bullets lodging in the walls.
She was determined, that was for sure.
"Who the fuck is that? Doesn't she realize we're in the middle of a gang war?", Ray demanded.
"Oh she knows all right.", Kai replied, a flicker of recognition crossing his handsome features. A man grabbed him by the throat but Kai whirled round head butting him severely, before kneeing him in the groin then following it through by slamming a broken piece of wood through his heart. The figure slumped and Kai made his way towards the other balcony.
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Hey I hope everyone enjoyed. If you have any questions feel free to email us!! We're very helpful. Honest.
By: Spitfire_Zadien
Rating: R
Genre: Romance/Action
A.N.
Zadien: Hello *Sae waves* We've collaborated on a new fic with plenty of action and swords!! *Sae parries and thrusts with her katana, Zadien rolls eyes* This chapter is kind of crap as it mainly centres on the main characters, Amber and Sonia. But this will be much darker than anything I've ever written and probably a little more comical than Sae's stuff.
Sae: You saying I'm not funny?
Zadien: Something like that. Anyway summary is: The world has gone to hell after the Blood Wars, especially Bakuten. Now every day people try to get on with their every day lives trying to ignore all the violence that appears on the news everymorning, noon and evening. But some people strive to fight the evil and make this world much more safer for them. They are known as the Hearts. They are strong and they are united. This fic follows the lives of two very different young women in their journey which leads them inevitably to the hearts and to finding their hearts with someone else.
Sae: Pairings are pretty damn obvious. They're the same as they are in every fic we've wrote and also in ChibiTaris; AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa; and Animerle's fics.
ChibiTari: Dancing on a live man's grave
AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa: On the edge of a sword? (Sorry I'm really bad with names, if I got this wrong, yell at me!! *Sae grins and points accusatory finger at Zadien who shakes her head*)
Animerle: For the love of Kane
Disclaimer: We don't own Beyblade. We do however own Amber and Ruin (Zadien) and Sonia (Sae). Miyami belongs to ChibiTari. Arista and Aspin haven't turned up but they belong to AzN*PyRo*ArCaDa and Animerle respectively.
Please review!
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Chapter One: Street Fighting
She strode down the street confidently well aware that she could take on everyone on that street and survive. This confidence exuded off her in almost visible waves. Anyone who saw her that night would have seen a beautiful yet aloof young woman of barely 18 years. Her strawberry red hair was chopped jaggedly just below her jaw bone, her features were Irish-American, some would have said cute, animated when she smiled. But she didn't smile, preferring to wear a scowl or an chilly demeanor, it had been a long time since she'd smiled. There was a tattoo of an artists impression of the Greek Goddess Artemis on the side of her abdomen, only it was hidden at that very moment by the hilt of her Katana which was resting in it's sheath under her long black duster. Her eyes were a dead bottomless black, and impossibly large. She could freeze any ones blood with one deadly cold glare. When fighters looked they saw a warrior, and her enemies saw death.
Right now she couldn't see anyone. The street was deserted, or it looked that way, but she knew better. No one knew better than Amber Benson; the dangers that lurked in the shadows. She could feel their eyes watching her, observing her smooth movements as she passed under the orange spot lights of the street lamps. She could feel the darkness pressing in around her as they edged closer. Her hairs stood on end, she could feel them coming nearer to her.
This was the most dangerous time to be out in the town. Ever since the *Blood War* of three years ago, the world had become much more dangerous, the people more deadly. The *Blood War* had been between the Scorpions and the government. The Scorpions had won, and now gangs ruled the country, while the government tried to hold on to a little bit of authority. People joined the Scorpions to keep themselves and their families safe, and some to get rich off drugs and the like. If you weren't a Scorpion then you were the enemy. But the gang members couldn't remain civil to each other and the groups divided, forming their own rules and policies, and destroying every other bands whose ideas conflicted with theirs. Many innocent people got caught in the crossfire, and it wasn't as though the police could help, which meant more and more people joined and got killed in other fights. It was a vicious circle.
Anger rose bitterly in side her as she let her gaze skim the high line of the roof tops. She was sure she was being followed but she guessed not. Not that it mattered. She'd find trouble, or more to the point, trouble would find her. It usually did. In the horizon the sky was stained with an flaming orange hue. More fires, she thought darkly. The rival gangs were constantly starting fires on rival territories and properties, trying to eliminate their enemies as quickly as possible with minimum effort.
