Rider: Konichi-wa Minna-san! I hope all are well. Apologies for the delays, but tests and papers and such got in the way.
Star: At least your stuff is all done.
Rider: I plan ahead. I can't help it if you don't.
Wraiths: Ok, lets go! I want to find out what happens!
Rider: You've been eating sugar again…(sigh) Oh well, moving on.
To Hanku Royiaki, if you liked preview, you should enjoy this chapter.
To KylaranAeldin, don't worry about trying to overcorrect. I'd rather hear that then have you not say anything at all.
To fatmadcow aka hatsu hara souma, glad you like the story. Thank you for the complement, but Akamatsu-sensei is way out of my league. As for the comic your trying make, I'd love to see it if you do make something. Please e-mail me so I can see it if you get the chance.
To, All who read and don't review, I hope you enjoy this.
Rider: Special note, Star pre-read part of this and yelled that I made it to dark. I told her she's crazy, but I promised I'd put this warning in. So, here it is. Now, please read and enjoy.
ooooo
Disclaimer: Yeah, Wraiths beat me over the head with volume one of the LH manga until I promise to put this in here so we don't get sued since I forgot before. I don't own Love Hina in any way, shape, or form. All original characters are property of me and the voices in my head. I don't own the music or lyrics to Atreyu's The Crimson either.
Change of Hearts
Chapter Nine: Self Destruction
Aijou was sitting alone in her room at the window when the door began to slide open. "Go away Erika." She sighed as the door continued to slide open, however, Erika didn't enter the room.
Aijou blinked as Inuki slowly crossed the room and jumped up into the window as well. Aijou wasn't sure what to make of the strange occurrence as Shinichi's dog never came near her unless the boy himself was around as well. Aijou watched as Inuki lay down on the wide window sill.
Aijou heard Inuki whimper to the empty stairs. She lay her hand on the dog's head. "You want to know where they are too don't you?" She sighed and gently pet the dog.
ooooo
On the floors below, Mai was waiting at the front door. She almost jumped out of her skin as someone snuck up behind her and a coat was placed on her shoulders. She turned with a small, forced, smile. "Thank you Erika."
Erika smiled and nodded. "No sign of him yet?"
Mai shook her head. "Every time I hear a twig snap, or a shadow moves a bit, I rush out thinking he has come home." She sighed dejectedly and sat down on the front stoop. "This isn't like him to stay out so late, at least…not without even calling."
"You mean he's done things like this before?" Erika asked worriedly.
Mai nodded silently.
Erika sat down behind Mai and wrapped her arms around the girl. "Well, try not to worry to much. Shinichi-kun knows how to take care of himself. I'm sure he's fine."
ooooo
Hana stood on the roof and looked out over the city. "Shin-kun…In-chan…" She brought her hands together at her chest and bowed her head, as though in prayer. She lifted her head again a moment later. "Please be safe both of you."
ooooo
Toshi placed her folders back into the cabinet. She stood and stretched her back. "Another box of worthless papers." She sighed as she stuck the cases back into the closet of Keitaro's room. "This is getting tiresome. I know the answer is here, I can feel it."
She opened the door and exited the room, but rather than return to her own room, she stopped at the top of the stairs. She looked down and saw Mai and Erika sitting at the front stoop. "I guess the others aren't back yet." She sighed and sat down on the top step. "I have tomorrow off, I'll wait up for them for a bit."
ooooo
Kam stared at his text book, but it may as well have been written in ancient Sumerian for the amount of information he was actually focusing on. He left the book on the table and went to his open window.
He stepped up, balanced carefully on the window ledge, and jumped to the nearby tree branch. Climbing up the branches he soon reached his secret spot where he went to think. It was really nothing more then a large branch with a knothole in it, but when it was your only place of true privacy, it was special. He sat in the knothole and crossed his legs the way that Shinichi had taught him and began his meditation. He soon found he could concentrate on his thoughts no more than his math homework.
He leaned back against the tree trunk and stared out toward the stars. "Damn it Shin. Where the hell are you?"
ooooo
Inari woke slowly as she felt someone gently stoked her cheek. Her vision was blurry as her eyes first opened, but she could see enough to know someone was looking down at her.
A soft, warm, but sad, smile greeted her. Light brown eyes seemed to fill with relief at seeing Inari respond. Short, sandy, brown hair shook slightly as the woman sighed, or was she crying? "I'm so glad your ok."
