Disclaimer: I do not own R+V.
Chapter 21
"So you've mastered the odachi?" Ruby asked as the newcomer backed up to stand right beside her.
"Nope, not at all" the newcomer answered with a shrug.
"Dragon why are you here with it if you haven't mastered it?" Ruby nearly squealed as she kept her eyes focused on the orb of energy in the Gamemaster's hand.
"I felt him appear and so I rushed over, I apologize that I was in the middle of training with this" Dragon whispered to the witch. "But could you please forget that for now and prepare to fight?"
Ruby nodded in understanding and tightened the gloves she was wearing. With a quick glance backwards at Kurumu and Mizore she made sure that they understood what needed to be done.
"Is everyone ready?" Dragon asked his cocky manner remaining, but now including the air of a warrior.
"Yes" the three girls shouted in unison just as the Gamemaster launched his first attack.
"You shouldn't be chatting while I'm around" he screeched as the energy orb went straight towards Dragon.
"Well then you'd better be willing to lose a lot sooner" Dragon retorted as he placed both hands firmly around the odachi's hilt and swung it at the orb.
The two objects collided, forcing Dragon to dig his heels into the ground as the energy orb attempted to push him back at the same time cracking his blade. At the same the three girls had each leapt to different sections of the small sealed off area they were given to fight in.
"I think you may want to release that bubble you're preventing us from escaping with" Ruby said, her voice taking on a brutally vicious tone. "At least if you want a fighting chance."
"You should've attacked me immediately after I used my attack" the Gamemaster stated darkly. "Now you've damned your own attempts at victory through that single mistake."
"I don't really think so" Dragon replied as he spun his cracked odachi. "Instead I've been waiting to see what you'd do when you're so clearly cornered."
The Gamemaster scowled before turning on Kurumu and attempting to attack her. Much to the succubus' surprise Mizore was already in the way blocking the attack with what looked like shields made out of ice spread across her forearms. In retaliation Ruby was already on top of the GM forcing him to the ground as a spell burst from her hands and collided with his back.
Unfazed by the spell, the Gamemaster threw Ruby off his back and unleashed a swarm of energy orbs at her. Satisfied that he had eliminated Ruby, the GM was unprepared to face the brunt of Dragon's blade as it came swinging towards him. He also wasn't prepared for Mizore's attack. Believing that the Yuki-Onna would be the lesser of two evils he backed into her claws in an attempt to avoid the odachi. To his displeasure the claws proved to hurt a lot worse than expected as they burst through his abdomen, blood spewing from the wound.
"So you're stronger than the original now?" the Gamemaster stated with a small chuckle. "I didn't actually expect that."
Mizore withdrew her claws in shock before realising that this was exactly what her foe wanted. Free from the claws the Gamemaster was easily able to whip around and send Mizore flying with a weapon that looked like a staff of energy.
"We've got him to partially reveal his weapon" Dragon hissed to Ruby in delight.
"And that's a good thing why?" Ruby asked back.
"That means he views us as threats. That pretty impressive" Dragon replied before turning his attention to Kurumu.
The succubus had rushed over to her friend as soon as she was struck and was trying to make sure she stayed awake. A concussion was bad no matter when it happened. She soon saw Dragon and Ruby return to the fight and witnessed the brutality with which they fought.
"They've both killed before" she muttered as Dragon's blade crashed against the energy staff sending the top half flying and Ruby went around attacking him from behind.
The witch and the samurai continued their assault as crashing steel and the explosions from spells rocked the space. Kurumu was caught off guard when Mizore pushed her out of the way of an incoming attack only to block it with a wall of ice.
"How did you do that?" Kurumu asked as she watched the ice continually get battered.
"I...I just feel it build and then I can create ice without any liquid nearby" Mizore answered as she too stared at the massive icy wall in front of her.
On the outside Dragon and Ruby were easily tiring out. The Gamemaster had more stamina (and strength) then they expected and was soon going to be overpowering them.
"You're not going full out" Ruby hissed to Dragon as she dodged another attack.
"Its not that I'm holding back, it's that this bastard somehow is preventing me from using my abilities" Dragon hissed back.
Ruby let out an irritated sigh before an idea hit her. Leaping as far away as possible the witch began to chant a spell. Dragon noticed what she was up to and beckoned for Kurumu's assistance as he drew the Gamemaster's attacks towards him. Kurumu (luckily) caught on immediately and was attacking their foe as if there was no tomorrow. This proved to be the nuisance that they needed as Ruby's spell was able to finish its casting and the force field that cut them off from escaping was torn down.
