Chapter 6

A Day for Rain

What a match. Machine versus vampire; an all out brawl to the finish. This was what he lived for; the heart pounding action and challenges. So what if he couldn't use his element? In the past, he'd proved more than enough times, he could kick butt with his immense strength alone. All thanks to his training with Issa and the others, he knew just how far he could go.

"Ryo, get your butt back here!" Kurumu demanded.

"Sorry, but I can't do that." he answered with a smirk.

"And why's that?" Magi asked in frustration.

"Because of your elements, duh. Plus you're forgetting, I have something you don't. You're all good fighters, but let's be honest, I've got the speed and power. Put that all together and you've got one major butt whooping."

"Damn. Freaking numskull." sighed Magi.

"Wait. Don't you have a card that could increase our strength?" Sylvia asked.

"One, but it's not by much. Certainly not on his level."

"Relax guys. I've got this." he promised, while watching his opponent rise up.

The only question was, what else this guy had up his sleeves. Being a machine, no doubt he had some gadgets hidden away, that would give him an advantage. Other than that though, there wasn't much else to fear.

"You're an interesting one, I'll give you that." he said, while standing back up.

"Well thank you. You're quite interesting yourself. In fact, why don't you tell me your name."

"Very well. Since I'll be your last opponent, it's only fitting. My name, is Kahn. I've come far to exterminate all yokai kind. The wretched beasts shall not..." he answered.

As it turned out though, it was but a distraction. Oh, he listened alright, but he had little patience for boring monologues. So instead, he raced towards him at high-speed, and gave him a nice punch under the chin; sending him backwards yet again.

"I can't believe you fell for the oldest trick on the book. I ask for your name, and instead you give me more time to knock you on your ass."

"Heh, that's a neat ability you've got there. You wouldn't mind if I evened that playing field, huh?" he asked.

"Huh? What that?" he gasped, after seeing a strange device attached to his stomach.

"You shouldn't rush into things without first thinking first, boy."

Something wasn't right. His speed was gone, along with his powers.

"What did you do?" he said, while trying to break it.

A hexagonal trinket had attached itself to his stomach, and wouldn't let go.

"It was quite simple really. Before you punched me, I let loose one of my troopers. With this, I've locked away any elemental power you may have inside that body of yours, for five hours."

"Gah! No." he grunted, while trying to crush it.

"It's useless. That device is made of a special material that can't be broken not removed until the time specified. Until then, you're nothing but waiting prey." he told him, before jumping at him, with the intent to slaughter.

However, he overlooked one minor detail. While trying to slice his so-called "prey" in half, Ryo grabbed both blades in his hands; the gauntlets protecting them from any harm.

"What is this?" he asked, while attempting to pull them away.

"Looks like you've made one minor mistake. Oops." he seriously answered, before pulling him closer.

With a good twist, both snapped in two, before he spun around; landing a kick along his left side. Tumbling down he went, as his opponent threw away his knives.

"You see moron, you may think you have me all figured out. Oh, I'm just another elemental. How weak, am I right? But there's one thing you didn't account for. But I won't tell you what it is just yet." he said, while charging forth.

"Excellent. We'll discover what you're hiding once we've dissect that horrid body." he said, before raising his arm cannons.

With his super speed, dodging them would have been a snap, but without it, precautions had to be taken, to make sure he didn't screw up. Thinking on his feet, he grabbed a large chunk of marble laying nearby, and gave it a good throw; like a Frisbee. Just as he wanted, it took out the projectiles, but didn't do much to faze Kahn.

"Hmph, is that all you've got?" he questioned, before shattering the rock with his fist.

"Nope. I've got a lot more." he answered, while right in his face.

Not only had it knocked out the shots fired, but also provided enough of a distraction to get up close and personal with him. With his hand balled up, he threw a hard punch, only for Kahn to block. Well then, how about another kick? Nope, he instead used his forearm to block that as well. Was he that good of a learner?

"What a simple creature you are. Here, let me help you." he claimed, before grabbing a hold of his leg.

"Ngh, what's with this guy? Now he's stronger?" he wondered in his surprise, while trying to pull free.

"I'm not just any ordinary machine boy. I'm a hunter. One who adapts to his prey's strategies!" he exclaimed, before giving him a hard swing, up to the second floor of the nearby art exhibit.