"Mom?" Inari blinked and her vision cleared. She sat up with a violent start from where her head rested in the strange woman's lap. "Who the hell are you?"
The woman swallowed hard and bowed low so that her head touched the ground. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to get anyone involved with my problems. That's why I kicked you and Shinichi out the other night."
Inari's head hurt with the sudden movement. "Kanno, right?" She sighed as the manager nodded. "Just a dream…"
"Excuse me?" Kanno asked nervously.
Inari's expression hardened. "Nothing." She stood. "You have a first name?"
"Hai. It's Yukimura."
"Well, Yuki." Inari bent next to the only door in the windowless room. "Where's the ass?"
Kanno-san blinked. "The ass?"
"Shinichi." Inari explained as she pressed her ear to the door. She saw the managers expression fall into despair. "Well?"
Yukimura swallowed hard. "I'm not sure. Mishima's enforcers took him away when he tried to protect us."
"Protect us?" Inari questioned as she sat back against the wall next to the door.
Yukimura nodded again. "You've been asleep since they brought you in, but Shinichi awoke. When the enforcers came for us Shinichi tried to fight them off." She began to cry. "They beat him unconscious again and took him away."
Inari took a deep breath as she watched Yukimura cry. The image brought up unpleasant memories. Memories of another woman with short, sandy, hair crying because of uncertainty about the future. She shook her head to clear the image from her mind, except it wouldn't leave. "So, we have to find him too."
Yukimura picked her head up a bit. "Nani?"
Inari pressed her ear against the door again. "I don't hear anyone in the hall. I'd say its time to leave."
Yukimura stood and walked over to Inari. "But how?"
Inari placed her palm on the lock. "Like this." Electricity sparked along the length of her arm and down into the lock. She smiled at the older woman as something popped inside the door. A puff of smoke escaped the keyhole as Inari took her hand away. "Come on."
They exited the room and pressed close to the wall to try to avoid being seen. Not really knowing where to go, they turned at random corners only to find more endless hallways.
Inari studied the surroundings. If someone spotted them, there wouldn't be much room to maneuver for a fight. Fortunately there were many pipes along the walls, some of which were probably gas mains, so anyone who found them wouldn't risk using a gun and causing an explosion. At least, that's what Inari hoped. Even that was a cursed blessing though, because it would also limit her ki abilities. After a few more minutes of walking Inari and Yukimura reached a stairwell, and had to make a choice. "Well, Yuki? Up or down?"
Yukimura looked around nervously. "Ano… I think…"
Both women turned as they heard heavy foot steps on the metal stairs above them. Inari grabbed Yukimura's hand and dragged her down the flight of stairs just enough to be able to see who was coming down. They both stopped breathing for a moment as two suits crossed through the door and into the hallway they had just come through.
Yukimura sighed and slid down against the wall.
Inari grabbed Yukimura's hand again. "Don't relax now. Now the danger is really on." Inari began to run up the stairs. "They're going to find out we escaped any minute. We have to find Shinichi and get out of here." Throwing caution and concealment to the wind, Inari ran full speed up the stairs with Yukimura in tow.
"There they are!"
Yukimura looked back down the stairs and saw the suits coming for them. "They found us!"
"Run you idiot!" Inari dragged the frightened woman behind her, but Yukimura was frozen solid in fear and refused to move. Inari saw the suits gaining on them quickly. She shoved Yukimura behind her and held her hand. "Please let this work." She whispered. Inari bent low and placed her palm flat against the metal landing. With a cry she loosed her electricity into the stairs, using the metal as a conductor, and directed it toward the men chasing them. When she stood up again, she smiled down at the unconscious and smoking enforcers. She turned to grin at Yukimura, and began to laugh.
Yukimura looked confused. "Nani?"
Inari shook her head and she stared at the other woman's hair. "Holding hands protected you from my electricity. But your hair, you've just got a whole lot of static frizz going on now." She opened the door to the next hallway and stopped cold as she stared down a steel gun barrel.
The third suit motioned for them to come forward and began to march them down the hall. "Boss wants to see you two."
As Inari came to the double doors from before again, she felt her stomach tighten up. She nearly lost her lunch as the door opened. "Shinichi!"
Shinichi sat in a simple steel chair in the center of the plush office. His hands were tied behind the chair, immobilizing him. Beneath the chair was a large plastic tarp, covered with Shinichi's blood. He looked up as he heard Inari's voice. "Hey, Klepto? You ok?"
