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In an unknown location.
Relius has his arms crossed in slight frustration. "I feel like we are wasting time with these fools. Why stay?"
The Imperator just stands there, being menacing. "You seen the artificial dolls. They don't belong here in this world. My world. I refuse to leave here unless they are destroyed."
"That would further delay our plans." Relius trying to be careful not to get on her bad side.
The Imperator replies with, "And it would hinder our plans if we have them continue to stay alive. You and Terumi will have to do whatever it takes to dispose of them."
Relius sighs. "Very well. I suppose I will have a change of plans then. But I will still follow your orders."
Imperator gives her requested order. "Don't disappoint me Relius Clover, just as Yuki Terumi did."
"I won't. I was surprised that you would spare him despite the failures he did."
"I felt merciful. Now take your leave."
"Very well." He leaves.
She remembers the threat Old Man gave her.
"Before I destroy this world, I will kill you."
"I am not pleased by this one bit." She feels uneasy, but also aggressive.
Meanwhile in the sewers...
Old Man walks slowly through the sewers. "This is becoming unfortunate. Those fools became fully aware of my existence. No matter, I will have to distract them somehow while I work on my back up plan. Something not even the Imperator will see coming." Notices a certain goo in his way "What is this? Oh wait...it's you. The one who threw away his body into the boundary."
The goo forms into Arakune. "Az re! Az re! Wh a e yo ? S ch ar m ...hehehehe, must eat...mus e t!"
Old Man raises his hand and shows his power. "You want my azure don't you?"
"HaHaHaHeHe!" Arakune attacks Old Man, but Old Man disappears all of the sudden. "He?"
"I will give you more than you can handle." Old Man puts his hand inside of Arakune. "This is what you should have foreseen."
"Aeeyyy?" Energy then overflows Arakune. "KkkkkeeEEEEEEAAAAHH!"
Power surged all over Arakune. He started to scream in pain due to the azure being too much. Old Man shows no stopping, as if he has no limits to the power of the Azure. He kept on doing it until Arakune starts to grow and grow and then he starts to cover everything.
Shadow Stories II: Letting go-Chapter 6
Life is funny you know. I have life throwing shit all over me, and I can just walk through it like it's nothing. (pretty much the story of my life) But now, life just hit me very hard. And now...I don't know if I can recover. I wake up in bed, I feel like crap. I don't know why, and I then remember, oh yeah, she's still dead. This time it's no dream, I seen her die. I just get off of bed and brush myself. I see everyone sit on the table already eating their breakfast, and this time it's not Chinese.
Shadow walks in to the table. "Oh, what do we have here?"
Meta turns to see Shadow. "You tell me brother."
Shadow raised his brow. "...Ok...Who made this?"
"I did." Masha walks in with an apron.
Shadow is pleasantly surprised. "You did?"
Masha took off her apron. "Yes. You seemed to wake up poorly recently."
Shadow blushes in embarrassment. "Oh! Um...maybe your right, maybe your not."
"So I took the liberty of doing breakfast duties for you."
"Uh, you shouldn't have." Shadow sits down and looks at food. "Hm...what is it?"
Masha feels a little nervous. "I have not yet named it. But I thought you would like it."
Shadow shrugs and starts breakfast with optimism. "Ok. Bottoms up!" He eats it, then almost throws up. "HULP! What the heck?! What did you put in this?!"
Masha blankly answers. "The rice I found on the refrigerator is too cold, so I concluded on putting hot sauce on it, with the right amount."
"Right amount?!" Shadow still feels the sting of the sauce. He rushes to the kitchen and drinks a tall glass of water.
Meta blankly interrupts Shadow. "You seemed troubled lately brother. What's on your mind?"
Shadow responds, still in pain. "Are we gonna ignore the fact that our new member who has been staying in our house for a week now, and still couldn't remember that we have a microwave?!"
Masha ignores his harsh tone and continues where Meta left off. "I agree with Meta. You are troubled. Can you please tell us what is going on?"
Shadow calmed down. And stood there on the spot. "Um...We Spar Now!" He rushes off the house and runs to the side of the house where they spar.
Masha turns to Meta. "Our brother has been acting strange lately."
Meta nods. "It has something to do with our first casualty a month ago. I know it."
"Uh?" Masha tilts her head.
Meta walks forward. "Come on, he is waiting for us."
I wait for a bit, until they finally show up. I did feel like blowing off some steam. I spar with Meta while Masha just stands there spectating. All that anger, all that sadness, I thought it would make me better, but Meta can see my moves.
Meta keeps on guarding Shadow's attacks in split seconds. "You can't hide your feelings from me. Deny it all you want, but I know your battling skills is much better than this."
He and Shadow clash their blades. Meta is winning the struggle. Then Shadow shows slight anger. "Ok stop, stop, stop! Grrr..." Meta stops and Shadow thinks for a moment. "I like to spar with Masha now."
"Huh?" Masha jolts for a second.
Shadow places his hands to his hips. "Yeah. Remember? You and I fought. I take it back, we didn't fought, we frickin got it on! We were giving one hell of a fight!" He raises his fist with enthusiasm. "The biggest fight of our lives yet! Hopefully that little beat down didn't damage anything."
"It did."
Shadow's enthusiasm burns down. "Well crap."
Masha continues. "My systems were damaged on high proportions. I am unable to summon my armor, let alone be combat ready."
Shadow responds. "But we might need an extra member to complete our trio. Especially since Noel is gone, and so is..." Shadow puts his fingers on his head to forget what he was going to say. "There has to be a way for you to be ready for battle."
Masha analyses for a second. "Well...I can reboot my systems to manually reinstall my armor. However I won't be as powerful as I once am.
Shadow grows more annoyed. "Something is better than nothing. I'm starting to think you guys are worrying too much, I thought I told Noel about this!"
"Um...hello?"
Shadow continues his little rant. "I mean, this kind of act is very worrisome for me. I think the ones that deserves more worry is me!"
"Shadow?"
Shadow isn't aware of the people behind him. "I expected better from you Meta, and Masha, I won't tolerate this, after all, I am the leader here."
"Shadow?"
Shadow snaps and turns to the voice. "What is it Noel?! Can't you see I'm being a lead-huh?" He see's Makoto and Tsubaki in there battle outfits, and Noel in her old NOL outfit.