She headed into the rough part of town, skirting the barrels of fire which lit up the back alleys. She knew this part of town like the back of the hand. She knew how to avoid gangs and knew the various types of gangs. Most avoided her like the plague, but recently others had been searching for her. She remembered a few bounty hunters who had come for her, one had even got into her apartment that morning.
She had gone running that morning to let off some pent up energy. When she had returned home, she had felt something was wrong. The hall was too quiet; although most people should have been up and awake, getting ready for work.
She had turned the handle, bending down to examine her foot as a sharp pain shot up it. As she did; there was a series of pops above her head. She had realized immediately what it was. Bullets. She had rolled to the side drawing her 9mm automatic. She didn't understand why the person had shot at her when she hadn't even been in the door. Amateurs.
More to the point *she* could have been one of her room mates. They were totally innocent and would have died for Ambers' mistakes. She wouldn't have been able to bear it if one of her best friends had gotten hurt or died because of her. Luckily, Bethan Hudson had been staying at her boyfriends a lot recently while Midge Davis had left earlier that evening to go on a field trip. She wouldn't be back until later on that day and she would go straight to the school instead of the apartment. It was with these thought whirring through her head that she had entered the room, unfortunately for the man behind it.
She had kicked in the door, gone in low and fired catching him in the hand, then on the knee. Her favorite place to shoot a man, was the knee caps. Their knee would buckle under their weight and also it meant she could glean him for information. And it was good for torture. She had drawn her Katana as she crossed to him, idly circling it over his larynx. She had kept her face emotionless as he watched her, fear consuming his eyes making his pupils dilated.
"What the fuck do you think your doing in *my* apartment?", she had asked coolly.
"I won't tell you.", he answered defiantly.
She had simply narrowed her eyes, placing the tip of the blade on the smooth skin of his throat. Letting him know that her threats were not empty. A cold sweat broke out in his forehead.
"Now I don't really want to draw blood, mainly because I don't want to clean my blade. So please just tell me. I won't ask so nicely again."
He had hissed in pain, and tilted his chin up in defiance. Why when he was scared did he still have to keep his goddamn word? Who the hell was he working for anyway? She had grimaced as blood -from his bullet wounds- seeped into her beige carpet. Blood was the worst stain to remove from any type of fabric.
Getting pissed she had placed some extra pressure on the sword and watched as it pierced his skin. He had gasped in pain, as blood trickled down his skin to his white shirt. Obviously he wasn't very good at his job. Anyone who dealt with blood did not wear white or any other colour that showed up blood, it drew unwanted attention.
"I want the info, so tell me now, who put the hit out on me?"
He had merely shook his head. Then in the next minute he jerked forward, eyes widening, he let out a gasp. He had slumped to the ground, and she caught sight of the small bloody hole in his head. The blood matted his blonde hair. She frowned slightly, feeling a slight wave of sympathy at his untimely death, which she hadn't caused. And she was still no closer to finding out who had placed a hit on her. Maybe she'd consult Tempest, she knew he'd probably have heard some of the word on the street.
But it would mean she would have to go *home* again. She didn't want to go back to the mansion. She had left home to become self sufficient, believing she didn't need her family holding her up for the rest of her whole life. She didn't need them ruling her life. She sighed. And she really didn't want to be [art of that life anymore.
It had been two years since she'd left to make it on her own. Two years since she'd left the sanctuary of being in a gang. It had taken her a while to get use to it, but soon she found her skills and expertise put into practice when she had been hired as a bounty hunter, earning herself the nick name *Huntress*. People were scared of her. They knew her reputation for always getting her mark. After awhile she began taking revenge on gang members who hurt innocents, raped women, or killed children. It didn't pay but it made her feel a little better. And then she got the big gig of taking down the Biovolt corporation.
Her cell ringing made her jump slightly in her skin. She reached for it and flipped it open, punching the little green button.
"Yeah?"
"Amber? It's Salima. Robert's got the info for the job. You up for it?"
