Chapter Eleven

March 26, 2015 – Somewhere in the Atlantic


"Well, looks like the party started."

Washu remarked this as she finished dusting herself off. She had just popped in to the facility, along with everyone else. One mass teleportation had happened via the crystals that D had scattered. Just as she expected, she was now on the holding level. She gave the area a look around, and saw that there wasn't any opposition here either. All looked pretty well.

However, she wasn't content with staying there. She had to get out immediately, and find Inuyasha. She was sure he'd look for Kohaku, and if the spirit was going to have any chance of survival she would have to get to him before he did.

Soon, the scientist disregarded the hallway for now, and instead headed straight for the nearest stairwell.


Lupin, his old luger out, and his smug look on his face, marveled at his handiwork as he walked down the metal halls. It had been perfect. They had busted right in, and while all the guards were stuck running around after D and Inuyasha, he and the others were clear to run around and do whatever mischief they had in mind. It was the secret to his success. The stronger the enemy built up the defense, the less inclined you were to attack them head on. Rather, it was better to sidestep everything and then pop in unawares. Now, all he had to do was find Kei and move out.

The thief calmly turned a corner down the hall and got ready to stroll down this one as easily. However, shortly after turning, he froze. To his surprise, he saw a team of five heavy-armored guards moving in to that location. However, on seeing him, they too froze, and for a moment the two parties stared at each other. As Lupin stared, however, he began to sweat and tremble all over. He formed a sheepish grin, and waved friendly-like at them.

"Uh…your shoes are untied?"

Lupin quickly ducked back behind the wall, before gigantic bullets began to tear through it. The thief gulped, and quickly began to slide away from the edge, because their bullets tore through the metal walls without any trouble. After a few moments, however, the firing stopped, and Lupin realized that was his cue to shoot back. However, he wasn't sure exactly what he could do with his little pistol. They were too heavily armed. With a sigh, he turned the corner anyway, and fired off a few ineffectual shots aiming for the vulnerable spots of the armor. Hitting nothing, he quickly ducked back and dodged another horrendous volley.

Licking his lips nervously, Lupin again waited, then turned around and fired off another few shots. This time, he heard a cry out in pain, and he realized he had landed a real shot. However, that was small comfort as he turned back into his safe zone. He had used all but one bullet with that last run, and he only had one extra set of ammunition. He also noticed that more and more of his shelter was being torn apart by the heavy armored men every time…

Abruptly, Lupin stopped thinking about both those problems as a searing, red hot beam shot out right in between his legs, precariously close to his family jewels. The thief nearly jumped out of his boots, and looked down to see the laser shoot from behind the wall between his legs. But a moment later, it cut off, and a gruff voice instead sounded out.

"That was a warning shot, you little weasel. I can see your body perfectly from behind that wall with my new eye. So unless you want me to perform some laser corrective surgery, I say you get out right now."

Lupin blinked in surprise. However, he recognized the voice. It was Thorne. He must have joined them during the interim. And evidently, he had some nifty new gadgets as well. This was a new predicament.

Great. Now what am I gonna do?


Inuyasha took a few more steps, then sniffed the air. No, nothing yet. He stepped a bit further.

No humans were around to stop him now. No other things to get in the way. He looked to the blade balanced over his shoulder. Tetsaiga was still in its fang form. The enemy was close. He continued to move forward, and he continued to look from side to side and listen for any movement. The chamber stayed empty and silent. Nothing came out.

As Inuyasha moved on, he didn't notice that the air suddenly rippled behind him, and then bulged and twisted. Within an instant, Kohaku suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Moments later, the spirit dragon shot forward, extending his hands and nails out before him. Inuyasha, however, managed to catch the coming moments before it landed. Quickly, he twisted to one side, but was still a little late. Kohaku still tore through his kimono and into his side.

The dog demon reared back his head and cried out a little, as Kohaku shot by. The moment the spirit was past, he turned around and faced his opponent again. Inuyasha bled a little, however he managed to shake off the damage, and look up and glare at his enemy.

"Alright, a**hole. Try that again."

Kohaku glared at him with his empty eyes for a moment. Then, in a flash, he suddenly brought up a palm to his mouth and blew against it. Immediately, an expanding spiral of pink petals erupted from his mouth and spun right toward the dog demon. Inuyasha reacted, but quickly brought his sword in front of him to guard against an incoming blow.

There was none, however. The petals continued to fan out and cover his field of vision. After that, they all vanished into nothingness. Inuyasha soon perceived that they weren't the only thing that disappeared. The spirit dragon had as well. Again, he had vanished into thin air.

Inuyasha held a moment, and brought his sword in front of him. No doubt, he expected the enemy to attack again. But he wasn't about to let it. He closed his eyes partially in response to this. But not totally. No, he didn't need to do that anymore. He used to have to do that to focus on the Wind Scar, but he could see beyond that now without closing his eyes. And such was the same for this. He needed to only focus, and make sure he reacted at just the right moment…

Abruptly, he sensed the movement come forward. Quickly, Inuyasha dove to one side, and then swung Tetsaiga in the direction where he was. Moments later, blood came out of thin air and painted his monster fang. Seconds later, Kohaku came out of thin air as well, a new gash across his side, and he tumbled out of the sky and fell to the ground. He managed to right himself before landing, however, and touched down on his feet. Once down, he whirled around and glared at Inuyasha.

The dog demon turned and focused on him in reply. "Ready for more?" He grinned.


Genma kept his pistol out and kept his sword at the ready. Thanks to D, another stupid vigilante, his plans were ruined for another generation. Now he had to rebuild for another era. It irritated him to think of it. Oh well…at least I am still alive and immortal. I'll not be trapped the same way again.

The immortal rounded a corner, and saw that there was another man just down the hall. He turned and recognized Genma, but it was too late for him. The assassin marked him immediately, and then quickly moved forward. After crossing that hallway, he turned around the next corner and began to move on. There was nothing else here, and so he quickly made his way down that one. There was still one chance. If he could sink this rig, he could at least get the money for that…

Abruptly, the hallway went totally dark. The assassin froze. He looked up and to either side, but saw that it was dark in either way. He figured that the power was cut at first. However, he realized that couldn't be the case. There was somehow still some eerie, dim light filling the hallway. It wasn't even dim light, but more like…light darkness, or something. At any rate, he could still somehow see, although pitch blackness was in either direction. The air went silent as he looked on. A chill went on it next, and everything became silent and still as a tomb. Despite his body, he began to grow cold around. The hairs on his skin began to prickle. He felt death around him, despite having surrounded himself with it for so long.

But on noticing this, Genma frowned and relaxed.

"…I should have known if D survived, you would have."

There was no initial response. The only answer was that the darkness parted in one area. And as it did, a body formed into it, that of a little girl wearing a white kimono. Behind her, the darkness gathered, forming a large and monstrous wraith. The girl looked vicious and angry. Her eyes burned red and fierce.

"You dared to betray a vampire."

Genma merely snorted, and turned to face her. She glared back darkly.

"You nearly made me trust people again, and then you spat in my face." The girl hissed. "You think you could just do that to me and get away with it? You think I was so cold hearted?"

Genma chuckled. "Don't be so melodramatic. You? Some little monster girl really cares about such small things? What do you care about trust or love? What room do you have for it in your wretched existence called a life?"

Miyu frowned more darkly. "Larve…shut him up in the worst way."

Genma turned his attention now to the dark shadow. Immediately, the thing gave a monstrous snarl, and then lunged over Miyu and straight for the immortal. Genma responded by raising his firearm and shooting at him, but his bullets ineffectively went through him. Moments later, the shadow engulfed him. A swirl of blackness consumed his body, and his throat was abruptly torn asunder. That wasn't enough. The thing used a white claw hand to rip his face off, and after that was done smashed six of his teeth in to make a hole to rip his tongue out. In short, the creature mutilated any way for him to talk, swirling over him with dark, lethal energy. At last, the masked being shot back and glared at is handiwork, talons out and ready to do more damage. Miyu also gazed on him.

Genma stood there a moment, a skinless bleeding ruin of a creature. But then, the blood was drawn back into the wounds. The skin grew and covered the lacerations. New teeth came out of the jaw and the tongue grew thick again in his mouth. Soon, the dark assassin was back to normal and looking totally unhurt.

"Pity you are only some bastardization of the state of immortality." Genma grinned. "I on the other hand am perfection. Now…let's see how fast you regenerate from this."


D hid in the shadows for a moment longer, making sure all his bones were back in place. But he had fully regenerated by now, and the others had left. Now, he was alone to move onward. Quickly, he drew out his nodachi and then stepped back out of the darkness. That done, he moved back around the corner, moving slowly back into the previous chamber. Now, it was time to put an end to Akira.

The hunter moved back into the chamber, and then halted momentarily. Sure enough, most of the guards were gone. But there was still one person left. The Colonel still stood on the other side of the chamber, hands calmly folded behind him and giving D that mirthless smile.

"Hi." He spoke with childlike cheeriness. "Expecting me here waiting for you?"

D didn't respond. His nodachi was still out, and he brandished it in front of him. "...By authority of the United Nations, I place you under arrest for international crimes. Stand aside."

The boy looked stunned at that response for a moment. But then, he merely smiled and gave a joyless little laugh. "Oh man…out of all the idiotic, meaningless responses I've heard…that has to be the worst. Maybe if you had asked for a three second grace period I might have given you that. Now I guess I'll just rip you into pieces."

D didn't answer. Instead, he suddenly lunged forward. Utilizing his superior speed and strength, he strode three steps before jumping up and soaring in the air. With the power of his leap, he flew over all the computers and machinery and was soon headed straight for the Colonel. His nodachi was out, and aimed right for his heart. He was nearly there…and came within two inches of the chest.

After a moment, the sword froze, as did the rest of D's body. He became as stone, and strained and grunted, but couldn't move. As for the Colonel, he never changed. He smiled without moving a muscle, arms still crossed behind his back. After a moment, however, he spoke.

"I hope you can do a bit better than that. Now, I could just break a few bones right now, but I'd rather just kill your bloodsucking ass rather slowly."

With that, the Colonel flung D back across the room, back toward one of the metal walls, with hurricane force. His body connected so hard that an impression was dented into the metal. Despite the Colonel's terms, he felt several bones break including ones in his spine. Grunting, he slid down the wall and landed on the floor in a heap. The Colonel laughed from his side, a menacing, cruel, child laugh. But after a moment, the hunter cracked his neck, readjusted his spine, and then pushed back up from the ground once again. He leveled himself and his sword in front of him.