Noel awkwardly stands there. "Your uh...under...arrest..."
There was a very awkward silence. But then I started talking.
Shadow stood awkwardly, until he all of the suddenly said, "Oh hey Noel! Long time no see! So how long was it? 2 days? You haven't changed a bit! Well, except the whole...you know. Which by the way, how is the job going with you?"
I believe I greeted Noel nicely, it is been awhile. I didn't mind the others thinking I'm crazy for talking to her like that, but then again, why shouldn't I?
Noel was weirded out, but responds. "Um...Fine I suppose..."
Shadow smiles. "That's good to hear."
Tsubaki stood there confused. She shook her head and interrupts them. "Hold on! What is the meaning of this?!"
Makoto was crossing her arms, almost on the verge of face palming. "You guys really are weird."
Tsubaki brings her blade. "Enough of this foolishness! You are coming with us!"
Shadow smirked. "Why?"
"Because we uphold the law."
"Why?"
"Because we are chosen to hold this burden!"
"Why?"
"I DON'T KNOW! THE IMPERATOR SAID SO!"
"Why?"
"STOP IT!"
"Why?"
Tsubaki gets fed up. "That's it! We are going to use force!"
Noel asks, "Why?!"
Makoto yells, "Noel!"
"S-Sorry! I don't know what came over me!" Noel blushes in embarrassment.
Meta walks in with his sword. "Ready for battle?"
Makoto places her hands on her hips. "Um, we're the ones who challenged you. We should be the ones asking that you."
Meta grips his sword harder. "You dare insult us?"
Tsubaki gets annoyed. "You've stalled long enough. It's time you've faced your consequences."
Shadow tries to brings order. (At least his way.) "Well before we start, this is 2 on 3. Can you at least wait for our new girl Masha?"
Tsubaki gets more annoyed. "You honestly think this is a game?"
Shadow shows slight annoyances as well. "Well someone is still being grumpy."
"Enough!" She turns her blade to a extended snake whip and slashes at Shadow, only for him to dodge it.
"Tch! Honorable my ass! No matter...Masha! Go to the back to transform!"
"Very well." Masha nods, then runs inside.
Tsubaki orders, "Intercept her Noel!"
"Got it!" Noel follows Masha, then see's Shadow face that shows disapproval.
Shadow then turns to Tsubaki and Makoto. "Well at least this is better."
Tsubaki points her blade to Shadow. "You shall pay for your misdeeds."
Meta points his blade to her. "No, it shall be your misdeeds that you will pay from."
Makoto gets confused. Wait! So who did the misdeeds here?
Tsubaki yells, "Makoto focus!"
Shadow then throws a fireball which Tsubaki blocks with her shield which looks like a book. Shadow jumps on top of the house which Tsubaki follows. Makoto then dashes at Meta and punches him in the stomach area, which shows no effect.
Meta looks down to look at Makoto. "You still don't have enough strength."
Makoto smirks. "Maybe, but I have a few tricks up my sleeves."
"Blasphemy! You have no sleev-" Meta gets punched in the face.
Makoto then punches him to the stomach, sending him 2 blocks away. "Never underestimate me!"
Shadow keeps dodging Tsubaki's attacks. "So how's Noel doing? I like to know if she is happy in the NOL recently."
Tsubaki gets angry. "Your distracting me!" She loses restrictions, glowed white and started to extend her blade and continue to slash away.
Shadow levels up to 2, and flames up a bit, and starts to dodge the blade. "No seriously, I was her leader and I tend to worry for her. Is she content? Any complaints from her? Does she still think of me? Does she still think of Meta? She might need therapy if that's the case."
"Quiet!" She continues her attack.
Noel stopped as she looks at the house. She see's how things haven't change one bit. She feels nostalgic, but then the floor shook a bit, then she realizes that she has to follow Masha. She finds her inside a ball of energy, with a large sword connected to it. Noel stays cautious for a second.
Noel nervously walks in. "Uh...Freeze! Uh, stop...whatever your doing!"
Masha slowly opens her eyes. She see's Noel. "You...You were with us days ago..Yes...I remember. Mu."
Noel yells, "D-Don't call me that! I'm Noel! And I choose my own destiny!"
Masha stayed silent, until she says, "I don't understand you. I don't understand any of you."
"Huh?"
Masha continues, "You know you are not human, and yet...you want to be a human. We were made for a purpose, but is it really right to deny your existence?"
Noel looks down. "...I feel sorry for you."
"Huh?"
Noel looks to see Masha, eye to eye. "You trap yourself inside in your own hate and sadness, because your afraid of what you are. And...I understand that...But you have to know that life isn't as black and white as they say. Maybe I was made to be a weapon, but I lived as a human, that I slowly became one in heart. You maybe made to destroy or hurt other people, but if you don't want to do all that, then change. It maybe hard for you, but if Shadow can see a heart in someone, then I can trust him."
Masha thinks about that fact. "...You are still going to capture me, are you?"
"Uh! Um..." Noel the looked embarrassed that she would forget that. "I think so..."
Masha replies, "May I propose a suggestion?"
"Huh?"
"Once I turn to my combat mode, we shall battle. If you defeat me, I will accept imprisonment. If I defeat you, you leave. Unless you would ignore everything Shadow said to you."
Noel felt weird to hear this from a Murakumo Unit. But it makes it more weirder for her that she remembers that someone did a similar proposal to her before. That time when she fought Tsubaki. And just like before, she would consider the fighting way a blessing to her in this situation. She silently thanks Masha, and waits for a bit until she's done. Back outside...
"Your games end here!" Tsubaki dashes at Shadow and hits him, then continues the onslaught until she slams Shadow to the ground. "Makoto?"
"I got it!" Makoto powers up her right fist as the ground shakes a bit, once Meta dashes his way to Makoto, 'WAM!' she punches Meta with a gigantic fist connected to her cross looking blade on her knuckles, the impact sends Meta where Shadow is. "How's that for power?"
Tsubaki and Makoto jump to their level. "Give up, and we'll bring you more quietly."
Shadow groans, then see's the situation. "Now hold on! This battle is just beginning! We still haven't revealed our new player to this game!"
