Disclaimer: The same as before. And I do not own the characters from the anime/manga, Ayashi no Ceres.
ShardclawK: Welcome to another update of this famous side story, starring FOXHOUND's newest type of psychic soldier. Things start to get heated up as Greg will take on new enemies and challenges, meaning you'll get to see some action that you've been missing! No need for a recap, I'll be sure to make a recap of what has happened so far for all those who are confused with this fic, not to mention the synopsis of the hero and the supporting cast in this story soon enough
Ran: Just want to get down into action, huh, Shardclaw?
ShardclawK: That's right…Greg's been itching for real fight, now is his chance. But what chance does he really have? We just have to tune in and find out! So, while the audience is occupied with the action of this fic, I have some 'action' of my own with these recent shipments for the last COE and SX updates in the master bedroom…
Youji: I should have known…
From the stage door, Yomiko Readman, Nancy Mukahari of Read or Die stepped in, along with Naruto's Shizune and Kurenai. Also with them, were Mahoromatic's Mahoro, Minawa, Rin Todoroki, Chizuko Oe, Miyuki Sakura, and Saori Shikijo. All of them were wearing appealing paper bra and panties, with the 'rip or tear off' option. They begin to huddle against me.
Nancy: Shardclaw-sama, how long must we wait for your updating of your wondrous fic?
ShardclawK: Sorry for the keep back, girls…I got to deal with a lot of work first, and SnakeEater actually kept me back from my usual schedule. I'll make it up to you soon for the holdback…
Kurenai: You'd better, or else, we will just add extra 'effort' to make you update faster, should we?
ShardclawK: Geez...I know I still have some of the Supers' pills that I used from the last time those ToS girls and summon spirits were sent to me by Tempest somewhere in my bedroom, next to that bucket of peanut butter with the Oreo bits. Well, have fun, gents!
Omi: He just can't get enough, can't he? Oh, well…time to kick off the chapter! Hope you enjoy this update, and feel free to review when you're done.
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Metal Gear Solid: Soldier X
Chapter 20: The Hunted, Part 2
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"Looks like someone's out for blood tonight…and I don't just mean myself." Greg said in a low tone to himself. Gripping unto the Ascension, he dashed back from the charging chimera to give himself some space. Robert Thorn looked on at a distance at the fight between his own creation and Greg.
(Kinezono's willing to fight Shiju, using his own style of fighting…from what I heard of the reports of his confrontations with Shade, he has a style of fighting that is not like any other I have seen before…) Thorn thought to himself. (He seems to have many allies that have influenced his unpredictable style of combat, but I have yet to theorize fully on this matter when I see him in action…)
Greg got behind a column started to think to himself a bit. (This is the first time I have to deal with something like this…are the Patriots so desperate that they would send an actual beast after me?)
"Why are you hiding, Kinezono?" Thorn spoke as he had concealed himself at a safe distance from the fight, watching Greg's movements. "I thought this is what you wanted to satisfy your need for a greater challenge."
"I didn't sign up for this gig, old man..." Greg said as he switched on his Codec frequency to MP3 mode, as he selected Sabretooth's song from X-men vs. Street Fighter as his choice for this battle. It seemed just right for it.
"Be aware that Shiju's been genetically fitted with enhanced sight and hearing, meaning that it will track you down no matter how far you run from it."
"I'm not actually running from it, and it wouldn't be fun either if I just let this thing run around without having it face me…" Greg suddenly stepped back to reveal himself at the creature, but the alteration of the Codec wasn't the only thing he was doing. "Besides, I had to change into something more…comfortable."
"Oh? And what is it that you're wasting precious time to change into?" Thorn asked.
His answer was when Greg stepped out of his outfit and had shed it into his FOXHOUND Skull Suit, only that this one was different from it's original appearance when Greg was still part of the group. The cloak somehow had expanded and now formed an 'X' over his chest area, as the rest covered his nano arm, which entirely now looked like a spiked gauntlet from the base down to his fist. It hung out between his legs like a robe, as the suit outlined nanomachines running on the courses surrounding his arms, legs and chest areas.
"So…you've decided to given yourself an armour, is that it?" Thorn asked. "Not exactly to suit the mediocre tastes of your fight against Shiju, and certainly, not helpful either."
"I'm just giving this a test run for a while, and it's to show everyone that since I'm no longer FOXHOUND material." Greg said, gripping to his Ascension harder with a confident smile. "Don't ever compare me to my buddies from that group…I'm a totally, different kind of tune."
"And I'm still willing to listen to it." Thorn beckoned Shiju to attack Greg, as he was prepared to defend himself.
"Hmph…I'm going to enjoy tearing you to shreds…" Greg said as he dashed to his side and gut punched the chimera, before he switched to his High Function Lance and cut its' side with it. Shiju dashed at it while it was stunned from Greg's attacks and then he inputted one of his attacks.
"Take this! Panther Claw!" Greg said, searing the beast with one of his pryo-kinetcic blows. The beast staggered as it got it, but it didn't slow down. Suddenly, as soon Greg recovered from attacking it, Shiju swerved and attempted to claw Greg with a heavy strike which would have torn his left arm to ribbons if he didn't move fast enough. After seeing he did little to damage Shiju, Greg knew he had to be more careful.
"Damn…this may take awhile." he said to himself as he dodged another rush attack from Shiju. "I just hope Riku's taken Tes and her bodyguards to a safer place away from here and at least called for reinforcements."
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Meanwhile, outside on the public streets of the city, just some blocks away from the nightclub where Greg met Tessa, Riku had just gotten her and her fellow MIRTHRIL bodyguards to safety, but even Tessa was still in a state of shock as to see what has happened.
"We shouldn't have left Greg alone by himself against that…that thing!" Tessa exclaimed.
"Hey, take my word for it, Capt Tesstarossa. I too don't agree with you on this, he is one of my closest friends and I should be with him helping him out, but recently, Greg has taken fights to the limit that they get really nasty. I don't want to be around when he does something that even I not used to seeing, considering he was part of FOXHOUND." Riku replied. "But that doesn't mean I will let him do this by himself necessary."
"So, you are going to help him?" she asked.
"There is no other choice…the rest of my family may know more about that chimera than me, they can pitch in and tell us about it once Greg has taken care of it." Riku said, as he switched on his Codec and already set his frequency on his father's, Recca Hanabishi.
"Riku…?" Recca's face appeared on the other Codec screen as he spoke to his son. "What's the matter? Something wrong?"