Good thing he was made of tougher stuff than the others, or else that would have hurt a lot more than it had. But while laying in the glass, he began to think. If Kahn could really adapt and learn from past mistake, could they beat him? After all, he managed against their commander, and he sounded pretty confident just a minute ago.

"Time to end this!" he heard, as the mecha warrior crashed through the top of the building, with his foot out and ready to stomp.

Swiftly, he rolled out of harms way, before taking a knee. If he couldn't use his powers, then what about some of his gadgets? He couldn't be careless though, he'd start light and work his way up.

"Hey Kahn, try these on for size." he said confidently, before tossing out a few smoke bombs.

With his vision clouded, nothing could be seen, as he tried looking through the thick cloud.

"Damn him. If I take in this much smoke, then I'll only cause myself harm." he thought, before firing blindly.

Tried as he might though, not a cry was heard, as he stopped for a moment. Wasting ammo would only waste his precious reserves, and without him, long-range attacks weren't operable.

"Yokai! Yokai!" he cried out in anger.

"Yes?" he heard, a little whisper from his left.

"There you are." he growled, before turning to shoot.

But instead, he got a face full of fists. One after the other, Ryo used much of his strength to beat force him back. Finally, he was doing some serious damage; as pieces of metal began flying off.

"And here's a present for the road." he said, before attaching a small sticky bomb to his chest.

There were only three seconds before it would detonate; good thing he planned ahead. With Kahn's back turned to a nearby window, he gave his mid section a good kick; sending him out and away from him. Shortly after, an explosion was heard, even by Magi and the others.

"What's going on? Where's Ryo?" Minami asked, while walking out; her leg wrapped in gauze after having stitches placed in.

"Um, hm, well he...went back to home base." answered Magi.

"Oh really?" she asked, suspicious of his answer.

The look she gave said it all. She wasn't in the mood for lies.

"Quit the crap. He's out there, and we're going out to get him." Sylvia told them, before grabbing his wrist.

"Wait, hold it. Your brother clearly said to stay here. We're no use to him." Magi said in protest.

"Yeah? And how many times has he been wrong?"

She had a point. He did have a tendency to underestimate their opponent.

"Good point."

"What about him?" Minami asked, while pointing to the injured Frye.

"Him? He's out for now. We've got a medic coming to help him out, but for now we're on our own." she answered, before running off with Magi.

"Wait, I'm coming too."

"No. You stay here. I'd rather you stay safe and out of harms way, and so would your lover."

Conflicting thoughts swarmed her mind, as she looked down at her leg. He's specifically asked her to stay with the others, but at the same time, she couldn't leave them out there without backup; regardless of the pain.

"You needn't worry. They've overcome odd like this before." Frye told her.

"I hope your right."

Was he? So far, the young vampire wasn't having much trouble. Even without his powers, he still managed to outwit this so-called "hunter" he so claimed. After hearing the explosion, he jumped down from the hole and wall, and made his down. From the look of it, he'd taken some pretty big damage. His chest plate had been reduced to scrap, while chunks of his headpiece and mask went missing. From the outside, sparks could be seen shooting out, as he landed on his feet.

"Seems this hunter has become the hunted." he said, before reaching for his cuffs.

"Hah hah hah...I'll admit, you caught me off guard, but never again. Our fight ends right now." he said, while stumbling forward.

"Awwww, ready to give up and go home?"

"Not by a long shot yokai." he growled, before reaching for his chest.

"Really? I blow you up and you're still going on?"

"Yokai, you're the loser here. This was but a small part of our plan!" he scowled while a small cover revealed a little, red button.

"Our plan?"

"That's right. I'm taking these chains we were once bound with, and throwing them back on you. Now you'll be burdened with the pain of their sadness. This is our vengeance!" he exclaimed in anger, before slamming down the button.

"Crap. Best take him out before whatever he wants to happen happens." he thought, before grabbing a bigger bomb.

But after taking it out, it suddenly flew from his hand; like it was being magnetized. In fact, all of his gadgets were being pulled towards him. His bombs, gun, and sword were all gone, as the sound of clanging metal approached.

"What are you up to?" he asked, while backing up.

"Hah. You thought this was all I had. Such a naive child." he said, before collapsing into a pile of metal, leaving only a small, red core floating in the air.