Amber checked her watch and sighed. Robert had been previously checking out the location of a man she knew had organized gang rapes on a group of women in the surrounding area. The so called police had nothing on him, so therefore couldn't stop him; it could also have something to do with the fact that Amos had the Commissioner eating out of his hand. She had taken it on herself seeing that one of the women was a friend of Midge's. She had promised that when she found out where he was, she would hunt him down and kill him and that was exactly what she intended to do.
"Yeah, I'll get my stuff and get him tomorrow. Where is he?"
The voice on the other end of the line paused. "That's the deal Am's, it won't keep until tomorrow. From what Robert has dug up, it seems Amos has a journey to make tomorrow. He's got a flight booked for six thirty."
"Asshole, who does he think he is; fleeing town just before I avenge Teddy?!", she demanded bitterly.
Salima chuckled softly. "Robert asked me to leave you some toys in the warehouse, with a nice view into Amos' home."
That was Robert always making sure she was well looked after. She was after all his most competent bounty hunter. She deserved it.
"I just hope he doesn't have any last minute entertainment tonight. Ok give me the address.", she ordered.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Several minutes after she had received Amos' address she stood opposite his apartment. He owned the whole top floor apparently. Rich Bastard. Turning round she stole round the corner of the derelict warehouse. Amber stopped at the broken down door way. She stepped through the door way, pausing for a few minutes to let her vision adjust to the dark gloom. She made out the outline of a stair case and made her way to it. Carefully treading up the stairs being careful not to step on any rotten stairs, she reached the top floor. She glanced to the window and gratefully thanked Robert when she caught sight of the weaponry sitting by the window over looking Amos's apartment.
She cooed over the long; smooth; slender barrel of the sniper. It was one of the best snipers, -an R-36- one of her favorites. Her grin widened when she caught sight of the infra-red attachment.
"Ooh pretty.", she drawled as she slotted it onto the rifle.
After focusing the lens for a better view of the apartment, she skimmed the gun along the length of his apartment looking for any signs of life. She flicked the switch to turn on the infra red sensor, shifting the weight of the gun so that it was more comfortable. Her vision was dyed a bottle green, she searched for the tell tale red blotch. At first she couldn't see anything and for a moment she thought that he had already left but then on skimming back for the fourth time, she caught sight of it lying horizontal just a few feet above the ground. His heat was radiating equally round his body. He was asleep. Very easy.
She zoomed in on the figure and steadied her finger on the trigger. She made sure she would have a clean shot, focused on his head for a swift death. She squeezed the trigger feeling the body of the gun jerk under the pressure of release. She watched the body spasm and then lie still. The red splotch began to spread around the bed turning to a gold yellow.
"Another job well done. If I do say so myself."
She grabbed her cell out of her pocket and pressed the #3 button. She listened to the number being sped dialed. It rang once before it was answered.
"Yeah?"
"It's done.", she replied in a monotone voice, betraying no emotion. She hung up placing the cell back into her pocket again.
She laid down the gun, dismembering it again; so that if any young people came across it before Salima picked it up; they wouldn't be able to use it. She listened to sirens in the distance. No one would know about Amos's untimely demise till he didn't turn up for his appointment and by then it would be too late and she'd be long gone. They'd be unable to tie her to his death. Of course that would piss Detective Lee off. He had an inkling that the huntress was behind the last couple of murders of accused rapists. But so far he couldn't prove anything, especially since he didn't have a clear idea who the huntress was. He suspected of course, but had no real proof.
She made her way out of the building chuckling softly imagining Lees face when he came across the body. She knew he would curse the Huntress, but he would still be frustrated at not being able to do a thing about it. She continued down the street reveling in the tranquillity of the night. Adrenaline pumped through her, making her head buzz and her heart pound. The only sound on the street was the slapping of her boots on the cold cement pavement.
She folded her arms against the nip in the air. She should probably return to the apartment, now. She had warned her friends not to go home that night at school that morning. She supposed Beth would stay with her boyfriend Paul, again. Midge was staying at her parents home, Amber was supposed to go stay their that night. She wanted to check out her apartment before she went to Midge's. They needed to get their stuff, but she wouldn't let them go unless she went with them.
She was just about to turn to go home, when she noticed a young girl; not much older than herself; cross the street out of an alley, and duck into another side alley. Then she was followed by two men who skulked after her; both with a malicious aura surrounding them. Amber caught sight of the familiar long electric blue hair of one of them and sighed heavily; before chasing after them.