"Hey, Dad, we'd better get some back up to my location right away." Riku said to Recca.
"What happened?" Recca asked.
"I don't know if it's the Patriots or not, but we've got some new nasty guys after Greg." Riku answered. "Some weird scientist and a chimera that he brought along."
"A chimera?" Recca asked. "Alright, we'll be right there. Hang on until then."
"We'll try…" Riku said, logging off. "I hope Greg can hold off that thing for as long as he can till my dad and uncle gets here."
"So, they have an idea about what Greg's dealing with?" Tessa asked.
"Yeah, in more ways than one." Riku replied.
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"Okay, maybe this won't be so easy." Greg lamented as he sliced the chimera with a slash of his Ascension, then pulling the hilt back to enter a sequence of Panther signature attacks.
"Panther Claw…Panther Bite…" Greg shouted, hitting the areas that he inflicted Shiju with, using his Kusanagi-ryuu trained and psychic attacks, before he veered his body to give Shiju's face a powerful roundhouse kick on one leg. "Panther The End!"
Shiju stumbled back from the blows, but it was hardly affected and suddenly charged at Greg once more. Greg had to act quickly and evade or counter Shiju before he found himself in the path of danger.
"Damn you…what are you made of, freak?!" Greg shouted, clutching his Ascension even harder. He then glanced at Thorn, who seemed to be recording the battle. "Old man….when I'm done with your so called 'creation', your ass will be mine, got it?"
With a small, twisted laugh, Thorn simply waved off Greg's threat. "I'd like to see you try, but you should consider surviving the fight first over confronting me."
"We'll be seeing about that, old man…" Greg simply jabbed Shiju before he used his free left hand to fiddle into his suit for something. (Keys….keys…where are they, dammit!? Ah ha….found them!)
After his fingers finally found the motorcycles keys he has been searching for, he smirked at Shiju before he leaped back in a low somersault away from Thorn and the chimera to his motorcycle. Greg then leaped unto the seat and inserted the keys to start the engine.
(This Thorn thinks he knows me, but not by a long shot!) Greg revved the motorcycle's engine as he stared at Shiju, charging at Greg. "Come get sum, monster!"
"Hmm…what is he up to?" Thorn asked himself as Greg recklessly drove closer to Shiju. The chimera had a shot of cutting Greg down, but Greg was prepared to dodge the claw attack Shiju made and laid the Ascension behind and on his back, pointing sideways. The Lance made it's mark and sliced one of Shiju's ankle's open. Greg looked back and after seeing he had injured Shiju's foot, he stopped his motorcycle and spun it in a full 180 degrees turn, while he lifted the Ascension from the ground, which ended up picking Shiju up in the air.
"W-what is that? He simply picked Shiju as if it was paper!" Thorn looked on in surprise at this.
"It's time to Ryde or Die, motherfucker!" Greg grazed the Ascension along the pitch of the road he was on, and it combusted into a spark of energy, which Greg used to slash Shiju with using this move and his motorcycle skills. Shiju landed, now appearing to be weakened by Greg's attacks.
"That's not good enough for you?" Greg said, as he eyed Shiju and the area he landed. There was a steel grated door that was one of the exits out of the parking area. This gave him an idea.
Driving at moderate speed, Greg went at Shiju again once more, as it began to get up on it's hind legs. Greg only smiled when he saw the opportunity open.
"Perfect…" Greg simply said, as he did the same with his motorcycle, raising the front wheels and driving on only the back wheels of his motorcycle as he proceeded to get close to Shiju and rammed himself into Shiju. The force was powerful enough to send Shiju flying back towards the grating and crashed through it, from the open fifty story building and out into the public street where Riku, Tessa and several civilians were watching the fight. Greg's motorcycle drove upwards on the underside of Shiju's body and over the it's body as they lose gravity.
From below, Riku and Tessa looked on in shock as Shiju's body fell downwards and ended up hitting the cold, asphalt while Greg landed on a trailer and drove down the front end of the truck. Greg then stopped the motorcycle in front of Riku and company. They all looked at Shiju as it was stunned on the ground from the landing impact.
"Greg! What the hell just happened?" Riku asked. "Where is that mad scientist?"
"Thanks for reminding me, Riku…I was having too much fun beating up this thing, that I actually forgot about the old man. Keep that thing company until I'm done here, will ya?" Greg said, speeding his motorcycle back towards the parking lot and spotted Thorn in front of the roadway. Greg stopped in his tracks.
The scientist was simply impressed with seeing the skills Greg had and he simply smirked at him.
"Not bad, Kinezono…but don't think I have just chimera's in store for you and I can always create more, but the Patriots have more resources then you can possibly imagine." Thorn spoke.
"Yeah, so do I." Greg simply smirked back, revving the motorcycle. Suddenly releasing the clutch, Greg charged at Thorn while on his motorcycle, but before he sensed an immense energy shot out at Greg from Thorn's body. Greg swerved his motorcycle sideways, but during this, he threw his Ascension at Thorn, who simply dashed out of his shadow and behind the area Greg had stopped before.
"What the fuck was that?!" Greg exclaimed, stopping his motorcycle again to look at Thorn with an angry look.
"Young Kinezono, you have a lot to learn whenever you're up against a much superior and stronger mind than yours." Thorn smiled at Greg. "Do you find my powerful psychic and teleportation abilities quite intriguing, no?"
"I'll show you intriguing!" Greg shut off his motorcycle engine, and gripped onto the pedals, lifting himself up over the motorcycle, then leaping at a high distance, he went air borne. He then mentally commanded the Ascension to come back to him after it had ended up into a concrete wall. Greg was preparing to perform another one of his Lance attacks.
"Ha! Twisted Fang!" Greg threw the Ascension at Thorn in a diagonal direction, before Thorn simply used his psychic powers to blast Greg at a distance, throwing him back into a wall.
"Uggh!" Greg groaned as he felt the impact of the attack. His head started to spin as the full brunt had knocked some of the wind out of him.
"When will you ever learn, Kinezono?' Thorn said to Greg, dusting himself. "Well, I've seen just how adequate you are in a fight, but I feel you are holding back on the specialities I've wished to see. So, tell you what…I'll call it a day for now, and when I do meet you again, my next creation will certainly bring out your potential for me to witness just how powerful you are. For now, I'll let you live."