"Yeah, Yuki is ok too." Inari shuddered as she saw Shinichi's face, swollen, bloody, and broken. "You ok?"
Shinichi grinned despite the pain. "Of course. You and our friends back home hit me harder then these losers do."
"Your bravado is admirable." The chair behind the desk spun around slowly revealing a man with close cut black hair, pale skin, squinted eyes, glasses, and dressed in a three piece suit. "But I am tired of it."
Inari focused on the new man. "You must be Mishima."
The man smiled. "Indeed. I am pleased to see you know who I am, my reputation must be spreading." His smile turned into a cynical sneer. "Unfortunately for you, that means you'll have to die as well."
Inari ground her teeth. "You damn Yakuza dogs all think you're so tough. Put the guns away for a moment and we'll see how you fair."
Mishima's eyes narrowed further. "This one has a mouth on her as well." He nodded to the enforcer in the suit. "Dispose of them all."
Shinichi began to laugh. "You're still an idiot Mishima." He smiled as the Yakuza head turned in his chair. "You kill us and you're still out, what? Ten million yen? That's not going to make the Yakuza heads to happy with an under boss like you."
Mishima felt a bit of sweat going down his back. "How do you know about that?"
Inari blinked as Shinichi answered in a language she didn't understand. "What is he up to?" She whispered.
Mishima shook his head. "I don't believe you."
Shinichi grinned. "I don't care if you believe. You have two choices, I beat you all and walk out that door with my friends. Or you can get everything set up and I'll see to it you get your money and all is forgiven."
Mishima glared at Shinichi, then turned to the guard, and nodded. Mishima hit the speaker phone on his desk. "Get the car ready. We're going to the cage." He paused. "And get me two more hitokiri." He hung up and pointed at Inari and Kanno-san. "Take your friend and follow me."
Inari moved to lash out at the small man, but stopped, not because of the gun clicking, but because of a voice.
"Don't cos." Shinichi warned. "It'll be ok. Just don't do anything stupid."
Inari nodded and helped to support Shinichi as the Yakuza enforcer released the ropes which bound him. "So what did you say?"
Shinichi shook his head. "Not now." He took Inari's hand and lowered his voice. "Zap me."
Inari looked at him incredulously.
"Don't argue." Shinichi insisted. "Just do it. However much you can without tiring yourself out."
As Inari released her ki in Shinichi's palm, she felt that she didn't have to support him as much. After a few minutes walk in silence to a garage they entered the limousine. Shinichi entered on his own without her help. She watched as he fell asleep in the car despite the mob boss, three hit men, and the two women he shared the cabin with. She looked out the windows as the car pulled away until one of the guards placed a blindfold over her eyes.
ooooo
A figure in a hooded black trench coat watched from the roof of the tall office building across the street as a limo pulled out of the restaurant garage. A smile crossed his face as he pulled cell phone from his pocket. He dialed and brought the device to his ear.
"Kyoto Police? Detective Hajime please." He waited as the other line connected, only to be forwarded to a remote line. "Detective, there is a Yakuza cage fight this evening. Find it, and you may find a clue to your case is there."
"Wait! Who is this!" Toshi's voice called over the speaker.
The man extended his hand with the phone over the edge of the building, and let go. He was gone before the cell phone hit the street and shattered into pieces.
ooooo
Aijou was startled awake as she heard Inuki growl. She looked out the window she was sitting in, and saw someone running down the front stairs. "Toshi?" Aijou rubbed the sleep from her eyes as Inuki ran out of the room. "What's going on?" Climbing down from the window she ran after Inuki only to find the dog waiting for her at the front door. Aijou watched as Inuki ran out the door. Taking a deep breath, she followed after the dog.
When Aijou reached the street she saw no sign of Toshi or Inuki. "Damn it…" She hissed. "Inuki? Inuki? Hey? Stupid dog…" She focused her attention up the street as she heard a dog bark. "I hate this dog…" She ran up the street and saw a familiar face getting on to the bus. "Toshi! Wait up!" Sprinting the final distance Aijou got onto the bus as well.
"Aijou? What are you doing here?" Toshi was dressed in her police uniform, making her shocked expression look out of place against the rigid cut of the suit.
Aijou held up her hand up for a moment's reprieve to catch her breath. "What are you doing here?"
"I asked you first." Toshi pointed out.