Here's the hardest part of the job…


Kei continued to hover her way down the hall, both guns out. She struggled to look ahead more with her "second sight", but that was too much for her to manage. She was barely containing herself right now. Her head was burning with the levitation, and anything else was only added strain. But she forced herself to keep going. So far so good, but nothing else yet.

Abruptly, however, she heard upcoming footsteps. But she saw nothing. Frowning, she realized her sight was too limited. She grunted, grit her teeth, and forced herself to look forward more. Sure enough, as she did, she saw that five more guards were coming up. They were only military type and not too bad, but there were still a lot of them. And right now, she was hovering right in the middle of the hall. As she looked at them, she saw them freeze, as if they were astonished or shocked. No doubt that was at Kei's own bizarre appearance. But it wouldn't last long.

Quickly, the woman cut the levitation and dropped to the ground. It was a hard thing to deal with, landing on burnt, bloody stumps. After a moment, however, she bit down with the pain, and quickly pushed herself to one side, into a small enclave opening on one side. For anyone else it was too small, but with no legs it made it a bit easier for her to move in. And soon she was inside, and quickly reinforced herself by focusing on shielding her body. Bullets soon shot up the area around her.

Kei felt sweat mounting. Her heart was racing. Scanning ahead to identify the five forces before her as well as shielding herself from several high impact projectiles was hurting more and more. Her endurance was beginning to break. She was losing her strength and the pain was growing more chronic and acute. But still, she had to press on, even if it meant killing everyone in here herself.

However…she didn't believe that was the case, for some reason. Somehow, she was sensing something familiar around her…nearby. But for now, she was alone.

Kei panted as she considered the new situation. She was pinned down now. With two good legs and hips, perhaps she could turn and do something about these men. But for now, she didn't have anything. She was crippled and down on the ground. She couldn't turn and get off good shots. That made her angry. Great, now what was she supposed to do? Wait until they came at her?

However, Kei did get another idea. She regretted that it would intensify her pain, but again she had no choice. Quickly, she took up one of the guns. She grasped the stock and barrel and rapidly cocked it, knocking out five bullets. Once she had them all out, she put the gun down and quickly picked up the five shells. After that, she took a deep breath, and got ready to focus on several things at once.

Moments later, straining all of her fibers of being, Kei grit her teeth and moaned in pain. As she did, she quickly put a designation on the five bullets in her hand. As she did, she simultaneously thought of the five people out in front of her. She struggled to see the same five images at once. She watched them all, each one of them coming out one at a time…each of them coming for her…imagined the five bullets coming out of her hand…imagined them hitting the five men before her. Sweat began to bead off her brow. Her heart pounded heavy in her chest. But finally, she made the move. She released the power, and sent the bullets flying.

The five men saw nothing, nothing but five little specks shoot out, snake and twirl through the sky, dart this way and that, and then imbed themselves within them. Kei, on her part, gasped and waited, until finally she began to see the images fade. One by one, they all disappeared as they fell back. At last, the five of them were all dead, and Kei was once again in the clear.

Kei felt sweat dripping down all around on the floor beneath her. She felt cold and weak all over. She didn't want to think of anything, especially not her powers. But she had to go. She couldn't rest yet. There was a lot more work to be done. And though she doubted she had the power, she had to get moving.

Finally, Kei pulled herself out from behind the enclave, and began to move forward. But for now…she merely dragged herself along rather than hovered.


"Ok. I give up." Lupin's voice rang out innocently. Moments later, the rogue emerged from the other side of the bullet riddled wall. He smiled sheepishly, considering the danger he was facing. In addition to the four heavy-armored troops, they now had the monstrous looking Thorne with them. He was truly a monster now. However, Lupin addressed them all with his simple looks. Once he was out, he had his hands up. His luger was still in one hand.

Thorne immediately saw this. His chain gun was moved down under the barrel, and a different attachment, one with some sort of focusing lens, was there instead. It appeared to be an experimental laser, and unknown to Lupin it was a modification of the same type first employed in the first Akira incident. He aimed this gun right for the thief. "Drop the weapon."

Lupin responded by tossing it to the ground with a shrug. "Well, ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do, I guess."

After a moment, however, Thorne merely grinned. "Good. Now, if none of your meddling can get in the way, I can carve you up with the criminal fate you deserve." He raised the barrel more menacingly. "Now, I'd just love to see how this cuts into flesh, especially yours. You're irritated me ever since I had to listen to your blathering back in the middle of what would have been a good breakfast. So what body part would you like to lose first?" He ventured darkly, his eyes flashing a sinister smile. "How about that one organ that gives you so much trouble, hmm?" He wavered his weapon again near Lupin's privates.

Lupin gulped and turned a pale shade, but kept his sheepish grin. "Uh, no thanks. I've already got a circumcision. How 'bout an innocent last request, man of metal?"

Thorne glared at him a moment longer, but then finally gave a shrug. "Fine. But one false move, and I'll be on you. I can see what's in your pockets and what you're reaching for, and my weapon fires near the speed of light."

"Duly noted." Lupin replied. With that, he carelessly reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket. A moment later, he pulled out, of all things, a small comb and a personal mirror with it. Once out, the guards looking at him appeared confused. Thorne, however, grinned and chuckled at him.

"Give me a break. You'll waste the last of your life on vanity?"

"Hey, just because you honestly don't care if you look like gum on someone's shoe doesn't mean I don't." Lupin responded, causing the man to frown a bit in reply. At any rate, he held the mirror in front of his face, and styled his hair calmly and slowly using his comb. Thorne grew a bit impatient, for he took a while. But eventually, he did finish up. And once he had done so, he calmly returned the comb and mirror…not to his pocket, but behind his suitcoat. That done, he put his hands up again before the cyborg and looked innocent. "Less work for the undertaker now, eh?"

Thorne sneered. "There isn't going to be anything left of you but burnt toothpicks, fool. Too bad you never left a Lupin the Fourth." With that, the man aimed his weapon downward just where he had threatened to, and fired off a shot.

For a split second, the beam went forth, sailing straight at the rogue, and then struck right at the desired spot. The blast hit, and seemed to shoot straight into Lupin, without any burn or anything else. It seemed to accomplish the desired effect…

When most suddenly, another identical laser shot out from slightly higher, and this time was at such an angle that it struck Thorne right between the eyes. The cybernetic man froze in shock, his one eye bulging and leaning back in surprise as the laser vanished into his own skull, burning a perfect hole there. Moments later, the man turned off his laser, and in response the other laser vanished as well. Then, in a flash, the insides of his brain appeared to cook, boil over, and then rupture. His head suddenly exploded, sending disgusting matter and circuitry everywhere. The ex-officer fell over dead in an instant. The armored guards turned to Lupin in shock. In response, the rogue kept his hands up, but gave a little weasel laugh.

"Heh-heh-heh…guess I do have super powers after all, eh?"

The troops waited a moment, but then responded. They raised their weapons and opened fire on the man before them. Lupin kept his arms up, and stood there simply. As he did, the bullets ripped apart the wall behind him, and true enough did hit the man, but merely went through and hit him behind. But nothing was done. Lupin wasn't one hit worse for any of it. The men stopped, and gaped at the thief in surprise. Lupin merely gave his little laugh again.

"Hey, does this make me the One?"

The four stood in stunned silence. But that was enough for Lupin. Quickly, he shot out his foot to his fallen gun and hooked it up. After a moment, it was hit up in the air, and Lupin quickly lowered a hand and snatched it out of mid-air. He quickly took aim, and fired off from his reloaded clip, hitting all four of the armored soldiers in a crucial spot, now that he had more than enough time to see it. One by one, each of them gaped and gasped, and then each one fell to the ground.

Lupin blew on the barrel of his gun, and then slid it back into his side holster. "Brains over brawn wins again." He cheered. Then, without offering any explanation to anyone as to how his superhuman feat was achieved, he merely walked on forward.


Kohaku spun around, and swung his bare hand at Inuyasha. Immediately, long shafts erupted from the ends of his fingertips, and arrows flashed at the dog demon. The hanyou managed to twist in one direction to miss most of them, but one still hit him in the shoulder. He grunted, but still managed to charge forward and swing his sword at Kohaku. For once, the dragon managed to leap over and dodge the blow. But it was only a momentary victory. He tried to dive down and kick Inuyasha in the face, but the dog demon managed to dodge and slice his talons at him, cutting a deep gash into his thigh. After that, both of them leapt away from each other, and quickly moved to opposite sides of the room.

Inuyasha landed on his feet and panted a little, but Kohaku stumbled a bit when he landed on his own feet, and then quivered as he struggled to hold himself up. Both of them were taking damage. That was obvious enough as Inuyasha surveyed his own wounds when he ripped the arrow from his shoulder. But between the two of them, Kohaku was the weaker. His clothing was nearly in tatters. His mask was barely held on, mostly by the blue band around his head. His blood dripped everywhere, and he was growing pale. He would be the one who would weaken and fail first, at this rate. Already, he was losing his power. Inuyasha knew that victory was all but certain now, unless Kohaku did one other thing.

That's exactly what Kohaku did next.

Focusing his energy, the spirit creature flexed and then ripped its shreds of clothing off. Its body became large and covered itself with white feathers. The injuries remained, but it still grew larger and more fierce than ever. Soon, Inuyasha was no longer looking at Kohaku, but the monstrous white dragon he had become.

Inuyasha merely grinned and swung his blade dangerously. "Go on and try it."

The thing hissed, and then lunged forward, teeth out and gnashing, straight for the hanyou. Quickly, Inuyasha dodged to one side, as Kohaku's talons and jaws slashed through his kimono before hitting the floor. Despite being flesh and blood, Kohaku gashed a massive hole into the metal substance, something that shocked the dog demon. But before he could react, Kohaku flicked his tail powerfully behind him, connecting with Inuyasha and smashing him backward. Soon, he groaned as he went sailing across the room and crashing into the wall. He hit hard and slid down in a heap, but he quickly gained his senses back, and looked up to see that Kohaku had already spun around and was making for him again.

Inuyasha quickly drew himself back to his feet, and then leapt into the air as Kohaku tore through the room and then crashed into Inuyasha's wall. He tore it to pieces using his talons and teeth again, but while Inuyasha was still leaping over him the monster, Kohaku had already righted himself and leapt at the beast again. Inuyasha turned in shock, but could do little except swing to avoid the jaws of the monster as Kohaku crashed into him again. This time, his talons didn't miss, and they dug into the side of the dog demon. He cried in agony.