"W…wait! Stop!" Greg put up an arm at Thorn, before he simply laughed and teleported out of the parking lot. Greg pounded the wall next to him, creating a small crater. (Just how much more these bucks will want a piece of me before I get to Reese? It's from one complication to the next! Ughh…I can't stand it anymore. If I knew I would be pursued so much, I should have stayed in that coma for two years instead of two weeks…)
Greg stood up and walked back to the outside of the parking lot, where he saw a new group of people next to Riku and Tessa. It was Rio Kinezono, and she looked at Greg with a shocked look in her eyes.
"Greggie! There you are!" Rio came across to hug Greg. "I heard from Riku's dad what happened and came right away. He and Kurei are on the way. What just happened?"
"That mad scientist who sent Shiju…I went after him, but he got away…" Greg said in a serious tone. "He appears to be able to use teleportation and had psychic powers….and he almost gave me a run for my money."
"What the hell's going on here? Just when did you become a magnet for this amount of trouble, Greg?" Riku asked.
"I wished I knew, Riku…I can only say this is part of the reason why I need your help, Tes…"Greg stated, before his eyes widened when he looked at her. "Tessa, get down!"
"ROOOARRR!" Shiju suddenly leaped at Tessa from it's lying place with it's claws unsheathed. Tessa screamed in horror as she thought this would be the end of her life, but Greg had already tackled her out of the way and the next thing Tessa saw was a heavy spray of crimson from Greg's chest area when Shiju attacked him.
"Ahhh!" Tessa held her face and screamed, as Riku and Rio looked on in shock. Did Shiju just actually inured Greg for sure?
As Shiju landed on the ground and on top of Greg, a puddle of blood was seen on the spot Greg fell, but it was suddenly lifted up from a struggling Greg as he simply touched the open wound he had and the look in his eyes became dead serious.
"You…dare try and attack one of my friends?!" Greg shouted at Shiju, energy gathering at his fists. "A lowly chimera dares draw my blood?!"
Tessa looked on in shock to see the change in Greg. (This man…he's so determined…) she thought to herself.
"I'll show you your place, watchdog!" Greg snarled as white flame covered his fists. Swirling his psychic energy, he then charged at Shiju. The chimera clawed at Greg, but he countered by smashing his fist into one of Shiju's legs, thus breaking the bone. Then, Greg used his other fist to gut it's stomach area with a single blow.
"I'm…not done yet, monster!" Greg shouted, getting set to perform his recently learned attacks, the Psycho Hand. Putting out the white flame, his hand was free to give Shiju an energy enclosed attack with his clenched right fist. Seeing Shiju was stunned, Greg then used Psycho Hand to smash Shiju's face.
"Rrragh! Psycho Hand!" Greg's powerful variation of Garland Durev's attack completely sent one of the sides of Shiju's face in, caving it. Tessa, Rio and Riku looked on in utter shock at this grisly sight.
"I don't think I want to watch anymore of this…" Tessa said, feeling as if she wanted to throw up.
Greg then pulled himself after the animation of the attack, he then spun his body, pulling out the Ascension with one hand. Shiju began to howl in pain as blood poured out the open wound from it' head. This only got Greg even more pissed off.
"I'm getting so fucking tired of your growls!" Greg cursed the chimera, as he started to punish the monster. "Trigger Slash!"
Greg then leaped at his enemy with a haymaker slice with the Ascension. The monster got seriously injured from this attack across his back, and after Greg landed next to it, he simply gritted his teeth seeing Shiju come at him once more.
"You still want more?" Greg simply said to Shiju. "I can happily arrange that!"
Greg beckoned the beast to come at him, which attempts to attack Greg was futile. Greg simply sidestepped and set up his Yagami-ryuu style version of the famous Ya Otome, which his own was named…
"Savage Panther Mauler!" Greg started to claw at Shiju at different parts of the body, using his bare fists to damage the chimera. Just when Greg is about to grab Shiju, he cancels the attack and uses his old Haikyokuseiken attack of using his own force to surpass any other, lifting Shiju into the air with one, single and powerful uppercut. As Shiju rose into the air, Greg got to look at the people staring at the fight, and waved a finger at them.
"I told you all this would get ugly. Now, I'll show you why!" Greg said, then he shouted. "Rated R!"
He shouted while leaping at Shiju as everything around him shifts to an odd blood red, then backward kicking the Lance after him, pinning it while he is still airborne. The result of the move was truly excruciating as it looked.
"He's…going insane…" Rio said in a sad low tone.
"I said I will tear you to shreds…" Greg said, seeing Shiju lying down on the street, battered and punished by Greg's attacks. "Now…time to erase you from existence!"
"What is it that you're going to do now, Greg!?" Riku exclaimed.
"Something I bet you won't like, Riku…" Greg said, crossing his arms in a mantra state. "Just don't blink, or you will miss something good."
Shiju suddenly got up and charged at Greg once more, but Greg was ready when he simply countered the charge and gave it some powerful, roundhouse kicks across the face, while he prepared himself to input one of his Hyper Desperation attacks.
"Time to ante up the ratings a bit!" Greg shouted, giving Shiju once final roundhouse that sent hit spinning across from Greg. "Rated X!"
Shiju's body was sent flying to another illusion of Greg who was waiting right behind him. Rio, Riku and Tessa looked on in shock as they saw two Greg's punish Shiju.
"What kind of power does Greg really have?" Tessa exclaimed in shock.
The second Greg copy kicked Shiju like a football upwards into the space between them. Then, both copies threw their Ascensions at Shiju, thus pinning him like a piñata and forming a large 'X' across it's body.
"Which one of them is the real one?" Rio asked.
"I'm right here!" The Greg closest to them said, as he charged at the beast to jump at it while still air borne, only to grab the Lance from Shiju and pull it out from it's body. Then as he stood on it, he laughed just as how Iori would and kicked the beast away from him.
"Time to finish you off before you can cause harm to other people…" Greg said as he landed, having no choice but to kill it. With a simple ignition of his Ascension, he simply charged at Shiju, who attacked one last time, causing Greg to use his counter attack…
"Flame Stinger!" Greg shouted, hitting Shiju with a critical slash to it's side, then spinning the Lance while switching to another vertical attack, trapping the enemy and pulling towards Greg. He suddenly turns his back to charge up energy and lands a fiery gut punch at the stomach area of Shiju, turning it into a bull's-eye. Afterwards, Greg begins to stab it quickly with quick, moderate stabs. The attack was strong enough that Shiju howled it's final cry, before combusting into flames.
"Finally…it's over…" Greg said, getting on one knee, seeing it burn in front of him. It was then, Recca, Yanagi, Kurei and Neon came in and saw this. Tessa got up and approached a worn out Greg.
