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It was chaos.
She had told him─ told him almost countless times with incessant emphasis that it would not work, but Gingka had refused to acknowledge any of her warnings.
She was running with blatant panic twisting her features.
Her breath came in short pants, her eyes dilated into fathomless pools of azure and her heart clenched–constricted by an unknown force with pain and fear. Her gaze settled at the dark hissing avalanche of wispy black with the auburn flickers of flame rising and licking up the building and the numbing wave of loss struck her so hard that her body shook. Tears welled up in her eyes like an unstoppable flood of remorse and cascaded down her cheeks.
"Gingka…" she softly whispered, her voice low, trying to gulp the knot that like a stone obstructed her trachea.
"You're sure, Gingka?" Madoka chewed on her bottom lip, looking at him unsurely.
He chuckled– a mirth filled sinuous laugh. Some part of her calmed as she heard him, while staring with an unusual touch of longing.
"You worry too much, Madoka."
A pouty sigh. "And apparently you don't."
"Guess not." He grinned, lifting her chin gently. "It'll be fine."
The smile tugged the corners of her lips as she nodded. "Okay."
The taps of their soles echoed as they made their way through the dingy hallway, their path engulfed in black serenity. His amber orbs skirted to his sides, at his blue haired companion. Both panted as they tried to make their way outside, arms tucked at either sides of their fellow comrade, hurling him outside.
The barely audible screams and shouts still resonated in his ears, the very prominent pants Hikaru heaved, the uncomfortable groans leaving Dynamis due to the strain of pain, the feel of warm red liquid trickling down his temple…
He tried focusing on the task ahead. They needed to get out.
For a second, he thought of his raven-haired friend and the tattooed leader whose whereabouts he knew nothing about, silently praying they would be okay but the damning grazing hold of doubt still clasped its way around his neck accompanied by the steaming jerking surge of regret.
He was so close… so close to victory until all of it had come crashing down.
Closing his eyes shut to gulp down the flood of agitation, Gingka took a deep breath and ran forward towards the soft spill of light appearing like a haven amongst the bedlam that surrounded him.
So close.
Doji sat in his room, looking smug and contented when the redhead had entered. To Gingka the monocle seemed like a mocking winking object trying to warn him out of this deadly situation but he was not backing down. He was prepared.
"Ah… The great Gingka Hagane, how wonderful for you to finally pay a visit," Doji greeted, his teeth bared into a nasty grin.
Slowly–carefully–Gingka stepped inside the room, eyes skimming the place once, only to rest at the cause of all his pain and anguish.
Before he could say anything, Doji voiced a question, "You are here for your friend, I presume, yes?"
He stayed silent.
Doji smirked.
"Damian has told me a lot about you, you know."
Gingka tensed visibly, his voice distant when he replied, once more looking around the room. "He did?"
The room looked strictly professional excluding any sort of personal paraphernalia that might have indicated any nostalgic references to the older male staring at him. With a few chairs, a cabinet that held nothing more than what seemed like numerous files containing dull paperwork, the room was relatively empty. He sat in front of huge mahogany desk, covered with a glass sheet. The top was not littered, just sported a few documents as Doji looked at him with keen interest.
"Yes," Doji agreed, "About how… painful it was for you to kill one of my most valuable pawns."
A scoff. "Pawns, such a... gratifying choice of words, don't you think?"
His adversary simply snickered at how the young lad in front of him scornfully mimicked his tone trying to ridicule him.
"But not far from the truth, boy."
It was then that Gingka pulled out the gun and Doji face twisted into something akin to unconcealed amusement.
"It is believed that the first kill is always the hardest, after the first endeavour the rest seem easier, maybe even enthralling."
He was smiling wistfully, Doji noticed, eyes downcast at the weapon clutched in his hands.
"Enthralling..." he echoed sardonically.
"Has his death corrupted you that much that you must take another life?"
The challenge was simple and evident, Gingka thought with a defeated sigh, and shattering.
With a smirk, Doji stood from the large leather seat. "You cannot achieve your purpose amongst these premises. Say, you do succeed in killing me, how will you ensure that you'll leave this place unharmed… along with your friends?"
"You don't know, I just might," Gingka countered trying to muster up all the optimism coursing within his veins and coating his words with it.
"He came here willingly, you know," Doji continued ostensibly, ignoring his previous statement, "Masamune, I mean."
The prospect of the word 'willing' still stung though Gingka knew otherwise. He gulped hard. He's trying to get to me.
