Chapter 2: Trapped

A woman's lips pursed into a smirk as she allowed her ruby eyes to observe the young solider. "Nawww, your thoughts go to the balancer of this world? You foolish child, you... belong to me." The vision of Tsubaki began to fade away as the woman wrapped a hand onto her mouth as she let out a giggle of amusement before her sight on the red head completely faded. The woman then turned around and headed towards the exit. This woman who observed Tsubaki was none other then Izanami, the previous Imperator of the NOL and was the very woman who pitied Tsubaki against her childhood friend.

To her Tsubaki was the perfect tool for her revenge against Jin, after all she needed to do was become a puppeteer in Tsubaki's mind once again and she would have her way, but she was patient. Unlike her previous lacky Hazama, she would wait for the perfect timing to destroy her foe's lives. She was cruel like that, she would always wait until everyone was calm and felt safe and then destroy everything they held dear. It was her sense of pleasure.

The corrupted woman twirled one of her lender fingers around a lock of her purple hair as she quietly strolled out of what could have been described as a miners shack and into a wet dewy cavern where a large beast slept in the middle of it's ice cold floor. Luckily for her there was only a single entrance to this underground cavern and it was hidden beneath a tangled mess of vines, making it the perfect place for her to keep Ragna's now imprisoned body.

She then crept closer to the dormant beast that embodied the man once known as Ragna the Bloodedge and a young girl with long silver plated hair named Nu-13. Izanami used the two of them to recreate the legendary Black Beast, a hindrance that had been dead for nearly a hundred years. This creature made it's mark in history as the very thing that killed almost every living person in the entire world and intoxicating the earth's soil and air with sithre.

She knelt down as she marveled at what she considered 'beautiful' before running the palm of her hand down it's snout as she allowed her soft skin to drag over it's brittle scales. "My dear big brother, you are thy will to live, my passion to burn this world in your flames of destruction." She knelt down further as she placed her forehead onto the snout's jaggered texture. "Rest for now, dear brother." She whispered, "Let your dreams reveal to you our past." She let out a sly smirk as she watched the beast face twitch with discomfort. "I'll show you who we are."

A moderately young slender woman walked down through a dreary metal covered hallway as she felt eager to reach the end where a small wooden door was located. The light brown timber was a vast contrast to the rest of the building as it created a warmer atmosphere.

She stopped at the door as she smiled, looking down to the door's handle as she allowed her silver silk-like hair fall slightly in front of her eyes. Not often would she feel true bliss and compassion within the facility she lived in, however what was hidden behind the oak door was the most extraordinary thing in her life.

As she swung the door open she was greeted by two very boys who threw themselves at her, wrapping their small arms around her waist in a tight manner as the blonde boys greeted their mother. "Mummy, you're back!" They called out in unison as they continued to hug her tightly.

"Ah, my sweet angels. Coming to see the both of you each and every day, it is my one joy and pleasure in life." She then playfully teased, "Especially when I get to see those adorable chubby smiles of yours." She gently reached over to Jin's face as she gently squeezed one of his cheeks, causing him to let out a giggle as he felt his mother's fingers brush against his skin.

The three members of their family were rather close, especially the bond the two brothers shared, after all they spent their entire lives between those four walls, alone together since both their parents were always so busy with their work. Jin especially looked up to his older brother in high regards, to him being in this room to play with Ragna, was his version of paradise. From a outsiders view, they were the perfect pair of brothers.

"Mummy, why have you been gone so long?" Ragna exclaimed as his big green eyes stared at her until he got a response.

Giggling in amusement of Ragna's up the front personality she responded with a cheeky come back, "Well, why did I see the two of you rascals sneaking around the laboratory like mice today?" Both the boys eyes burst open as they realized that they've been caught red handed.

Jin began to sniffle as he didn't want his father to find out as well. "Mummy, please don't tell daddy that we were exploring again!" Ragna begged as he didn't want another ruler smacked across the palm of his hand again.

She knelt down and gave the boys a big warm hug as she wrapped them within her arms. She couldn't blame her children for wondering out of that small room, being within the same never changing walls would drive herself insane as well. It pained her because most of their days she would be too busy helping their father's research to the point where Ragna practically raised Jin. She knew at times the boys would sneak out of their room to go adventuring in the facility and would check out their parent's experiments. She personally never knew why any of them had to be there. She couldn't even remember how she ended up in the facility, the only thing she was certain of was that she absolutely loved her family to the ends of the earth.