"Greg!" Tessa exclaimed, as she, Riku and the two groups of MIRTHRIL bodyguards and of Recca's group stood by watching a heavily injured Greg stagger from cremating Shiju's body with one of his attacks. The wound across his chest was deep, and he was losing blood, but the thing that frightened them the most was Greg's procedure of treating the wound…his nano arm had meshed itself unto his wound and healing it using part of his arm. With a tired, and very pissed off look on his face, Greg simply stared at his shocked friends as he simply took out the Ascension from the burning chimera's corpse with an aggravated thug.
"What?" Greg simply grunted, as he lifted himself up, his chest now bloodied, but covered with the nanos he used to cure himself. "You got something to say…or are you…ughh…just hoping for an eyeful?"
Rio only came over and started to hug Greg, feeling worried for him. She smiled at him a bit, seeing the wounds had now completely healed and his arm had returned to normal.
"Greg…you did good back there, but don't do things like that in front of me. You're starting to scare me." Rio said, with light tears in her eyes. Greg only smirked at Rio.
"Sorry about that, mom." Greg replied. "When that thing tried to attack Tessa, I kind of…lost it. I promise I'll be careful next time…"
"You promise?" Rio asked just to make sure.
"I do." Greg said, then he noticed a shock Recca and Yanagi. They were still coming to terms over what just happened.
"Recca...that was..." Yanagi said.
"Yes, I know...that was Shiju." Recca said, and then looked at Kurei. "Hey bro, any idea why one of Genjuro's experiments showed up?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, Recca." Kurei replied. "Shiju was supposed to have been destroyed after his match with your team after the Urabutosatsujin, at least that's what I ordered my men to do."
"Well, it looks like someone decided to take possession of Shiju, since Genjuro was dead and couldn't lay anymore claim to him." Riku commented. "The only question is, who was it?"
"Both me and Riku knows about who's responsible, but who's Genjuro?" Greg asked and then turned to Riku. "Hey, wasn't that the guy who developed that replication technique you used in our match?"
"The very same, Greg." Riku answered. "Uncle Kurei should explain something about him. But I will say that he was a multitalented fellow from what I've heard of him."
"A jack of all trades, huh?" Rio asked.
"Exactly." Neon nodded her head.
"How is it that you guys know about this?" Greg asked. "Was Shiju actually part of your clan or something?"
"Shiju was a member of the Uruha about twenty two years ago." Kurei replied. "The one who created him was one of my top men, Genjuro, a master of genjutsu and psychic surgery."
"Psychic surgery?" Greg asked.
"A type of ability that involves the use of psychic powers and bare hands." Kurei explained. "Those who can use it successfully can implant and remove anything in any part of the body without causing any injury whatsoever to whoever the process is being performed on. That was how Genjuro created Shiju, by implanting the DNA of a lion into him."
Both Greg and Rio looked at Kurei in shock. Tessa began to speak.
"You're saying that…that thing Greg just killed…was once a human?!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, that is true." Recca replied.
"That is just sick, man…" Greg shook his head.
"You said that these guys were members of your group a long time ago." Rio commented.
"Well, our group is an assassin group and it tended to attract those sorts back then." Kurei replied. "Don't worry, though, the whole Uruha is loyal to me and my family and I can vouch for each members' loyalty. Genjuro was a different story. He joined Uruha to get strong enough to kill me. Unfortunately for him, Recca and his team, defeated him and Neon executed him for his disloyalty."
"And Shiju?" Greg asked.
"Kaoru Koganei, a member of my team, and one of Riku's martial arts instructors, defeated him, but didn't kill him." Recca spoke. "Kurei's men took him off the ring and that's the last we saw of him."
"Until today…" Greg looked on at the burning corpse which was on the street. He then looked at Tessa. He approached her with a toned down look on his face.
"You alright?" Greg asked her.
"Yeah. Thanks to you, once again, Greg." Tessa smiled at him. "But don't try that gung-ho stuff in front of your friends, please? You are starting to make them worry."
"I'm trying not to do that so often…" Greg scratched his head. Just then, Recca and Kurei approached Tessa.
"I don't think we have met before." Kurei said to Tessa. "Are you one of Greg's friends, ma'am?"
"Certainly." Tessa said. "Captain Tessa Tesstarossa of MIRTHRIL…I'm sure you've heard of me, Kurei, leader of the Uruha assassin group."
"Seems my reputation goes to places I'm not aware of…" Kurei lamented.
"Relax, I know about the good reputation you've hold since the famous Urabutousatusjin tournament years back. Greg has told me that you've been taking good care of him since this situation had arisen." Tessa said.
"Can you tell us why is it that you want to help Greg out?" Neon asked her.
"A personal favour from years ago…" Tessa smiled at Greg, before the noises of police sirens broke the silence. Greg simply darted his head across to where it came from.
"Shit! Babylon!" Greg exclaimed. "No use of me staying here!"
"Greggie's right, they will arrest him on sight." Riku said. "Look, dad, uncle Kurei…can you hold the fort here while I get Greg back to the mansion safely?"
"Leave it to us, son. We'll take care of the rest of Shiju's remains and the authorities." Recca said to Riku. "Just see about getting Greg patched up."
"What about you, Tessa?" Greg asked her.
"No sense sticking around here either…there's been too many unanswered questions that have been brought up today." She said. "Greg…when things cool down, contact my frequency over the Codec. You do remember what it is, right?"
"Frequency 172.51. I still remember." Greg said, as Rio brought him his motorcycle. "Sorry we couldn't get to finish our meeting."
"There's always another time." She smiled at him. "For now, just get yourself out of here and fixed up."
"Okay, Tes. It was good seeing you again, even though if it wasn't a date." Greg smirked, as Rio got on behind him.
"That wasn't a date."
"I know." Greg said, as she sped off, with Riku following him in his car. Tessa looked at Greg in silence, hoping that none others don't give Greg this amount of trouble.
(Good luck and Godspeed, Greg.) Tessa said, sighing to herself. (And…thank you, really.)
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Back at Thorn's lab, several minutes later…Thorn had returned and had completed analyzing the battle data collected from Greg's fight with Shiju. Apparently, he knew he shouldn't have bailed so soon, the fight was just getting started between the two. He had lost important data and now, a reliable product of his own science, but that was just for starters.