Makoto gets confused. "Uh? And who that might be?"
"Why don't you see...now!" Nothing happens. "Now!" Still nothing. "Um...Right now? Um...Masha can you-" a light dashed upwards out of the house making a hole on the roof. "Yeah! Now!"
Makoto looks up in surprise. "What the?!"
As does Tsubaki. "What is this?!"
"Guys!" Noel runs out of the house. "I tried to stop her! I'm sorry!"
Noel, you clever little cat! I knew you would pull through! Now the real fight begins! Masha then shows her metallic armor! She's the same as she was back at the cathedral, except her green lights are now red. Hopefully that isn't bad.
Tsubaki shows concern. Then collects herself and commands, "Get ready! We'll attack it all at once!"
"Excuse me, but your forgetting about us!" Shadow knees Tsubaki at the chin.
"Tsubaki!" Makoto then see's Meta in a battle position, targeting her.
"Hold yourself! Now it's time to bare witness my sword extender move!"
Makoto raises her eyebrow. "Your what?" Meta's sword then filled itself with electricity, and swings his sword which doesn't reach Makoto, however he continues to spin as the electricity then starts to expand, she notices as she blocks, but the electricity hits her hands and the force sends her 2 blocks as well.
On the rooftop, Noel and Masha exchange bullets and swords.
"Take this! Noel shouts as she shoots her bolverk at Masha. But she dodges each of them and dashed dangerously fast and her blade clashes with Noels guns. "Your-You fight differently then Lambda!"
"I am Masha...No one else." She does a back flip kick that breaks Noels defenses and she trips and rolls on the edge of the roof. Masha still on the air summons her floating blades and they point at Noel. They shoot and break Noel's ledge and she falls.
Makoto gets up. "Grgh! Is that all you got?" Noel falls on her "OOF!"
Shadow and Tsubaki's blades clash.
Tsubaki shows anger in her struggle. "I won't be defeated by the likes of you!"
Shadow levels up to 2 then slashes over her defenses. "Looks like the likes of me, are a lot better than you thought!" he burns up his fist holding his sword knuckle "Shadow..." Dashes at Tsubaki. "Punch!" He blasts Tsubaki straight to Makoto and Noel. Shadow and his knights jump in front of the defeated NOL fighters. "How do you like us now?!"
We win this round! And they really don't look happy about it.
Tsubaki looks at her hurt partners. "Guh...Makoto...Noel...come on...we can't lose..."
Shadow responds with, "Yeesh, you guys need to know the phrase, to live to fight another day."
Tsubaki grits in anger while looking at Shadow. "You...I won't let you get away..."
Shadow is unamused. "Um...Why are you suggesting that we are the bad guys here? We just beat ya in a match. Big whoop."
Tsubaki reaches her boiling point and stands up. "You have no right to change the law in your hands! You honestly think you can save people with your arrogance?!"
Arrogance? ARROGANCE?!
Shadow's nerve just got stroked "Arrogance? You guys killed people just because they don't agree with your opinions, and we are the arrogant ones?!" Flames surround him. Masha shows worry and Meta just stands there looking."Our lives was taken from us! And you got the easy life! While we get the shaft! Hell, one of us died for our pathetic lives, and you guys of course don't care! You guys don't care for others lives! Not even your own partners lives. Isn't that right Noel?"
Noel then looked really nervous. It looked like she wanted to defend Tsubaki. But then she remembers that time Tsubaki attacked her on the back. I can tell, she can still somewhat feel it. Makoto looked a bit ashamed, despite the fact she doesn't have much to do with Noel and Tsubaki's conflict. And even Tsubaki looks ashamed, and lost in her head, thinking about the mistake did to Noel. I could already tell Meta and Masha are already worried about me.
Tsubaki tries to think of something to counter that fact, but nothing. "I...I..." Then all of a sudden someone screaming. "Huh?!"
"Help! Help! Monster!"
Noel notices what he said. "Monster?"
Shadow then grabs the citizen by the shoulders. "Hey now! Slow down! Ok, what is the problem again?"
The citizen's eyes are popping out and shaking. "M-Monsters! Everywhere! They're infesting the city!"
Makoto tilts her head in confusion. "Did he really say monsters?"
Hm...This is strange. He could be crazy, or something dangerous is really going on...
Shadow then calls, "Come on Shadow Knights! Lets move!" He and the Knights move to the city.
Just what kind of monster was that guy was talking about?
Makoto and the rest just sit there. "Should we...follow them?" Tsubaki then looks at Makoto. "To see if the whole monster thing isn't a fluke."
Tsubaki thought about it, then Noel shows worry about what kind of monster would freak someone out that badly. "Hm..."
We see the town, and it looks fine. We decide to see the streets, only for people to run away, screaming.
"What the hell?" Shadow and the rest of the Knights jump to a rooftop to see many people running away. "Well this is strange."
Masha then see's something in her scanners. "I found something."
Shadow took notice. "You did? What is it? On second thought, I'll find out myself." He jumps down. He lands and see's something coming his way. "All right buddy, lets see if you can scare me off." Then when the sight becomes clear, he see's an unusual shape. Something slimy and gooey. And it is light greenish.
"Az re, A ure...Yeeeek! Guh!" Arakune. Although different, it is still acting in its usual behavior.
Shadow raised a brow. "Ok, now I see why the ladies would run away." He slowly brings out his weapon. Then Arakune attacks Shadow with its own body. He dodges. "Now your making it more easy for me." He dashes pass it, slashing it, multiple times. It only did slight harm to it. He then charges his flames with his single hand. Then unleashes his Black Fire Ball. It hits Arakune.
"EeeAAAAAAAGH!" Arakune then goes crazy, then smashes itself to a window of an abandoned apartment.
Shadow just stands there. "Huh, I guess he really doesn't like my fire. No one, or thing would act that weird after that, unless..." He thinks about it. Unaware of something is above him on a light post. Its another Arakune, but its blue. It planned to attack Shadow from behind, only to get slashed away by Masha.
She comes to see Shadow. "Shadow, something is going on." Then another Arakune pops out behind her, this time purple.
Meta slices it into pieces. "I saved you. And that won't change." Then another Arakune, this time red.