Kohaku wasn't finished, but attempted to throw Inuyasha to the ground with him. However, Inuyasha wasn't done yet. As he took him down, the hanyou twisted his blade around and jabbed it in Kohaku's shoulder. Blood gushed forth, and the beast lessened up enough on Inuyasha to leap away off of his arms to a safe distance, and right himself on his feet. Moments later, he touched down as Kohaku's massive body crashed to the ground as well. The white dragon looked up and foamed and spat in rage at Inuyasha. Like a deadly serpent, it lashed out its head at him. Again, Inuyasha managed to dodge. But Kohaku soon brought back and attacked again. This time, Inuyasha had to bring up Tetsaiga to guard himself, as a large, hot, stinking mouth full of teeth sailed right for him. He was barely strong enough to prevent the bite and narrowly stopped the dragon.

Kohaku didn't let up. He pushed back against Inuyasha, moving his mouth and head over his body, and bracing himself to push down. Soon, the dog demon was tensing up and struggling to push back against him. He grit his teeth and brought his other hand up to support Tetsaiga, but Kohaku didn't let up. He only put more and more pressure on, and moved himself over to where Inuyasha couldn't easily escape. He kept forcing down, intent to swallow or crush the dog demon. Soon, Inuyasha had to brace himself down on one knee, but the dragon wouldn't stop. He kept shoving forward. Inuyasha began to sweat and strain under the pressure. But at last, he had enough.

"Alright you…" He hissed. "Wanna get a bite to eat? Eat this!"

With that, Inuyasha shot out one of his legs and kicked Kohaku in his enlongated throat so hard that thick red blood exploded from his open mouth and landed on the dog demon. The thing was stunned, but Inuyasha wasn't over. Abruptly, he twisted his blade in one direction, and the force of Tetsaiga sliced into Kohaku's gums and pushed his roots to one side. Two of his teeth were wrenched painfully out, and the thing's head was deflected to one side. As it roared in pain, Inuyasha went to one side as he put the head of the beast to another side, and let it crash into the ground hard, unleashing all the force it had wanted to hit Inuyasha with instead to push itself into the ground.

That done, Inuyasha quickly leapt back, and watched. The white dragon, gagging and stunned at its own blow, slowly staggered up to all fours. It shook its now bleeding head, and coughed up more blood. But then, it turned and glared again at the dog demon. It curled itself up, and prepared to move again. But Inuyasha waited for it. He kept himself at the ready, and kept his blade up. He inhaled deep and halted for the move. Finally, Kohaku roared, and then lunged at Inuyasha again.

But it wouldn't work this time. Inuyasha dodged underneath the white dragon by ducking and rolling forward. He closed the distance between the two faster than ever, and soon was underneath him closer than the dragon anticipated. Kohaku looked down, but it was too late. Inuyasha drove his blade up and dug into Kohaku's underbelly, and it didn't matter how many scales or feathers he had. The blade went into soft flesh and blood was produced as a long gash was dug into the white dragon. When he finished clearing Inuyasha, his body didn't land but crashed into the ground, tumbling over material and debris and smashing into the ground. After that, the beast gurgled and writhed a bit, but it began to slow down. Too much blood had been lost. Too many crashes had occurred. It was done.

Inuyasha frowned and turned around to face the fallen dragon. It was almost over now. Nothing was left for the dragon to defend itself with. And so, the dog demon brought his blade over his shoulder, and began to search for the meeting place for the Wind Scar…

"Sit!"

For a brief moment, Inuyasha's face went flabbergasted. No way…that couldn't be…

Yet sure enough, impossible as it seemed…Inuyasha went smashing down flat onto the ground. The power of the curse on him made him sprawl flat on the floor, and soon he grumbled and groaned as he slowly pulled himself back off of the ground. What had happened just now? He recognized the voice, but that couldn't have been…

As Inuyasha turned and looked, he saw that it wasn't. No…it was another female he was rather annoyed at on a constant basis: Washu. The small woman was standing over him now, smiling and waving a small device in front of herself tauntingly.

"How the…how did you…" He groaned from the floor.

"Oh, that?" She inquired innocently. "You see, while you were unconscious, I took off your little necklace and had a look at it. Seems it had some sort of energy power over you to make you sit, but that it only worked when you heard a certain command from one specific person. So I whipped up a vocal command set that would sound just like the person and make just the right noise." To demonstrate, she pressed a button on the device again. Sure enough, in the same young woman's voice, the words came out: "Sit!"

Again, Inuyasha was smashed down against the ground, this time leaving a small impression in the metal. Groaning and fuming in rage, the dog demon slowly pulled his face off the ground. "…Could you…please…not do that…!"

Washu looked at her device curiously. "Strange. I didn't actually know what it was going to say until I finished it. Huh. So simple. And it sounds like you've got a little girlfriend too…" She spoke this last part with a crafty little smile.

Inuyasha snarled and rose to his feet in a flash. "Look, shut up about it!" He snapped at her. "And what's the big idea? I was about to finish him and you stopped me!"

Hearing that, however, Washu's look turned to a frown as well. "I'm not going to let you kill him. I told you that once."

The dog demon grit his teeth in rage. "Why not? He's just another monster!"

"Oh?" Washu innocently replied. "Like you?"

The hanyou went silent at that. His face softened a little. He didn't have an honest reply for that statement, because he had long suffered under the impression of being a monster and evil in the eyes of many. They had persecuted him relentlessly for that, making his life a living hell. That was why he wanted the shards…to at least be presentable in some of their eyes if not all. But for now he was nothing, still hated by many if not all. And so, he couldn't immediately respond to Washu's comments. And so, the chibi scientist calmly strolled by him, and began to make her way toward Kohaku.

Weak and bleeding as the white dragon was, it turned to her as she approached, and snarled and snapped like a vicious dog.

Inuyasha saw this and crossed his arms with a frown. "I wouldn't get too close. He'll bite you in half."

"Just a moment." Washu responded. With that, she put her current device away in her pocket. Instead, she pulled out another device. Inuyasha turned and looked over to it with a disinterested expression. However, on seeing it, he voiced his intrigue anyway.

"That's not that machine you had out before."

"No, it's not." Washu calmly answered. "They've been brainwashing their soldiers here, but they couldn't do it to this one. They put some implant in his brain."

"So what're you going to do?"

Washu shrugged. "Knock it out…in a painful manner." With that, she held up the machine, pointed it at Kohaku, and pressed a button. Immediately, a bolt of electricity shot out and struck the white dragon in the head. Kohaku reacted violently. The beast reared up and thrashed about madly in response. It writhed and cast about in fury, and smashed its head to the ground again and again in response to it. But Washu kept shocking him, not letting up for a second. She watched him cast about in pain endlessly in response to this, and not seem to improve at all to begin with. Inuyasha was a bit shocked, and almost wondered if Washu was just torturing him

Yet he knew she wasn't. As he turned and looked to her…he saw just a little that her face, while appearing carefree and indifferent…had tears in their eyes. But she continued to mercilessly electrocute the spirit creature.

Finally, a pop went off in the room. A flash of sparks came from Kohaku's forehead, and disappeared a moment later. A plume of smoke went up instead in its place. Only then did Washu let up. She broke off the device, and allowed the white dragon to rest.

The creature let out a long, slow groan. However, as it did so, to Inuyasha's surprise the groan started off animal, but slowly twisted and distorted and turned…and became human. Kohaku's tortured body shrank. His green hair vanished. His feathers and scales returned to skin. His limbs resumed normal shapes, and his rags reappeared around his body…for now his clothing was rags. When they had finished, his mask was still in place, but the headband was now smoldering and smoking in the front of it. The control device was gone. He lay down in a bloody, motionless heap, and didn't budge an inch.

Washu, however, quickly rushed down to the side of the thing. Inuyasha was hesitant, and kept Tetsaiga out a moment. But in the end, he sighed and replaced it back in its sheath, turning it back into its normal form as he did so. Once Washu was next to it, she reached over and grabbed the end of his hood and pulled it back. After doing so, the face of Kohaku was at last exposed. He did indeed look like nothing more than a young man. His hair was a bit long and only trimmed in front of his eyes, but now it was covered with sweat. His face was stained with blood and bruised. If he didn't know who he truly was, Inuyasha might have pitied him as some poor kid.

Kohaku moaned and stirred a bit, but then managed to crack his eyelids open. As they did open, Inuyasha also saw that his eyes were no longer blank or empty. They had life in them, although it was weak and dazzled. And now, he was curious and confused looking. He stared about the area, seeing Washu and seeing Inuyasha.

"Who…are you?" He asked at last, his voice also sounding pleasant and young, but genuinely confused.

Washu grinned in reply. "I am the illustrious Chibi Washu, the world's greatest scientist. This is Inuyasha, my faithful dog boy."

Inuyasha scowled in reply.

"Where am I?" Kohaku responded. "Where's Chihiro?"

"You should stay down." Washu reassured. "You got pretty beaten up."

Kohaku hesitated a moment at that, but then grit his teeth and strained. Slowly, he began to move to try and push himself back off the floor.

"Hey! Didn't you just hear what I said?" Washu retorted.

"I…have to get up." Kohaku responded. "Especially…if he's still around…"

"Who?" Inuyasha accosted.

Kohaku stopped his attempts to rise for the moment and exhaled slowly. He turned his head over to Inuyasha and looked through his beaten vision. "That…that thing… It smelled like a human, but it was insanely powerful…even more than me, Ubaba, or Zeneba could ever be..."

"What are you saying?" Inuyasha immediately asked, his voice a little strained. "There's someone even stronger than you running around?"

"His power…is isn't magical." Kohaku went on. "It's something else. Nothing I did worked on him. He took my body…and twisted it into knots, literally. I thought he would have killed me…I thought I was dead… But then he did something to me…and the first thing I remember after that…is here…" Kohaku groaned a bit. He looked down at his battered body in confusion. "I'm…cut up? Who did this?"

Both Washu and Inuyasha avoided the question for the moment. "Who was that person?" Washu asked. "We'll probably have to kill him pretty soon."

Kohaku reacted at that. "What?" He asked in some shock. "No…no…you can't. Nothing can kill that thing."

"I'll be the judge of that." Inuyasha answered sternly. "What'd he call himself?"

Kohaku paused a moment, thinking about it. But then he answered. "The Colonel."

Both Washu and Inuyasha froze at that. They turned and looked to each other, quickly exchanging information nonverbally between the two of them. So, that's why Thorne had made such a big deal about the Colonel. If he had that kind of power, then he had to be pretty strong and probably some sort of unnatural creature himself. But what more, if he really was that dangerous, then that meant that D could be in some serious trouble. They had to move pretty quickly, and hopefully find him and help him out if they needed to. However, they still had their own issues to deal with as well.

Inuyasha finally spoke up. "You better get moving and get the kids."

"What about you?" Washu asked.

"I'm going to go back, and try to look for D." The dog demon answered.

"I might need you." Washu announced.

