Crimson Twilight

Author's Notes: Well, hope this chapter lives up to expectations. I wanted to make Haseo's Awakening a lot more dramatic, but my inner muse had expired by the time I started writing. ;( Oh, well, you get to see some drama in the Tarvos battle as well.

Disclaimer: I really don't own anything. I swear... okay?

VII Chapter 7: Awaken VII

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's the first round of the Demon Palace Tournament! As you know, the last tournament ended in failure for the challenger... but the proud warriors of the arena will keep on going no matter how many grueling battles they must face!"

Haseo listened to the rambling of the arena commentator, snarling to himself. That guy tried to be a showoff... Stepping down, he awaited the teleporter claiming his senses. Sure enough, it did, and he soon stood between his two teammates, facing the opposite end of the arena.

"The newcomer, Team Haseo! Its leader was known as the 'Terror of Death', a person who hunted down those who killed for their own enjoyment. However, due to an unfortunate incident, his power has been forcefully stripped from him and he has to start anew! Let's welcome them!"

The loud cheering of the crowd was getting to Haseo. He scowled; the excitement really annoyed him, and the fact that the aforementioned 'unfortunate incident' had been exposed irked him even more. He watched and waited, listening to the drabble of the commentator.

"His teammates are Atoli of Moon Tree, and Silabus of Canard!"

Haseo closed off his ears for a moment. He perked up once again when he heard the opposing team mentioned, and received quite a shock when he heard their names.

"On the opposing side is Bordeaux, a member of the guild Kestrel. She's a fierce warrior and feared for the sheer number of people she's ruthlessly killed on the battlefield. Today she sides with her friends, fellow Kestrel members Negimaru and Grein, who also seek revenge against the 'Terror of Death'."

"Bordeaux..." Haseo growled. "...It's you."

"Oh, I remember you," Bordeaux said, a broad grin on her face. "You're the fledgling hunter that killed me way back when. Well guess what? I came through the Cycle just fine, and now I'm back and better than ever. Hahaha! Just you try and defeat me! You're weak now. You stand no chance!"

Haseo sighed. "...Man, she hasn't changed a bit..." He drew his broadsword, waiting for the signal before charging forward to attack first.

He found himself clashing with Bordeaux's sword. He tried to push her back, but was pushed back himself and thrown against the arena wall.

"Oh, look, if it isn't the girl," Bordeaux said as she rushed toward Atoli. "I remember... I almost killed you when I got beaten up by Haseo. Oh, that's a memory I'll never forget..."

Atoli held her staff up to defend against Bordeaux's attack. "I'm not going to give in to you, you... murderer!"

She soon realized, however, that Bordeaux was too strong for her to defend against. The Cleric was thrown against the arena wall as well, leaving Silabus to defend the two.

"I haven't seen you before," Bordeaux commented, looking at Silabus. "Hmm... you're a cute boy. I bet your head would be a beautiful trophy to take home and keep for myself!"

Silabus backed away, frightened by Bordeaux's advances. "...Haseo, please, wake up... you can't be down and out this fast..."

"It's pointless," Bordeaux said, laughing. "He's out cold. Now just let me kill you in peace... so that I can move on and fight a more worthy opponent than you wimps."

She came upon the sudden realization that something wasn't right. Glancing over at where Haseo had fallen, she expected to see him unconscious. However, Haseo apparently had other ideas.

"...Damn you..."

The boy's voice was nothing but a low growl. He stood up, a feral glare in his eyes, which Bordeaux could swear were glowing. He fell back unexpectedly, and Bordeaux took the opportunity to charge and attack.

Her sword deflected off of the crimson markings that had begun to show up on Haseo's skin.

...If I lose here... I won't be able to... do anything...

He was thrust into a world of darkness. It was as if he had been knocked out... but the pain was very real. It was agonizing, excruciating, yet strangely enjoyable. His physical form showed signs of injury from the spirit force trying to shove its way out of him... his skin cracked, and he began bleeding from the open wounds. He could feel something inside him, growing larger and larger by the second...

What the hell is going on! Why can't I control myself! Why does it hurt so...!

The thought snapped in his brain. ...That.. it's... it's here...

His pain vanished, replaced by a feeling of unimaginable strength. The world around him shattered as a stone figure replaced his physical form. Its three eyes glared down menacingly at his opponents while it raised its hand and conjured a scythe from its spirit energy.

"...Skeith!"

Silabus stared up at the figure floating above him. It wasn't a mere shape like it had been with Endrance... he could see every bit of it, and instantly knew that the beast Haseo had called forth was the same one Kuhn had told him about. He shrank away from Haseo, hiding against the wall of the arena, glancing over at the still unconscious Atoli.