"Oh I know I'm so gonna regret this."
Amber watched the young girl reach a dead end and turn around only to be confronted by her two stalkers. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. Her brilliant blue eyes widened and she stiffened as one of the figures stepped forward and pressing her against the wall; licked up the side of the young girls face, making her cringe.
"Oh God, please don't."
The man murmured something in her ear and the girl whimpered, making Amber's blood boil. 'Oh for that he's gonna pay.'
The figure stepped back to stand beside the blue haired man. He leaned in and whispered something to 'blue hair', who then walked up to the girl. She watched him with frightened eyes as he stood there doing nothing.
Not waiting for anything else to happen, Amber took her chance and expertly crept forward, hidden by the shadows. She emerged out of the shadows behind the man who had licked the girl. He didn't catch onto the danger he was in. The girl was too preoccupied by her terror to notice anything around her, while the blue haired man had totally spaced.
The Huntress braced herself and placed her hands around the man. Twisting violently she snapped his neck with an audible crack. His body gave out beneath him and he slumped to the ground, head lolling to the side. Blue hair realizing something was wrong whirled round only to have his head snap round again, when Amber swung her fist at his face. He fell forward with the force. Not waiting for him to recover, she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and forced her knee into his face. She let go, letting him stumble to the side, dabbing his nose delicately. His hand came away stained with blood.
"Rayne what have I told you about terrorizing little girls? Didn't I put it well enough the last time we met?"
Blue hair, also known as Rayne spat out a mouth full of blood. "You didn't say anything, Huntress."
"Not with words no, but I think I spoke pretty well with my fists."
He cursed something in his native tongue, then rose to face her holding his nose with one hand, his hand gun -a p2k- with the other. He wore a self satisfied smirk on his lips. She gazed coolly at him. Before swinging up her foot, lighting fast. Her foot connected solidly with the hand holding the cold metal of the gun, wrenching it from his grasp. The trigger was pulled but the bullet went wide.
Rayne stared at her shocked. This time he had felt sure he had had the upper hand on the huntress, but yet again, she managed to surprise him. He stood facing her unarmed, while she, he had no doubt was probably armed to the teeth. As though reading his mind, she pushed back her duster to reveal a wicked looking hilt; which he knew from personal experience belonged to her Katana.
Damn the woman. She spoiled all his fun. She had destroyed Storm's fleet of ships carrying drugs earlier that week. Storm had been furious and was quick to lash out at the person closest to him and as always it had been Rayne. He winced at the memories. And here she was again, stopping him torturing a no good for nothing commoner, while his gang was fighting the rest back at the restaurant. Tonight was the night they destroyed the Hearts and put them out of commission. He wanted desperately to be there but he had his orders to find this young one, torture her, scar her mentally and physically and send her back to Tempest as a warning of what they would do the next time one of his men turned up on Storm's turf. Now instead of carrying out his orders and returning to fight with Storm, he was facing the *Huntress* unarmed.
This was not his night. He placed his left foot forward in a fighting stance, and brought up his hands to guard his torso and face. The *Huntress* eyed him bemused. She thought he was foolish to engage in unarmed combat with her. So did he. But he'd never survive Storms anger if he fled the scene. Not so soon after his last punishment. He eyed her warily, waiting for her to move, or reach for her weapon of choice. She sighed heavily and looked to be considering something, weighing her options. He stepped back as she drew her Katana and threw it to the side. His eyes widened.
What was she doing? Was she mad?
As though she read his mind she answered. "It wouldn't be fair for me to fight you with a weapon."
He smirked, laughing at her foolishness inwardly. He was going to be famous. He was going to be the man who killed the Huntress. Not the man who wounded her, but the one who killed her. His reputation would soar. He'd be head of the gang in no time. He glanced at the tattoo on his palm. The *Eye of Horus*, the symbol of the Scorpions. This would protect him. He had faith in it, and a good feeling for tonight.
Amber watched him, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. He was becoming over confident. Granted he had never seen her fight, only heard about it. And she had to admit, she was a little nervous, fighting hand to hand combat with Rayne. She knew he was an excellent fighter. He was the number one street fighter and that worried her. She had never been bested in unarmed combat yet, but there had been some near misses, when only her quick thinking had saved her. She figured he had to know her moves, from others accounts. She on the other hand, had never felt the need to study his moves, because she had never believed she'd be engaged in unarmed combat with him.