But that that, they both heard a grunting on the ground. They looked down, and saw Kohaku was pushing himself up again. "Wait…" He spoke out. "I'll help. I'll come with you."

Inuyasha snorted. "You don't look in too good shape to do anything. Besides, you don't know it, but you've done enough already."

"I…heal quickly." Kohaku responded. "Just help me get up. If you're going to fight that thing, then I'll help you."

Both Washu and Inuyasha turned to each other at that. They paused a moment, and thought over that prospect. True, he had been an enemy until now. But if he was free, then maybe he could still do something even as weak as he was. They both hesitated a moment longer, and then Washu smiled and shrugged.

"Well, we do need a new member now."


Genma shot forward and cross slashed at Miyu. She leapt back and managed to dodge past it, but Genma kept dashing forward, furiously slashing back and forth as he did so. Finally, Genma drove his sword forward to try and impale her. However, the vampire princess managed to spin out of the way, and just avoid the blade being run forward. Immediately, Larve moved in and fired on Genma from behind, shooting beams of purple energy at his back while Miyu got out of the way. Genma ignored him, although the energy tore into his back and ripped huge rifts into his flesh. He spun around as well and drove his blade forward again. This time, he drove his sword right forward into her shoulder.

Miyu hissed, and quickly ripped his body one way. She didn't care that the blade tore through her arm and shoulder, but kept fighting. She drove her fist forward with her nails out, and struck Genma so strongly in the head that he was sent flying across the room. He nearly struck the wall, but managed to spin around in mid-air and right himself just in time. It was good for him too, for at that moment Miyu swept her arm toward him in a grand gesture, and a huge blade materialized and sailed right for him. Quickly, Genma raced forward, and using his own sword he deflected the blade to one side. Larve dove in afterward, his own talons out, ready to slice into the immortal next. But Genma sliced through as he went, and though he was slashed a little on the side he managed to cut through Larve like a car through smoke, and the Shinma was soon harmlessly behind him.

Genma aimed his blade again at Miyu's heart. Gritting her teeth, the vampire slapped both hands together and caught the blade one inch from her chest. For a moment, the two sides held and buckled at one another. Both grit their teeth, and glared into each other's eyes…although Miyu's were far more ferocious and Genma's were more taunting. At last, her eyes grew extremely red, and a fire abruptly broke out on Genma's shirt. However, he didn't react. He kept pushing, letting the fire spread across his shirt, and then alight on his flesh next. Even as the smell of burning skin and hair began to come, he still pushed forward, and began to outdo Miyu. Finally, however, Larve came in behind him. Abruptly, white talons ripped through Genma's chest, and blood was splattered over the vampire princess as Larve's four white fingers went through. The Shinma then hoisted Genma off the ground and threw him clear across the room, this time smashing him so hard into the wall that the spine could be heard snapping.

Miyu hissed and breathed a little, healing her own wounds. Genma lay in a bloody, burning heap for a moment, before the fire burnt out on his shirt. After that, the immortal reconnected his back, healed his chest wounds and bones, and then rose up once again. He only had a smoldering rag for a shirt now, but other than that was unmarked.

The immortal grinned at her. "Strong as you are, how long do you think you can keep this up? It actually takes something out of you to heal your injuries, but not mine. I can keep this up forever."

Miyu frowned in response, holding her breath. She didn't want to show her exhaustion. But Genma could be right. He was immortal, and he didn't look the least bit worse for wear even given all that the vampire princess was doing to him. So how was she supposed to kill him now? As she stood there thinking, she realized that there might be only one way…

Miyu had considered doing this for some time, but never found the need. It had always been a failsafe in her constant battles. Unfortunately, this technique could only be used once. And it was severely costly. She had wondered if she would ever use it, though somewhere deep in her mind she knew she would. After all, her quest was to rid the world of all Shinma…even good friends. There was no other alternative now, it seemed. In the end, she had to use the power on a man who was demon-like rather than an actual demon. She hesitated only a moment before agreeing to it. After all…it seemed as if all things were coming to an end.

The vampire turned to Larve, whose stoic white mask turned back to her. They both looked into each other's eyes for a moment. The latter saw a deep sadness within her eyes, for this truly did pain her, but also conviction. When they did, he understood everything. He only gave her a small nod, then turned back to Genma.

The assassin grinned. "This should be good. What's your plan this time?"

"Your destruction." Miyu flatly answered. Her voice only shook a little when she gave the final command. "Go, Larve."

Immediately, the Shinma spread his arms wide, and gave out an abnormal cry. The shadows gathered around him, and he seemed to grow larger and more fearsome than ever. This gesture made the room grow cold and still, even more so than before. Now, it truly did feel like a tomb. Genma actually reared back a little and looked surprised. But a moment later, his surprise was gone, for Larve reared forward and shot straight at him. The assassin managed a smile at this, and leveled his sword in front of him, ready to attack the Shinma next. But Larve didn't give an attack this time. Rather, he shot straight at Genma, and once he reached him, in one fluid movement he engulfed the immortal in his own blackness.

There was nothing for a few moments but a thrashing around of Larve from within, as if some sort of flood or wave had crashed in Genma, or as if he was enveloped in something and trying to fight his way out. The Shinma himself rolled over again and again on himself, and a great mess was produced. All of this lasted a while, until at last Larve calmed down, stood straight and tall, and turned around to face Miyu. As he did, the vampire looked down to the shadowy body of the Shinma. Within him, she saw the imprint of a rough face protruding from the blackness, and something of a body as well. Her servant had absorbed Genma.

However, the immortal was far from dead. From within the blackness, the shadow of his face chuckled at her. "You can't kill me, princess." It spoke with a faint echo. "Even this doesn't work. You may have absorbed me into Larve, but you can't hold me forever. I'm still alive and here."

"Not for long." Miyu hissed in response. After that, she forced herself to ignore the man. She didn't want to think of him at the end. Instead, she looked up, and into the white mask of Larve again. The thing stared back, but said nothing in response. As she stared, however, Miyu's face grew softer…as soft as her vampire heart could make it. She grew more innocent and simple there, almost seeming to regain her humanity. From beneath the mask, the Shinma's own eyes softened a bit, and understood this. Then, at last, he raised a hand and grasped the mask on his own face…and slowly pulled it away.

Larve's face was revealed. It wasn't a monster's image or something horrifying. The Shinma had white skin, but other than that was the face of a man…and a sad one. His face was downcast and his look low and depressed as he stared at Miyu. He knew, as well as she did, what was coming next. But it wasn't his to question anymore, just to look on and tell her to go ahead. Miyu's throat tightened…and for the first time she could remember in her damned life, she shed a tear.

"I won't forget you, Larve…"

With that, Miyu reached inside her kimono and took Washu's device. She pulled it out, held it before her, and then after hesitating a second crushed it.

Immediately, light flooded the area again. Not a trace of shadow was left within the room. And right underneath one of the big lights in the hallway was Larve containing his prisoner. Larve didn't struggle. He merely closed his eyes and leaned his head back, and let the light do its work. Soon, his skin began to shrivel. Flakes began to peel off of it. Fire burst out on the flesh, and spread into the blackness. Pieces of the shadow that made him began to fall off and to the ground bit by bit, only to turn to smoke on landing. Through it all, Larve said nothing…but Genma did.

"What're you…uh…AH…AAAAAAAH!"

The shadow within Larve contorted with fear and pain, which gave way to agony, as the fires wrapped around it. Genma's immortality was gone. Now that he was a part of Larve, Larve's own fate was the same as his. And as the Shinma turned and burned, the victim within it did so as well. Larve never screamed in pain himself. He too had lived a long and cursed life, and now it was finally at an end. Now, he too was released, his work done, and his soul freed. He opened his eyes to look down and stare longingly at Miyu one last time. Somehow, despite the agony as his face twisted and turned into a burnt skull, he managed one last smile, assuring her that he regretted nothing. And Miyu, her lips quivering, her body feeling that foreign sensation of deep emotional pain...managed to smile back and wave one last time.

Genma's face contorted and twisted as if it was putty in the hands of an angry child. But eventually, it twisted around until it melted into the flames and darkness and then was consumed. Larger fragments of Larve began to break off and burn up as well, but they left no ash or remains. They left only a trace of smoke before vanishing. More pieces did so until each piece was gone. The skull shattered into smoke. The center of the dark cloak evaporated into nothing. At long last, everything was gone. The last of Genma's screams vanished into an echo, and the last of Larve vanished. He was gone. Both were gone. One a demon who had gained humanity, the other a human who had become a devil.

Miyu stood and stared there for a moment, now alone in the empty hallway. But then, she bowed her head and slowly dropped to her knees. She was not able to rise again.


The Colonel didn't even so much as extend a hand to smash D into the ground. Afterward, the dhampire went flying forward across the ground, smashing into one desk and chair and row of equipment after another. The force was so strong that he crashed right through each thing, often destroying whatever was on the desks or shelves and sending their contents raining down on his head. That was especially rough in cases of broken glass. After he had thrown him across the room and struck a wall, he pulled him up against the wall itself and then pinned him there. He held the dhampire there a moment, who grunted and strained and struggled against the force holding him. Then, he merely smiled and snorted. Instantly, all four of D's limbs were broken, and he was dropped to the ground like a rag doll.

After the crash, the room was silent a moment. The Colonel continued to calmly stand with his arms crossed. D, on his part, panted hard and wallowed on the ground in one of his own blood stains. He groaned and strained, struggling to stay conscious. His head was beginning to swim. His body was starting to feel weak. He was growing hungry now. He had lost too much energy. Now, he was the one who needed to feed. And there was nothing for his left hand to eat here but air. So far, the Colonel had been treating him as his plaything, and as he continued to accumulate damage, the withered boy hadn't even shifted weight. It was all he could do to keep breathing as his bones slowly, more slowly than normal, began to knit again.

"The only reason I was beaten last time and that I am not your god right now..." The Colonel spoke simply after a moment. "Is because I was still dependent on a drug. That was the only reason the agent managed to get close enough to stab me. I've overcome that difficulty now. And frankly, the only reason that you aren't dead is because its so much fun to watch you get up and keep trying. I haven't even batted an eye at you yet, and still you're trying to fight me." He smiled and chuckled a bit at this. "It's like watching a retarded gerbil continuously trying to grab a food pellet attached to an electrode. It's really funny, if you think about it."

D merely breathed hard, and struggled to rise. But it was impossible now. He was covered with sweat, and barely able to move. He needed more time.

The Colonel smiled sadistically at him a moment longer, but then simply turned around. When he did, the doorway that was nearest to him slid open. He calmly began to walk into this new chamber. It appeared smaller from what D could see. But other than a deal of conduits on the wall leading into the interior, he could see nothing. "Now, if you will excuse me," The Colonel continued. "It's time for me to complete my evolution. It will be interesting to see what I can do to you after this..."