Shadow blasts it with his fire ball. "Ok, what the hell is going on here?!" Then he see's more Arakunes slowly coming to them. Then Arakunes on the rooftops see them. The Shadow Knights find themselves surrounded by an army of Multi-Color Arakunes. "Oooook. Anyone of you guys feel cocky?"
Meta just blankly responds, "Kind of."
Masha interrupts. "I feel more cautious then anything brother."
Sweat drop hits Shadow. "Yeah, I thought so." All the Arakunes attack at once. But the Knights were able to dash out of there. Time pass by, and the city is now completely empty, except for Arakune infesting the place. The Shadow Knights are hiding in on a secure part of a rooftop. Shadow looks around to see if they are any Arakune's around. "I think the coast is clear." He, Meta, and Masha are sitting where a roof are on top of them. "Ok, so the whole city is now filled with those slimy things."
"Arakune" Masha said.
"Ara-what?" Shadow questions.
Masha continues. "Arakune is what they call that being. It is said that it hides on the sewers, eating on anything that stands on its way."
Shadow thinks about that. "Hm...You know why it looks like that though?"
"My scans say that it's genes are scattered and unstable, yet its still holds some small traces of human genes."
Shadow then stopped Masha. "Hold on. Your saying that thing used to be a guy?"
"I can't determine that conclusion. But it is likely."
Shadow then thinks about it. "Hm...Ok then. I have a plan. I'll try to drive off those things since they act nuts when I hit them with my fire. Meta, you try to find any one who is left behind on the city. Masha, you try to find out the source of those things." They nod. "Good. Shadow Knights, Go!" They jump out and head for different directions.
This day couldn't get any more weirder. Well at least I totally forgot about...Oh yeah, Damn it! I can't have her on my head. Not now...Ok, I see those Arakune's swarming around the streets. But then I hear something.
"Ahh!"
Shadow then see's someone surrounded by Arakune's. "Here I come to save the daaaaay!" He slashes at them. Rolled out of the way then blasts them with his flames. They crawl away, screeching in pain. He walks to the person. "Litchi?"
"You again!" Litchi is surprised to see him again.
"Yeah. I believe you seen better days. But then again, so does the town." He looks around and see's that the town is partly covered in slime. Litchi slightly shaking. "Um...Litchi? Are you all right?"
Litchi then collects herself. "Oh! Uh...Forgive me. It's just..."
Shadow interrupts. "Hold on. Those things are freaky, I know. But me and my team has got this covered.''
"Its not that...It's...he multiplied..." She is still in shock.
"Wait. What do you mean 'he?'"
Litchi then told me all about how Arakune was created. She said that Arakune used to be her lab partner from Sector Seven. That was until a freak accident caused him to turn into...that.
Shadow is crossing his arms. "That is some story. I see that you still mourn for him."
Litchi shows her sadness, but hides it. "But...I never predicted that he can...do this. It is completely unnatural."
Shadow shows his disgust to the injustice she suffered. "And yet...it's happening." He then walks in front of her to get her attention. "Well, I'll try to help you out. It won't be easy, but then again, neither is this job."
Litchi vaguely smiles. "Thank you."
Shadow then remembers. "Oh, I forgot to mention, there is one thing I forgot. Arakune seems to really hate my black fire. I think it has something to do with my flames distorting energy."
Litchi then shows interest of the idea and thinks for a solution. "Energy? Hm...Maybe we can solve this!"
Shadow raised his brow. "What do you mean?"
"There is a reason why he can't stand your fire. It diminishes his body fluids. He needs the energy of seithr, and if I understand correctly, your flames can burn away seithr."
"Oh yeah...that. Wait, won't it kill him?"
"Maybe not, there has to be a source that produces them."
Shadow thinks of a plan. "Hm...I'll try to look for the source. Oh that's a coincidence. I just told one of my fellow knights to find it. Looks like I'll just help her out. Ok, the place I should look for is the grossest spot in the city. Yeeeahh..." Shadow runs out and jumps to a rooftop.
Litchi see's Shadow jump and climb on a building to go to its rooftop. She yells, "Don't try to kill him! Try to bring him back to his original state!" She would love to tell him to bring him back to her, but she has a feeling it won't be easy for him.
I have a lot of crap to clean up. So might as well get dirty. I'll have to hurry before...Someone gets hurt. Damn it! Why can't I just forget things! I could have saved her! Ugh...I can still save this city anyways. I wonder what Meta is doing anyways...Then I see Arakunes jumping from rooftop to rooftop like me. Good thing they don't notice me from blocks away. They seemed to be focused from something else. Then I see Meta fighting them. I guess I could join in for a little. I jump in.
Meta notices Shadow landing next to him. "Brother."
Shadow blasts a good portion of the Arakunes. "Just found out one way to drive them off. It's source."
Meta turns to him. "Isn't Masha supposed to deal with that?"
"That didn't stop me for helping you." Shadow slashes at another Arakune. "So any civilians you saved?"
"I'm still doing it." He points at the kid and his older sister that are unconscious. Shadow automatically recognizes them.
"Uhh..." Shadow see's them as Carl and Ada/Nirvana Clover. He feels uneasy because of that fact.
"What is it brother?"
"Uh, nothing. Lets just get rid of those things. I have a feeling they are more of those things in this area, so we're getting closer." Shadow levels up to 2.
"Yes..." Meta then see's 2 Arakunes targeting Nirvana. "Unhand her you fiends!"
Shadow raises his brow. "HER?!" Meta runs to them and slashes them out. Then Shadow see's something that freaks him out. "Uh...Meta..."
Meta turns to Shadow. "Brother?"
"I think we might have a problem..." He and Meta see's a huge group of Arakunes on the rooftops. As they jump straight to them, Shadow and Meta prepare for battle. That is until a sphere of light takes down some of them. "Huh?" Then they see one magenta Arakune get punched straight to the rest of them.
"Bullet Storm!" Then it started raining bullets all over the Arakunes. Shadow turns around to see three familiar faces. "Sorry we took so long!"
"But we thought you got this covered."
"Noel?!" Shadow is pleasantly surprised.
"Squirrel Girl?" So is Meta.