"Now let's see what you do" Dragon taunted as he spun his broken weapon.
The Gamemaster only smirked as he turned his direction to the room where Tsukune and Kokoa were located. Rushing towards it he was met with an ice barricade cursing as he turned back around an even fouler curse was spat out when Dragon's odachi became sheathed in his abdomen.
"You do know this isn't over" the Gamemaster said with a sadistic grin as he ripped the odachi out of his stomach and flung it aside. "I've only just begun."
"You may have fooled Aono, but I doubt you're going to be able to convince the rest of us" Dragon replied defiantly.
In an instant Dragon was shoved against a wall, his body audibly snapping as he was pushed further and further in.
"I know about your missing eye, do you want me to make it a pair?" the Gamemaster questioned, his tone dark and malicious.
"That eye was removed as punishment for my actions. The other one stays as long as I'm alive" Dragon retorted coldly.
"Well then, let's just kill you and see what happens then" the Gamemaster stated evilly.
Just as he was about to pummel Dragon a wave of cherry blossoms appeared and managed to slice their way through his arm. A smirk appeared on Dragon's face as he swung his foot out, connecting it with his foes injured stomach. With the loosened grip he was able to slide out from his grasp and roll along the floor. Arriving closer to Mizore he gave her thumbs up before twisting his injured body around and returning to his feet.
"Should you really be doing that?" the Yuki-Onna asked as she watched him shift his weight from leg to leg.
"He's not done yet. Anyways, I'd rather finish him off now then wait till he's healed" Dragon told her with a grin.
Mizore shrugged, but allowed Dragon to go. He clearly had the same determination that Tsukune always held in situations like this and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop him (save knocking him out cold).
"Ruby now's the time for us to take this up a few notches" Dragon called out as he ran towards the Gamemaster.
"How so?" the witch asked as she followed after the older man.
"Like this" Dragon stated as a massive amount of cherry blossoms enveloped his hand before dissipating to reveal a katana.
Proceeding from there Dragon leapt high into the air. Somersaulting once he landed beside the injured Gamemaster and slashed upwards with his blade. Ruby joined in on the fight as she unleashed three devastating spells towards the two. Dragon, knowing exactly where each spell would land manoeuvred the Gamemaster directly into the impact point of one of them.
From a distance both Kurumu and Mizore watched in awe at the teamwork displayed by the two. It was as if they had been fighting together like this for a long time seeing as they knew exactly what the other was doing. There were also no words truly spoken by them in this moment as the fighting heated up.
"Finally, lets blast off" Dragon called out suddenly, drawing the two girls' attention to him.
As soon as he said that cherry blossoms started to gather inside the room and they all went flying towards Dragon and the Gamemaster. Ruby had leapt back and was already preparing a spell, clear due to the wordless movement of her mouth.
"You think that this will stop me. You've been fighting with only two for the past while, why would this one attack make much of a difference?" the Gamemaster questioned as he prepared to defend against it.
"That's why its just been enhanced" Dragon smirked as he said that right before leaping out of the way and watching as the thousands of cherry blossoms collided with the Gamemaster.
Kurumu and the injured Mizore made their way over to where Ruby was crouching and turned their attention to the impact point of the cherry blossoms.
"Did you get him?" Mizore asked.
"I think so" Ruby replied tentatively.
Much to the trio's dismay the Gamemaster, bloody and beaten, emerged from the blossoms. He was still standing and ready to fight, that much was clear.
"Crap!" Ruby uttered as she looked to see that Dragon was struggling to pick himself up.
Just as the Gamemaster was preparing his next attack, a smirk spread across Dragon's face as two new entities entered into the fray.
"So this is why there were the massive amounts of flaring youki" a female voice stated.
"So Ruby, what's the damage here?" a male voice asked soon afterwards.
The Gamemaster in a state of shock spun around to see that both Tsukune and Kokoa were now in the area. Anger soon spread across his features as he turned on Ruby.
"How were you able to free yourselves? That nuisance over there only managed to get in because of his abilities" the Gamemaster screeched.
"So, now I have to ask, what exactly did you expect me to do for you?" Tsukune asked the Gamemaster's question being completely ignored. "I remember you saying that we were on the same side, but now...to be honest I don't really know if you're as truthful as you tried to come across."