The Colonel vanished into the chamber, and the doors slid shut behind him. D panted and breathed, but then clenched his teeth and pushed hard, forcing his body up and his legs underneath him. It was painful, and he wasn't fully healed yet, but he had no choice. He had to get up. He quickly turned his nodachi around and braced himself with it like a crutch, and with a mighty pull managed to force himself up to his feet. Still, he was wobbly. His head was dizzy. His mouth hungered for plasma. He could barely stand and he felt light headed. But still, he managed to hobble forward. He had to stop him...although he hadn't the faintest idea how. If he injected the material, and it worked, then they definitely hadn't a prayer against him. His tension drove his healing on, and halfway across the room his legs finished healing. He managed to stand, and quickly ran the rest of the way to the room.

Once he reached the doors, he quickly flashed out his blade and slashed a triangular cut around them. He didn't bother to see if they would open. After making the cut, the middle of the doors fell out, and D quickly ducked inside and jumped within. Once there, he stood still, and looked about the room for a moment.

There were conduits leading from the door to the chamber. They extended back along some sort of hall that led from the door into a room deeper inside. There, they encircled the area and seemed to project to the center. D could sense a change the moment he stepped in. Some sort of stimulation was going on, being generated by the conduits and leading into the center. It seemed electrical. But whatever it was, he didn't care. The Colonel was in the center, standing in front of some sort of small podium/desk. It seemed to arise right out from the ground. There was some sort of series of small test-tube-like containers carried in some sort of rack there, and there was a small hypodermic gun next to it. The place was much more dimly lit, but one could still see clearly.

The Colonel looked up as he entered, and gave him a smile. "Well, glad you were able to drag yourself this far. You saved me a walk." With that, he looked down, took out one of the containers, and put it into the gun.

D frowned, and held up his sword once again. He rushed forward toward the Colonel, intending to strike his items and destroy them if not the Colonel himself. However, without even looking up, the withered boy acted on him again. Abruptly, his nodachi twisted to one side, and pierced one of the conduits instead. Immediately, white hot pain rocked through D's system as a massive electrical charge thundered through his being. It was horribly painful, and would have killed a mortal. Abruptly, the force of the charge ripped him out of the conduit and sent him and his sword flying back down the corridor, until his head smashed against the back wall. Immediately, he slumped to the ground after giving out a huge clang, his body smoking and smoldering.

"You make it so easy." The Colonel replied with a chuckle, not even looking up. "Now be a good boy, and stand still as I awaken the power of Akira." With that, he pulled up the hypoderm, twisted it around, and then aimed it into the tubes in the back of his head. He inhaled deeply and clenched his teeth. "Now watch carefully...this part is really painful..." With that, he pulled the trigger, and injected the liquid into his coil.

The Colonel immediately stiffened, and with a gasp he put his hand down and braced himself against the desk. He began to pant hard, and his different colored eyes seemed to bulge within his sockets. The coils seemed to throb at the back of his head, and he looked as if he just had a splitting migrane. That lasted for a few moments, as D panted and gasped himself, and slowly felt the pain fade in his muscles. He slowly managed to get up to his feet, staring forward at the Colonel the whole time, and dragging his nodachi up with him. Finally, the Colonel let out a huge blast of air. He gasped and breathed easier now, as if the pain had finally subsided. Still panting, he looked up to D, and gave a wicked glare.

"Won't be long now, hunter..."


Lupin continued to move down the hallway. So far, after that lucky break, there hadn't been anything new. It seemed they were a bit stripped for men after everything that had happened. That was fine by him. Ahead there was a metal stairway. He figured that the detention levels would be on the bottom, so one more floor and he would be clear. Quickly, he rushed up to the stairs, and then rushed down them, taking two at a time as his lanky body descended them. Within seconds, he was down at the bottom, and facing another doorway. He quickly rushed forward and ran through it.

There was a line of corrdiors up ahead, with halls leading out to either side in several points. It stretched back deep into the other side of the rig, without signs of any people or directions. It was a uniform and directionless sight. Lupin frowned at it.

"Oh, for goodness sake. How am I supposed to find my way here?"

Lupin immediately regretted saying that, for the moment he did a dark suit jumped out right in front of the thief. He immediately pulled out his gun. Luckily, however, Lupin already had his gun out. He quickly stopped, raised it up, and aimed it right at the man's head. By the time he did, the man had pulled up his gun as well, but he was aimed only at Lupin's chest. The thief already knew that there was no good. And so, he merely smiled.

"Wanna drop your gun?" He asked him simply.

Lupin's cocky smile soon vanished into a look of worry, however, as his peripheral vision picked up two huge minigun barrels pointed to either side of his head. He heard a clicking in the sound of both of his ears, indicating that both were preparing to fire. The thief looked to both sides, and swallowed deeply. Two of the heavy gunners were there, one on either side. Fear began to well up within him. This certainly wasn't what he was expecting. Now what was he supposed to do?

The dark suit smiled, and raised his own gun to Lupin's face, so that both were now aiming at each other. The rogue gulped again, sweat breaking out from his brow. He had to think of something, but for once he was fresh out of ideas, and he had a feeling that these guys weren't going to pause long enough to arrest him so that he could think of a plan. For a moment, he felt his doom was finally sealed...

Then, abruptly, two black dots shot through the air and straight to the gunners. They both moved right through their shields, pierced the openings in their armor, and blasted them in the head through the cracks. Blood splurted out from the wounds as a result. Lupin was shocked to see this, but not nearly so much as the dark suit in front of him. He turned his head to either side, watching in surprise as both men collapsed and died. Realizing that whatever had killed them had come from behind, he quickly turned around to face what it was. But in that moment, he forgot about Lupin, which was his tragic mistake. The thief was far more quick-thinking, and he quickly leapt on this opportunity. His gun was still aimed at the head of the dark suit, and immediately he fired the moment the head of the man had turned. Moments later, as a spray of blood shot out on the ground, the dark suit fell to the ground. When he fell, he at last revealed what had killed the other two men. She was laying on the ground behind him, having just dragged herself around the back corner.

Lupin's face instantly brightened up. "Kei-ty pie!" He marveled at her. However, that face quickly turned to shock. He looked down and saw that she was in bad shape. She was sweating and panting, and looked barely able to move herself. But that was the least of the problems. He quickly realized she had no legs, and her eyes were bandaged, but he could tell enough to see that she had no eyes. They had been gauged out. She held up one pistol, and immediately dropped it in a pant. She breathed hard, and then faltered slightly and groaned.

"Out of all the people who could have come for me...it had to be you..."

Lupin normally would have made some snide comment about her being happy to see him, but right now, he was so shocked at what had happened that his normally rude attitude failed him. Instead, he quickly rushed over to Kei's side. He bent down next to her, and quickly reached down to grab her by the shoulders. "What the hell happened to you? What'd those freaky cyborgs do to you?"

Kei grit her teeth and shook her body wildly, throwing off Lupin's touch. "Don't...touch me." She half-hissed. "I've had enough for one day without having to deal with your perversions..." She winced and gasped a bit. Abruptly, her strength failed, and she fell to the ground again.

Despite the warning, Lupin reached down and began to pull her back up again. "You don't look so hot...I think we need to get that Washu lady over here..."

Kei angrily threw him off again. "I don't need her help!" She spoke with a hiss, and immediately grunted and faltered again. "I just...have been using my...powers too much... My brain feels like it's on fire... It feels like it wants to bust out of my skull..." She panted hard, and then spoke a bit more quietly. "I hope...this isn't what he felt..."

"Alright, alright, have it your way." Lupin answered with a simple shrug. "But we've still got to get out of here."

"Don't tell me...you stormed this place all by yourself..." Kei continued. "Are the others here...?"

Lupin smiled in response. "All present and accounted for. Well, all except for Genma. But we can talk about that later. We've got to get out of here while D deals with our good friend the Colonel."

Kei turned her head up to that. "What was that?" She immediately asked, her tone earnest and tense.

Lupin merely shrugged. "The ol' half vampire is taking care of things."

Kei paused a moment, but then furiously shook her head. "No. He can't. I know this...this thing... He's too powerful...especially if he's anything like Tetsuo... I need to be there."

"Eh?" Lupin immediately answered. "I thought you just said you were using your powers too much."

"I've got enough for this...if I can hold off long enough." Kei responded. "I just need to get there..."

Lupin paused a moment after that. He squatted there and scratched his nose a bit. After that, however, he gave a shrug. "Well...you're not going to get very far just dragging yourself along like that... You're going to need my help if you plan to get up there before D gets D-molished."

Kei scowled in reply, and turned her head to him. "I don't need, or want, your help."

Lupin shrugged in reply. "Suit yourself." He spoke in his normal wily voice.

Kei paused a moment. She didn't move, but merely held herself up on the ground and paused. Finally, she groaned. He was right. Much as she hated it, she had no other choice. If she wanted to get off this rig anytime soon...if she wanted to get to the Colonel in time...she needed Lupin's help. And the best way he could help her...would be putting her in an uncompromising position...

The woman groaned again, and rolled her head in place of her eyes. "Oh...fine. If I have to..."

Lupin grinned. "Great!" He responded. Immediately, he got up and ran over to the bodies of the fallen gunmen. Once he was there, he quickly dipped back down and began to undo some of their harnesses around their armor and weapons.

"Just keep in mind that I'm married, your perverted bastard." Kei grumbled as she lowered her head and waited for him to finish.


The door abruptly flew open, but not before a giant fist-sized indentation briefly appeared in the middle of it, bulging it out. Seconds later, the entire metal door, which had been hydraulically locked, flew forward and slammed to the ground. The two heavy gunners in the room immediately reacted. They twirled their huge bodies around to the front of the hallway. Their views went across either side of it as they did so, revealing "pens" that covered both sides of the hallway which they guarded. It looked rather like some sort of detention level, or rather some sort of animal holding facility. There were bars in front of each small enclave, and each was charged with electricity. It was rather like caging animals in that sense as well.

However, neither of the gunners cared for that at the moment. They turned and faced the newest arrival. What they saw, however, was unexpected. They expected some sort of blasting weapon or armed person. Instead, they saw the extended, clawed fist of a red-kimonoed, gray-haired, monster youth. A small smiling girl was at one of his sides, waving and grinning, with a boy at his other side, dressed in dark rags and glaring angrily into the room with his stunning blue eyes.

"Hello!" The girl chirped merrily. "I think your door is broken."