"It's alright, honey." She wiped the tears from Jin's face with her thumb while with her other hand to gently pat Ragna's head. "We'll let it slip once more." She smirked as her eyes gazed lovingly at her two angels.

Standing alone in a black void Ragna stood silently as he watched that memory of his play out. He had no recollection of any of it as his furthest memory back was a memory of Jubei saving him from a explosion. "What... what the hell was that?" He blurted out as he stricken with chills, "Was... was that my mother?"

He felt two arms wrap around his neck from behind as he heard a giggle coming from behind him, "Of course it was, silly." The girl who giggled was someone who Ragna thought had died, her name was Nu and he despised this silver haired girl.

"Don't touch me, you pile of shit." He grumbled as he grinded his teeth together. She was the reason why he was stuck in this place. After all, he had one half of a Azure Grimoire and she had the other half. Ever since their bodies were combined into a mess of hatred and sorrow they were able to create a black beast.

"Aww, that's not very nice, Ragna." She taunted as she let go of him only to skip herself in front of him so she could be in his face. "After all, you're stuck with me in here forever now! Can't we just have fun? We're finally together after all." The girl acted as if she was oblivious to Ragna's feelings even through he had been blunt with her since the beginning.

"Get out of my FACE!" Ragna snapped as he swung his arm at her, impacting her face with the palm of his hand with enough force to send her sprawling into the ground.

She let out a psychotic laughter as she replied, "Yes, Ragna! More, MORE! I love it when your rough with me!" On the ground she raised her arms outwards to Ragna, begging him to brutally kill her. After all, her blood lust was the only way she could express her feelings for the silver haired man.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Ragna snapped as he marched past her to walk further away from her to go deeper into the pitch black of the void.

She sat herself up as she watched him walk away in amusement. "Hehehe, you'll never leave here. Izanami promised me that you'll connect with your inner hatred for the world, heheheh, then we will be able to move our body once and will kill everyone!" The girl muttered under her breath as she gazed at his body suductivly, her ruby eyes followed her one desire and that desire was to destroy the world with him.

While the body of the beast continued to slumber Izanami took a visit to a space between two dimensions, a place that looked similar to the void both Ragna and Nu are trapped in, however this void was like being in space with the glinted of stars surrounding one. As Izanami feet tapped against what could be considered the floor as she soon neared a large figure that was hanging upside down in the voids center. His limbs were all chained to a upside down cross, allowing his long blue hair to fall to the ground beneath.

"Who goes there?" A deep gruff voice lowly growled as he looked up to where Izanami stood before him with his blood colored eyes.

"You need not to question who I am, for I am your key to freedom." She spoke with a subtle phrase. The blue haired man stayed silent except for a low grunt as his response. "My name is Izanami and I required your assistance."

"What makes you think that I'd help you?"

"In exchange for your assistance I shall grant you freedom and the chance to battle with the most powerful beings on this pathetic earth, you'll however, finally have your desire... A worthy opponent."

He raised one of his bushy eyebrows in response. "I'm listening."

"Mad Dog, I want you to hunt down and kill Tsubaki Yayoi. Do that... and I shall grant your wish to battle with the infamous Grim Reaper and many other powerful warriors." Azreal let out a huge grin once the name she said rolled off her tongue, to him... He will finally get his dream. A chance for an epic battle, him verses the most powerful warriors and to get the chance to finally find a worthy opponent.

Meanwhile sitting in the bed in Kagura's infirmary, Jin's emerald eyes gazed out the window as it was his only source of entertainment from the more then boring surroundings items in his room. Not that he was able to enjoy the peaceful scenery outside as Taro came bursting through Jin's door, not even bothering to knock.

"Hey JinJin, I brought you some lunch!" Taro cheered out as he strutted into the room, carrying a single bowel on a silver tray with him.

Once Taro placed the tray down onto Jin's lap the blonde pouted as he started at the bland porridge that filled his bowel. "Not cooking anymore are we?" Jin scoffed as the tanned man sat in a chair beside the bed, his emerald eyes not leaving the disappointment in the bowel.

