Chapter 7: Foe or Friend

"Why are you wearing those clothes?" Ban asked.

They have escaped from the fiery danger as they walked through the rubble. Not a brainjacked LBX nor a Killer Droid pounce at them which is relieving at least. Black smoke still hovered in the air but it wasn't serious to the atmosphere as the smoke slowly dispersed as soon as the fire did as well.

"I was going to take my leave from Optima after checking up by the doctor," she explained to him, "then the brainjacked happened. I was done changing when the LBXs set the building on fire."

That last statement only made Ban feel guilty, he doesn't show it though. He was glad she was safe from harm. Although, he couldn't help but blame himself that the creation of his father he grew to love only put her in danger.

"I see..."

Runa, however, managed to see his true feelings. She smiled and spoke something that the brunette didn't expect, "Thank you."

He blinked. Ban jolted his head towards her. Oblivious to why she thanked him, he was rather confuse at the same time as well. "For what?"

"For-"

Someone rushed in and pushed the two teens from behind, having them fall forward but on the soft ground. They were caught by surprise as they heard a thunderous roar and a flash of light afterwards. Both glanced their heads back and saw a black burnt mark on where they stood. If it was a real lighting, the two could've got killed. Ban then noticed someone stood before them. It was an adult woman wearing a nurse's uniform. She wasn't facing towards them. All they could see is her long dark purple hair which Ban seemed so fond of it.

"Thanks..." He mumbled. He didn't know what to say other than thanking her.

Runa, though, claimed, "Ms. Hiyama, it's you!"

At these words, Ban only snapped his head at her then towards the woman. The woman didn't bother to look at them, however, she had her head moved a little. His hazel brown eyes recognized familiar dark topaz ones. Ban had his mouth opened, shocked to know who saved them.

"Mami!?"

Takuya and the rest came in. When they found Ban along with Runa, they didn't expect to find Mami Hiyama as well. Takuya was left speechless and surprise to see the younger sister of Ren.

"Hey that's Mami!" Kazu excalimed.

"But isn't she supposed to be in N Nation prison?" Jessica questioned suspiciously, though there was a little hint of anger along the lines.

Mami merely ignored them until she later noticed Rina running towards Ban and Runa. But she was after all going for Runa when she called out her name as the older sister came down and hugged her younger sibling.

"Rina..." Runa muttered.

"Are you hurt? Is it painful anywhere?" She asked in concern just as she checked on her.

Runa only shook her head and puts her hand on her shoulder. Assuring her older sister to calm down, "No. I'm alright Rina."

Ban and Mami gazed the two sisters as the brunette smiled. Surprisingly, Mami smiled as well. It was genuine, leaving him and the rest of his friends wondered why until that smile dropped into a serious frown. She looked up, catching the others attention when she called out, "I know you're still there!"

"Show yourself!"

They were confused at first until another strike of lightning struck down. It was loud than the first and its sudden entrance only caused them to recoil in fright.

"What the heck!?" Kazu excalimed.

"A storm!?" said Takuya.

"Today is all sunny and hot," Cobra retorted, "now this!?"

"Guys," Ami called out, "is that a cyclone?"

They averted their gaze to where she pointed out. She, in fact, was right. A black dangerous cyclone was formed and at the same time, thunders clapped. The strong wind didn't lift everyone to the air but they tried not to get hit by lightning during the process. After a minute, the wind calmed down. The cyclone quickly dispersed, exploded like an air bomb as the thunders left their loud roars.

Mami merely stood there, her expression didn't change. Though Ban and the rest were shocked to see a man in ragged hooded cloak, standing on nothing but air.

Yagami and his co just arrived at the scene after they were called by Takuya about the incident. They too saw the hooded man once they stepped in.

"Boss," Hosoi pointed out, "isn't that the guy we encounter during our case?"

Yagami was only surprise at this as shown by his eyes widen in familiarity. "Yes. There's no doubt that's him!"

"You sense me...?" They all snapped as they heard him sneered, "interesting, only the Specials can even sense my presence. But what I see in you, you aren't even one."

"I don't know what Specials are you referring to," Mami said in response, "but I'll tell you this. I'm a human that can sense what comes out of hiding."

