Disclaimer: I do not own Konjiki no Gash Bell in any way, what so ever. But I SERIOUSLY wish I could.
Zeon approached Tio and Megumi slowly, smirking with satisfaction at their position. Megumi was silent, the book held under her. Blood dripped from her head and arms. Tio had at last managed to lift herself to her hands and knees, looking up at her partner.
"Megumi?" She asked hesitantly. No answer. She clenched her fists at the silence. "Megumi!" She exclaimed.
"I'm surprised that you survived so long, being so weak," Zeon said, stopping several feet away. He smiled, holding out his hand once again. "The weak ones don't deserve to be in this battle." Lightning began to form in his outstretched hand once again as he powered up another attack. "Dufaux, let's send this girl back where she belongs," With a small nod, Dufaux opened the spell book to the brightest page.
Tio lifted herself up to her feet, standing before Megumi. She held out her arms protectively and stared into Zeon's eyes with a look of pure hatred.
"I don't like that look. You shouldn't be allowed to make that face," Zeon snarled. He glanced at Dufaux. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"Right," Dufaux stated. "Za…"
"Zakeru!" Another voice called before Dufaux had a chance to finish. Zeon looked over, showing the first sign of surprise in his eyes. He jumped back as golden lightning flew at him and it struck the floor where he once was.
Gash ran in front of Tio, Kiyomaro right beside him. Tio looked at them with surprise, unable to say much. "G-Gash…" She collapsed to her knees with relief. "I'm sorry…"
Gash didn't respond. He stared at Zeon, a look of ferocity in his eyes. Kiyomaro turned his head slightly, looking at Megumi. He clenched his fists and turned back to Zeon and Dufaux.
"You're right, Zeon. The weak ones don't deserve to be in this battle. So tell me this," Kiyomaro started. Zeon stared at him, smirking. "Why are you still in it?"
The smirk faded from Zeon's face. He stared at Kiyomaro, anger apparent in his expression. He held out his hand once again.
"You call me weak, Human?" Zeon asked with annoyance. "Let me refresh you of my abilities. First hand."
"Zakeru," Dufaux said. The large surge of white lightning flew at Kiyomaro.
"Zakeru!" Kiyomaro cried in response. Another bolt of lightning, this one yellow, flew at Zeon's attack.
With a crash, the two spells collided, battling against each other. Dufaux stood calmly, watching the spells as Kiyomaro struggled to match the strength. Kiyomaro glanced at Tio, who was now trying to wake Megumi.
I can't let them get hurt. Kiyomaro said to himself, looking back at the spells. Zeon's was beginning to advance on them, pushing Gash's lightning back. Come on come on! He was still no match for them, even after all the battles they had been through. Zeon was out of their league. He stared at the spell for a moment. It was parallel to the ground, not a slant to it. He hesitated for a moment. I'm almost positive it won't hit us, and it will throw up a dust cloud so we can escape. He said to himself. Hesitantly, he closed his book. The lightning flew at them with amazing speed. He grabbed Gash's arm and threw himself to the floor, covering Gash with one arm and his own head with the other. The spell flew right over them, crashing into the ground several yards away. Dust erupted, clouding the area. "Gash, let's go!"
"Unu!" Gash said in response, lifting him-self up. They ran to the girls, Kiyomaro lifting Megumi gently as Gash took Tio's arm. They began to run quickly away from Zeon.
"Zakeru," Dufaux said. Instead of coming from behind, as Kiyomaro expected, it came from in front.
"Move, Kiyomaro!" Gash cried. He pushed Tio to one side, and rammed into Kiyomaro's side, forcing him to the side as well. The lightning crashed into the ground where they once were, erupting in a loud explosion. Kiyomaro landed on his back roughly, grunting in pain. He still held onto Megumi, refusing to release her.
"Tio!" Gash called through the dust. There was no answer. "Tio!"
"I-I'm alright!" She said at last. Her voice was weak, as if the impact of the spell affected her.
"Stay where you are, I'm coming!" Gash said, running into the smoke toward her voice. Kiyomaro placed Megumi gently on the ground and lifted himself up to his knees. He placed the books beside her, and then lifted her up again, placing her on his back. Her arms hung off his shoulders, and she lay limp against him. He picked up the books, holding them with one hand as he supported her with the other.