Taro let out a chuckle in response as he scratched at the back of his head, knowing fully well that he had been expecting this cold treatment from the blonde, after all Taro first noticed this foul change in Jin's personality once they left the Academy together. "Of course I am," The dark haired boy chuckled in response as he reached into his pants pocket, grabbing out a small sand which bag that was filled with small cookies before reaching into the plastic cover as he clinged to a single cookie. "Besides, once you get a taste of Hibiki's cooking, why on earth would I ever want to cook again?" He chuckled again before devouring Hibiki's homemade cookies.

Jin squinted his eyes in response to the boy's laid back attitude, he knew Taro had always been like that since they've met at the Academy, yet it always puzzled the blonde greatly. How could someone be so relaxed and so happy all the time? It baffled him as he could sense that it wasn't the whole side to the boy beside him and yet, he still couldn't figure it out.

"So, why are you here?" Jin asked as he picked up his silver spoon and dunked it into his porridge before placing the contains into his mouth.

Taro dropped the cookie that he was about to place into his mouth as he found himself caught off guard. "Well, Kagura is my cousin after all. So I thought I'd come to visit." He scratched at the back of his neck in a nervous manner.

"To choose now of all times to visit now, though... While I'M here..." A smirked formed across Jin's lips as he watched how Taro began to sweat in discomfort.

"Jin, look I'm here for Kagura, I swear!"

"You're always conveniently somewhere near me though... like a ghost. You better start talking, Taro or-"

Jin found himself abruptly interrupted by the sound of his door literally being kicked down as a squirrel came crashing into the room. "JIN, YOU'RE FINALLY AWAAAKKKKE!" The squirrel let out a long cheer as she began to bounce around the room with excitement, landing onto various pieces of furniture before landing onto the very end of Jin's bed to settle down on. "How are you feeling, Jin?" She asked in a gleeful tone as her tail swished back and forth as if she was like a excited puppy waiting to go for a walk.

Jin let out a quiet grumble in response, "I'm fine, thanks." His foul attitude wasn't discrete as he spoke back to the squirrel.

Not a moment after the words left his mouth, quietly behind Makoto crept into the room was her blonde friend Noel. "H-hello, Taro... Major." She stuttered to the men as she quietly stood behind Makoto who was still sitting on the end of the bed.

Jin frowned once his frosted emerald eyes scanned over the blonde figure who dared to enter HIS room. He always held a deep hatred for the girl which many would call his hatred 'irrational', but to him it was logical. He found her voice and personality rather annoying, but what truly drove the guy insane was the fact that she had the sickly sweet face of his little sister Saya. The face reminded him of the pain and anger he felt towards his little sister for taking away his big brother and now, after what Saya had committed recently to his childhood friend Tsubaki... it only boiled his blood more and more to see that face.

Doing his best to withhold his anger, Jin sucked in a large breath of air before choosing carefully how to reply, despite the obvious irritated tone, "So, why are the two of you decided to come here?"

'Wow, rude much, dude?' Makoto squinted her eyes at the male blonde for a brief moment, not that she was overly bothered by him since he hadn't attacked Noel like usual. Makoto choose to shake off Jin's obvious irritation as she responded to Jin in her usual chirpier tone, "Well, we thought of visiting you since Tsubaki is.. busy."

Jin eyed off the squirrel as his lips pursed downwards to form a frown across his handsome face. "Busy... right." Jin knew something was up! It wasn't like Tsubaki to avoid the opportunity to come see and to make sure that he was alright. She was always there by his side to make sure that he was alright. Hell, in their Academy days she would even go and make him food if he was feeling the slightest bit unwell.

Jin paused for a moment before striking a new topic of conversation with the beastkin, "By the way I've been meaning to thank you for saving Tsubaki. I'm glad she isn't hurt."

The beastkin's ears twitched as she replied, "Oh, I didn't do that for you. She's my friend and I'll always protect my friend to the very end." Her eyes darted slightly to the side as she thought about their red headed friend, the worry in her eyes was obvious to Jin.

"Even if she would wonder off?" Jin slipped in his straight forward question which caused the squirrel's eyes to burst open.