"Oh~ is that so?" He sneered again. "Guess I shouldn't underestimated myself to some human capable of such thing, like you that is."

"Who are you?" Mami demanded.

"I was called by many names," he replied calmly, "but I'm known to be a god."

"A god?" Ban echoed.

Mami merely pissed at this, "God? You don't look like one."

"Oh human," he taunted her wickedly, "they say you can't judge the book by its cover. As what you did to me just seconds ago."

"So you want payback?"

"Mami, don't!" Takuya warned her.

"Since when did you come in, idiot?" She retorted at him.

"Oh I'm not here to fight," everyone looked at him as he spoke, "although, I was merely eager to but I had some problematic issues with my conditions. Furthermore, I'm only here to capture someone among you..."

They all stood there in shock as they heard this. "But I'm afraid he isn't here... Or so he was taken before I was going to."

"Say that again!" Ran shouted in demanding but threatening tone, which caused the other young NICS members to flinched except Yuuya.

"No need to rush things for answers, young lady," he snickered evilly, "but I can understand you're close to him like among these people. Since that's the case, you all will suffer under judgement and a final warning of my behalf as opposing to be involved in my ways and his."

"His?" Yagami questioned this.

"Anyways, I shouldn't stay here and talk too long, or else I'll end up storytelling you about my plans," he turned his back from them and walked away. "But we will meet again. Though I'll see you where you're sitting close to your end."

"Wait!" Ran went after him but her wrist was caught by none other than Mami.

Before anyone can do anything, a lightning struck in front of Ran and Mami. Luckily, Takuya and Yuuya managed to get the two out of the place and it nearly zapped them. Another cyclone occurred. It wrapped around the hooded man and it later dispersed, leaving them no sight of him.


Jin and Mongoose just arrived at Optima by taxi. Mongoose told the young Kaidou to go off and look for the others while he pays the bill to the driver. Jin obliged and had looked for his friends everywhere.

They were called up by Ban and the brunette told them what happened. But he didn't tell them the complete details which he and the others will explain if they come to the hospital. But the two didn't tell him about what happened on their side and Hiro's captivity and decided to tell them when they gather around.

Entering the what tragedy has done, Jin was in fact, shocked as he gazed what was left of Optima. Nothing but burned decayed plants, fallen debris and the building itself, which was ruined after the big fire finally distinguished. Several abulances, as well as police cars, and fire trucks were parked just outside the hospital and had surrounded the damaged area. Nearly a lot of people from Optima were treated by other doctors and emergency rescuers and some were sent to other hospitals. The Tokiosia Fire Department have a discussion with the Tokiosia police. However, Jin couldn't make out of their words except his eyes spotted Prime Minister Sousuke Zaizen along with Yagami and Takuya.

Takuya noticed him as he makes out a sign to which he was pointing at a direction. Jin followed, his eyes are filled with relief when he saw Ban and the others sitting by one of Tiny Orbit's vans. He turned back to the adult and signalled a nod as a appreciation as the Kaidou quickly approaches them.


While on their side...

They seemed to be thinking about what the man in hood told them. Simply put it, all he tells them either truths or lies. But it was scary to think about it to some of their opinions. They were also pondering about who he was going after.

Ban watched from a far as he saw the Ishimori sisters talking. He couldn't hear their voices due to the chattering broke on loose and the sounds of sirens are really loud, especially distance kept them far apart.

He kept on looking at Runa until her eyes averted to him. He quickly looked away, pretending he wasn't staring and noticed that which he did after all. However, he didn't have a chance to see her face blushing while smiling. Hesitantly, the brunette finally glanced back to her only to see her talking back to Rina and obliviously missed that part she was showing.

He sighed and turned back to his friends whom were still in their deep thoughts.

But he didn't know Haruka was eyeing on him and the professor guessed he must have some sort of feelings towards the young Ishimori. However, she left him and his friends be as she went back to her laptop. She typed away while sitting on one of the van's seats. Takuya had requested her to gather information about Star Grail. Such a request only made her suspicious of his curiousity. Furthermore she herself was also curious of the meteor's origins as well as how it became a legend during ancient times.