The gunners didn't answer, but merely hoisted their weapons and prepared to fire. They didn't get a chance, however, as the boy stepped forward and raised both hands. He quickly slapped both together, and then made a brushing motion with one hand off the other, as if he was wiping something off and flinging it toward the men. Somehow, as it turned out, golden sand grains seemed to somehow appear, for they were abruptly flung through the air and toward the two guards. They didn't fall to the ground right away either, but seemed to hover in the air as if they were weightless. They spread out and spread over the two men before them, and held a moment. A second later, they vanished, and the two guards abruptly collapsed into an unconscious heap. The way was soon clear.

Inuyasha immediately strolled into the room. Kohaku followed behind. Washu brought up the rear, and marveled at what he had done. "Wow, you are handy. And you're much cleaner than Fido, too."

"Stop calling me that, damnit!" Inuyasha scowled as he walked in. "You're more annoying than that damn fox!"

Kohaku gestured around him as he walked in. "Well, here they are." He announced. The two group members looked around at the sight. They saw the front of each cell, and saw that each one held a boy. However, it was obvious that something was wrong. These boys were standing as erect as statues in their cells. Their faces were hard and expressionless. Their eyes were empty and cold. Each one was dressed in the same military apparrel, and each had a similar hairstyle. Each one looked at the three as they arrived, watching them like machines or zombies. They said nothing and expressed nothing. "I wouldn't let them out, though. I can sense what they're feeling. They don't feel anything but a desire to kill. They don't respond to love or compassion. They don't respond to anything but commands."

Washu looked around the cells for a moment. Inuyasha looked to her with his own gruff appearance, and noticed her change again. Once more, he saw that look of pity in her eyes. He saw her lip change, turning down with the arousal of some fear and anxiety about them. But it only lasted a moment. Her seriousness was soon swallowed up by her normal child-like demeanor. She smiled again, and reached down to her side. "Well, it's a good thing they have this zombie-like way of staring at us. That'll make this easier. Do you know how long they've been conditioning them?"

Kohaku shrugged. "I'm not even sure I know what 'conditioning' means."

"Hmm...you can be as bad as dog boy..." Washu responded a bit under her breath, as she bent over and lowered the device to the ground. "Luckily, I am a genius. Based on their external appearance of age, optimal training conditions, minimal amount of time needed to alter the patterns of a human brain, and the minimal time needed for physical development to make sure they could optimize training, then the ideal situtation, assuming that these children are only twelve years old, is to start four years ago. But since I don't depend on these people to be optimal, I'm going to set it at five years. I really don't enjoy the idea of reducing these kids to the mentality of seven year olds, but I don't really have a choice. If I don't do it this way, it could take the rest of their lives to get over what's happened to them. And I doubt any government will take them in to mentally deprogram them. This is all I can do. I hope it's enough."

Washu set the small the device in what seemed to be the middle of the room. She then grasped it with her thumb and forefinger, and pressed down a bit until it clicked. After that, she quickly rose from it, turned to the others, and walked toward them. She extended her arms and quickly shooed them toward the door. "Now, both of you are going to want to close your eyes and not look anywhere near the device."

Kohaku immediately did as he was told. Inuyasha frowned a moment, but rather than risk the crazy witch doing something else to him, he obeyed and closed his eyes. Washu continued to shoo them until they were at the door, and then left them there. She quickly let off, turned, and ran back to the center of the room. Once there, she held up her arms in an enthusiastic manner and called out to the boys. "Hey everyone! Look at me!"

The zombie-like boys did turn and look to her, if only because she was the closest person and the most likely threat at the time. Soon, they were all facing her body, and just in time. At that moment, the device suddenly evaporated. Rather, a chemical reaction took place in it that made it disintergrate. But the result was that a huge blinding blast came out that was targeted at just the right wavelength for just the right brain area. It erupted and shone in the eye sockets of every single boy staring at it in the room, conducting through the optic nerve into their brains. It traveled right to the designated area, and immediately fried the latest modified neurons within milliseconds. The light was blinding and filled the whole area, and even Kohaku and Inuyasha felt light pierce through their eyelids and into their skull, but because they weren't looking at it directly and unblinking they felt nothing other than mild discomfort.

At last it was done, and the light cleared as the last of the device burned away. The glare faded as quickly as it had come. The room was soon normal again. Sensing all was over, Inuyasha and Kohaku slowly opened their eyes. They looked around a bit, but then turned and looked back to Washu. The little girl was still standing, arms up from where she had given her yell. After that, however, they looked to the others.

The boys had changed. Their zombie-like looks were gone. Now, they looked confused, and some of them even seemed fearful. They looked around their cages in confusion, and at their clothes and their appearances. Some marveled at the size of their bodies and scars they had. After all, when they last looked at themselves, they thought that they were only seven years old. Now they had grown considerably. However, the goal seemed accomplished. None of them looked brainwashed anymore.

"Where...am I?"

"How'd I get here?"

"Where's my room?"

"Where's my mother?"

"Why am I dressed like this?"

"Why is my hair so long?"

"How'd I get so tall?"

"Who are you?"

Washu grinned at the sight. Apparently, it was a success. Another great work of the great Washu. She was happy to see it. "Success!" She cheered to no one in particular. The children were all staring around in confusion, while Kohaku and Inuyasha were turning around and looking puzzled as well, not seeming to realize how this had just happened. Inuyasha walked forward and looked into the cages. The youths looked back at him, their faces a bit confused in appearance, and they quickly looked a bit fearful at the fanged creature in front of him. Inuyasha said nothing in reply, but merely gave a bit of a frown to them.

"Well, whatever spell they were under seems to be broken."

Washu rolled her eyes a bit at this, once again loathing Inuyasha's lack of grasp for modern times.

Kohaku turned to the small scientist, looking a bit confused. "I don't understand. You weren't affected? You were looking up at it the whole time."

Washu turned to Kohaku with a smile. She raised her hand and pointed to her eye, tapping the rim of it. "Special contact lenses. I would have made some for you two, but I didn't need your confusion about the meaning of contact lenses..." She turned to Inuyasha for the next part. "...And I didn't need Rover complaining about having to put them in."

Inuyasha scowled in response.

Washu merely waved it off and indicated in front of her. "Alright. We're going to need to turn off the electricity and get the cage open, so we'll have to find the control area and then I'll get to work de-"

SCURECK!

The sound of ripping metal suddenly came out, and was instantly silenced. Washu and Kohaku turned to the source, and they saw one of the cages. Inuyasha still held the bars in his hand, and a few strips of twisted metal in front of the cell was all that was left of the guard area. The boy inside blinked in astonishment at the sight before him. Kohaku and Washu were astonished as well, seeing as how the dog-demon had just leapt right into that.

"Wow...I thought those bars were electrified." The young scientist remarked.

Inuyasha snorted. "I thought I felt a buzz when I grabbed it."


D was back on his feet again. However, he didn't charge straight back into battle right away. In all honesty, he was fearing that doing so was futile at this point. He could sense danger coming quickly, and he felt the presence of something getting stronger constantly. No doubt, this boy's power was growing incredibly now. They could already be too late. And so, he just stood there as he sensed the power growing stronger and stronger, while the Colonel stood before him and grinned wickedly at his own mounting force.

Presently, D began to hear something. The rig was beginning to shake. Some sort of breeze was beginning to move through the chamber, although nothing had turned on and no ducts were present. The shaking soon began to grow stronger, and in no time D himself had to work to keep himself balanced. The wind grew stronger as well, and soon his coat began to be whipped up and back. The force pulled on his hat and threatened to blow it off. He kept his sharp eyes focused on the Colonel throughout, and as he watched the wicked specimen of a man smile, he noticed that the room began to change around him. A perfect sphere-like crater began to be depressed beneath his legs. It continued to push out more and more as time went on, indicating some sort of invisible force around the Colonel growing larger and larger. However, the young man stayed fixed in place perfectly as the ground below him pressed out, revealing that he was hovering in mid-air.

The boy laughed wickedly. "Excellent! This is far better than my old powers used to be! Let's see how strong I'm getting now, eh?"

Immediately after saying that, D heard the sound of something large and strong tearing and ripping. It sounded like metal. He looked to the source, and moments later the entire metal podium abruptly ripped out of the floor. It immediately shot straight for the dhampire, at such great speeds it was as if it was fired from a cannon. The dhampire reacted, and grit his teeth slightly in straining himself, but then brought up his nodachi and swiped it at the oncoming obstacle. His sword cleanly sliced the object in half, and both pieces flew by either side of him. However, he kept his sword out and looked ahead to what else the Colonel would try.

The withered child laughed again, and then spread his arms out. In response, the entire room shuddered violently. D pitched forward a bit, but maintained his balance, and raised his nodachi for another attack. Instead, the boy clenched his fists, and then released them. In response, the small crater below him suddenly shot out far faster than before. It immediately blasted a sphere shape around the boy that matched the already spherical shape of the room. But it didn't stop there. It continued to shoot out and expand, and soon it smashed the walls around him in and made the sphere shaped area wider than before. It continued to grow larger and larger, expanding the sphere's area into the hallway, and quickly racing down it to blast both into the hall and into the upper and lower areas of the ship. And D saw it was headed right for him. He braced himself for impact, but it was coming too fast. The sphere, and the invisible force that made it, expanded in a flash right to his location and struck him head on.

Immediately, D felt as if a brick wall...no, a piece of highway...had been smashed into his body full force. His nose was crushed against his face, instantly broken, and his blade was nearly snapped in half as his arms were thrown aside. His entire body was smacked away like so much chaff, and he was soon flung across the room once again and once more into the doorway. This time, however, part of his body sailed out through the opening, while his head struck the door that was still intact. His head was wrenched painfully forward, and he felt a crack in his skull and his neck. Moments later, he slumped lifelessly to the ground again.

The Colonel laughed wickedly. "Come on, hunter! I'm barely pushing my old limit here!" With that, he halted the sphere, but something new happened instead. He turned his arms inward and raised them up next. With that, the conduits on the wall abruptly broke themselves off. They snapped around, and suddenly twisted over and bent their entire length off the wall. They twisted and contorted, taking the likeness of giant snakes. But instead of fangs, their ends snapped and crackled with electricity from broken wires. And now, they circled around and began to move toward D.

The dhampire had hardly rebuilt his busted body, but he had no time to waste. Summoning what strength he did have, he threw himself to one side as one of the sizzling ends shot forward straight for his face. It struck where his face was a moment later. He soon had to spin back, however, as another one shot for where his head now lay. He brought his legs up next, as a third cable struck for his body, and he twisted up just in time to avoid it. After that, however, he was ready to attempt to fight back. He quickly flipped his legs back forward, and arched his back in order spring back up onto his feet. He quickly sidestepped another cable that shot for his head, and twisted around to avoid another aimed for his side. He quickly ducked to avoid one that came up and swiped for his head, and then he finally retorted by swiping out his nodachi to cut through the cable. Although it was electrified and his sword was metal, the grip on his blade was covered with nonmetal. He felt no shock as he tore through it. He quickly swiveled to one side and sliced up to cut through another cable, and then crossed his blade back around to cut through another.