"Tomorrow's another day…but why wait till then, when I got now?" he said to himself as he entered his 'manufacturing' lab. He had already unlocked and birthed a new creation ready for Greg. It was a tall, and bulking male figure, but the appearance showed it to be more of a creature than human. It had a large, growing stalk of a tree from his left arm, while it's face was partly covered by a scarf.
"Moruken…your time has come." Thorn spoke to the creature/human hybrid as it walked out of the glass container it was being subjected to. Apparently, it's time inside it has given it growth in its own powers.
"Something the matter, Thorn? Did Shiju fail you as you predicted?" Moruken asked.
"By now, yes. I didn't bother to stay for the aftermath, though it would have proven interesting." Thorn said. "Gregory Kinezono has proven himself worthy for a battle for my creations, and you have my honour of facing him in battle."
"I should be able to deal with Kinezono for you, Thorn." The man said, with a sadistic grin. "And besides, the women in his party, I shall enjoy killing immensely."
"Just don't let your pleasures get in the way of your assignment, Mokuren." Thorn replied. "Otherwise, you might end up suffering Shiju's fate."
Mokuren laughed. "Shiju was a mindless beast. I, on the other hand, am much more clever. Don't worry, I shall kill Kinezono and all who are allied to him."
"I also assume you want revenge against Hanabishi and his family." Thorn said with an amused smile.
"Indeed." Mokuren replied. "Your experiments on me have given me more power over plants than the Kodama madogu ever could, and I shall gladly use those abilities to kill each one of the Hokage and Uruha. I shall particularly enjoy killing Tokiya's student as a start for revenge for how he cut off my arm."
"Good. We shall plot on what to do about it once we analyzed Kinezono's data and find any weaknesses for you to use against him." Thorn spoke, as he began to work.
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Back at the Uruha mansion, Yuina Hatori was standing by herself at the garden, staring into the sunset, as Lilica Ebett, Seraph, Maki Kawasaki and Nastahsa Romanenko sat nearby, deep in a conversation. Yuina was remembering the day before when Geese Howard, Billy Kane, Adel and Rose Bernstein visited Kurei to check up on Greg. It was then Tot came in and approached Yuina and stood next to her, since Yuina was deep in thought.
"Hello? Earth to Yuina?" Tot called to Yuina. The pink haired coloured girl simply jumped and saw Tot smiling at her. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, sorry, Tot. My mind was somewhere else there." Yuina confessed. "It's just that…this place is so peaceful at some evenings, it got me thinking about what Greg's sensei told me yesterday."
"You're saying Geese told talked to you?" Tot asked in surprise. "What about?"
"It sounds crazy if I told you…"
"Try me. Being in FOXHOUND long enough has shown me things for me to get used to being called crazy and not be too bothered about it." She replied, sitting down on a bench next to Yuina.
"Okay…I guess it happened when after Geese talked about sempai in his KOF days, and after that, he managed to talk to me and Seraph while Greg was sparring with Billy and Adel…" Yuina explained.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just outside the VR simulators the day Geese and his group visited the Uruha mansion, Yuina and Seraph was watching a match between Greg, Adel and Kurei. It was a free for all battle and all three men were enjoying the match, and so were Rose, Rio, Riku, Kurei Seraph and Yuina.
"Wow! Greg can certainly hold his own against more than one opponent at a time." Rose said.
"Yeah, you should have seen him beat the crap out of Schwartz days before." Riku replied. "These guys must be giving him a sweat he deserves compared to that scuffle he had with them."
"Ah…I've heard of those men." A male voice said at the sides, as everyone looked to see Geese Howard sit next to Yuina. "From what Greg told me about them, they don't seem too much of a threat…if left unattended."
"Yeah, that is true." Riku replied. "What are you doing here anyway, um…"
"Please…just Geese is just fine." The famous crime lord of SouthTown spoke to Riku. "I wanted to find out for myself from Greg's newest student what do you think of him so far?"
"Ulp! You mean…me?" Yuina pointed to herself. "Why not Nagi?"
"I asked him the same thing, and he told me it was a grand opportunity to be his apprentice." Geese smiled at Yuina. "I wanted to know if you share the same thought, now him being responsible for your welfare and all…"
"Well…that's kind of hard to put into words, Mr. Howard." Yuina confessed, hugging her legs to her chest. She then looked at Greg hard in battle. "I guess you can say that Greg…owes it to himself and Mantis as well to look after me and Seraph. I personally know, he sees this as a burden, but I wouldn't think so…not about Greg."
"Oh? Please, explain yourself, girl." Geese said.
"I think…what I'm trying to say is that…" Yuina smiled as she looked at Geese. "Greg thinks he's responsible for all the things that have happened to me, and still…he forces himself to see about my well-being. You know, before Mantis….before I lost my aunt…I was learning to live again, thanks to Seraph. Then it was gone in an instant. Meeting Greg somehow brought back that confidence in life to me when I thought I would never get it back again, but eventually, I'm also learning he's in a battle with himself, trying to get along with his own problems. I guess…you can say….we are alike in every way when it comes to that."
"I see your point…and is Greg doing a good job at being your mentor?" Geese asked.
"Oh, he certainly is!" Yuina exclaimed. "He is the best teacher anyone could have."
Geese only smiled as he began to laugh loudly. "This is rich…my own, worthless student being an inspiration to other young psychics. I'd thought I never be alive still to see the day."
"Hey, don't make fun of sempai!" Yuina pouted at Geese.
"Sorry, kid…but I am seeing your point now." Geese nodded his head. "Yuina…let me tell you from now…I've never been kind or respective to Greg since I've started to train and raise him for some time…that is why he sometimes have a hard time trusting others to help him. Of course, that has always been his way since his parents were killed compliments of the Patriots. And from the sound of things, you're probably the only person he can relate to him in that situation."
"So…what can I do to make him accept help from others?" she asked.
"If he's ever in a situation that he needs it, don't hesitate…go and do your part." Geese said. "He has helped you become who you are now, you should at least return the favour."
"Maybe…one day, I just might do that." Yuina said with a light smile. "What can I say? Thank you, sensei Howard."
"It's not a problem, just thought I could contribute something." Geese smiled.
"Hey, sensei Geese!" Greg said, snarling at him through the glass, steam could be seen puffed unto the glass. "Stop giving Yuina weird ideas!"
Everyone in the spectator's bench laughed at this as Greg started to make noise at Geese, while Geese started to correct him about his attacks, and how he was getting pummelled by Adel and Billy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Ah…now, I get it. Geese gave you a piece of good advice, huh?" Tot asked Yuina.