Haseo laughed gleefully, continuing to watch his shocked enemy. "See this? Do you all see this? Every single one of you! Do you see this!"

The audience began to fill with startled yelling. Gaspard looked up from his spot, his teeth chattering as he laid eyes on Haseo's new form. "I-is th-that r-really Ha-Ha-seo?"

"...Damn it, Haseo," Kuhn swore. "You fool... what the hell are you thinking! Showing your Avatar to everyone... that'll get us all killed!"

Ignoring the shouts from the crowd, Haseo lowered his form until its spindly legs were almost touching what would've been the arena floor. "Glad you understand, everyone. Well then... I'm gonna finish this battle on my own!"

"H-Haseo...?" Atoli began to stir awake, but when she noticed her friend's new form, she quickly realized what had happened. "...Please, Haseo... I know you don't like Bordeaux, but... please don't kill her! If you do, then she might be the same as Shino..."

"...Atoli..." The voice immediately calmed Haseo, and he was able to recall his Avatar. He glared at Bordeaux one last time before walking over and standing by his teammates.

Bordeaux grimaced, looking up at the commentator's booth. "...I quit! This guy's tough! There's no way in hell I'm gonna win against that thing!"

Before the response could come, she had already left, along with her two teammates. Haseo breathed a heavy sigh, then collapsed on the arena floor.

"Haseo, are you okay?" Silabus inquired, rushing to his leader. "...You're bleeding all over. Atoli, can you heal him?"

Atoli nodded, stepping forward. "...Yes, of course. I'll go ahead and heal him now..."

While she healed Haseo, the commentator's ranting once again filled the ears of the three teammates. However, they ignored it this time. It had been their victory, fair and square, and just for once, Haseo agreed with Atoli.

No matter how much he hated Bordeaux, sealing her wouldn't do any good.

"...Thanks, Atoli," Haseo said, looking up at his friend. "...You stopped me."

Atoli simply smiled, helping the boy up and then hugging him. "You did great, Haseo! I'm so glad you were able to control yourself..."

"If it weren't for you, I would never have stopped the attack," Haseo remarked, hugging her back. "I'm glad I brought you along."

"...I feel like I should thank you, Haseo," Atoli said, closing her eyes. "It's so nice to have a friend..."

He blushed, realizing that she was leaning closer to him. She was getting a bit too comfortable with him... but he didn't really mind it. He hugged her tighter, allowing her to savor the feeling of being in his arms for a moment longer before letting go of her.

Had their bond really grown that strong in the short amount of time they'd known each other...?

"I'm sorry, Haseo," Atoli said suddenly, blushing and looking away.

He shook his head in response, smiling. "Nah. It's fine."

"It is? Really?"

"Yeah. It really is."

"Then... can I hug you again?"

"Maybe once we get out of here."

She giggled. "You haven't changed a bit, Haseo."

As Haseo turned to leave the arena's battle ring, he was finally able to ignore the annoying sensation of teleporting. He had a warm smile on his face, congratulating himself on winning the fight as well as everything that had happened afterwards.

He had to admit, he really liked Atoli...

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Haseo allowed his Avatar to dissipate, feeling that same wave of strength flowing through him as with the past two AIDA. As his feet touched the ground, he looked at his pink-haired teammate.

"So, is that good enough for ya?"

Pi looked displeased. "...You're getting stronger, but your control over your Avatar is still weak. If you hadn't been called by the young lady when you Awakened..."

As he always did, Haseo scowled and turned away. "...Oh really now."

"Yes, really," Pi insisted. "...For safety's sake, I'm going to take on the last one with mine."

"...Huh, now which one was that again?" Haseo's tone was of mock confusion. "Wasn't that Tarvos? Well, like I care. I'll take that AIDA out by myself."

"No, you won't," Pi stated. "Yata's orders."

She looked away, thinking. Then again, I suppose he did defy Yata's orders once already... what was he thinking, showing his Avatar to the whole arena? That's no small amount of people...

"Fine, fine," Haseo said. "But if you get infected and I have to clean up your mess..."

"...I won't," Pi said. "Now let's just go already before the AIDA spreads."

Haseo continued to scowl as he walked down the hallway of the abandoned temple. There were a number of areas like this that had been infested by monsters... these places usually weren't hard to get to.

He was made aware of a presence, and a very disturbing one at that... an aura which he recognized. He listened to the AIDA as it approached.

"Hey, you. There's one here."

Pi lifted her head, but it was too late. A somewhat gelatinous black blob moved toward her, quickly absorbing itself into her body. She struggled against the attack for a while, but was unable to resist its persistent assault on her spirit.

"...Haseo!"