Jessica was the first to come up with a hypothesis, "I think he was after Hiro."

Haruka stopped. Her fingers stayed on the air without touching the keys. Her son? How was he involved? She listened intently to their conversation and did not bother to barged in. She wasn't there witnessing what the children have witnessed so she has to know the information.

"Why do you think it would be him?" Ami asked.

"Remember what Hiro told us?" She reminded them, "a hooded guy and an LBX that can create electricity went after him the other day. He could be that same guy."

"But I don't see him using electricity," Kazu pointed out, "and he didn't use that LBX Hiro mentioned of."

"Though he used thunder," Jessica countered, "and he said he had problems with his conditions."

"If it's Hiro then why is he aftering him?" Ban finally asked. "And how is he connected to all of this brainjacking which is totally on a different level.

"I don't know," Jessica told them, "but if my hypothesis is correct we should at least protect Hiro rather than finding answers for ourselves."

"But what if he's already taken?" Ran asked.

Haruka gripped her hands, forming them into fists.

They all turned to her and Yuuya merely stared at her.

"What do you mean?" Jessica asked, surprised at the sudden question. Although, it worries her more about Jin because he was in fact, with the blunette after all.

"I mean, you all heard everything he said, right?" She repeated, "I'm afraid he wasn't here or so he was taken as I was going to. Think about it. Besides that weird crazy guy, what if there's someone out there pursuing Hiro too?"

A loud thud was heard around the corner, causing the teens to avert their attention in alarm. However, they shook off the feeling when they realized it was only Haruka who just dropped her laptop.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, pretending that she didn't hear their discussion and her fake glasses had covered her true feelings, "I was lost in my thoughts."

"I'm glad it wasn't anything that's gonna pounce us," Kazu remarked, only to receive an elbow nudge from Ami at his side.

Before they knew it, Jin was close to approaching them. The first one to notice him coming was Jessica. She beamed as she ran towards him, leaving their friends who were confused and turned to where she was going. They all smiled when they finally saw him as well.

"Jin!"

She hugged the Kaidou with such force although he managed to keep up his balance. Jin, on the other hand, was surprised at the sudden hug but he returned the gesture instead because it'll turned out to be awkward if he didn't.

"You're okay," she whispered.

This in turn, made Jin definitely confused. She knew he was in danger? He hid his expression once they let go of each other and the others were now approaching them. But Ran and Yuuya remained at their positions and Haruka exited the van and stood by the two.

"Jin, you really need to know," Ban began, "including- Hey, where's Hiro?"

They noticed the blunette wasn't here with Jin. Apparently, Ran and Yuuya, even Haruka were the first ones to noticed Hiro's whereabouts and they couldn't help but feel uneasy that something must have happened while they were away.

"Everyone..." Jin muttered, his voice seem low but it held seriousness. Worst of all, they played along the tone of fear.

"Jin?" Jessica felt concerned for her boyfriend and so as Hiro. "Did something happen?"

Jin didn't know what to say. Surely, he can't have time to explain otherwise it'll be over for Hiro. Or it already has? Stop thinking so negative, his mind scolded himself. Hiro might be still alive but his concerns was the monster that took him. Thinking about it as well as Hiro's injury, it made Jin more determined to save their friend. They have to make haste. Fast.


A sound of water dripping echoed within seconds until it turned silent. Brown eyes stared at an unusual landscape. Hiro couldn't describe it since his vision was just blurry until a cold droplet landed right on his eyes, causing him to flinch and sat up as if he was fully awake from a nap. He rubbed his eyes to get rid off the liquid.

A pang of pain weighed on him afterwards. It hurt him really bad just as he moved one of his arms. He flinched again when he moved the same arm which was his right arm. Hiro then began to look at it when he noticed his arm covered in bandages. Slowly but painfully, as well carefully he looked at himself. He found his top clothes being replaced by several bandages which are wrapped over his chest and his right shoulder. He still had his white pants on and his blue and white trainers.

Touching his right shoulder, he felt the pain stinging him as if it was more than one needle. Then he remembered what happened. He saw a vision that foretold of Mongoose and Jin's sudden death in the future. But Hiro prevented that only to take the hit which made him faint from extreme pain.