"Yup…it seems just about the right thing to do. And the only way I'll have sempai truly accept me more than an apprentice too." Yuina said. "I just have to put a little faith in my powers and my training before it's safe to say I'm worthy of helping Greg, just like you and Nagi are helping each other."
"I think that will be so sweet, Yuina. Greg will surely be proud of you." Tot placed an arm over Yuina's shoulder and smiled at her, when they heard Nagi called out to the people in the garden.
"Everyone! Greg's come back and he doesn't look too good!" he said to Tot and Yuina.
"Sempai?!" Yuina got up and rushed into the living room where everyone else followed. There, they saw Greg lying back with his shirt open, and the bloodied area where the large wound was now completely turning into a blemish, thanks to his nanomachines. The people in the room looked at him shocked.
"Sempai! "What happened to you?"" Yuina leaped herself at Greg and hugged him frantically. Greg simply smiled at her and everyone else.
"Greg had a run in with a…chimera, that's what happened." Riku said, getting into the room to give Greg some disinfect to clean the wound.
"Yeah, and a very, big ass one at that too." Greg grimaced when he started to operate. "Damn thing tried to eviscerate me in half, but I made sure to give it the good old, Trini-Kinezono, treatment for that."
"A…chimera, you say, Greg?" Nagi asked in shock.
"Yeah, a mad scientist sent him after me. While I was taking care of that thing, which was called Shiju, I went after the old gook, but he had a bit of some surprises of his own…" Greg said. "Like psychic powers and teleportation."
"We should have come with you, Greg!" Tot said.
"I would have let you come, but I was having a meeting with an old friend when it happened and I didn't want any more of you than Riku getting involved." Greg said. "Good thing I brought along the Ascension with me, or there would be a body count tonight."
"How did you deal with it?" Maki asked.
"I had to kill it…there was no other choice." Greg said, then looked at Nagi and Tot. "Hey, Nagi…something I said concerned you?"
"You guys know about these things, too?" Maki asked him.
"Yeah, to some extent." Nagi answered. "I've only seen a few of them, though. Weiss has actually fought chimeras in the past. They were created by a man named Masafumi Takatori."
Tot flinched a little as she heard the name mentioned.
"You seem to know this guy." Greg noted, looking at Tot now.
"I did." Tot replied. "You see, my old group, Schrient, worked for him."
"Really?" Yuina asked in a bit of shock.
"But, I never thought even Papa was responsible for creating such things. It's just so unbelievable that he was able to do that…" Tot spoke. "He was always kind to me, and the rest of Schrient, but I don't think he was like that to everyone else."
"Meaning, he was not who he seemed to be among society, right?" Rio asked. "By any chance you have an idea on how they are made?"
"I didn't know how they were made." Tot said, shaking her head. "I just thought Papa just made them, I didn't know that they used to be people."
"Neither did me or mom, until Kurei told us about Shiju and its' past before we came back here.…" Greg said seriously.
"I know what you're saying." Tot said regretfully. "But despite all those horrible things he did, Papa was still the closest thing I had to a real father. Nothing will change that; at least he didn't hit me like my real father did."
"Tot..." Nagi said, putting his arm around her to comfort her. Greg stood up and patted Tot.
"Look, Tot…sorry if I brought up anything that would hurt your feelings, but it's all in the past, and now we got other people capable of using what your…father, Takatori…for their own needs." Greg said, while he patted her. "If you don't want to see others get used just as how the ones who are sick and twisted enough to create creatures like Shiju in the near future, we got to shape up and be prepared for what else they will throw at us. I bet that's not the last time I'll be hearing of that old man."
"Did you get an ID on him, Greg?" Nanvel asked him.
"Come on, aunt Nanvel…you know me better than that." Greg simply threw a small card at Nanvel who caught it in time. On it, was Thorn's face and some information about him.
"When he attacked me, I used my powers and my old pick pocketing skills to sneak it out of him when he least expected it." Greg explained. "Robert Thorn…that's his name."
"Well, I'll be certainly remembering that name for a long time from now on. It just joined my personal shit list right under Reese's." Rio growled.
"Now, now, Rio." Maki calmed her.
"One shithead at a time, mom." Greg said with a small grin.
"Sorry, I just can't get used to seeing Greg in danger like this." Rio said, wrapping an arm over his shoulder. "I really starting to worry about you now, Greg. It's starting to become a norm… 24/7, that one guy after another wants a piece of you…and it seems you're not safe when you're by yourself either."
"Yeah, and it's not just the Patriots alone now, huh?" Greg said. "That's what I've told Manx when I first met her…I'm getting too damn popular, even I can't help it and it's becoming dangerous."
"Well, tomorrow first thing…we're going to meet some more people who will ease your of some of these problems once they hear your story, Greg." Rio said. "They happen to be good friends of Warrior as well, and I'm sure they will be pleased to meet you."
"Let me guess…more of Riku's buddies, I assume?"
"Got that right. Nagi, myself and Tot helped these people out a couple years ago, and they are very willing to return the favour when the need arises." Riku said.
"Don't tell me we have to visit them now?" Greg complained. "I did have a near life and death experience against Shiju a while back and now my ribs still hurt from that wound."
"Not really…we can leave that for tomorrow." Riku replied. "Hey, want me to take you guys out to a good meal?" he offered. "The food is guaranteed to be gourmet quality and the best part is it's all free."
"How's that?" Greg asked.
"Nagi, Tot, and I are good friends with the chef." Riku answered. "It really pays to be good friends with someone who's going to be a master chef."
"Okay, at least tell your buddies that they are in for some surprises when they meet me." Greg smirked at Riku. "They better start preparing themselves if they want to survive my genuine Trini style bad ass-ness. And Nanvel, I want you and Lilica to use that card I snagged from Thorn to get whatever intel you can on him."
"Already on it, Greg." Nanvel replied, leaving the room with Lilica. Then, Yuina started to look at Greg, worried about him still.
"Oh, Yuina…sorry if I scared you…but I did say I will be back to train with you." Greg said. "So, you up to it, kid?"
"How can you even say that, sempai? You need to rest if you want that wound you got to be treated!" Yuina scolded Greg. "I'm going to make sure you get better, and I don't care if you will have to try throwing me out…a student should always try and help her teacher in any way!"
"Nani?" Greg felt himself being pushed by both Yuina and Seraph. "You too, Seraph?"
"Sorry about this, Greg. But I'm sure you'll thank us for this." Seraph said, taking Greg upstairs.
