A/N: Hey everyone, gtmaster here again with a new chapter for Cold Veils and this one should start to get things rolling!
Standard.
Techniques/Limit Breaks.
Flashbacks/Cell conversations/Thoughts/Dream Sequences/Various Quotes.
Chapter X: The Finishing Touch of Discipline
Truly, Matt was having a hard time fighting Karasuba because despite the fact that he is skilled with his blade, Karasuba was clearly a notch above him and then some! Continuing his assault on her he tries to land some heavy blows on her but fails as she dodges every strike and retaliates with blows of her own. "What's the matter? The way that you fought against Mutsu and defeated the sekireis from the east, surely you're not having a hard time fighting me are you?" she asks in a familiar tone. Then, Matt suddenly screeches to a halt. "Hold up, WHAT did you just say?" he asks in gaping surprise. She merely smiles and says "take a good guess to what that means." He thinks for a second and then it hits him. "No..." he whispers. "That can't be! It's not true!" he yells. "Oh you can deny it all you want, but you have heard that in your dreams haven't you?" Karasuba asks getting serious for a brief moment. "No way in hell..." he replies in a eerily calm tone. "Come again?" "NO WAY IN HELL!" he roars. "After you killed my dad, you expect me to wing you just like that?!" She shrugs and says "Sorry, but it's inevitable. After all, such powerful abilities you control can only be truly appreciated by another one in your life." "No way." He readies his blade again and calmly replies "Once I defeat you I will personally make sure that you never hurt anyone in my life again!" She shakes her head in amusement and asks "Oh really? And just what makes you so sure that you can beat me?" "Simple. Because I always fight to protect those dear to me that I love! And that feeling has grown stronger, especially since I met Akitsu and Uzume!" Upon hearing his words, said sekirei were blushing while thinking their thoughts. "Thompson-sama, you really are my destined one..." Akitsu thought in happiness. "Wow, even though we sekireis are naturally stronger than humans he is willing to fight for us!" Thinks Uzume oddly enough feeling a similar way much like that of a certain wind flower who is also her best friend. "I see. But in the end it is useless, in my eyes no matter how much you care for someone close to you they can easily wind up gone in an instant. After all, that day when I went to rescue numbers 87 and Mu-chan I learned that lesson the hard way..." Karasuba finishes in thought.
[scene break]
Outside of MBI tower, a certain sekirei of fate is watching the battle with interest. "I see..." she softly says to herself. "So that's why Karasuba almost fell to the darkness in her heart." she then smiles and thinks "I hope you are able to see the way that this young man loves his sekirei and hope that you will learn to love too when he wings you..."
[back to the battle at hand...]
"Anyway!" she says again regaining her dangerous focus "Let's continue, and just see who will walk away from this battle!" Matt then charges at her again and tries an upward slash which Karasuba effortlessly blocks. He then jumps in the air and tries to land a heavy blow to her defense. "Slashing Blow!" sadly, she evades both attacks and retaliates with one of her own. "Reaper." Upon saying this, a flurry of blows attacks Matt and all he tries to do is block every one but they all hit their mark and sends him crashing to the ground. "Matt!" Uzume cries out before Akitsu holds her back. "No, this is his battle. We can't interfere."
[flashback]
"Akitsu, Uzume; listen to me." Matt says while walking throughout MBI tower. "I don't want you two to get hurt so in the event I am able to confront my father's killer do not interfere in the battle." "Huh? But why, we are your sekireis after all!" Uzume tries to tell Matt with a worried look. "I know, but the fact of the matter is that I would never want anything to happen to you two and I already lost one important person in my life." He smiles and continues "However, if I should fall in battle then I give you two permission to try to save my life." He turns and asks "Akitsu, can I count on you to help in this matter?" She merely nods once and says "I will." Uzume then relents after a few seconds and says "Ok, just promise me that you'll try to come back unharmed." He hugs her surprising her and whispers "Thank you, I'll do my best."
[back to the battle again]
"So, do you give up yet?" Karasuba asks. "Or do you wish for me to end your life here?" He slowly gets up and says "No... I will never give up!" then he starts glowing with his aura surrounding him which draws surprised thoughts from everyone and a amazed thought from a couple of people (namely Minaka and Karasuba) "What the, how is he still standing?" thinks a shocked Benitsubasa. "Holy crap, what is this power flaring up again?" Uzume thinks remembering the battle with Higa's sekireis. "I see. So this is that power of his in battle." Takami thinks. "Magnificent! This young boy is no doubt perfect for the discipline squad!" (take a very good guess to who said that one) "This power, it's similar to that one's whom I fought years ago!" Karasuba thinks ironically a little shocked. "Now... it ends." Matt readies his blade one last time. Then, he starts swinging his sword which whips up a tornado imbued with his power which sucks up Karasuba in its grip. "What the, my- sword?! It can't negate this ability, just what IS he?" she suddenly cries in uncharacteristic shock. He then cries "Limit Break: Finishing Touch!" which afterwards he dashes at Karasuba and slashes her several times ending with a heavy blow which knocks her back down to the mat. However, this attack also sends Matt crashing down and he lands hard. Then, just before he loses consciousness he sees her slowly getting up and walking to him with one last thought. "No... I'm sorry father; I failed to avenge you." Then everything goes black.
A/N: There you have it; chapter 10. And once again if you hadn't noticed by now, even if Matt delivers a powerful blow to certain sekireis they will remain relatively unharmed due to their healing factor. Plus, Karasuba is not one to go down easily (but I'm sure you all knew that from the anime/manga) and also there will be a future chapter explaining the limits and usages of Matt's power. "Until then... stay gold." (holds up a finger) "Bang."