Aijou glared at her. "I'm not the one sneaking around like a thief!"
"Scary…" Toshi shirked away. "I got an anonymous tip on my case…"
"Ladies! Get the mongrel off my bus!" Yelled the driver.
The girls looked down to see Inuki waiting patiently at their feet.
Toshi flipped her badge to the driver. "That's my drug search dog." She looked toward Aijou. "And this is her field handler." She took back her badge from the driver. "Now, head for Tokyo, no stops. I'm commandeering this vehicle for official police business." She turned back to Aijou. "Ok, you have my reason. Now you."
Aijou twiddled her fingers. "I'm just following you."
Toshi sighed and pulled out her cell phone. "Fine, tag along, but don't interfere with anything."
Aijou smiled. "Who me?"
Inuki placed her paw over her own snout and whined.
Toshi sighed as she dialed her contact in the Tokyo City Police Department. "There goes my promotion."
ooooo
"Wake up." Ordered the Yakuza hit-man.
Shinichi opened his eyes and yawned loudly. "Watch who you're shoving pudgy." He yawned again. "Oh man Mishima. I've slept on rocks that were softer. I would think someone with your money would get some comfortable seat cushions." He paused and mockingly laughed at the mob under boss. "Oh wait, you don't have the money anymore."
Mishima ground his teeth and nodded to the other hit-men. "Get them inside."
Shinichi grinned as the first suit moved toward him. He kicked the man in the stomach and shattered the man's nose with the heel of his palm. He then threw the large man's unconscious body at the second hit-man while palming the assassin's gun. He spun and pointed the gun at Mishima while flicking off the safety. Shinichi nodded to the third, and only conscious suit. "Drop it or you're going to need to find a new employer."
The suit laid his gun on the ground.
Shinichi smiled. "Good, now over here." He motioned for the suit to get over to his side. "On your knees." When the man was in position, Shinichi clubbed him in the back of the head with the butt of the gun. "Inari, take the other guns." Shinichi removed the clip from his pistol and threw it as far away as possible before going face to face with Mishima.
The under boss was sweating bullets. "What are you going to do?"
Shinichi smiled brightly, as though nothing had just happened. "Exactly what I said I'd do. I'll get you your money, and you release Kanno-san's debt." His smile faded. "But we do it my way. Threaten my friends again, well…" He looked at the three fallen guards. "I think you get the idea."
"H-hai." Mishima nodded. "This way."
Inari came up next to Shinichi. "You seem strangely familiar with this atmosphere now." She looked him over. "You recover quick."
"I have you to thank for that." Shinichi bowed a bit.
"Shinichi?" Yukimura stepped forward, she looked down at the ground. "Is that true what you said? About my debt?"
Shinichi nodded.
"Why?"
Shinichi shrugged. "There are rules." He started walking into the dimly lit warehouse.
"Rules?" Inari asked.
Shinichi nodded again. "Something someone taught me. Always be at zero."
Inari blushed brightly, but stayed quiet.
Shinichi took one of Inari's guns. "You know how to use this?" He nodded as Inari confirmed his question. "Good." He handed it back to the girl. "If he tries anything, shoot him."
"Where are you going?" Yukimura asked.
Shinichi turned as the group came to their final destination. "Welcome to The Cage ladies." The room set up like an arena of sorts with the center area cordoned off with a chain link fence and barbed wire. "I had hoped to never see a place like this again."
"Again?" Inari asked.
Shinichi shook his head. "Long story, and not a proud one." He turned to Mishima. "Go place your bet." He started to walk away. "I have to get ready."
ooooo
"Damn it!" Toshi slammed her fist into the brick wall. "Another dead end!"
"Do you need help finding something?"
Toshi nodded. "Yes Erika. I need to find…Erika!"
Erika waved at the older woman. "Yo!" She pulled out a small laptop computer from her back pack. "What are we looking for?"
"How did you…" Toshi began.
"You and Aijou are very noisy when you rush around. You woke everyone up." Erika tapped her keyboard impatiently. "Now what are we looking for?"
"Did you say 'everyone'?" Toshi's shoulders slumped. "My life has turned into a bad sitcom."
"Don't be so melodramatic." Aijou laughed. "We'll make it an adventure."
"This is my job!" Toshi screamed at them.
Tears began to well up in Mai's eyes. "I thought we were looking for onii-chan."
"We will." Kam comforted the small girl.