(Aw, well…at least I don't have to complain about Seraph's medical skills than her cooking now…) Greg thought. (Unless…oh, snap!)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Later that evening, during a phone conversation Riku was having with Yuhi Aogiri…
"So, that's about it." Riku said. "I was just wondering if it's not a problem to have everyone meet Greg tomorrow. He is certainly a very friendly guy, and I hope you can help him in any way you can."
"Sure, that's not a problem, Riku." Yuhi, a Japanese male who was just as old as Riku said. "I'm quite willing to hear his stories concerning his problems."
"Yeah, plus he may help you learn a few things about perfecting your cooking." Riku said. "He's just so full of surprises, I think everyone will make good friends once they meet him."
"Okay, I'll tell Chidori and Shota to start preparing from tonight that we got guests tomorrow." Yuhi said. "I'll be seeing you and the others then."
"Good night then." Riku said, hanging up his phone, while from the other end, Yuhi sighed as he saw Chidori Kuruma, approached him. They have been living together as a couple for as long as they have been together since Riku and his partners helped her and Yuhi years ago.
"Who was that, Yuhi?" Chidori asked.
"Our old FOXHOUND buddies, Riku." Yuhi replied. "He's brining over a friend of his whose in a jam right now, and he wanted us to listen to his story, if we are to help him."
"Really? Sounds interesting…" Chidori said. "I guess this means he has some important stories to tell us."
"True. I bet tomorrow's going to be an eventful day when Riku brings his buddy to meet us." Yuhi said. "I'd better call Aki and Toya and tell them about this."
"We should call the others as well, they may want to meet this friend of Riku's as well." Chidori smiled at Yuhi.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day, during lunchtime…
"Not again…." Greg complained to himself as he got out of Riku's car the next day during lunch time, holding unto his stomach. He was forced to have not only one, but three straight meals, compliments of Seraph from the night before to today. Riku, Nagi, Tot were with him, along with Rio, as they stood outside at the Aogiri residence. Greg was trying his to get along with Seraph's cooking in his system without letting it show.
(You know, Greg…you're truly are amazing.) Nagi thought mentally to Greg.
(Meaning?) Greg looked at Nagi, not so amused.
(That you can endure so much without letting it affect your abilities as a psychic.) he smiled at the observation.
(Don't even go there, Nagi…you really, REALLY, don't want to see me with a flu.) Greg replied, standing up straight. He then looked at the place in front of him and poked at Riku's shoulder.
"Why have we stopped at a dance school?" Greg asked.
"This is the place I told you about from last night." Riku answered and looked at his watch. "I'm pretty sure Suzumi's class is over, so let's go in. Hopefully, everyone's here now."
"Everyone?" Greg asked in surprise. "You mean there's more than a few people here?"
"That's right." Tot replied as they made for the door. After knocking some times, it opened and it showed an attractive woman with short, flowing blue hair. She recognized everyone standing in front of her and proceeded to greet Riku and his partners.
"Riku, Nagi and Tot…I've thought you've forgotten about us." The woman spoke.
"Sorry for the lack on communications, but you know us FOXHOUNDers…" Riku scratched his head. "It's been a long time, Suzumi."
"Not long enough." Suzumi smiled at Riku, then she noticed the dapper Greg, back in his old Kyo '99 outfit, since the last one he wore got torn up from his fight with Shiju. "And this is…"
"This is Greg Kinezono, one of our friends from FOXHOUND and his surrogate mom, Rio." Nagi said to Suzumi. Greg held out his right hand to greet himself to the woman.
"It's an honour to meet a simply, beautiful woman like yourself, Ms. Aogiri." Greg smirked, causing Suzumi to smile at Greg.
"My, my…quite the gentleman, aren't you, Greg?" Suzumi spoke, hiding her face behind a fan she had."
"Only when it needs to be." Greg replied.
"Well, come on in….everyone's waiting to meet you all after all this time." Suzumi let Riku, his partners and Greg enter. When they followed her into the living room where everyone was gathered, Greg looked on in surprise to this.
"Eh?!" Greg said simply. "Riku…you know all these guys?!"
"Not only that, I helped them too, you know." He said proudly. "Anyway, let's get to introductions…Suzumi happens to be this guy's brother in law…and this is Yuhi."
"Nice to meet, you, Greg." Yuhi greeted himself to Greg.
"This is his girlfriend, Chidori Kuruma and her younger brother, Shota." Riku continued, greeting Greg as well.
"It's good to meet one of Riku's good friends." Chidori bowed to Greg. Shota couldn't help but not stare at the nano mesh for Greg's right arm.
"Cool…" Shota simply said at the sight of Greg. "He's like a comic book hero or something…"
"This is Aya Mikage, her husband, Toya and their daughter, Miku." Greg was introduced to these three people afterwards. "And this is Aki, her twin brother."
(Wow…I've never thought this was such a small world with so many good and innocent people in it.) Greg thought to himself as he shook hands with each of them. (Just looking at each of them makes me want to try even harder to protect them from Third Impact…)
"This is Alexander O. Howell, or we just simply call him Alec." Riku said. "And this is Shuro."
"Heh…all of you come to check me out?" Greg felt embarrassed. "Damn…I must have one hell of a fanbase."
"We only wanted to hear what is it that is giving you so much problems, Greg." Yuhi said. "I'm sure you got some good stories to tell us."
"I don't know…all I got are a lot of sad ones." Greg replied seriously.
"We got a share of our own, if you don't mind listening to ours afterwards." Chidori said. "But, it's the guests honour…tell us a bit about yourself, Greg."
"Yes, tell us what is it that Riku wants us to meet about you so bad about." Suzumi spoke.
"I got so much to begin with, and so much to tell…" Greg laid back to relax. "Better start with how this mess started some weeks back…"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
About two hours later, Greg had told his tales and got a lot of mixed reactions from everyone in the room. It was almost emotional too, considering what Greg told them what hell he went through during the fight with Mantis.
"That is one of the most depressing things I've ever heard…I'm so sorry, Greg." Aya said.
"Yeah…well, it's nothing to be concerned about anymore." Greg simply replied, throwing back another can of beer. "Things are bound to get even more crazy soon, now that I got so much people after me, I can bet my two cents on that."
"I take it that you're going to make Reese feel sorry for all the horrible things he has done to both you and Yuina, not to mention Mantis as well when you get to him, huh, Greg?." Yuhi asked him.