Tsubaki jumps in and leads Noel and Makoto. "You may think we are here to only punish. But for your information, we are here to protect as well."
Shadow couldn't help but smile. "Well, looks like we have a common enemy. If that's the case, then I have a plan. You guys protect anyone else under attack. While we take care of the source."
Makoto asks, "Source?"
Shadow responds. "Yeah, source. You guys say you came to protect, lets see about that." Tsubaki almost wanted to punch Shadow while he talked, but she knew that they are more important stuff going on.
Tsubaki nods. "I'm only following your orders because it is our duties anyways. If you want to prove your innocence, then by all means, prove it to us."
Shadow shows amusement of it. "You won't be disappointed." He and Meta jumps to the rooftops and head for the source. Noel watches and shows signs of joining them.
Tsubaki see's Carl unconscious. "Carl?! How can it be? Makoto! I need you to carry him out of the city!"
Makoto comes in and shows disbelief" "C-Carl?! What is he doing here?! And what's that thing with him?"
Noel see's Carl and she flashes back when he was in the same school with her despite his age. But also the time when he attacked her a month ago. She was worried if they knew about it. Then she felt something on her foot. "Huh?" Then slimy tentacles grab her foot. "Ah!" She see's Arakune faces on the sewers dragging her down. "YEEEEEAGH!"
Then Tsubaki and Makoto turn their heads to see Noel. "Noel?" Then more tentacles wrap around her legs and smashes through the manhole that leads to the sewers filled with Arakune's in trails. "Oh god no!"
Makoto runs to save Noel. "NOEL!" She grabs Noels hand, and Tsubaki grabs the other one.
"Hang on Noel!" Tsubaki and Makoto try to pull Noel out of Arakune's pool of goo.
Noel feels sick and dizzy by the smell alone. It doesn't help that she is scared out of her mind. 'Kuff! Kuff! Kuff!' "...h-help..." Then the tentacles wrap around her face and brings her whole body in the goo, with no trace.
"NOOOO! NOEL!" Makoto tries to follow but Tsubaki restrains her.
"MAKOTO! WAIT!" She pulls her out of the area. "Calm down!"
"How can we calm when she could be-"
"We can't focus on that now! We have to save Carl and everyone else on the city!"
Makoto tries to comprehend what Tsubaki is saying or thinking. She grabs her shoulders. "Tell me...what is more important...Your job...or your friends..."
Then Tsubaki grits her teeth in anger, then a tear drops over her cheek. "...Don't...make this...more harder then it is Makoto Nanaya..." They stay silent, not sure what to do.
The Arakune's then feel something. They sense a sensation that they have been craving for. The Azure's power. In one part of the city, a giant web that is in contact to most of the buildings around it. In the middle of the web is what looks like a rib cage. It then calls out. "azure...AAAAAZUUUUUUURE! HEEHAAHAHAHA!"
Shadow and Meta heard that. "What the heck was that?!" Then he see's more Arakunes rushing. But they seem to go pass them. "Huh?"
"It seems they are afraid of us brother."
"Um...I don't think they are even noticing us." Shadow then see's the source. "Huh! Look! That must be the source!"
"All of those jell-os of evil must be heading there!" Meta and Shadow see's the jell-os of evil going to the web. Then he see's more coming out of the sewers. And there's even one big Arakune that is rainbow colored, and it must be holding something. "Brother, look."
Shadow see's the big blob and see's someone is in there. And it looked like a small tall girl. "Am I crazy or that looks like..." Then the big one lands on the web and spits out an unconscious Noel. "Noel?!"
Meta turns to Shadow in disbelief. "Noel? Captured? Surely you jest" He see's more carefully. And see's her get webbed up. "You are not..." Shadow grits his teeth and jumps in immediately. "Brother?!"
No, no, no, hell no, HELL NO! Those things are gonna get it now! Hopefully Litchi can collect whatever is left after I'm done with that bug magnet! Then one of them turn into a spider and webs her entire body except her head. It then pulls her up the top of the big boney structure that looks like a rib cage. Noel then dangles there as the Arakunes morph together with the rib cage itself and it morphed into giant teeth around Noel. No way...not this time. I won't let her die...not like her...I can save her!
Shadow jumps from rooftop to rooftop and throws a fireball straight to the teeth monster. "Taste this ya molasses freak!" The Arakunes that didn't morphed swarm to the web lines and shoot webs at Shadow. Shadow dodges them and slashes them away. Then a white one comes in and brings out a boney arm with sharp claws, form a fist and punches Shadow out. Shadow hits a wall and falls down. "Gah! Urgh! Damn..." He slowly gets up. Then rushes back. He levels up to 3 and slashes away to the bones and flames up the Arakunes. Only to get attacked by raining insects. He flame throws the insects above him, killing them while the others merely drop around him. He slams his hand in the floor and a fiery blast engulf everything. He see's his hand all ready out of control and levels down, exhausting him. One Arakune then comes up in front of him and punches him out of the building. "Hurgh!" As he falls the same one jumps to him and stabs him on the chest in mid air.
You've gotta be kidding me. I couldn't even save Noel. Noel. Is this some kind of joke? First that girl in my dream, then Lambda...The sane side of my brother could also count as a casualty. I couldn't move, change things. I'm sorry Lambda...maybe I'm not the hero you wanted me to be.
"Shadow!" Then something slashes the Arakune into mush and grabs Shadow and lands into a rooftop.
"Ugh..." He see's a red dot at first. Then a bright light on the background. With a familiar shape, and face. "Uh, Lambda?"
"Brother?" The image then turned back to reality, showing Masha. "Are you ok?"
Shadow only responds with, "Oh...Masha? Right..." He attempts to stand up. "Damn..."
Masha helps him. "You may not be alright. After being stabbed in the chest area. But you can heal as far as-"
Shadow remembers something. "CRAP! Noel!" He attempts to jump but still feels hurt.
The giant teeth still has Noel. And is about to eat her. Until... "TAAAOOOO KICK!" Something kicks the teeth so hard it turns to the other side as the web gets cut and Meta snatches Noel back. A cat like girl with a hood showing a very pitch black face with red glowing eyes and cartoonish teeth. "All of those Kaka cats and kittens you've eaten will be avenged squiggly!"