Frowning in response, the Colonel merely extended his arms again. Now, more conduits snapped free from the wall, and the ones that D had cut merely lengthened themselves and extended out once again. Soon they weren't attacking him one at a time, but in an en masse attack. They all flew at him at once, sparking menacingly and striking madly. D managed to dodge a few of them, and brought up his blade to cut off more. However, they struck too fast even for him. Once struck against his face, causing an electrical shock as well as a painful blow. He managed to retort by cutting this one off, but another one soon smacked him in the stomach, and two more hit against his head. Finally, three of them snapped forward at once and struck him in the face, shocking him with electricity at the same time. The jolt was so powerful that he went flying back again. D soon expected to smash into the wall yet again...

Only to find that such wasn't the case. Abruptly, he felt a powerful invisible force seize him. His entire body soon seemed to be in the grasp of a powerful force, and it halted him in mid-glide and held him above the ground. However, D immediately began to regret what was coming next. He had been in this position before when encountering partiuclarly vicious vampires...

"...Let's never team up again, D...assuming we survive this."

"...Not now."

Moments later, D was being flung violently in the ceiling. He was smashed into it so hard that the conduits and pipes were dented in. However, that wasn't enough. He was flung into the wall on the right next, then into the wall on the left, before he was driven down onto the ground as hard as possible. Not satisified with that, the Colonel did it again and again against the ground. He did it until he started hearing D's bones break, and then continued until he saw them poke from his skin again and a bloody pile began to form underneath him. Finally, after all that had happened, he dropped him down to the floor, in the indentation that he had formed with his own body. He lay there limply afterward, wallowing in his own material. However, even after that he kept moviing. He soon began to writhe on the ground, and started to move again. However, he felt terrible now. He desired blood more than ever at this point, and he felt his consciousness fading in and out. He was very dizzy now, and his body began to shake from exhaustion and strain.

However, he heard the Colonel's voice. It was fading in and out and hard to focus on, but he did hear him as he snickered at him again. "Well, I'll give this to you. You're long lived. Only that Spriggen lasted this long. Now that I have more power than before, I'm trying to think of a real good way to do you in. I heard that Tetsuo Shima managed to kill people by making their brains explode, but that's too easy and painless. I'd like to see if I can turn you inside out." The Colonel paused and laughed again at this. "What'll be really fun is to see if that kills an immortal like you, or if that just makes you painfully live out the rest of your short life. I really don't know...but let's find out."

D quivered and shook as his own blood dripped from his nose and mouth. He slowly raised his head and looked forward, but continued to shake and shudder. He couldn't get up. He couldn't resist. Even if he could, it wouldn't matter. It was impossible for any physical force to stand against this mental force. It was simply mind over matter that won out each time. D could only lay there, staring at his twisted happy face, waiting to see what he would do to him next and how this was going to feel...and wondering if he could survive another attack...

Abruptly, however, sparks of light erupted around the Colonel's body. They were just a few feet in front of him, but three distinctly went off. D recognized the sound they made as they did: gunshots. And it appeared as if they had just richocheted off an invisible wall. D propped his head up a bit more as his body continued to slowly heal, and turned around to look behind him at what was the source.

As he did, he saw Lupin, grinning and cocky as always, stepping through the opening in the chamber. He noticed that there was another right behind him, however. When Lupin came into the light, he managed to see the whole situation that he was in. It appeared that Lupin had several heavy belts and harnesses from the gunners attached to him, and that they were there in order to attach the body of Kei behind him. He recognized her scent immediately, even though she wasn't facing him. He saw that she had her legs cut off. But she was alive, and Lupin was carrying her along. That luger he had brought along with his barretta was out, and he had it aimed right for the withered child as he stepped out into the chamber.

"You keep talking like that, kid, and you won't be going to that ball game for your birthday." The thief mocked as he stepped inside. "Man, my grandpa warned me what ear infections could lead to, but this is ridiculous."

The Colonel looked up to him, and smiled after a pause. He gave out a chuckle at the sight. "Oh look. The idiot made it to the party. I was hoping I'd get to torture you as well. That's the best that you could bring? A gun?" He laughed cruely at the sight. "Please. If some stupid bullet could stop me, I never would have managed to get this far."

Lupin merely grinned wider in response. "I brought more than a gun, kiddo." With that, he turned around, swirling the woman on his back fully behind him so that she was now facing the Colonel. D looked up, and saw that it was indeed Kei. However, something else had happened to her. She seemed to be blinded as well. Yet she looked at the Colonel with bandaged eyes, and her face was turned into a dark frown. Her fists tightened. If she had still had eyes, she would have glared daggers at the boy.

"Remember me, a**hole?" The woman addressed.

But the Colonel wasn't frightened. Rather, he actually tipped his head back and laughed louder and longer than ever. Kei and Lupin stood their ground, and D stayed on the ground, while he did so. They didn't react but let him continue to laugh for a few moments. Finally, he looked back down and beamed his pitiless smile at them. "You? Some blinded cripple is supposed to make me scared, now that I have the power of Akira himself running through my veins?" He snorted and merely raised a hand at her. "Get out of my sight."

With that, Lupin's face suddenly turned to shock as he and Kei were both flung violently backward through the air by an invisible force. Both were thrown straight into the back wall of conduits, with enough force to smash them in somewhat. Lupin was smashed into them facefirst, and he only gave out a mild "ugh" before he was knocked unconscious by the force of the blow. He immediately slid to the ground in a limp heap, and Kei naturally followed suit as well. However, Lupin had taken most of the blow. She gave out an "oof" from the force of the blow, but once she slid to the ground, she was still conscious and motile. Immediately, she turned and looked to Lupin, her face turning to an expression of surprise and shock at what had happened to him. But that was only a moment. She quickly whirled back around and faced the Colonel, and grit her teeth again. Immediately, she reached to her side and yanked out a weapon, one of her stolen barrettas.

The Colonel merely laughed again. "Can you even shoot straight as you are now, you blind cripple?"

Kei merely glared back in reply. "I can see better than I ever have in my life now."

With that, the spy raised her gun, aimed it perfectly for the Colonel's head, and then fired a shot.

The boy merely gave out a mild "hmph" of disinterest. Three feet before even hitting his head, the bullet halted in mid-air. He didn't even raise a hand to it. "Haven't we been here before?" He remarked in a bored voice.

Kei didn't answer. Instead, she immediately threw the gun to one side. After that, she raised on of her hands and aimed it at the bullet. She grit her teeth, bit down, and seemed to somehow push. Abruptly, the bullet began to move forward again, although very slowly.

The Colonel's eyes opened a bit more to this. He turned to the bullet and saw it move, and immediately his smile turned to a frown. "Foolish woman." He snorted, and immediately he pushed back as well. The bullet soon halted again.

Kei grit her teeth a bit harder, however, and tightened her arm. She pushed harder at the bullet again. She had to focus for a little while to overcome the power, but overcome it she did. Soon, the bullet began to move forward again.

The Colonel's frown intensified. "You idiot." He scowled, as he grit his own teeth and pushed back harder, stopping it again. "You're dealing with the power of a god. You can't possibly outdo me."

A wind began to pick up in the room between the two forces. Kei's hair began to be blown back, as an invisible force pushed against her. Her arm bent back a bit, as if something was pushing against her whole body and not just the bullet. But she continued to grit her teeth, and straightened her arm out again. Now, a wind pushed against the Colonel, and blew him back as the bullet began to quiver. He grit his teeth harder, his look turning to anger, and he pushed back. The coils in the back of his head began to shake and pulsate a little. The wind picked up around Kei, blowing harder and stronger than ever. It seemed to push against her skin, adding to the strain even more. Her arms buckled and were pushed back. However, the woman refused to give up. She brought up her arm and braced her first arm, and pushed back stronger than before.

"You imbecile!" The boy hissed, and immediately he planted his feet, balled his hands into fists, closed his lips, and pushed back harder than ever. He wasn't straining that much, but the bullet began to quiver more than ever now. The wind whipped up around him again from the force. The coils in the back of his head pulsated faster and faster. They began to turn around in his head, as if they were trying to drill their way out. They had been in balance before, and they had stabilized throughout the battle. However, they were now being strained. They hadn't actually had to oppose another mental force. And as a result, they were being taxed beyond their normal performance capability. And so they continued to thrash around and beat, even though the boy himself looked unchanged. As for Kei, she began to grunt and strain under the force. She continued to brace her arm, but she was quivering now. Her veins began to bulge. Her muscles swelled. Sweat mounted on her brow and began to drip off. She put everything she had into it. Her headache surged forward like an electric bolt frying through her body. She felt dizzy and sick all over. Her stomach turned into knots. Her dizziness went from normal to painful. She wanted to vomit. Blood began to drip from her nose...followed by her ears. She felt her body about to rip apart. But she wouldn't stop. She continued to push onward, even as it seemed to be killing her...

Just as it seemed she would break, something suddenly happened. Abruptly, the coils in the back of the Colonel's neck snapped. They flew off like steam hoses that had burst. Abruptly, they flew off and began to spiral wildly out of control behind him, spraying cerebrospinal fluid in the air like it was so much oil from an old engine. Abruptly, the Colonel's eyes bulged. His throat gurgled. He pitched forward as his face strained and his skin tightened, making him look like he was in terrible pain and tension. As he did, his mental power suddenly broke. In a flash, like a dam that had just cracked and let long-held-back water come through, the bullet suddenly shot forward as Kei gasped in relief. But she no longer had the focus to control it. She couldn't direct it properly. Instead, the bullet shot forward and tore through the top of the Colonel's cap instead. The hat was immediately torn down the middle, and was ripped right off the Colonel's head by the force of the shot. Moments later, the ripped piece of cloth clattered to the ground.

The Colonel bent over and began to gasp. But as for Kei, she was finished. Her body was now soaked with sweat and dripping blood. She collapsed and faltered back against the fallen Lupin. There, she gasped for air, as her senses were swallowed up into the black pain of her tremendous headache. The room and everything else around her vanished as her throbbing pain shot through her head, neck, back, and to the rest of her system. She couldn't even move anymore. Her power was totally spent. She couldn't do anything else unless she could rest a moment. And unfortunately, D realized as he lay on the ground, struggling to piece his own body back together, that was much longer than the Colonel needed.