Speaking of Jin and Mongoose, Hiro looked around only to see no sign of the two. That is until he found out that he wasn't in Tokiosia mall either. Around him were merely walls of rocks that were formed not by hand of man nor any sort of animal. He is in fact, inside a cave.

How did he get here? He thought as he glanced around, forgetting that he was still hurt and took his own medicine for being too anxious.

It wasn't too dark just as he sees the light and he was only about fifteen yards away from it, only made Hiro sighed. He has to give himself a rest otherwise he'll just ended up opening his wound.

A growl was heard, causing the blunette to recoil in fright. He jolted his head up and saw it. The one that Yagami and his co have been investigating, the Beast. Though Hiro didn't know it neither his friends and they had no idea what it looked like and how capable it is. To Hiro, he can clearly see it as a dangerous animal just by the looking at its appearance and it's bare fangs. Then it slowly approaches to him.

Out of fright, he moved himself to go backwards. His heart beat fast as it approaches him. He ignored the pain stinging on his shoulder as soon as he lean his back against a wall. His heart rate increases even more. His mind was telling him there was no where to go. He panted faster like he had gone though a marathon, ironically he was gone through a marathon of fear. He closed his eyes shut. Is he really gonna die? He asked to himself but only in his thoughts.

The animal was now close to him and so as its head which was ten meters away from him. It growled lowly and huffed, causing the blunette to open his left eye a little and gasped afterwards. Both of his eyes are widely open and he couldn't make them close again when he froze.

The creature's third eye was open as its three red eyes looked at his two brown ones. They stayed like that, staring at each other with the water dripping within the background. Hiro gazed on at its eyes as well as its features. It appeared rather strange and he had never seen such a creature like this one before. But its eyes. Those eyes. They're hinting something. Longing? Scared? He was surprised to know that this creature doesn't show any lust for flesh and blood. In fact, it longed for something even greater as he does, scared like he is now. He couldn't help but wonder in fascination even the creature showed the same feeling as if it acted as his reflection.

Without hesitation, he slowly brought his left hand up. The creature's eyes closed, so as its third eye as Hiro puts his hand on its forehead.

A vision came to the blunette. He saw himself lying on the ground while he, Jin and Mongoose were surrounded by LBX Hunters. The animal came in to their rescue and smashed all the brainjacked Hunters in a swift. But after beating them, it merely took Hiro's conscious body and ran away with him, leaving Jin and Mongoose behind. The reason? The vision quickly changed to a scenery of a cave which is where he and the creature is now. He could see himself panting and his skin was pale. He was dying. The creature just took off the icecle from his shoulder but it stared emotionlessly at him. The scene sped forward then it slowed down.

Hiro saw the creature ripping his bloody soaked jacket and polo shirt off. He was amazed when the creature used its instincts to give him a proper medical procedure. Using its claws, carefully to get rid off the bits of ice left on his wound and it used its mouth to wrapped the bandages around his upper body. After three minutes, Hiro looked at his own self, appearing to be healthy while sleeping.

With that, the vision ended. It left Hiro blinked back to reality and found himself staring at the creature again. His hand slipped off from its head as all of its three eyes reopened.

"You..." Hiro muttered. "You were trying to save me."

It didn't reply. Not a nod nor a growl. Nothing. But Hiro can tell. Those eyes aren't lying nor is the vision.

Hiro smiled. He wasn't scared of it anymore. In turn, he thought of it as a friend which he figured that's what it longed for. "Thank you."

The creature merely stayed like that until it turned away from him. But it made a ruff sound gently at something. Hiro looked up to where it was looking at.

Surprisingly, there was another strange animal hiding behind the rocks. It was a quadruped canine. It appeared to be rather small, the same size as a cub. It had light white brown fur with black stripes along its back and legs. The fur on its muzzle, chest, belly, and tail is golden, as well as an additional tuft of fur on top of its head. To his surprise, it had a animal like skull on its head as if it was wearing a helmet. Its coat is longer on its chest and tail. It has gray eyes, a black nose, and large, round ears. Its forepaws have two visible claws, while its hind paws have three toes each. Each paw has a brown pad.