Meta holds Noel in his arms, lands next to her. "Your time has come squiggly one!"
Shadow seen the whole thing. "Meta?! And is that one of those Kaka cats?"
Masha tells Shadow about her mission. "I found her defending the small kittens of her race. As far as I seen, their race is endangered, up to 100. She defends them despite the risk." She paused for a second. Thinking about how sad it sounds. "Despite our differences, we fight together. Is this your wish your trying to make happen brother?"
Shadow tries to tend his wounds and think about what Masha said. She gave him the Blood Killer he dropped during the fall. He grabbed it and smiled.
Yeah. Yeah it is. I got so worked up on the past, that I forgot about my future...I can't forget...I can't forget why I came here in the first place. To prove that we're all not so different in some way. I guess that's what I've been trying to prove when fighting the NOL. They got put to the top that they trample everyone in their way, and really what was the real heroes? The ones that went against the odds against something big. The Six Heroes vs The Black Beast. People didn't think they would win, but they did and the world was saved. I wanted to be like that, but more then just a hero, a legend.
Then everyone notice the teeth gets angry. "NNNGAAAAARGH! NNNGAAAAAAAH!" Then more Arakunes pop up. "Azure? Azure!" Tons of Arakunes in different colors then goes to the giant teeth and it morphs into something even bigger.
"Hey! What is squiggly up to?" Taokaka is more confused then fearful then she should be in this situation.
Meta only stares as he holds the still unconscious Noel. "Something big."
Shadow stares in amazement to see all of the Arakunes are morphing together. Then all of the colors just turns to black, like the original. Only its accents of the color is purple instead of red. It is now a giant Arakune that towers even half of the buildings in the town. "Ok...holy mother of all shits."
"YEEEHEEHEHEHAHAHA!"
Mega Arakune shoots a legion of insects on Meta and Tao. They jump to another building. Then he spits out more bugs to Shadow and Masha's way. Shadow and Masha moves out of the way.
Ok, this became a big problem. A really, really big problem. As Masha jumps to another building, I notice something hanging around. Some chains dangling on a building. Ah, I remember when use chains to beat the living shit out of Hazama. Once I remembered that, I grabbed it and use the chains to help me travel through the city like some swinging spider or something...Its fun though.
"Whooo!" Shadow swings through the town. He is able to whip the chain enough for it to wrap around a part of the building and swing through. He lands on a rooftop with ease. He see's Mega Arakune walking or crawling aimlessly. Then he see's Meta carrying the unconscious Noel.
"AAAAAZZUUUURRRREEE" It now has a deep voice. It then brings out its boney hand to grab Noel. Only for Masha to slash at the hand with her wrist blades. Then her floating blades then points at Mega Arakune and shoots lasers at him. "NOOTHIIIING HUUUURT" He attempts to use its claws to hit Masha out of the way, but she jumps over and shoots her lasers at its face. Then he smacks her out of the way. "Guh!"
Shadow see's her get smacked. "MASHA!" Then someone grabs her. "Huh?"
Makoto lands and holds Masha on her arms. "Man that armor of yours must be heavy on you. No offense."
Masha opens her eyes to see Makoto. "You..." Then she see's Tsubaki with her. "You've come to help?"
Tsubaki responds, "We've come to help the city. And our friend."
Makoto looks and see's Noel in Meta's arms. "NOEL!"
Shadow jumps in. "She'll be all right. Right now we have to take this thing down." They hear Mega Arakune roar.
Tsubaki shows annoyance. "Disgusting beast. We need a plan of attack!"
Makoto nods. "She's right. We're gonna run out of buildings sooner or later."
Shadow clenched his fist. "I know how to hurt it. I need to get closer though."
Makoto is slightly disgusted. "Uh...ok. Sure hope you have a plan."
Shadow responds, "It won't be clean, that's for sure. You guys try to distract it. Do what you guys do best. I'll do what I do best." He runs, jumps off the roof, and uses the chain to swing to the other rooftop.
Makoto is amazed. "Wooow...Like a..."
"Ninja yeah, I get that a lot!" Shadow responds to Makoto, and continues to jump to the next roof. He heads straight to the beast. Masha dashes passed Tsubaki and Makoto, heading towards Mega Arakune.
Makoto looks at Mega Arakune in worry. "Its gonna be tough."
Tsubaki then swings her blade. "Then we'll give it everything we have!" Makoto nods and they move out. Mega Arakune attacks Meta who is still carrying Noel.
Meta is trying hard to protect Noel. Even throwing her in the air so he can instantly slice the claws fingers, and catch her. "Ha!" Arakune spits out a slimey substance that misses Meta. "Such poor aim squiggly one." Then insects just jumps out of it straight to Meta. "Daow!" He tries to get them off, only to accidently dropping Noel out of the building. "Gah! Damn you butterfingers!"
She then gets saved by Masha hovering through to save her. Tsubaki then summons her attack. She jumps as high as she can possibly can and her blade and shield turns to a staff with wings on it. "Confutatis Maledictis!" She swings it down and 3 orbs hit Mega Arakune. It stumbles back slightly. She lands on a rooftop and is exhausted. 'huff puff' "Must...power...up...Huh?" Then Mega Arakune is now in front of the tiny and helpless Tsubaki. 'gasp!' Then Shadow slashed Arakune at the face. Then he lands and grabs Tsubaki out of danger. "Wha?! Why?"
Shadow responds, "Usually I'd let Meta handle this but he sort of refused to."
"DISHONORBLE RED HEADED WENTCH!"
"See?" Shadow then lands on another building, drops off Tsubaki and jumps back to get to Mega Arakune. Tsubaki stood there in confusion, and amazement.
"Tsubaki!" She snaps out of it and see's Makoto in a higher building. "You all right?!"
"Makoto! Yeah!" She then see's Mega Arakune coming her way. "Makoto look out!"
"Huh?" Mega Arakune then used its claws to slash at the building itself and it collapses, with Makoto falling over. "Whoa whoa whoa! You gotta be-!" Then she falls off the edge. "HAAAAAAH!"
Tsubaki see's in horror. "MAKOTO!"