Haseo blinked, turning to face Pi. "What's wrong? I thought you were gonna fight the last AIDA by yourself. Did you get distracted?"

"Don't... just... stand... there!" the female Epitaph User choked out, trying to suppress her Avatar. "...Call Kuhn... he can... remove the AIDA... and..."

"So you're asking me to run away?" Haseo said. "No can do, sorry. Not like there's any time left anyhow... even if I called him right this second, he wouldn't make it in time. I'm taking that AIDA out by myself!"

He closed his eyes, focusing, willing the Avatar to come forth.

"Okay, now... come on! I'm right here!"

Pi was no longer able to suppress her Avatar. The massive, winged entity came forth, shattering the world around them. Haseo summoned his own at the same time, quickly raising his hand and summoning the Avatar's scythe.

"...This time, I'll save you!"

Tarvos' limbs were bound; however, it wasn't short of its fair share of attacks. A number of arrow-like projectiles shot from each wing, homing in on Skeith and threatening to shred the less-awakened Avatar. However, Skeith slashed the missiles away and responded with a number of shots from its left hand.

The attack left Tarvos stunned. Haseo took the initiative to attack, slashing at Tarvos a few times before realizing that it was about to counterattack. The AIDA-controlled Avatar responded to Skeith's closeness by impaling it on the spike running it through.

Haseo flinched. "...Damn...!"

He realized that he was bleeding where the wound had been inflicted. It was a serious wound - he wouldn't survive for long if he didn't find some means of healing himself. In an act of desperation, he called out Skeith's spirit-draining ability to envelop Tarvos' left wing.

Feeling the wound close, he breathed a sigh of relief. However, the pain was still there, a lingering reminder of his stupidity.

"...I can't believe I let myself get that close..." Haseo muttered to himself, drifting back so that he could launch another projectile attack. The second Tarvos stopped moving, he charged forward to attack again.

However, he found his scythe colliding with an impenetrable shield. Tarvos had used its wings to form the shield, and he couldn't find any means of breaking it. He fell back once again, noticing the pain in his stomach increasing.

"...This is... not good... I didn't think that... this would be so... tough..."

If I don't come out of this alive, I could get sealed... just like Shino...

With renewed motivation, Haseo charged once again, bringing Skeith's scythe down in between the two wings and forcing them apart. He berated himself for having not thought of that obvious way out before. Tarvos flinched, stunned again, as Haseo slashed it repeatedly with Skeith's weapon.

The protective barrier surrounding the Avatar broke; Haseo, hearing the telltale sound, raised Skeith's right arm. Once again, the spirit-draining tendrils wrapped around Tarvos, this time cleansing the AIDA from its body. However, the Avatar was also weakened, and its User was forced to recall it.

Haseo recalled his own Avatar, but saw that Pi was unconscious on the ground. He rushed to her aid, noticing that her body was unaffected.

Oh, thank God... she might be recoverable.

"...Pi, are you okay?"

The only response he received was the sound of her breathing. He tried it again. "...Wake up, Pi."

Again, no response. He wracked his brain for something that might work... finally settling on something he remembered from the Raven base, he tried that out.

"...Saeki Reiko. If you do not wake up this instant-"

She snapped awake, glaring at him. "Don't you dare call me by my real name, Haseo."

"Yes, ma'am," Haseo muttered, disgruntled. "Hey, I was worried about you. I thought you'd been sealed inside your own body."

"Stop being so irresponsible," Pi scolded. "Look at that wound in your stomach. If you'd been a little more reckless than you already were, you'd have..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know," Haseo grumbled. "Look, the point is we're both alive. Now let's get out of here so I can finish healing my wound."

Pi shook her head. "I'll do that for you."

"You sure? Even after I called you by your real name?"

"I appreciate... the fact that you did it to wake me up," Pi stated. "Anyway, I'll heal your wound, and then we can head back to Mac Anu."

Haseo nodded. "Fine by me. I'm not sure I can stand hanging around you for any longer."

"...Even after all that's happened, you have the nerve to say that?" Pi complained as she started applying healing magic to Haseo's wound. "You're a stubborn brat, not fit to be an Epitaph User. I'm not sure what Skeith was thinking when he chose you..."

Haseo remained silent for a few minutes, not wanting to aggravate Pi further. When she finished healing his wound, he stood up and began to walk out. "Alright, then. I guess I'll see you when I get back."

"See you, Haseo," Pi said quietly.

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Author's Note: Yeah, two fights in one. Haseo plays the showoff and threatens to get all of G.U. in trouble... and Atoli stops him. XD I know this chapter didn't really make up for last one's shortness, but at least there was SOME drama, and a little bit of last-minute fluff. ;P