"Not yet. But very soon, my friend." Greg smiled back at Yuhi with a twisted grin. "Once I get the right chance, he'll be regretting the day he was even born to make people's lives miserable when I get to him."
"Well, that is why we will do what we can to help you and you family, Greg." Yuhi said. "But, according from what Riku told us, you're getting enough of that as it is."
"I just don't want to get too many people involved in this, but my life seems to be constantly endangered by the day." Greg said. "Are you certain that you guys can pitch in whenever I need it?"
"Of course we can." Toya said. "It's high time we gave Riku back what we owe him for helping us years ago."
"You guys have got to tell me for yourselves about how that came to be…" Greg said with a smile.
"Oh, we got plenty of time, but it looks like you need more refreshments, Greg." Suzumi said, getting up. "I'm going in the kitchen to prepare something to eat."
"I'll help." Yuhi got up, then he looked at Greg. "Hey, Greg…it's true that you're a cook, right?"
"Not officially, but just about on the level that my ramen cooking can even get my own mother losing control of her…." Greg smirked before he caught a glimpse of Rio glaring at him.
"Don't even think of saying that in front of everyone, Greg." Rio eyed him while blushing.
"Mom, you know it's hopeless…if I cook here, and you taste my ramen, you might as well get a box of Depends to dry up the 'mess' I know you will make." Greg said as he drank from another beer bottle. "Spare yourself the embarrassment, okay?"
Riku knew exactly what Greg was referring to, and started to laugh at this. He then got up to follow Yuhi.
"That's just to show how bad-ass he is. You really don't want to mess around with him." Riku said to Yuhi. Then he eyed Aya.
"Since we're here on business, Aya, that means you and Toya can't volunteer the three of us into babysitting Miku for you like last time." Riku said with a friendly grin.
"Maybe I can volunteer Greg instead." Aya looked at Greg. "How about it, Greg?"
"I'll consider it." Greg simply replied. (This is not so bad at all…somehow…I'm getting a new, kind of peace and hope from these people by just sitting here with them. I guess I should stay around awhile and see if there's anything I can contribute to them as well…especially that Shota kid. I sense he has gone through the same thing with handicap as I have…)
"Greg…" Alec approached Greg and offered an old PS2 control to him. "By chance you play video games?"
"Yeah…my favourites are the Guilty Gear and Zone of the Enders series." Greg smirked.
"Funny you should bring that up…just from looking at your face, you remind me a lot of Dingo Egret from the Second Runner." Alec said, causing Greg to sweat drop.
"Uh…yeah, I kind of rubbed of some of his charms unto mine. I grew up on that guy." Greg replied. "Say…just how good are you in Guilty Gear XX? That's one of my favourites, but I have yet to meet someone outside of FOXHOUND to challenge me."
"I can give you a good match or two." Alec smiled.
"As long it's got 'NoonTide' playing in the background, you got yourself a challenge." Greg said, already picking Sol BadGuy.
"A Sol vs. Ky Fight? You're on!" Alec replied, selecting Ky Kiske to challenge Greg. The rest of the stay at the Aogiri residence will prove to get better later in that afternoon.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, years into the future….
"Achhooo!" Dingo Egret sneezed as he sat in Orbital Frame, Jehuty. Ken Marinaris, sitting on his lap, wiped his nose with a handkerchief as she put back her arm back around his neck, cuddling next to him.
"I told you to be quiet while we're together." Ken ordered to Dingo. "You want Leo or anyone else to find out that we've been sneaking out to meet like this for some time?"
"I can't help it…someone must have called my name." Dingo replied, letting Ken's hand touch his and her head rest on his chest.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ShardclawK: Finally, another chap done. Glad this got out in time before the year is done, as I got to announce that this update of SX will be the last of the year until 2005. I got other fics to work on, and hopefully, and another COE update will be on the way by the Christmas/New Year's holidays. To those wondering about End Of Evangelion May Cry, I've decided to put it on hold until DMC 3 comes out. Sorry if you've been wanting an update any sooner, but if any of you have seen the trailer and the Mission 1 intro like I have, you'll thank me when I include Dante's new ass kicking attacks into the fic.
Greg: Hey, this is not his fic, dammit! What about me!?
ShardclawK: Sorry, about that. Anyway, DarkFusion, I hope you've enjoyed the fight with Shiju and that I've portrayed the Ceres guys right, and more about will show up in the next chappie, God willing. If you have any inserts and suggestions for this, do send them as soon as you get the chance. Now for some Easter Eggs…
Ran: The first thing Greg tells Tessa and the others after the Shiju fight, was taken from Wolverine, Issue #1, Volume 3. Also, the new outfit he wore is similar to Marvel's own Cable (another inspiration for Greg as well). A good view of it is on Issue #80 of his old title. Anyone want the pic of that cover, Shardclaw can send to you as an attachment for reference in future chappies of this fic, as it is Greg's, exclusive SX outfit.
Just then, Miami Guns' Yao Sakurakouji, Lu Amano and Kaken Musume appear…nothing! Yao begins to squeeze me between her breasts while the Weiss boys star in shock.
Yao: Be prepared to be conquered by my hot body, and inhumane stamina, Shardclaw!
ShardclawK: Aw, hell…ONMI pills for you, Yao! I mean it!
Yao: Oh, yeah!? Let's just go on to the bedroom with the complimentary refill of sexy clothing and condiments to see if you're tough enough to take me!
ShardclawK: This girl is like a sane Excel on steroids…hope I live long enough to deal with DF's shipments soon.
As I get carried off, the boys gave up.
Youji: That's it…I'm going for a new line of work next year.
Omi: At least let's stick around and say this has been a rocking year for SX, hasn't it?
Ken: Yeah, this story really shined thru 2004. Hope it does the same in 2005.
Ran: Anyway, this is going to take a while, people. Just bear with Shardclaw and his harem and hang on for another amazing update of this fic. See ya around and enjoy your Snake Eaters. I know Shardclaw has to wait awhile till his PS2 gets serviced to enjoy the rest of it…
ShardclawK: Cheap ass system! And just before I get to fight The End too…why must you give out on me now and before I can get my Ai Yori Aoshi, too?! Wahhhh!
Yao: Cry-baby…but don't worry, we will make you feel so good, that you won't be needing that anymore…
ShardclawK: Yow, baby! You girls are now in Santa Claus tank tops and miniskirts! Tis the season to be jolly…
Lu: Seasons' Greetings and see you all next year.
Collis aka ShardclawKusanagi.