From every which direction, large chunks of metal began flying in, as they gathered around the glowing sphere. Even from the sky it came, as Ryo jumped up to a nearby overhang, to avoid the oncoming scrap.

"Huh. So that's what he had up his sleeve." he thought, while watching the junk pile up.

While watching though, the voice of his sister called out to him.

"Brother!" he heard, before turning to find his friend and sister jumping through the broken window.

"So you two decided to throw your hat into the ring, huh?"

"Well after that explosion, Sylvia here insisted that we go take a look. But seeing all of this, I guess we made the right decision."

"Awww, you're worried about your little bro?" he teased, while pinching her cheek.

"Do you want me to get Kurumu over here?" she threatened.

Nope. That was the last thing he needed; to be smothered to death. In truth though, she didn't like being treated as a child, especially by someone younger than herself.

"Alright you two. So what's going on here?" asked Magi.

"No clue. I saw him press a red button on his chest, and then all of this started happening." he replied, while watching the flow of scraps below.

"Interesting. You think maybe he could..." she was about to ask, before being interrupted by loud a loud clang.

Whatever Kahn was up too, he it was working, as the flow came to a stop. Piece by piece, the gears, electrodes, and metal plating began arranging itself in such a way, that it made a brand new colossal beast. Its four big eyes zeroed in on them, as four arms too form, with swords in each. Its deformed face looked at them with such contempt, as it raised all four blades.

"Your in my way!" it scowled, before slicing through the surrounding buildings.

"Yikes! Magi, a little help." he pleaded.

"R-Right." he said, before using his last teleportation card.

With it, he managed to get them out of their just before their own building came crashing out. From a bright flash of light, they appeared about two blocks away.

"Christ. What the heck was that thing?" Sylvia asked, while checking her pulse.

"I think, it was Kahn."

"Who?"

"Kahn. That's his name."

"Oh well great. So why don't you zip on over there and take care of him for us?" she asked.

"Can't, this stupid thing he attached to me sealed off my powers for now."

"That thing?" Magi asked, while tapping the device.

"Watch it. Who knows what else it could do."

"Please. I'll have it off before you can say yokai." he said, before taking out his gun.

Perhaps it would work, Ryo thought with slight discomfort.

"I guess it's better than nothing. Go ahead. Shoot." Ryo sighed, while shutting his eyes tightly.

While carefully aiming, he took a deep breath, before pulling the trigger. He hadn't been hit, but instead, the small bolt fizzled out upon hitting its metal surface.

"Oh come on!" he whined, knowing he wanted to use his powers so badly.

"Okay, relax. We'll think of a way out of this." he assured.

"Uh guys, you may want to hurry it up." Sylvia pleaded.

They had been found. Kahn's huge form overshadowed them, as he let loose a strong plasma beam from both his eyes and mouth. With haste, all three booked it just in time, but didn't escape the shock-wave that followed.

"You think you can change the future? You're just pitiful little insects, and I'm the executioner he growled, before reaching down for Ryo.

"You let him go!" Sylvia exclaimed in anger, before throwing a few bombs at his ankles.

"Oh thank you my dear." he replied smugly, before absorbing the trinkets.

"You've gotta be kidding me..."

"I'm afraid not, but seeing as how you're at a disadvantage here, I'm willing to make a deal. I'll let you three live, so long as you lot serve my master for eternity."

What could they do? If they refused, who knew how long things would go on for, but if not, they'd be enemies of their own team.

"Alright, you've got a deal." she replied.

"Good choice."

"But we'll only agree so long as you leave the others alive." she pleaded.

"Very well. Enough blood has already been spilled today anyhow." he said, before tossing her brother to the ground.

"Sylvia, are you serious? You've just made a pretty damn big decision for us." Magi told her, while running to help his friend.

She knew what she was doing. If anything, it would give her a chance to figure out who was behind the attacks.

"I know, but um, Kahn was it?" she asked, after walking to his side.

"What is it?" he asked impatiently.

"You're a robot like the others, right?"

"Wrong. Though I'm composed of the same materials on the inside, our outer layers are organic. Does that answer your question?"

"Yep." she said, before transforming.