She cursed her foolishness. How could she have endangered herself and the girl like that? Never mind herself, what about the girl?, a nagging voice chided her. That was all that mattered. She had been challenged, another part of her argued, the part which had made her do all the stupid stuff she'd done when she was younger, without thinking about the consequences. She couldn't back down from a challenged, not when she was younger, not then either. It was the way she'd been raised, to never back down from a challenged, no matter how much the odds were stacked against her. She risked a glance at the girl who was still frozen against the wall. She would win for the young woman.
She took her fighting stance, and circled Rayne warily. He jabbed out his right hand and she ducked to the left, and fired a round house kick at his chest. It caught him unguarded and he stumbled back. She closed in on him for the attack and kicked out her left leg. Rayne caught it grinning viciously, and twisted it hard. She had no choice than to follow it with her body or risk breaking it. She twisted with it and landed hard on her face on the ground. Rayne stepped forward, and she struck out her foot. The heel caught his knee and he faltered. Then raising his leg straight above her body, he brought his foot crashing down towards her body. Amber yelped as she rolled to the side and winced and she heard the slap of his foot against the ground. Knowing surely that the force would have cracked or broken her ribs. She pushed herself to her feet, swinging out her leg and sweeping out his legs from under him. She backed off to recover slightly.
She watched as Rayne rose slowly, panting heavily. They began to circle warily. The young girl watching all of this amazed. She had seen people fight before, including a lot of women. But this woman was different. She had skill but she also thought on her feet a lot. Using what ever moves possible to get herself out of danger. She watched as she twirled round the side of the one named Rayne, and dealt a vicious uppercut to his abdomen. He whirled round and lifted his left foot in a round house kick and followed with a jumping round house kick. The Huntress stepped back blocking both assaults. She ducked round to the side and step kicked his knee. Rayne leaned on his left leg and shot his fist straight out. It slammed into her solar plexus and she fell back, air whooshing out of her lungs. She landed on the ground with a thud. She lay there winded, then just had time to block a flying side kick from Rayne before it hit her throat. She grabbed his foot and rolled her body to the side, pulling her opponent to the ground. She rolled backwards to her feet and kept an alert stance up as Rayne rose again.
The whole time they battled, the young girl noticed they said nothing to each other. They traded no witticism or quips, unlike the people she watched who battled. They were forever trading insults as well as blows. These two on the other hand were totally focused on the fight, on nothing else. It was amazing. The way they moved fluidly, it was like some sort of exotic dance. She watched the man jump into the air, execute a perfect spiral before whipping out his leg to catch the woman, but she ducked round under him; and not breaking rhythm rose hitting out with both sides of each hand, but the Rayne back flipped out of the way.
Amber was getting tired and she wanted to get this battle over with so she could get the girl home and so she could get back to her apartment. But this battle with Rayne was slowing her down and tiring her out. Physically she was almost spent, but she had her duty, she would not fail the woman. Rayne advanced on her, and she noticed he was limping on his right leg before she had to guard herself from the onslaught of kicks. Her fore arms were bruised from guarding her chest and face. He punched at her again, but she blocked it; first his left, then his right arms were pushed to his side. She threw off his arms, making him stumble back unguarded. She jump kicked him in the chest, winding him. He stumbled back, but still he recovered.
Now he stood before her dazed. She put all of her strength into the next move and hoped it would be enough. Skipping off on one foot she delivered a hard kick to his right knee. There was a loud crack and his leg gave way before him. Soon it was followed by the other leg and he crashed to the ground. She moved back to regain her strength knowing she should really finish it right then but she didn't have the strength to move yet. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with cool damp air. It would rain soon she decided, risking a glance at the night sky. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of movement and immediately cursed as her gaze collided with the flash light reflected off metal.
