Chapter Seven

Train Heartnet and Shiki had landed from the teleportation device that transported them to the mountains toward the west from the headquarters of the Elder Council. The wind was absent, and the stale grass had lost its lush green color, replaced by a brownish yellow. The sun was shining brightly in the fair sky, although perhaps too brightly for Shiki, for she shielded her gaze from the light.

"Don't you get hot in that dress, Shiki?" Train asked curiously. He watched his fellow ally as she shook her head from the sun's rays.

"No," Shiki said impatiently. "I am just not used to the light's bright rays like this. I've never been so up high on my own feet before. I'm used to the dark, not the light." She paused. "Why do you suppose Chronos put us together as a team, Black Cat? They know that we have fought each other, and know each other's weaknesses. This alliance," Shiki forced the word out of her mouth, "will not work! You know this to be true, Black Cat."

Train stared at Shiki for a moment. He didn't say a word as the older Taoist ranted. In fact, he knew that Shiki spoke the truth. The alliance would ultimately fail, and Chronos was only using the alliance to pursue its own goals. But yet, wasn't everyone doing the same?

"You do have a point, Shiki. Chronos is still the same manipulating leader that it was." He chose his words carefully. "But shouldn't it be that we sacrifice our own personal goals for the greater good?"

The question remained unanswered. Shiki appeared to be thinking for a long time before she asked, "What is the greater good? I've never heard of it."

Train grinned widely, and softly laughed. "I don't know. It was something Princess said. I think we're going to find out what that means soon, Shiki." Train still maintained his relaxed manner, but drew Hades from his holster. Shiki also knew that an enemy was following them, but she didn't move. She waited for the enemy to come to them.

"You still do not cease to amaze me, Black Cat." The voice was a deep baritone. "To think that the former assassin of the Chrono Numbers would ally himself with one of the most powerful Taoists in word to destroy a common cause… that almost seems impossible." The steps came closer to the two figures on the mountain. The enemy advancing towards Train and Shiki was tall. He was one hundred ninety-three centimeters, compared to Train's one hundred seventy-five centimeters and Shiki's one hundred fifty-four centimeters. The man was wearing a mask that covered his whole face, and only his eyes could be seen. The mask was plain. It bore no symbols or markings, and the color was black. Dents and numerous scratches outlined the mask, and those seemed to make him even more imposing. He had broad shoulders, and his dark brown hair was not obscured by the mask. His gray eyes were like steel, and his gaze didn't waver from Train and Shiki. It was as if he was inspecting a piece of prey. Curiously enough, the man didn't carry a weapon.

"Who are you?" Train asked. Shiki was ominously silent. She observed their enemy, noting every detail.

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't live long enough to remember my name." The towering man moved closer to them, cracking his knuckles. "I don't care who either of you are. Just as long as you're dead." Train seemed to consider the threat, at least for a moment. Then he aimed his gun at his enemy and fired. The shot was deafening, echoing in the atmosphere, and the sound make Shiki's ears ring from the vibration. Train had aimed at the center of the mask. There should have been a hole from the bullet where the part of the man's forehead had been. Instead, there was another dent on the mask. It was almost not noticeable, as the mark was pale and was almost like a scratch. Train's expert marksmanship was not able to wound his enemy.

"This mask is made out of hard steel, not wood or hard plastic. Your gun could not even make a mark, Black Cat, because Hades is no longer purely made out of orichalcum. You could say that my mask is another one of my weapons."

"What weapons do you have?" Train asked. "You said that your mask is another one of your weapons. What do you mean?" Shiki was silent, observing the interaction between the two.

"I mean this." Their enemy raised his hands high, and with a silent command, something gathered from the grass onto his fingertips. What is this? Train and Shiki thought. Then they saw the liquid gathering at the man's fingertips. What? Their eyes widened with shock. Water? A distant roar echoed in their ears. It seemed to be coming from the ground. Instantly, Shiki felt something shudder within her body… a feeling. I haven't felt this power in a long time. So powerful! I once prided myself with being the strongest wielder of Tao! Shiki thought to herself. Have I finally met my match?

"Shiki," Train yelled, "our enemy is a Taoist!"

"Behold," the enemy whispered. He was still holding his hands up, and his eyes were closed as if he were in a deep trance. "The power of Tao!"

Water surged from the roots of the forgotten lush grass. The water flowed upward, swallowing everything in its path, including the two heroes that were trapped in it. Train sucked in the air that he had left inside him, and tried to float with the water. It was hopeless. Train's body was spinning out of control as the water slashed at his skin, causing blood to flow out of the wounds. He spotted Shiki, her dress now in tatters, and bleeding as well. Her mask was off as well. Train saw that Shiki was valiantly swimming to the surface. He followed, and his lungs had soon reached their limit. Train was fighting to stay conscious, focusing on Shiki's form. When at last he thought that he couldn't make it, Train swam to the surface.

He was gasping for breath. "Why didn't you use your Tao, Shiki? We barely made it out alive!" Train looked at Shiki, and noticed that her face was covered in cuts.

"I couldn't, Black Cat!" Shiki snapped back. "My insects would die in this water. They would drown! They may be intelligent, but they're not humans!"

"Oh." Train thought about this information for a moment. "I didn't know that."

Suddenly a figure appeared rising from the water. Their enemy, the man in the mask, had appeared before them. He bore no wounds or fatigue, as Train and Shiki had.

"How did you come to gain the power of Tao?" Shiki spat. She was furious. She knew every person that held the power of Tao. How had she not known about this man?

"Creed Diskenth gave me this power in secret." He noticed the shocked expressions of Train and Shiki. "Oh, yes, no doubt have you heard of him. He gave me this power for a reason, Shiki. Creed knew that you would be displeased about using Tao for bitter ends, and that you would eventually betray him. He wanted me to kill you."

"You would obey that monster?" shrieked Shiki. "He has destroyed our honorable history!"

Their enemy gazed at Shiki. "I know what that hateful man has done, but I will only obey him for revenge."


Meanwhile…

"When do you think the enemy will come?" Kyoko asked. She tried to whisper softly, but the words echoed in the alleyway where she and Ferron were hiding.

"Hush, Kyoko." Ferron whispered severely. "We must be quiet. We want to find the enemy first." They both walked quietly before Kyoko broke the silence.

"Is it okay that I use my Tao?" Ferron stopped at the strain Kyoko's voice made. "Kuro-sama said before that it's not okay to kill people, when I first met him. And since then, I haven't used my Tao. Why is it okay to use my Tao to kill people now?" Kyoko was crestfallen.

Ferron crouched down to Kyoko, her former expression softer now. "Remember what my brother told you, Kyoko? He said, "'No killing for killing sake…unless to protect someone you love.'" Do you understand? It's okay to kill someone if you're protecting Train."

"You…" Kyoko's eyes widened, realizing what Ferron meant.

"Stop." Ferron said suddenly. She held up her hand. Someone is coming. An enemy, perhaps." She drew her weapon Zeus, and held it in front of Kyoko. "I will protect you."

"I have no personal grudge against you," the voice said, "but you must die for the goals of the Zero Numbers."

Ferron made no movement. Her weapon was still clutched in her hand. Kyoko, however, trembled. Her eyes widened, and she followed the movements of her enemy as they neared. As the face appeared closer, tears pricked her eyes. No… her heart screamed.

"Ch-a-ard-den?" Kyoko chocked, staring at the man that had been her friend before her.