Perfect. Just as she'd planned. With her brother out of harm's way, she instead dove right between an opening in his armor. Now that she was on the inside, all she need do is dismantle him.

"Hey, get out of there!" he demanded.

"Nope. You're finished big guy." she said, while ripping out wires, rusting gears, and doing whatever she could to help.

He hadn't been in his secondary form for five minutes, and already she'd found his weakness. As she spread through his body, chunks of armor and pieces of his body began falling apart, but he wasn't done yet.

"That's enough!" he exclaimed, before expelling large amounts of steam from every crevice.

Suddenly, her body began heating up at an alarming rate. Being turned into steam didn't really appeal to her, so instead she jumped out; only to get caught by the titan.

"Kahn, let her go!" Ryo exclaimed in anger, before jumping up to punch his arm off.

"Not so far little one." he said, before spraying him with large amounts of water.

"Gah! No..." he grunted, while falling to the ground.

"I gave you three a chance to live, but if you're so determined to save this savage species, you can morn for them." he growled, before throwing his sister to the ground.

With his prey at bay, the monstrous machine raised his claws, before Magi countered it with a set of four larger bombs, however it proved fruitless, as they were swatted away like annoying flies.

"You're annoying me boy." Kahn hisses, before giving him a good swat as well.

While tumbling in the dirt, most of his cards scattered across the ground. All he had was a card of multiplication and a shield, but in his condition, flight wasn't an option.

"Now then girl. It's time to enter eternity." he said menacingly, while lifting an arm.

"Don't do it!" Ryo begged, as his heart rate began picking up.

"With this I send you on your way!" he exclaimed, before bringing the claws of justice.

Time seemed to stop for a moment, as he watched in horror as the claw dug itself deep into his sister's chest. A loud gag, followed one last breath was the last thing he heard from her, before her eyes slowly closed. Blood covered the ground, as the bastard, no, the murder pulled away.

"Sylvia?" was all Magi could say, while looking at her lifeless body.

"Ah, another one gone. Good riddance too." Kahn said, before swatting her away.

They couldn't believe what had just happened, but Ryo above all else, couldn't rationalize what he'd seen. Just like that, she was gone; just another victim of the attack. Never again would they train together, eat together, or even tease each other. Something inside started rising up. A feeling of not only sadness, but pure hatred and disgust filled his mind.

"You..." he literally growled.

"Hm? You're still alive?" asked Kahn.

"You took her from me. I'll...I'll kill you!" he exclaimed, as a spiraling vortex of vampire energy began taking form around him.

"How cute. I assume you'd like to join her, yes?" he asked, before opening his mouth.

Nothing could stop him at this point. A primal urge had awoken, and with he, he'd take vengeance. Using what energy he had at hand, he launched forward; unwilling to except what reality had dealt him. While closing in though, the mechanized menace let out another large beam; one big enough to vaporize on contact.

"Crap. I'm not losing you too." Magi thought, before tossing out the last barrier card.

Along with it, he used a 3X card to help strengthen its defense capabilities. At most it would lessen and damage caused.

"I'll tear off your head!" he exclaimed in anger, before raising his fist.

Instead of striking back though, he paused as a large green bubble appeared around him. He hadn't expected this, but it proved useful the moment the beam hit. Almost instantly, its surface began absorbing what it could, before inevitably breaking apart. Bit by bit, the shield crumbled, but at the very least it absorbed a good portion of the attack. However, despite absorbing quite a bit of power, it was still strong enough to burn his chest, and knock him back into a large pile of rubble.

"You're a persistent one." Kahn said, before releasing the pieces of machinery around himself.

As metal fell to the ground, he jumped out with a blade in hand. It was time to end their petty squabble, he thought while walking up to the unconscious Ryo.

"And now I send you on your way. May the next life treat you better." he softly said, before raising the blade.

But the day had other plans for him. Before finishing off the insect, a little echo signal began ringing in his head. Apparently his boss needed something

"Yes? What is it sir? You need me to...yes. Of course. I'll gather up the troops and be back soon." he said, before hanging up.

It seemed any further killing would have to wait. Duty called.

"Count your blessings yokai. For today I shall let you live, but cross paths with me again, and your life is forfeit." he told him, before blasting off into the sky.

And along with him were his remaining bots. The day of pain and suffering would never be forgotten, but losing someone close only made it worse.