Rage and hatred was plastered across the Gamemaster's face as he switched his attention to Dragon.
"This is your fault; there should've never been two of you in existence. That's why things are going differently, that's why I'm like this" he screeched.
Dragon however ignored the accusations as he picked himself up fully and stared the Gamemaster in the eyes.
"Tell them about why they can't leave even though that familiar could. Tell them why this is happening why don't you? I think it would be a very enjoyable story for all of those gathered here" Dragon taunted as he balanced himself against a wall.
"You know more than anyone should. Was that you're gift for being half-vampire or is it just some sort of intuition?" the Gamemaster questioned as the others watched in shock at what was going on before them.
"I'd say it's just that I know who you are and what spawned this" Dragon retorted before he began to cough. "Your hatred for the world extends deep so you play with its inhabitants like pieces on some imaginary game board. Making impossible requests that you know will never be fulfilled and killing just about anyone who poses a threat to the success of your game. Going so far as even killing one of the only people I actually trust!"
That last line was lost on all, but Ruby as the Gamemaster began to cackle menacingly. Without replying to anything Dragon said the villainous man raised his remaining hand, his semi-materialized weapon held high and prepared to strike down on Dragon. As he swung downwards his weapon was interrupted in its path by another object.
"I think you should back down" Kokoa stated as she held a pipe underneath the weapon, blocking it.
"And why should I listen to a second rate vampire who's unloved by any of her family?" the Gamemaster questioned.
"You should listen because she's not alone" Tsukune's voice came from behind the man as a blade of channelled youki burst through his chest.
The psychotic laughter from the Gamemaster at this moment was unnerving to everyone in the room. Despite the fact that he now had a chest wound as well as numerous other ones he was standing as tall and proud as ever.
"I cannot believe that you didn't tell them what they were fighting Dragon" the Gamemaster said, spitting out the name of the other man. "You knew immediately and that's why you didn't fight at full strength isn't that right?"
Dragon scowled as he struggled to keep himself standing. He wasn't going to discuss what he had done and why it was necessary. There were many risks to what he had decided upon and now there was no turning back. Pulling a knife from his belt he twisted around and flung the knife across the hall to a wall a great distance away from the Gamemaster.
The bloodied man cackled maniacally as a human shape appeared in the wall, catching the knife. As the shape took on even more human qualities it began to look exactly like the Gamemaster.
"I do hope you enjoyed fighting the personification of a 50th of my power" the Gamemaster chuckled. "I know that it was impressive to see that I still control this game."
Shattering the knife the real Gamemaster turned on his heels and with a twitch of his hand dissolved the bloodied one, returning it to his body. The sick sound of his laughter spread throughout the destroyed hallway as he disappeared from sight. Soon afterwards his presence was completely gone as well.
"I'm confused" Kurumu began. "What just happened?"
"I'm not so sure either" Tsukune admitted. "Though we do have the one person here who does know."
Turning their attention to Dragon they found that Ruby was by his side supporting him. From the way she was doing it, it seemed as if she had been helping this way for a long time. What they could also see was that he was severely injured as blood seeped through the holes and tears in his clothing and he was limping.
"So kid, you've finally chosen your mate. How wonderful" Dragon said as he approached Tsukune, one of his eyes glazed while the other remained full of 'life'. "Make sure to keep her safe, you hear me."
Dragon placed a hand on Tsukune's shoulder before collapsing to the ground unconscious (at the same time dragging Ruby down with him). Tsukune could only stare in shock, for a moment he thought that he had been looking in a mirror. Dragon looked exactly like him. Albeit there was an age difference, but it was eerily similar.
There was something going on and he would need answers, plenty of them.
End Chapter 21
A/N: Okay here is chapter 21 of All Alone Well Almost. I hope you enjoyed it, I know there was really no fluffy anything to this chapter, but instead I wanted to present a fight scene. As many people will probably know by now (and if you still don't then just wait for next chapter) Dragon and Tsukune are connected. That is made clear in the later part of this chapter. Also the Gamemaster played an important role with Moka and Yukari that will be discussed next chapter as well (when they finally return). If you found Tsukune to be a bit too violent, I will explain how he is unaffected by violence in a later chapter/in the prequel. Now I hope you enjoyed and please review this chapter. Last chapter I didn't get a single review so I'm hoping that I didn't screw anything up. Anyways, until next time
Nanashi Wanderer