Masha see's this and dashes there. Noel slowly opens her eyes. She could feel the wind blowing through her face, and barely hear Makoto's screams. "Mh, Ugh...Wha?..." She see's Makoto hanging on into a pipe, hanging on the wall of the half destroyed building. Then Mega Arakune approaches the defenseless Makoto. Noel snaps out of it.
"DISSSSAPEEEEEEEAR..." Makoto just looks in fear. Then a rocket hits Mega Arakune. "GUUUUUUH..."
Noel used Bolverk to transform into a rocket launcher, while Masha is holding her on her shoulders. While Arakune is recovering, Makoto can feel the pipe getting loose. "Makoto!"
Makoto see's Noel. "Noel?!"
Masha dashes to where Makoto is hanging unto. Noel extends her hand. "Grab my hand!" Makoto did so, but the pipe falls.
Makoto falls to Noels hand. "Whoop!" Which forcefully have Masha let go of Noel, but she was fast enough to grab Noels foot.
Noel see's the ground from a high height. "Ahhh..." She feels dizzy and sick again.
Makoto see's this. "Uh...it's ok Noel! D-d-don't look, don't look, don't look! Don't let go!" Makoto is concerned for Noel, as well as herself since Noel might let go of her anytime in her condition. Mega Arakune recovers, and see's Masha carrying Noel, while Noel carries Makoto, while also on the verge of fainting or barfing. Then Taokaka throws lots of junk like cans and dead fish and bowling bowls. "Leave lacking lady alone squiggly!" Mega Arakune notices Tao but before he can react, Meta slashed at its side.
Then Meta charged electricity to his suit to his sword. Then does a sword slash filled with energy, hitting Mega Arakune. "GRUUUUUUH!"
"Feel the sword of Thor!"
Shadow lands next to him. "Doesn't Thor have a hammer, not a sword?"
Meta turns to Shadow next to him. "I know what I meant!"
Shadow isn't amused. "I don't think you do. Whoa!" He see's Mega Arakune attack the building, but Shadow and Meta jumps out of the building. "I'm gonna need a big enough building." He looks through out the very slimy town and see's one that is the biggest building still standing. "That'll do." He dashes to the direction. Meta follows. Masha carries both Noel and Makoto to the same building where Tsubaki is. Then drops both of them.
"Oof!/Ack!" Noel sits up. Makoto rubs her head in pain. Tsubaki runs to help them up. "You guys!" Masha then flies off to follow her siblings.
Mega Arakune begins to follow her. Noel stands up and see's Arakune following her former partners. "We've gotta move!" Tsubaki and Makoto nods. Noel leads them to attack Arakune. Noel shoots her Bolverk Revolvers on his side, while Tsubaki's shield opens like a book and she summons flying blades to his side and goes through his body.
"ORRRRRRGH..." Arakune ignores the attacks. It grows hungry.
Noel see's Arakune heading towards the civilians. She see's Makoto jump to a building that is right in front of Arakune. "Makoto!"
Makoto creates an orb by clashing both her blades on her wrists. "You hungry?! Eaaaat this!" She punches the orb and it hits Arakune's face. She see's Tsubaki floating up with energy flowing her. "Tsubaki!"
Tsubaki's blade then enlarges and she slashes away through Arakune. goo and muck spreads all over a city block. Then one last slash hits part of Arakune's white mask face through the body. It roared even louder. "Noel!"
Noel stands on a building half as large as Arakune, and she runs as fast as she can. Then she turns bolverk into a rocket launcher and she aims on the ground and she creates an explosion that propels her high enough to shoot another one Mega Arakune's face as soon as it turns around. Tao then slashes at Arakunes lower levels so it can bow down enough so Noel can reach and hit her rocket straight to Mega Arakune's face. The hit was hard enough to let Arakune turn the other side so it can focus on the Shadow Knights who seem to have a plan to get rid of the big blob. Noel lands on a building with Tsubaki, Makoto, and Taokaka.
Makoto checks on her friend. "Wow! You ok?"
Noel stands. "Yeah...Sure I am..." Then she falls on her head, fainting.
Tao puts her big mittens on her face. "Uh-oh! There goes lacking lady!"
Arakune stumbled for a second. Then Meta jumps out and slashed at Arakune. "GROOOUUUUGH!" Arakune shows frustration and attempts to attack Meta with its claws. Meta jumps and blocks a split second attack from another claw. Masha flies in and slashes Mega Arakune in all sides. She then pressed a few buttons on her wrist, and then she makes claws made out of the power of the azure. She slashes her gigantic claws at Mega Arakune. She then smacks Mega Arakune that causes it to face Shadow on the tallest building.
Shadow see's Arakune's big face on the edge on the building.
Perfect timing guys. Now its my time. Level up to 3!
Shadow then walks slowly with his boosted up power. He then walks more faster, then he starts to run straight to Mega Arakune. "Here goes nothing!" He then attacks straight to Arakune's face as Arakune opens its big mouth. Shadow then goes inside Arakune. Mega Arakune groaned after eating something uneasy as Shadow's energy. But then the indigestion becomes more unpleasant. "Level...4!"
"GRUUGH?" Then a something bursts inside Arakune. Then Arakune feels intense pain on his insides. "GEAAAAAUUUGH!" It's as if something was slicing his insides. Shadow is slicing everywhere he can reach, while his flames around his is burning his surroundings. Mega Arakune is swarming around in pain. Its unable to stop the pain. Then everyone is noticing that Arakune's body is starting to drop and platter all over the place. "YEEUUUUUUUAAAGH!"
Tsubaki and Makoto see's the beast crying in pain. "What is going on?"
Masha watches in amazement. She wasn't aware that Shadow was this strong enough to do this.
Shadow continues his slashing onslaught. "comeoncomeoncomeoncomeoncomeonecomeoncomeoooon!
Arakune then begins to shrink. "YUUUUUIEeeeeeeeeeek!" His deep voice begins to shift to his regular shrieking voice. Shadow keeps on slashing and slashing and slashing until Mega Arakune is no more. Arakune shrank back to his normal state and weakened. "Yuuuuuuuuugh..." Arakune then slithered to the nearest sewer hole.
Masha and Meta see's Arakune retreat. "He...He's done it."
Meta jumps in. "Of course he's done it. He is my brother. The leader of the unstoppable Shadow Knights!" Then they see Shadow still slashing at nothing.