Rayne grinned. He had her now. As he lay on the ground, he had caught sight of something glinting in the darkness. On further inspection he had realized that it belonged to the barrel of his P2K, which the Huntress had knocked out of his hand earlier. They had forgotten all about it, and he blessed the Eye of Horus for his good fortune. He had reached for it ignoring the pain shooting up and down his leg from his crushed knee cap. This time he was going to make her pay for all the grief she had put him through. He rose enough so that he could level it at her. Keeping the gun steady he watched her eyes widen and her shoulders slump with resignation and defeat. She knew it was over and that she had lost for herself and for the girl. His grin widened until it was almost painful. This moment was delicious. He was going to be famous and worshipped, feared by all who had hurt him in the past. He lowered the gun, closed one eye focusing on where he was pointing.
Then he swung the gun over to point it at the girl. The Huntress had only a moment to register what he was doing. But it was enough, as he fired, she threw herself in front of the girl. The bullet slammed into her chest and flung her back to the floor. He licked his lips. Yes. Rayne rose slowly to his feet, and made his way closer, dragging his right foot behind him. The Huntress had managed to drag herself up so that she was sitting against the wall. Her face was etched with pain, her breathing shallow as she tried to bring in oxygen into her over worked lungs. He could see her glazed eyes watching him. He stepped over her so he was closer to the girl. He raised the gun to fire.
A sharp pain stabbed through his thoughts and shot up his back. He looked over his shoulder to see the Huntress leaning against the wall, with her Katana in her hands. She was holding it steady with both hands directly over his heart.
"Back off Rayne. You've got your wish. You've killed the *Huntress*. Now leave the girl alone, or I swear I'll drag you to hell with me.", she stated, words slightly slurred with pain, but the tone was lethal. She meant every word she said.
Rayne backed off. He may be evil but he wasn't suicidal. He wanted to die as much as the next person. A slight smile graced his lips as he watched the *Huntress* slump to the ground, still watching him, still holding her Katana in a death grip. At least he had killed the *Huntress*. He was a little disappointed that he couldn't watch her die, but he knew it would come soon. With that happy thought he faded back into the shadows.
The young girl waited until she was sure he was gone, before she rushed to the Huntresses side. The woman gasped in pain as she tried to stand up.
"No, no don't move. you've been shot.", she ordered. "If you move, you'll loose more blood. Wait and I'll call an ambulance.", she reached for her phone and was about to dial, when a hand with a surprising grip snaked round her slender wrist. She looked down at the Huntress.
"Is there something you want?", she asked confused. Surely the Huntress didn't want to die. That was insane. That was suicide.
The Huntress shook her head, and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, just a wordless noise. She cleared her throat before trying again.
"Don't worry Kid.", she replied, noticing the girls blank expression and anxious gaze. "I'm fine. Shit they never tell you that getting shot with a vest on still hurts like hell.", she muttered pulling open her shirt to reveal a bullet proof vest wrapped around her slender body.
She studied the whole where the bullet had gotten stuck. "Dammit I only got this vest new."
The young girl stared at her. "So your not dying?"
"Doesn't look like it, kid."
"But you were in so much pain.", the girl answered kneeling beside her. She fingered the hole, then looked at the bullet that the woman had extracted from her vest. "I've never seen a bullet like this before, not even at home.", she murmured, making Amber glance at her oddly.
"No it's a custom made one for the Scorpions."
"Oh, so that's what gang they're in."
"Hmm.", Amber got up, hissing in pain, then crouched beside the one she'd killed earlier.
She reached for his hand and turned it round to the inside, where she knew the Scorpions had their tattoos painted. She frowned when she came across unmarred skin. Her gaze skimmed the body, taking in every detail. She unarmed him of his two pistols and Swiss army knife, knowing that children would be Beyblading in that alley the next morning. It was when she was removing his second gun, that she noticed the blotch on his lower back. On closer inspection, she noticed that it was a little green shamrock. This unnerved her. She knew every gang that was in this country and their symbol but she had never seen a shamrock before, at least she didn't think she had. There was something incredibly familiar about it. She shrugged off the nagging feeling and turned to the girl.
"What's your name, kid?"
The girl glared at her. "Stop calling me kid. I'm seventeen years old, and I don't like being referred to as kid."
"Sorry, k...It's just someone use to call me that. I hated it too, I'm sorry for falling into the same trap. So what's your name?"
"I'm Sonia Martini.", she answered proudly.