Toshi looked around. "Hana didn't come?"
"We lost her again?" Aijou complained. "Inuki? Can you find Hana again?" She smiled as the dog trotted off.
Toshi shook her head again. "Erika, we're looking for a Yakuza Cage fight. Know anything about it?"
Erika clicked at her computer. "Got it! There's one in progress on the other end of the city."
Toshi stared at the silver haired girl. "Well…then…let's go!"
ooooo
Shinichi stood leaning against the fence that made up the cage, watching as the other combatants beat each other into pulp with the same detachment one uses to watch paint dry. He wore only his black training pants, and could feel the barb wire at his back. He leaned on it just enough to feel the pressure of the metal, but not break the skin. All around him, he heard the cheers of the crowd as people yelled encouragement to the people they had placed the their bets on. He tuned them out as much as possible. He instead tried to listen to the music the DJ played.
His attention turned as some poor fool tried to attack him. Shinichi grabbed the man's wrist in one hand and twisted. He then brought his knee up into the man's forehead once before dropping him to the ground. He then returned to studying the other fighters.
Most were simple street brawlers and gang bangers, attracted by the promise of a large cash prize if they won. There were a few that had skill, but most were relying on their ability to ignore their own pain. A few other fighters were clearly assassins for the Yakuza, entered to balance the scales in a sense, so that the money was simply recycled rather than paid out. Shinichi ignored these for the most part unless they tried to make a play for his hide.
Shinichi's attention was focused on the figure in the hooded black trench coat in the shadows. Shinichi hadn't moved much since entering the cage, but this man hadn't moved at all. No one had even approached him. It was as though the other fighters couldn't see him at all. Shinichi already knew that this would be the one that he would fight for money to pay of Kanno-san's debt. He couldn't explain why, but Shinichi was filled with anticipation by that fact.
He looked up into the seats that surrounded the cage. Instantly, he found Inari, Kanno-san, and Mishima. He grinned as he saw the awkward position Mishima sat in, and wondered if Inari had one pistol or two pressed against the mobster's ribs. He turned as he heard the slow, even, foot steps in the center of the cage. He was not surprised to see the man in black waiting for him with the remainder of the fighters unconscious or possibly dead. He walked slowly to the center of the cage to face the man.
Now in the light more, Shinichi was surprised to see that his opponent was about the same size as he was. He brought his hands up, placing his right fist into the left open palm, and bowed. He stood, again not surprised when the other fighter didn't move.
They stood facing each other with less then two feet separating them, yet neither shifted into a combat stance. Outside the cage, the crowd was growing restless. Some taunted the final two fighters, but one person decided to throw his sake bottle. As the glass shattered against the metal fence and fell to the ground, the fighters reacted at last.
The cloaked fighter launched a left punch, followed by a right kick.
Shinichi's hands darted out and easily stopped both attacks. He leaned forward and head butted the man's hooded face. "He's slower then I thought." Shinichi realized. Taking advantage of the man's staggering, Shinichi crouched and kicked his opponents legs out from under him. He then leapt into the air and prepared to leg press the other man. Just as his foot landed, the man rolled out of the way, and Shinichi's foot kicked a hole into the concrete floor.
The other man stood and turned to Shinichi, beckoning him to attack.
Shinichi paused. "I see, you were going to evaluate me the same as I was trying to evaluate you." He grinned. "This could be a good fight. I know you're holding back, and so am I. What do you say we skip the preliminaries then? Get right to the good stuff?" He frowned disappointed as the other man said nothing. "Don't talk much do you?" He shrugged. "Just as well, talking has no place in a fight anyway, ne?"
The trench coat man seemed to tilt his head.
Shinichi sighed and let his head hang a bit. "Ok then." He thrust his hands out and moved them through a complex warm up kata. Then, he was gone.
ooooo
Inari watched as Shinichi appeared behind his opponent. "Wow…who'd have thought he looked like death warmed over an hour ago?" She whispered. She continued to watch the fight. She remembered the training she had done with him, he had been untouchable then, and now seemed even more so. The hooded figure was managing to evade or at least stop most of Shinichi's attacks, but was clearly outmatched.
Mishima took note of the fact that the young woman sticking the gun in his ribs was not paying attention to him. There was still no way he could escape her, but he could do something. He moved slowly so as not to draw attention to himself, and brought his cell phone to his hand. He dialed the numbers, sent the text message, and returned the phone to his pocket. He grunted as the gun barrel pressed against him.
