Shadow Kissed Chapter 20- The Battle Of Ichigo City Part 4
So this may or may not be the last chapter. I make no promises. I'm kind of making it up as I go along so I honestly have no clue where this is going to end. I don't think much introduction is needed so let's just get on with the story!
The rebel army stood ready at the gate to the park, their weapons out and their faces gleaming with anticipation. They moved to meet Kisshu's group as they converged in the city center. As bodies clashed around him Kish tried to keep Ichigo in his sight, not wanting to lose her in the chaos.
The troops were doing their best to stick close to one another but the sheer force of the rebels drove them apart. Marthox had disappeared into the fighting, taking Hana with him.
"Kish!" Ichigo called, pushing her way through the throng to his side. "He took her back towards the middle of the camp." She whirled to lash out at a rebel. She hissed in satisfaction as he stumbled away.
"Go get her. We'll be fine." The Mew leader promised, her pink eyes barely concealing her worry. Kisshu opened his mouth to say something but then nodded sharply and pulled Ichigo in for a swift kiss. He took off into the fight.
"RIBBON STRAWBERRY SURPRISE!" he heard her scream behind him. Ducking various weapons, he quickly made his way towards the middle of the camp. It was strangely quiet as he moved further into the camp. The sound of fighting muted in the background and he searched for Marthox in almost dead silence. The green haired alien stooped to peak through a tent flap and finding nothing, he stood up.
"Thank you for joining us Kisshu." He turned to find Marthox hovering over the tent.
"Where's Hana?" Kisshu's voice was cold, his swords gripped in his fists. Marthox smiled and gestured behind Kish. He saw a flash of movement from the corner of his eye and was suddenly unable to move. His body turned involuntarily and he found himself facing his young sister. The girl smiled frostily, lifting her hand so that Kisshu was now held a few feet above the ground.
"Kill him Marthox." She demanded and Marthox agreed. Kisshu squeezed his eyes shut, waiting to feel cold steel pierce his skin.
Instead there was a commotion behind him and a gasp came from Hana. Kish was dropped to the ground, smacking the hard packed dirt painfully. He rolled over to see what had happened.
A lithe shape was wrapped around Marthox, squeezing the air from his lungs. As the Providers leader thrashed around Kish caught sight of the assailant's face.
"Karma!" He gasped. His adoptive sister threw him a glace, her face grim but determined. Marthox's pale skin was taking on a blue tinge and the boy's struggles were weakening.
Suddenly, Karma froze. She was flung away from Marthox and hung rigidly in the air above the tents. Hana stood by the rebel, tears wetting her cheeks as she watched him gasp for air. Bruises were already forming on his neck from Karma's hands.
Once Hana had assured herself that Marthox was alright, she turned to Karma. Motioning with her hand, she brought the older girl closer, leaving her hovering a good ways above the ground.
"You almost killed him." She hissed.
Hana flicked her wrist, her eyes burning with anger. Kisshu watched in mute horror as Karma's neck twisted at an impossible angle. Hana dropped her hand, allowing the body to drop to the ground.
"No!" Kish yelled, launching himself forward to catch her. Karma's stared up at him lifelessly, no sign of the light they had once held. He clutched the body to him and scrambled away from the scene. Hana was too preoccupied with Marthox to notice his retreat.
The green haired Cyniclon slowed as he approached the battle, the sound of clashing weapons reaching his ears. He gently laid his burden down, tucking her behind a tent to keep her safe.
"I forgive you." He promised her. He trailed is hand over her face, softly closing her eyes. Wiping moisture from his cheek, Kish turned back to the fight. Letting out an anguished cry, he raised his swords and threw himself into the fray.
Ichigo slumped back down as she released another attack. Her eyes flickered as they struggled to stay open. She didn't know how much longer she could fight. The other Mews moved around her, seemingly full of energy and strength, but she had barely enough energy to raise her Strawberry Bell again, much less pull off another attack.
Another rebel troop approached her, wielding a nasty looking club. Barbed spikes adorned the metal tip and the assailant grinned as he spun it easily through the air. Ichigo lifted her Strawberry Bell and tried to remember the words. Her head spun and a new pounding pain entered her temple.
"Bye bye kitty." The brute laughed, raising his club.
"Ichigo!" A voice screamed and she was shoved to the side. Grunting in pain, she rolled over on the ground. A blur of movement showed where she had been standing moments before and she caught sight of something green. Something moved in the corner of her vision and she turned her head to see a pale outline of herself kneeling towards her. A thought wriggled in the back of her mind, something about touching the spirit. The outline reached its hand out and Ichigo tentatively stretched towards it.
"Ichigo no!" A voice yelled. The voice was full of fear and love but Ichigo couldn't remember where she had heard it before. Everything was so blurry. Except the spirit.
