"What the hell are you doing on the bridge?" the deep voice reverberated through the speakers. "Motorbikes aren't allowed on the Rainbow Bridge."
The sound of a revving engine was the only response.
"You're going to get yourself killed. Goddamnit, Raidou, what's gotten into you?"
What's gotten into me? Raidou glared at the road ahead of him, weaving through the traffic with practiced ease. He had been mad and reckless many times in his life.
"Akira," the small black cat beside him called up. "You need to calm down."
Had Goutou even seen that? He had even...Raidou sped up in frustration. He had surpassed safe speeds long ago and quickly approached suicidal.
"Raidou, talk to me."
Sorry, Daisuke. Raidou weaved between two cars. He could feel the rumble of a train below him.
"Akira, above us," Goutou suddenly called. Knowing his companion too well not to heed the warning Raidou quickly glanced up.
A figure flew above them, white against the multi-colored lights. A humanoid figure. The figure looked down at him, silver hair brushing against her, it was definitely a her now that he could see better, face. She smiled like a nue.
"Cars," Goutou called. Suddenly reminded that he was going faster than anyone should ever sanely go on a curving road Raidou dropped his gaze just in time to weave to the left and slide between two cars. A moment later a flash of light erupted to his right and one of those cars screeched. Raidou glanced up.
The woman now held a blank mask to her face. Despite any obvious signs of features it seemed to meld with her face. She held out her hand. He looked at the road again and began more actively sliding between cars and slowing down.
He could hear crashes all around him as people panicked to the hole suddenly blown in a major expressway, and he heard more crashes as another burst of light just missed him.
"She's using megido," Gouto called up as Raidou slammed on the brakes.
"Yeah, think I noticed."
"Raidou, what the hell is going on?"
"I'll let you know when it's safe for the ambulances."
"Not helping assuage my worries."
Raidou blocked his irritating contact from his mind as slide to a stop precariously close to the guard of the bridge. The woman landed just a few meters away on the bridge.
"Are you done running now?" she inquired, still holding the mask to her face.
"Depends," Raidou asked, voice distorted through the helmet, "should I be?" He slid off the bike and took off his helmet, setting it down as she cocked her head. "Any particular reason you're chasing me or is it just more fun with a moving target?"
"Should I be chasing me?"
"You were definitely targeting me."
"I was definitely targeting near you."
"Of course, my apologies then." Raidou slowly slid a revolver from underneath his long coat.
"It's quite different, really. If I were targeting at you, you would be dead." A woman with a skeletal face and purple robes enveloped her. "I have a question for you Raidou Kuzunoha." The figure slowly rose, seven crowned and monstrous heads appearing ahead of her.
"Alright, shoot, after you introduce yourself."
The female figure sat down, now appearing to ride a great seven headed beast. "I am called Lucy and I am of the Armageddon."
"Armageddon?"
"Yes, do you know Armageddon?"
"I think everyone knows Armageddon."
"I didn't ask if you knew what it is. Have you ever felt your entire world end? That is the sensation of Armageddon." The figure around her gazed at Raidou, eyes alight with lust. "Beyond the persona there are two primary Armageddons. One when the world ends and one when the universe ends." With her free hand she touched her loose white shirt, accenting a sakura blossom brooch. "It is not so unlike a flower dying only to revive with the next spring. Before new buds can grow the old must fall."
"Let's just clear one thing up now. You want to end the world?"
"I wish to bring about a new world. One without all the filth."
"Sorry," Raidou finished pulling out his gun, "but I can't let you do that."
"Does this world deserve to be saved?" The figure rushed him. Raidou fired. The form enveloped him.
Images flashed through his mind too quickly to register, but too slowly to ignore. He saw his parents. He saw blood on the walls and someone with his face who wasn't him grinned. He saw someone gloating. He screamed and rushed forward.
Lucy stepped back, startled, and her hand dropped. The form disappeared as Raidou barrelled into her, settling the barrel of his gun against her forehead.
"The only one allowed to drudge up those memories is me, got it?" he snarled. She stared at him, wide-eyed, and he pulled the trigger.
A shot of electricity coursed through his body and he spasmed, dropping the gun and backing away. Lucy quickly pulled the rest of the way apart and looked up. A man hovered just a little to the side, lightly crackling around him. He held a skull mask against his face and angelic wings seemed projected behind his back.
Lucy grinned. Raidou dived for his gun only to get zapped again. She dove off the bridge, the new figure dropping behind her.
Raidou grabbed his gun and walked over to his bike, picking up his helmet and putting it back on.
"Raidou? Raidou, are you there?"
"Damnit, Daisuke, you're going to make yourself hoarse. Tell the ambulance it can come in." He got on the bike.
"Wait? What happened?"
"Never mind that." Raidou surveyed the damage on the bridge. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."
"But..."
"I'll see you tomorrow." Raidou turned on the engine and took off. It was going to be a long night, and an even longer tomorrow.
Author's Note: Wow, it's been a long time since I've been on the site. This is my first attempt actually writing any of my SMT ideas down, so if you want to see it continued you'll need to review and encourage me. I've had versions of this idea running around in my head for a long time now, but I think I finally figured out how to do it. Expect some inconsistencies due to limited information and posting very much as I write.