"What are you squirming for?" Inari demanded angrily.
"I am merely trying to enjoy the fight my dear." Mishima answered calmly. He turned as the crowd began cheering louder. He looked down into the cage. "This does not bode well."
Inari ground her teeth. Shinichi was on the ground with a mouth full of blood. Standing above him was the trench coat, holding a pair of nunchuku in his gloved hands. "Damn creep had weapons hidden on him!"
Mishima smiled a bit. "There are no rules in a fight like this."
Inari fought the urge to shoot Mishima. She gasped as she felt the cold wind. She looked down into the cage and saw the darkness beginning to surround Shinichi. "That day in the alley." She whispered. "It's going to happen again."
ooooo
Aijou looked at the supposedly abandoned warehouse that was alive with activity. She turned to Toshi, who was coordinating raid information with her team of officers. "I've heard of these kind of places, but I didn't think they existed."
Kam nodded. "Yeah, urban legends and such."
Toshi nodded. "They are real though. They are hard to track since they move so often."
"They're only hard to track if you look above ground." Erika laughed. "You can find anything in an underground chat room."
"I don't want to know what you hacked Erika." Toshi held up her hand to stop the girl. "If it didn't come from a legal source, the less I know, the better."
"Isn't that rather callous?" Asked Hana.
Inuki suddenly growled at the building.
Mai stiffened as a cold chill ran down her spine. "Onii-chan is in there!" She took off running. She nimbly dodged through the police line as various officers tried to stop her. Before long she was alone running across the open lot toward the entrance of the warehouse. She saw the bouncer that blocked her way, and franticly tried to think of a way to get past him. Her solution came up upon her quickly on four furry legs.
Inuki growled and leapt at the large guard, sinking her teeth into the tender flesh of his throat. She then doubled back and ran between Mai's legs, easily lifting the small girl, before sprinting into the building.
Aijou blinked at the speed with which the scene had unfolded. "Well screw this. I'm not waiting any more." She took off after Mai. She looked back and saw the others following after her.
ooooo
Shinichi spit the blood from his mouth as he was hit yet again by his attacker's nunchuku. "I won't let you win." He whispered more to himself than to his opponent. He could feel a power gathering within him. A power so familiar, yet so terrifying. It called to him for release, and yet…His thoughts were distracted as he was beaten into the ground yet again. His head jerked up as the trench coat man pulled his hair, he couldn't see under the hood, but he could sense that there was a sadistic smile beneath it.
At last the hidden figure spoke. "Kill them…like I killed him…last of the Kokuei."
Shinichi's eyes went wide. "Killed…the last Kokuei? Sensei? Dead?" For a moment, Shinichi almost began to cry, then the dam broke, and the power within his chest exploded out.
Screams echoed through out the cage as a sphere of black energy surrounded Shinichi. His eyes were black and soulless. The sphere of energy seemed to absorb the heat of the room. The scar on his back pulsated with ki. His face was torn between a sadistic smile, and concern for the people panicking around him.
Shinichi grasped for a moor in the turbulent darkness that threatened to swallow him. He was relieved to find many, and noted the strange choice of music that the DJ had put on before fleeing the scene.
His attention then came back to the dazed man in the trench coat, and he felt his control slip away. A devil's smile came across Shinichi's face. With a cry that seemed to mix pain, fear, hatred, and pleasure all at once, he lunged for the man. His fingernails cut into the flesh of his opponent, causing some of the spray to hit his face before slowly dripping down his cheeks.
I feel it welling up inside and Robert Smith lied
Boys do cry and with blood tears in my eyes
I'm an Anne Rice novel come to life
I can't hide the monster anymore
Shinichi threw the man across the cage and into the barb wire. The heavy leather of the coat became caught and held the man firm. Shinichi dashed across the arena and began to hammer at the defenseless man with his fists.
One can only feel desolate for so long
Until one starts to change
Into something the mirror doesn't recognize
I metamorphosize
At last the fabric ripped and Shinichi looked down at the fallen man, yet Shinichi didn't stop. He lifted the man by the coat and began to slap him violently. His hands becoming red with blood.
The darkness has been bidding it's time
To claim it's latest victim
Fresh meat for carnal desires
To become what I became
I viewed the sun for the last time
Shinichi turned as he felt something grab his hand. He knew he knew this person, yet couldn't seem to place him.