Their fingers met.
Kish's head pounded as he struggled to make his way towards Ichigo. He had to get to her before she touched the ghost. He knew she needed to die to save them but he was too selfish to let her do it. If she died, it wouldn't matter if they won this battle. He refused to live without her.
"Ichigo no!" He screamed, watching as her fingers moved forward to grip the pale hand. He pushed past the last fighter and reached her side just as her fingers met the spirit's.
She disappeared.
"Ichigo!" He cried, looking frantically around the battlefield. "Ichigo!"
There was no sign of his beautiful Mew and as he searched over the crowd he knew she was gone. He grasped his swords, turning to find someone.
He would avenge her.
Ichigo opened her eyes to see a park. Trees and flowers bloomed while fuzzy bees buzzed lazily through the air. A magnificent fountain stood in the middle, flooding its base with crystal blue water. Soft grass waved slightly in the warm breeze. Everything was colorful and Ichigo felt happiness fill her as she looked at it all.
"Welcome." A voice called. She turned to see a large group of spirits gathered behind her, the pale outlines of herself, Kish, Pie and Tart at the front. The faces were the ones she had seen before with one exception.
"Karma?" She called, seeing the twin standing near Masaya. The girl looked happy, more happy than Ichigo had ever seen her. Her face was calm and serene with no trace of the guilt she had before.
"Look around you." The voice said again. Ichigo realized it was not just one voice, but all of the ghosts speaking together. The cat Mew obeyed them, turning to look again at the beautiful sight.
"Where am I? It's beautiful." She turned back to face the spirits.
"This is the same park you are fighting in. This is how it should look." The group said. Ichigo nodded, recognizing the arch that served as the gateway.
"Am I dead?" She asked. The spirits shook their heads, some letting out small chuckles.
"No Ichigo, you are not dead. You are simply here to regain the energy- the part of you- that you lost in the battle against Deep Blue. After you have received that and the information you will need, you may return to your friends." The spirits assured her. Her outline stepped forward and grasped Ichigo's hand. She led her over to a bench and Ichigo looked back to see that the others had disappeared.
"Ichigo you must kill Marthox."Her outline told her, her eyes dark and serious.
"But what about Hana? I won't even be able to get close to him if she's there." Ichigo protested, wincing as she remembered what the girl had done to her.
"Kisshu will take care of Hana." The spirit answered calmly, brushing a pale red strand of hair from her face. Ichigo's eyes widened at the news.
"Kisshu can't kill his own sister! Let him kill Marthox and I'll try to take Hana." The Mew bargained, knowing Kish would never be able to hurt his little sister. The spirit hissed and her eyes turned a fiery red.
"No!"It yelled, its voice suddenly deep and menacing. "Your destiny is to kill Marthox. Kisshu has his own fate and he must meet it and you must meet yours."
Ichigo flinched, pulling away from the angry phantom. The specter calmed itself, its eyes returning to their pale maroon color.
"You must kill Marthox. It is the only way." It told her again. Ichigo silently nodded her head, not wanting to anger the spirit again.
"If you do not succeed, the rebels will win and the Cyniclon nation will fall. The Mews will be killed, along with all of the Ikisatashis, and the Providers' next target will be Earth." Ichigo listened in mute horror, knowing that whatever she did in battle would affect her friends and family.
"Now you will receive the energy and be returned to battle. Do not fail Ichigo." The outline said, leaning in. Its skin gave off a slight golden glow and as it approached Ichigo, the light strengthened. Its fingers reached her hand and Ichigo gasped as they disappeared inside her body. She felt as the rest of the spirit followed, sinking into her skin and renewing her.
The sound of fighting reached her ears and she felt the hard ground beneath her back. Pushing herself up, she found her Strawberry Bell already gripped in her hand.
"Ichigo!" A voice called and this time she easily recognized Kish's voice. The green haired Cyniclon rushed towards her, his face bright with relief. He pulled her to his chest and lightly kissed the top of her head. "What happened?"
"I united with my death." She explained. "I received the part of me I lost when I died. And I found out what I must do."
A pounding started in her head again and she watched as a pale Kish appeared next to him. The real Kisshu looked questioningly at her. She nodded, watching as he took a deep breath and stretched his hand out to touch the spirit.
He disappeared.
Kisshu found himself in a dark room, a group of figures huddled in the corner. His outline was standing by his side, staring grimly at the scene. The pale spirit turned to look at him, his voice sad and lonely.
"It is time for you to see the truth."
So this is obviously not the last chapter but hopefully the next one will be. I really shouldn't have let this get so out of hand but I did so… oh whale. Please follow/favorite/review and let me know what you think!