She then slurred in response, "I mean... if she actually decided to take of-"

Down the hallway everyone in Jin's room could clearly hear Kagura down the hallway talking to Hibiki, since the beastkin had completely smashed down the door. The two men were clearly talking about a sensitive subject, "-We've now sent a search party into the forest near the west of here in search for the young lord." Hibiki reported with his quiet words which could clearly be heard from the room causing everyone inside to freeze up as their heads swerved to Jin who sat there with a unsettling smirk.

The two men must've of noticed the door being caved in as they continued to talk as they drew closer to the gap in the room. "As for Tsubaki's whereabouts, I got some of my men to search all the cities within the Federation as you requested, although I'm afraid she must of left the cities... We even check in to see if she had used her passport, however I'm afraid she left the cities on foot as her passport hasn't been registered on any form of transport."

The room fell completely silent as they watched Jin's eyes scan all of them individually as he gave them a eerie glare. Without realizing what had been going on, Hibiki and Kagura raced into the room once they noticed the door had been broken down. "Is everyone alright in here?" Kagura called out as he entered the room, his eyes gazed around the room to make sure no one was harmed. Only to then realize the worried gazes in their eyes that fixated onto Jin who possessed a cold aura around him. "So... I'm guessing you heard all that, huh?" Realizing why the blonde looked aggravated he asked him in a calm manner.

Jin stood out of his bed before walking towards where his jolting sapphire coat sat, picking it up as he made his way to the Black Knight. He gave the Knight a frosted glare. "So much for Tsubaki helping people in the city, huh?"

Kagura squinted his eyes as he folded his arms. "Jin, I know what you're thinking. But, I need you to calm down and listen to me before you do anything rash." Despite Kagura speaking directly at Jin, the blonde continued to ignore him as he grabbed his sword and placing his coat onto his body.

"Move." Jin coldly demanded as he stopped in front of Kagura who was blocking the exit.

The black spiked haired man let out a disappointed sigh as he shook his head in response to Jin's demand. "Jin, please don't be so foolish! Sit down and we can talk about this." Kagura's plea came out more as a demand as he clearly displayed his annoyance towards Jin.'s attitude.

"What is there to talk about, Kagura?" Jin snapped back in response, "Tsubaki's gone and you're telling me to be calm!?" The blonde's hand grip fidgeted against the grip of his sword.

Kagura let out another sigh, knowing fully well that Jin would continue refusing to listen to reason. "Major, please wait!" Noel sheepishly butted in as she held out a small pink envelop that was wrapped in a stylish stationary. "A-At least read this before you go..."

"What IS this?!" Jin snapped the envelop right out the girl's hands causing her to let out a small squeak.

"It's the letter Tsubaki left us before we realized that she had disappeared." Noel's hand quickly dropped as fast as the Major's head dropped into the letter. Without any hesitation Jin opened it and read the note he found inside, his eyes darted back and forth as he scanned over the lines of writing, before squinting as he reached the end of it. "She's gone after my brother? That idiot!" Jin placed the letter into his coat's pocket before attempting to barge past Kagura, only to find himself being shoved back by him.

The moment Kagura shoved Jin backwards, causing him to stumble a little, Taro quickly snuck beside Jin as he bashed into the blonde as he sent him tumbling into a near by walk in robe that Hibiki had opened the door to. Once the Major stumbled inside he heard Kagura order everyone to shut the door and block it with various pieces of furniture, sealing the blonde off from the world. "Argh! You BASTARDS!" Jin roared as he charged up against the seal door, realizing his arm was more bruised then he thought as he felt a sharp pain course through it. "..Gah..."

He could hear Kagura's muffled voice echo through the door, "Jin, I'm sorry... But, it's for your own good." He then heard his muffled whisper, "Taro, keep an eye on this door and do NOT let him escape."

The blonde then heard everyone's footsteps became faint as he let out a groan. "Damn it." He slide back against the wall of the closest as he realised that he couldn't get out as easily as he thought...

Word Count 3,625 (ignore this, as it's for me keeping records :D )

A/N: I'm sorry if the last part seemed rushed, as I tend to always rush the endings since I'm a idiot who types these too late at night. Especially tonight because I have Tafe/college early in the morning. haha, anyways, feel free to leave a review?