"Martini, huh? Spanish. Nice.", Amber studied the young woman. She was probably not much taller than herself and was pretty slender but athletic. Her hair was a garnet streaked with gold with gold bangs. Her eyes were a crystal sapphire blue; heavily lashed. Her face was tanned a light gold and it was warm and open. This was the face of someone who had never been in a gang war. There was no hint of wariness in her eyes or hidden pain. Instead there was a innocence that would attract unwanted attention to her especially with her looks. Her hair was hidden under neath a Hawaiian blue bandanna which matched her pedal pushers and her top was a faded peach and cream cotton sweatshirt; which clung to her curves and the sleeves ended just after her elbow and on her feet she wore a pair of silver blue sketchers.
"What's your name?", Sonia asked innocently.
"That doesn't matter Ki-Sonia. So what were you doing out here?"
Sonia looked uneasy, wondering how much to tell the woman who had saved her life. She sat back against the wall and studied her palms. "I wanted to get away from everyone."
"I can understand that, but this town isn't safe anymore. Bakutens gone to hell with these gang wars and someone as pure as you won't last long, especially in the bad lands.", Amber frowned and paused. "Do you have a beyblade?"
Sonia nodded slowly, putting her hand into her pocket and fingering her blade before pulling out a sky blue and peach blade. "Yeah."
"Bitbeast?"
"Yes.", she placed a slender finger over the picture of the banshee in the bit-chip. "This is Faeden."
"Listen, Beyblades are the key to our survival in this town. Learn to harness your bitbeasts power Sonia, and fast. If you don't I dread to think what could happen to your pure soul."
Sonia nodded. "I'll get my step sister to teach me. She's amazing."
"Good. Well Sonia, I'm gonna go, get that Bastard for what he did to you. No one, and I mean no one harms a defenseless girl!", she declared voice deadly cold.
She placed her Katana in her sheath, and took of her vest which was beginning to chafe. Sonia watched her in awe as she caught sight of the tell tale Tattoo of the huntress on her side. So it was true, this strong and courageous woman was the one that they all talked about. This was amazing. She had finally come face to face with Seths first *Heart*. The one Regie had mentioned. She could see why Seth would never have a bad word said about her and how he would never believe all the hype over those murders she was linked too.
Amber got to her feet and turned to pull Sonia to her feet aswell. "I want you to go home, right now. Don't stop for anyone at all, just get home, OK?"
Sonia nodded dumfounded. "Where are you going?"
Amber turned round and smiled, but the smile wasn't friendly. It made Sonia's blood run cold. It was a smile of death.
"I'm gonna pay Rayne a little visit."
"Be careful, Huntress."
Amber smiled warmly and winked at the young girl, she knew she'd be meeting again. "Call me Amber."
Sonia nodded and waved before disappearing round the corner.
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"Duck and Cover!", a man's voice yelled over the blasts of machine gun fire.
A figure dove over the bar and drew his two hand pistols before returning fire at his enemies. His dark cherry-wood eyes narrowed angrily.
"Get those Bastards!", he ordered his tone deathly cold.
Another figure appeared by his side.
"Kai, we have to get out of here. We're severely outnumbered.", he informed his leader.
Kai nodded before rising up and firing at the nearest man catching him high in the chest. He pressed his finger to his ear.
"Miyami can you see him?"
"Iie, not yet. Don't worry Cap'n, I'll keep ya posted.", a female voice crackled over the frequency, followed by static.
He turned to his companion who had just lobbed a grenade into the far corner. There was a blast, followed by male anguished screams and debris began to fall all around them. The thick plumes of smoke rose up setting off the smoke alarms and the sprinklers. Water fell down all around them soaking them to the skin.
"Tala, I want you to get some men and take them in that direction.", he pointed to his left. "Cover the exits. Not one of them is to leave this building alive. You hear me? I don't want him escaping again. This time he dies. If you need to, use Wolborg."
Tala nodded, then motioning to a couple of their men, they scurried off to their left. Kai provided cover fire, grimacing as he saw two fall as soon as they left the cover of the bar. He ducked down as a bullet flew by narrowly missing his ear. Something shattered above his head showering him with shards of glass. He grimaced as a sharp piece nicked the back of his exposed neck. He hissed in pain as he felt his neck and came away with blood.
"Shit."