The withered boy soon straightened himself up, wobbling a bit as he did so. He glared out angrily at the fallen Kei, his teeth grit in fury and anger. "You bitch!" He yelled at her. "How did you do that? Your power is pathetic compared to mine! I'm supposed to have the power of Akira!" The boy froze and panted at that for a while. His face was tight with rage now. His body quivered with pain and anger. D could understand his frustration. He had expected to be a god at this point, but he was still mortal quite obviously. He wasn't above pain, and he was restrained to his decrepit body. He panted and gasped a bit longer, before he finally took in a deep breath and stopped himself. He straightened up again...and then, to D's displeasure, he merely smiled in that sadistic way and laughed a bit again.

"Well, that's no matter." He confidently replied. "All this means is that I have a bit further to go." With that, he looked back down to the ruined ground around him. It was wrecked and smashed at this point, but something was still intact. The hypoderm and one of the Akira samples. He smiled at this, and extended his hands out to them. In response, both items flew up, one into either hand. Once he had them, he readily began to load the sample. "I'm strong now. After this injection, I'll be able to manipulate my own body's evolution. Then I'll be able to regenerate from this withered state...and eventually transcend physical form all together. You've only put off your deaths by a few minutes...maybe less." The gun was reloaded at this point, and the Colonel lifted it and twisted it around, pointing it into the back of his head. He flashed his two colored eyes at them all and grinned wickedly.

"Now you'll truly get to see the rebirth of Akira's power. Enjoy the show. It's the last one you'll see before I erase you from existence."

With that, he injected the pistol once again and pressed the trigger. A hiss of steam went out as the chamber emptied into his body. Immediately, his face bulged and strained again, and his teeth clenched hard. His eyes bulged, and he faltered for a moment. He bent over and almost fell off his feet. Kei was slowly regaining her strength, and she opened her eyes to see the change in situation. Immediately, her eyes filled with fear and desperation. It was over now. With this injection, it was finished. They had failed...

However, D didn't agree.

In fact, right when this happened, he released his stored strength once again. He threw himself to his feet once more, and brandished his nodachi in front of him. Dizzy and weak as he felt, he braced himself for one more attack. "...You've just made a fatal mistake." He simply addressed.

The Colonel, despite his straining and struggling, managed to look to the hunter, and grinned his clenched teeth. "Oh...really...? What...would that be?"

"I noticed something." D responded simply. "When you're in pain...you lose control of your power."

The Colonel's eyes immediately widened, but not from pain. He realized that truth at the same moment...the same weakness that the agent had exploited.

Immediately, the youth raised his hand and aimed for D. At the same time, the hunter took off and ran straight for him. His sword was put at the ready, and aimed straight for the boy's heart. The Colonel struggled to focus, and soon he threw out a blast of psychic power at the hunter. D waved down a bit, but he didn't stop. The Colonel grunted, but threw another wave. D was pushed a bit to one side, but he managed to bring up his weapon and level it again. The Colonel gave out a cry next, as the cords on the back of his head suddenly flung up and began to wildly spray fluid again. He held up his other hand, as his legs shook and began to bend down. But D was soon thrown this way and that, as wave after wave pummeled him. It shoved his sword one way and another, making it almost impossible to keep it steady. But the hunter kept pushing forward. The waves got stronger and stronger, and he felt them begin to push harder against him and hurt. But he wouldn't stop. The Colonel's focus finally began to return, and he aimed toward the hunter to fire off a stronger blow than before. He began to push just as the hunter finally reached him...

In one last simultaneous strike, the Colonel's power connected. D's body was suddenly ripped out of the air and thrown backward. However, it was too late. At just the same moment, he drove forward, and his atom edged nodachi was driven forward into the Colonel's flesh. It was deflected and missed the heart, but it was only swung down a little. The steel slid into the gut of the withered child and tore right through, stabbing right through the other side.

D was flung back across the room, but not into a wall. The power released him as pain was driven into the Colonel, and the boy faltered again. His arms dropped and his concentration was broken. Hence, the dhampire fell to the ground, but did not get smashed against it as before. Nevertheless, the pain was still great, and he was already so battered and exhausted that he couldn't take even a mild blow. He collapsed to the ground and struggled to keep from crying out.

The Colonel stumbled on the floor, crying out in agony. He began to curse and swear, for every move he made only shifted the giant sword that was now protruding from his body. Yet somehow, he was still alive. Blood began to drip from his mouth, and his face became tight with more pain than ever. But he did recover. He turned and looked back out to the group around him, and grit his blood-stained teeth in rage.

"You bastard..." He hissed. However, he managed a half smile. He struggled to breathe now, being ragged and slow. But he was still alive. "It was no good though... All you managed to do was make me angrier...and now you've got nothing left."

D managed to roll his head back up at that. He grunted a bit in pain, but not much. He looked up and into the Colonel's eyes. His expression was without fear or anger. He simply stared coldly back into the Colonel's eyes.

"...I have one thing."

Tink...titterrrrr...

The Colonel looked back into D's eyes for a moment, but stopped when he heard the sound. He looked down to the source, and saw the end of D's handle. Rather, he saw something that just fell off of it, and was now bouncing along the ground and rolling toward his feet.

A small pill-shaped object...that was blinking a red light.

The Colonel's eyes expanded one more time, as he looked up to D. He had no idea what this meant, or what that capsule was going to do. However, he wasted no time. He was still in pain, but he wasn't going to stand for this. He quickly looked back down to the capsule and aimed his hand at it.

D saw this, and quickly snapped his head to the side. "Kei...push it back at him."

The woman grit her teeth in pain and panted. "I...I can't..."

The Colonel grit his own teeth, and focused as hard as he could manage on the device. He was wracked with pain now, and barely able to focus. But somehow, he was able to concentrate some of his growing power on it. It began to quiver and shift.

"Kei, if that device gets pushed back at us..." D warned.

"I'm...out of power..."

"Just one more push..."

The device began to roll slightly now. The Colonel grunted, struggling to move it. D cursed inwardly that the damn ship hadn't fired yet. There wasn't much time now. The device began to move back toward them.

"Kei..." D spoke a bit more urgently.

The Colonel looked up at this, as he struggled to focus. His power wasn't working. He was in too much pain. It made him fly into anger. Yet suddenly, he noticed something else. Something registered in his memory that he had uncovered. As he watched the woman struggled, wallowing in her own pain and injuries, he realized there was still a way out of this. D's own memory soon snapped to attention as he heard the words begin to spill out of the bloody mouth of the withered madman.

"It...was you...who broke..."

The hunter looked up in a flash. Immediately, he remembered the letter. He saw what he was trying to do...take away their last shot at victory. Kei couldn't respond. She couldn't fight back against this. He could only pray she was struggling to move it back. Ot this would be for nothing.

Quickly, he grunted and moved his hand to his glove, and with erratic quick movements he grabbed his glove on his hand.

"My...Meisson..."

With one last flurry of effort, D managed to seize his glove, and rip it off. The left hand was immediately exposed, and without hesitation he raised his arm and aimed it straight for the Colonel. Moments later, the thing opened its mouth and began to inhale once again. The wind tunnel was soon being blown over the Colonel's body. But this time, it wasn't inhaling bullets or enemies...but D's own blade. In a rip of flesh and blood, D's huge nodachi came out of the Colonel and shot right back to D's open palm. More blood flew everywhere as the weapon went flying from his body and back to its owner, and the Colonel was cut off in mid-sentence. His kill command was abruptly swallowed up in a gurgle of pain as the weapon came out, his agony drowning out his words.

At that moment, Kei finally managed to get a grasp on her power. She saw the small device, and she grasped it with her mind. It took her only a moment to find her desired source and destination, and she quickly acted on it. In a flash, the capsule shot off the ground, and sailed straight into the open wound within the Colonel.

"Just like Neo Tokyo..." The agent murmured...before finally passing out from exhaustion.

The Colonel only had a chance to gag once from the capsule flying into his wound, before it struck at long last. Abruptly, the entire room glowed red with heat. It started off small, but within less than a second it burned bright and fierce. The air wavered. The metal overhead began to shine and twist, melting under the force of the sudden energy that began to pump through it. The Colonel turned his head up to the sky, looking to see what was going on. But that was all he had time for...before the entire ceiling was melted and then vaporized as the massive shot tore through it.

A pure, focused, beam of red energy erupted through the ceiling, gaping out a massive entrance wound that plowed through every floor of the oil rig right down to this floor. It melted the area around it for a hundred foot diameter on the top layer, but was focused down to only the small area the Colonel contained once it reached this floor. The beam struck him head on, and immediately erupted. In a flash of brilliant light as bright as the sun, a huge red explosion went off. The sound of the eruption was silent at first, for the force whipped by so strong and fast that it transcended the sound barrier. But as the shockwave tore past the three fallen group members, the sound of the blast quickly flew in behind it. The force of the eruption threw the three away from the site, shoving them back until they hit the wall, and then pushed against them harder afterward. The eruption was deafening, like no other explosion sound on Earth. It pierced not only the ear drum but the body itself, reverberating through one's own being. It was impossible to see, hear, or feel anything except the terrible explosion. It was because of all this that no one could hear the final scream of the Colonel, or watch as his withered body was burnt away. The small amount of mental power he had managed was obliterated, easily overwhelmed by the shot. And soon, there was nothing left.

The blast didn't last long. The vibrations stopped. The shockwave steadied. The force that pushed the three group members back ceased, and they rolled forward and came to a rest. The unearthly sound faded, and slowly the sound of a passing breeze filled it in instead. D himself lay down on his side for a few moments, unable to move and exhuasted from everything that had happened. However, he breathed slowly and regained his bearings. After a few minutes of rest, he was able to open his eyes at long last, and see what had happened.

The sphere-shaped area was still in the room, but it had changed. It was bigger now, and was melted out rather than pushed out, as the Colonel had with his own mental power. The blast had vaporized the metal to expand the sphere. The top of the sphere was open and clear, showing where the blast had cut through the rig and struck the area in the center. Overhead, the floors were vaporized in a larger and larger sweep all the way up to the top of the rig. The sun was beaming down in the clear sky, and a gentle sea breeze wafted through the air and into the room. It washed away the metal and blood smell and gave a refreshing scent instead. Silence reigned through the area. Only the sounds of a few seagulls went by. D looked up, and sure enough he saw a few go by. And far above that, hovering high in the sky, he saw a small black glittering dot: Ryo-Ohki.

D exhaled a long breath of air, and let his head fall down again. He rested and thought not of getting up again for a good long time. It was over at long last.

"Man...I'm out for a few minutes..." The voice of Lupin slowly moaned just as D started closing his eyes. "You guys are blowing up the place..."


NOTE: If you don't know yet, Kohaku is none other than the Kohaku River Spirit from Spirited Away.