"Hold on, Megumi," He muttered, looking around. The smoke cleared mostly, and there was no sign of Zeon anywhere. Gash was walking back toward him, Tio leaning against him for support. He was pretty beat up as well. "Gash." He said once the mamono was close enough. "We have o get Megumi and Tio out of here. It's too dangerous for them,"
"Getting nervous, human?" Zeon asked. Kiyomaro stiffened slightly. Zeon was toying with them. The silver haired mamono appeared between himself and Gash. Dufaux stared at him, spell book open. Kiyomaro opened his own, struggling to keep hold of Megumi's book as well. "You're having trouble already. Come on; let me have a little bit of fun with you two before I destroy you all. The battle is just barely getting started." He grinned, holding up his hand once again.
Kiyomaro stared at Zeon and took a step back, the spell book still open in his hand. He didn't have a chance of winning, not matter how hard he tried. Zeon was just too strong.
"Should I kill you humans first, or send those two fools back to the mamono world?" Zeon asked himself, his grin widening.
"Don't you dare hurt Kiyomaro!" Gash snarled. Zeon didn't even bother to look at him.
"Would that upset you, Gash?" Zeon asked mockingly. "In that case, I've made my decision,"
"Zakeruga," Dufaux said calmly. At the last moment, Zeon pointed his hand at the ground, striking it with the piercing lightning. The ground shook violently, throwing the four of them off balance as dust and debris erupted.
"Kiyomaro!" Gash called nervously.
"Gash, keep an eye out!" Kiyomaro called to his mamono.
"Unu!"
Kiyomaro stepped back nervously. Where are they coming from? He asked himself. He looked around anxiously, eyes wandering around the clouded area. Out of nowhere, Dufaux lashed out at him, his fist slicing through the air like a sword. Kiyomaro ducked quickly to prevent the sharp blow from hitting his neck. Dufaux reached forward, grabbing at the spell books. Quickly, Kiyomaro pulled them back. I can't counter attack if I'm holding Megumi. He thought to himself, avoiding the rapid attacks. I'm sorry, Megumi. With that final thought, he dropped to his knees, releasing Megumi and lowering her gently to the floor. He kept hold of both spell books, and stood. Confidently, he threw a right jab at the unexpecting boy.
"You'll need to be faster then that," Dufaux stated, moving his head to the side slightly. He took hold of Kiyomaro's arm and pulled him forward. He tripped him with one foot, and with his free hand, pushed down on his chest. The black haired boy grunted as he hit the ground, then rolled to the side as Dufaux's heel was forced down.
"Zakeruga!" He cried desperately. A volt of piercing lightning flew at Dufaux. The teenager once again dodged it. Gotcha! Kiyomaro thought to himself. He lunged at Dufaux's legs, tripping him. As the white-blonde haired boy fell, Kiyomaro stood, running toward Megumi. "Gash, let's go!"
"Zakeruga!" Dufaux stated with a bit more emotion.
"Rashirudo!" Kiyomaro cried, knowing the attack was directed at Gash and Tio. He saw the lightning shield erupt as the white lightning flew from Zeon's hand. The spell hit, pushing against the shield, and to Kiyomaro's surprise, it flew back at Zeon.
"What!" Zeon exclaimed as his own lightning returned to him. Gash's lightning sparked from it, adding an extra kick. At the last moment, Zeon vanished, appearing beside Dufaux. "This isn't the last of us," He said to Kiyomaro, his cloak wrapping around Dufaux. "We'll be back, stronger," With that, they vanished.
Kiyomaro fell to his knees with relief. He sighed as he dropped the spell books. He was cut up pretty bad, blood dripping down his arms. He looked to Gash, who kept a weak Tio standing with a small frown on his face.
A/N: I'm sorry it took so long for this chapter. I had a major writers block problem, and had to study for a Biology Exam. I'm glad you're all still reading my story, And I'd like to thank you all for the reviews. I've also been reading the manga's online, so that might be a contribution as to why it's taking so long. Well, That was chapter nine. Chapter ten is currently in the making. Please, continue to Read and Review, and once again, be patient.