There was a scream above him. He glanced up to see one of his men jerk several times as he was shot repetitively at close range. The man stumbled back and the barrier gave out beneath his weight. He toppled of the second storey and fell with a sickening thud onto the ground. Dammit he was losing so many men. He began to wonder was it really worth it, then shoved that idea out of his mind. Of course it was. These bastards were gonna pay for what they did to them, to those who died. They hadn't deserved to die and for that they deserved revenge. Needed it. He rose up and aimed his gun at the Scorpion on the second level. He fired and grinned when he saw the other man fall to the floor.
Behind him there was a loud shot followed by a gurgle of female laughter. He turned round to catch sight of a black haired woman with gothic makeup standing behind him, holding a smoking double barrel shot gun. She winked at him before whirling round and firing at another Scorpion.
"Kai, next time we go out we should warn Ruin that she can not have an orgasm with a shot gun."
Kai laughed at Miyami's comment. "Next time Yami. What's going on up there with you?"
"Just shot three guys with my wicked cool infra red gear. Remind me to thank Tempest, when we get back."
He shot another Scorpion point blank in the head, wondering if Miyami realized she had said *when* they get back. Probably not, she generally believed she could get out of anything.
"Bang, Bang; you're dead baby.", she whooped across the frequency.
He caught sight of another Scorpion topple from the balcony, shot in the back of the head. He had to admit, Miyami was the best sniper he had seen in a long time. of course telling her so would only make her head swell. She was a good kid and loved her cousin like her brother. He was proud of the girl.
He caught sight of something that looked out of place. A man with raven black hair, was fighting a ninja along the balcony railing with swords, not worrying about his surroundings. There was a red light dancing on the back of his head.
"Miyami, there's a sniper. He's pointing at Ray."
"Hai, Kai. You get Ray, I'll get the little fucker."
Kai threw himself over the bar and tucked himself into a ball before rising up, and firing at the man fighting Ray. He raced forward yelling at Ray to get off the damn rails. He stormed up the stairs taking two at a time. Slamming the butt of a gun onto the head of a Scorpion who was in his way. All the time not taking his eyes of the red dot dancing along Rays' head. Shit he wasn't going to get there in time.
He knelt to the ground and fired in quick succession on Rays' opponent hitting him in the head and chest. Rays' head whipped round, a flicker of annoyance crossed his golden cat like eyes before the window to his left smashed. Ray lost his grip and fell to the floor.
"Nooo!", Kai yelled racing towards the neko-jin, fearing he'd been hit.
He looked over the railings to see Ray hanging onto the railings for dear life. He reached over and caught his friends hands, before hefting him up. The two of them fell to the floor laughing in relief.
"Man, that was close.", Kai sighed.
"Kai, I got the mother fucker."
"Thanks Miyami."
"Oh shit Kai. There's a bogey heading in towards you guys. He must be incredibly important because I couldn't get at him. He was under heavy cover fire.", she yelled angrily.
Kai whirled round and scanned the floor for the new comer. He spotted the blue haired, heavily beaten man scurry up the stairs opposite him and head into a small room, turning only briefly to return fire on the other gang.
"Dammit, that's where Storm is, in that little room over there."
Kai made a move to leave but Ray grabbed his arm, and pulled him down as a hail of bullets slammed into the wall above their heads.
More glass broke and there was another scream as they witnessed Ruin run another man through with her sword. She laughed evily as her blood lust grew. Another figure broke a man's neck before heading towards the exit to secure it.
"Hey Capn' heads up, hot female heading towards you guys. I don't know where she came from but she looks totally pissed. She'll be entering the window opposite you guys in a couple of seconds."
"Why don't you fire on her?"
"I don't think she's on their side.", Miyami replied grinning.
"What do you mean?", Kai demanded resigned. "Miyami?"
"Gomen (sorry), I'm just a little busy here."
"Tell me if you get visual o.....", he trailed off as he watched a figure, climb in the top story window and stride angrily all along the second stage, not seeming to give a damn about the people fighting around her or the bullets lodging in the walls.
She was determined, that was for sure.
"Who the fuck is that? Doesn't she realize we're in the middle of a gang war?", Ray demanded.
"Oh she knows all right.", Kai replied, a flicker of recognition crossing his handsome features. A man grabbed him by the throat but Kai whirled round head butting him severely, before kneeing him in the groin then following it through by slamming a broken piece of wood through his heart. The figure slumped and Kai made his way towards the other balcony.
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