"comeoncomeoncomeoncomeon, 'gasp' Come on! come on! come on! come on! come on!..."
Masha see's in confusion. "Shadow?" He keeps on doing slashing through air. He is shaking Arakunes goo all over Masha and Meta. "Shadow?" He still is not listening. Then Meta walks up and hits him on the back of the head. And falls to his face. Automatically leveling down to 0. "Shadow?"
Shadow abruptly wakes up. "Hagh! What the?! Guys? What the hell happened here? And what's up with the smell?" He looks around the city covered in goo and other unpleasant imagery. "Oh...right..."
Makoto and Tsubaki jump in with Tsubaki carrying an unconscious Noel. "Whoa-ho-ho! I can't believe you actually did it! You took it down!"
Shadow fist bumps. "You know it!" Then he see's Noel on Tsubaki's arms. "H-hey! Is she all right?"
Tsubaki stayed silent, hesitant on talking to him, but she eventually replies, "She's ok. Just took a rough day."
Shadow nods. "After all the stuff that happened, can't blame her." Shadow then see's the whole mess around. "So...does the NOL get to clean up this mess?"
Tsubaki raised her brow. "I'm pretty sure some workers can handle this."
Shadow looks around again. "All of this?" He points around his surrounding area.
Tsubaki shows slight annoyance of Shadow getting the best of her on this conversation. 'sigh' "I will make sure if any civilians got hurt. Makoto, you bring Noel in the infirmary." She brings a still sleeping Noel. Makoto nods as she jumps up.
Meta watches. "She jumps high..."
Shadow unamused. "So do we." Meta is still looking up. "Um...hello?" He waves his hand over Meta's face. Then shrugs. He then see's Masha atop of the rooftop. He parkours his way up to her. "Hey Mash." She turns her head to see him. "Don't worry, I won't call you that all the time." Masha then turns back to see the city. "You thinking? I could tell, because I usually do what your doing when I need to think too. But I do have a certain favorite spot to do that."
Masha bluntly responds. "You love this city. You would protect it with your life. It's that love that makes you stronger then me." She looks down. "I wish I would have that same love, so I can be useful to you."
She really reminds me of her. Even Lambda said she was useless in front of me. But...but...ugh...She is not Lambda...But she is just as lost as Lambda was. Time to do my thing.
Shadow smiles. "Come on. You did good anyways. Even with that handicap done by...me, you still kicked ass and took names. That was anything but useless. Besides with a ton of stuff, and tons of people to meet in this one city, I know you can find something you can find worth protecting. Other than me of course."
Masha turns to see Shadow in the eyes. Then her visor turns off and morph out so she can see him in her own green emerald eyes. "You will always be worth protecting brother." She walks in to hug Shadow. He hugs back. He let out a single tear. He sighed in his mind.
Ugh...
But Shadow smiled again, saying softly. "So are you kid...so are you..."
Time went on and someone had to stop the whole hugging. It was surprising how hard it was when Masha was not letting go, and it took the combine strength of Meta and Tsubaki. But whatever, everyone helped out on cleaning the city. It was odd to see Tsubaki and Makoto helping us, but if they said they would help out the weak, I guess they aren't as hypocritical as I thought. But it makes me wonder why the rest of the soldiers help out. But Tsubaki said that it isn't their job and, it goes against there policy. Well there goes that respect thing I had for those high and mighty douchebags. Well anyways, the city looked better then it was like 40 minutes ago, and it feels kinda good seeing Noel's friends working with us like this.
Shadow looks at Tsubaki with a smile. "Well, at least we're not fighting like earlier right?"
Tsubaki just looks back with a cold look. "Don't get the wrong idea. You are still enemies of the NOL. But if you claim to protect this city, I suggest you don't disturb our operations. Because we won't hesitate on arresting you."
Shadow just bluntly smiled. "You don't have to get pissy. Then again you sort of look cute when your like that."
Tsubaki turns red in anger. "Why you! You will pay for that!"
Makoto shows her frustration too. "Yeah! Calling her cute is just creepy!
Meta's voice gets dark and soft. "I think your hot..."
Makoto heard. "Wha?!"
"NOTHING!" Meta said in a over the top manly voice.
Yeah, make us look like creepers Meta. Well, Tsubaki isn't really my type anyways. She is pretty, if she wasn't much of a workaholic. I really don't see why Noel could be friends with her. Oh well, Makoto is a bit nicer. Although her battle attire is...questionable. But it seems to make Meta happy. Plus I could use a rival when it comes for my brawling skills. But I digress, for this time, we are working together. If we just do stuff like this, the world wouldn't need the Shadow Knights. And we wouldn't have to worry about Old Man...I suppose its what the whole goal was, this moment, no NOL crap, no Murakumo crap, just this, and me fighting to keep it that way. I felt like a total failure when I burned my brother, and let Lambda die. But even so, I still have Meta, I still have Masha, Noel, heck, even Tsubaki and Makoto. This whole city accepted me, even if they thought I was crazy, and some still think I am. But...I don't mind. There is still something to protect, and that is good enough. It will always be good enough.
Rachel see's this in a portal on her rose garden. She turns off the portal and thinks. "He is more then capable to handle his own. That could be proven useful, if we all were to survive the coming fire." Back at Orient Town, Litchi stands there, thinking about her former lover, and still thinking of bringing him back somehow. Then she see's Taokaka jump in, acting cheerful. Litchi and Tao are close friends, mentor and student. As Tao hugs her with happiness, Litchi's problems faded for now. Someday she will think of a way. But for now, this is enough. As the people of Kagutsuchi help each other rebuild, together.
Shadow Stories II: Letting go-End
I felt real good doing this. Its been awhile since I've done this, and I think its been too long. I'll keep on coming if you show more interest. However I have to think a little more on the next chapters. But I'll come up with something. In the mean time, I now have to work on the next chapter, plus Evangelion and the long overdue Gundam fic. (Forgive me for overhyping that.) Also a certain one-shot that I still haven't determined a name, also working on a You Tube video, so yeah, lots of stuff. But hey, tons of stuff to show off, so can't argue with that. Thanks for reading, and the next chapter will star the new girl on the group.