Will you still hold me when you see what I have done?
Will you still kiss me the same when you taste my victim's blood?
So crimson and red, I feel it flowing from your lips.
"Shin!" Kam yelled louder, fearing the vacant look in his friend's eyes. "You won, stop now."
Still lost in his mindless rage, Shinichi dropped the unconscious man, and spun to land a vicious backhand punch that sent his new enemy flying backward. The boy Shinichi attacked hit the fence and barb wire of the cage and punched a hole through it before stopping against the far wall.
My heart is dead and so are you
And it pulses through, the desire to change
The desire to deconstruct all of my past failings
"Knock it off!" Inari yelled as she attack him.
Shinichi turned to the new enemy and smacked her away. She too, was easily dispatched.
It's hard to look at saints without them
Reflecting your jet black aura back on you
And all I have is hope, my inner burn's not fading
I'll wipe the blood from my cheek and get on with my day.
Shinichi turned as he heard something below him. He looked down to see a dog. It felt familiar, it relaxed him. He reached out to pet the dog.
Will you still hold me when you see what I have done?
Will you still kiss me the same when you taste my victim's blood?
So crimson and red, I feel it flowing from your lips.
"Onii-chan?" Mai called.
"Shinichi?" Aijou called. "Shin? Can you hear me?"
Shinichi turned toward the sound of the voices. He saw them, and something sparked with in his soul.
And all I have is hope, and all I need is time
To bury in pine under six feet of time
The lies I told me about myself
Mai held out her hand to her brother. "Onii-chan?"
Shinichi took a step forward.
Aijou held out her hand, following Mai's example.
Shinichi took another step forward. He took the two hands offered to him.
Claw my way out, pick the splinters from under my fingernails
I won't lose hope, I won't give in
Just live and breath and try not to die again
Just live and breath and try not to die again
Just live and breath and try not to die again
Aijou caught Shinichi as his body suddenly went slack.
Shinichi pushed away and stared at the carnage he had wrought. "Kami-sama…what have I done?" He fell to his knees and began to cry, his tears cutting jagged lines through the blood on his face. "What am I?"
Will you still hold me when you see what I have done?
Will you still kiss me the same when you taste my victim's blood?
So crimson and red, I feel it flowing from your lips.
Aijou crouched in front of him and pulled him close. Gently stroking his hair as he cried, heedless of the blood that rubbed off his body and onto her clothes.
My heart is dead…and so are you.
The two children ignored the police officers that stormed the rest of the building. They also failed to notice that the fact that the man in the trench coat was missing.
ooooo
Mishima had just gotten into his limo when the voice came from the shadows.
"You did well."
Mishima jumped and turned on the cabin light to reveal two figures in black trench coats. The first was in pristine condition and sat up right, the second's coat was bloody and torn. If not for the steady breathing, the slumping posture would have convinced Mishima that he was dead. Three other bodies were in the cabin as well, the hit men he had summoned on his cell phone during the fight. They were all dead. Mishima attempted to remain calm. "I did as we agreed. I expect payment in full." He stared at the blood on his seats. "And that must be fixed as well."
The first man chuckled. "You needn't worry about that. As for your payment, that will have to be renegotiated."
"Renegotiated!" Mishima fumed.
The first figure nodded. "You were supposed to bring the one we wanted to us directly. But your greed has interfered. Before you receive your payment you must agree to one final job for us. Are you willing to do that? One final job?"
Mishima didn't have a choice, thanks to the police he had lost even more money this evening. He nodded.
The man nodded his hidden head. "Excellent. The job is simple, you must simply deliver a message to a one of the officers outside."
Mishima smiled. "That's it?"
The man nodded, and pulled a long dagger from the scabbard hidden beneath his coat. "Yes." He ran the dagger through Mishima's chest with a single powerful trust. "That's it." He picked up the body of his partner and exited the car. He walked through the confusion of the police blockade without incident and disappeared.
End Chapter Nine
Rider: Well, that end's another chapter for me. I hope you all enjoyed it.
Star: You're making Shinichi evil again.
Wraiths: Yes! Blood and destruction for all!
Rider: You two are impossible to please. (Turns to readers.) If you have time, please leave a little something to tell me your thoughts on what you've seen so far, be it good, bad, or otherwise.
Star: Bye peoples!
Wraiths: Later.
Rider: Till the next, live well all.