The creature gestured the little canine as it shyly obliged. In its mouth, Hiro saw a yellow pear and wondered what it was going to do with it. He watched the pup approaching towards them and it soon put up its head with the pear on its mouth.

He was confused at first until he finally get what it was trying to do, or say at least. He puts out his hand towards the pup. The pup opened its mouth wide, dropping the pear as it landed on his palm. He looked at it then at the two strange creatures only to see them staring at him as both sat in a dog's way.

The big creature gestured its head, telling him to take a bite.

Processing its gesture as words, his stomach began to growl suddenly, causing the two creatures keep on looking at him long while as he blushed in embarrassment. He hadn't ate since breakfast and he remembered that he didn't touch the food his mom prepared for him. Even if Jin had delivered it to him, he still didn't take it and told him that he wasn't hungry. 'Sometimes I hate myself,' he thought while making a face.

It wouldn't hurt to just try. With that thought, he took a bite on the peer, tasting it while chewing the chunk of it. He blinked in surprise and exclaimed, "It's good."

The small pup barked happily. It seemed to have understood of him and his words as its golden tail wagged excitedly like how dogs would do.

They didn't mind him to eat the whole peer as the two began to walk out of the cave. Hiro noticed them leaving when he was done eating the fruit. Before he could do anything, the two creatures turned their heads back to him. Their eyes glimmered. The same thing he went through with the big creature. Getting their message, Hiro nodded and watched the two leave. Not without the small pup barking as he smiled.

Even if they don't look normal, strange is equally innocent as normal and the strange longed for a friend. He guessed that not all species are cruel and violent no matter what they appear. They also have what people don't usually see, their true feelings. And that was what he learned from his childhood days up to now.


GenesX: I have important announcements to make. Christmas is coming til next week and I'm hyped for it. It's going to be a long holiday, again just after my five days living in Canada. That place is freaking cold! I mean seriously, -30 degrees Celsius!? Anyway, as you all know or you have read hiro9796's story, I asked him a permission to let me make a sequel of his story. According to him, yes I had the sequel to be full of crossovers. If that's impossible then how did the author or simply put it, the creator of Kingdom Hearts jumbled up all Disney cartoons and even including some characters from Final Fantasy games? Everyone can be totally imaginative to make something out of that, take Jacob Pendra-Huth's Kingdom Hearts and Sword Art Online crossover story for example if you ever read it before. (If not now's your chance to read it. He also made two or three sequels of it so don't forget to put them in your what-to-read list.)

So yeah, basically I'm doing the sequel along with this story and Future Gate. But I'm not gonna publish the sequel out since my main goal right now is to finish this story. Typically speaking, I can't write three to five stories at once so I have to update this story and complete it as much as possible if I have time. Furthermore, it will mean that there would be long updates on Future Gate. But since some people left their reviews here and talked about how interesting Unlimited Works is and they're really excited about the future chapters. To assure you, I'll be updating this in a swift. Again, depending how much time I have in a day or two. And if I ever feel like I don't have any ideas scrambling in my head, I'll appreciate you giving me little bit of some and I'll work my magic.

Now that's said and done, I hope this chapter still pulls in your interest over Unlimited Works. Speaking of this chapter, you curious of what creature I just created~ it's actually a Pokemon fused breed of Cubone and Growlithe! I happened to came across of this fused breed through the internet when I looked through other Pokemon fusions. A digitally picture of the Pokemon caught my eye. It was cool but I found it rather cute when I first saw it and thought that maybe I can bring this pup into the story. I also like how Growlithe's background personality and it's loyalty towards its trainer is much stronger than a mere bond. And I love Cubone, though I felt sad for such Pokemon that loses its parent in such a young age and wore its skull as a remembrance of that parent. When I thought about these two Pokemons and their personality, I started to like the fusion. Even if its cute or cool, you'll eventually like how the fused breed would turn out to have both personalities from its current breeders, knowing what bond truly is and knowing what losing something truly is. In other words, it's loyal and friendly but can be stubborn at times when it came to situations of losing something or someone important commonly known as overprotective. That's that. Until next time~