"He even harmed the boys he came here for, what were their names? Zeo and Toby, I think? Yes… Zeo and Toby, thinking he was saving them."
Gingka narrowed his eyes trying to avert the shock leaking its way through.
"Pity, yes?"
Gingka, once more, sought the solace of silence.
"He did not even know what he was being asked of, just blinded by what his pathetic mind kept telling him he did it, never thinking of the consequences."
The words like an aching stab of ice hit him. He was not implying…
"He killed them, thinking it would save them."
Almost instinctively he stepped back.
"You know one usually seals his fate by taking the very path he chooses to avoid it."
"Agreed."
Gingka looked up at the familiar voice and gaped at the outstretched hand pointing the gun straight at him.
Frustrated, he ruffled his sky-blue hair and looked at Masamune. "What did Nile say?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
His eyes narrowed into slits as he ground his jaw, infuriated. "Secrets won't get you anywhere, Kadoya."
Contemptuously he replied, "Being nosy won't get you anywhere, Hart."
In a blink, two hands grasped his collar firmly, smashing him against the wall. "Just because Doji's being an idiot trying to think you're something useful doesn't mean I am not going to batter you senseless until you're snivelling and begging at my feet for mercy."
The snowy hair was matted and Ryuga looked quite out of shape to say the least. His cheeks were hollow and his frame looked thinner however, his expression never betrayed his determination as he slid his hand and the gun now aimed right at Doji's head.
Gingka blinked as Doji gaped at Ryuga with horror and betrayal etching into his skin like needlework done by the finest weavers.
"What is the meaning of this, Ryuga?"
Another voice reverberated, another gun aimed at the head of the Union. "Exactly what you think."
Doji turned to look at the young lad's stern gaze set on him.
"Nile?"
Gingka felt a smile creep up on his lips at the flabbergasted expression that ghosted Doji's features and he raised his hand too.
Surrounded.
A thud.
With a cough, he spat, the red liquid staining the ground. A glower mirrored his snarling self as Damian got up to punch the lad grinning smugly at him. It connected.
His head was brutally jostled to the right as he staggered back. Another fierce curled fist made way for Masamune's nose but he dodged it, slamming his body against Damian as they both crashed against the wall. The raven-haired lad struggled to keep his adversary in place as he lashed out, shoving Masamune away.
With a pounce, Damian lunged at Masamune. Hands raised, he tried to counter the effect of the incoming hit. They both fell to the ground.
Clawing at his face as Damian's hands coiled around Masamune's neck in a vice-like grip, Masamune finally jerked his torso up simultaneously stabbing one of Damian's eyes with his fingers.
A howl of a cry left Damian's lips as he released his hold of Masamune.
He shoved him off forcefully.
Doji's face which previously reflected shock and confusion suddenly morphed into an egotistical and amused expression.
"Siding with him, are we?" Doji spat scornfully. His eyes did not bother to hide the derision when he eyed the redhead. "I expected better from both of you. Especially you, Nile."
He looked at the African lad, disappointment evident.
"Unfortunately all of us are backstabbing bastards," Ryuga crudely replied and Doji's attention snapped back to him.
"Not all of you."
"Yes, yes. Not all of us…"
A shiver ran up Doji's spine as he took in the newest addition to the voices. Paling at the sight of the owner, he gulped, the rippling shock like a bolt from the blue.
"You–" he pointed at him. "You… It can't be…" He stepped back. "Damian said he saw you. They– he–" He was pointing at Gingka and back at the lad again, sputtering helplessly and trembling like he had seen a ghost.
The smirk was already carving itself across his lips as Doji mouthed 'No' over and over and shook his head.
The final gun was raised.
"Surprise."
The door flew opened and Damian was hurled inside, his face bruised, bottom lip busted open and oozing blood, curses spilling from his lips fervently as he thrashed about and then suddenly stilled at the bewildering sight in front of him.
"Welcome, Damian."
He was shoved and thrown at Doji's feet. Hurriedly regaining his balance and hurling himself up, he gaped at the lad the guns pointed at the two.
"So good of you to join us."
Damian blinked. Once, then twice.
It was not…
His collar was in Doji's grasp as he pointed ahead. "You lied to me?!"
"What? No. N-no," Damian stammered, "He was… I told you exactly what I saw and he– You–"
"Don't be so hard on him, Doji. It is hardly his fault. At least let us explain."
Ryuga chuckled.
"When you gave us our rewards in the form of our 'appreciating' tasks, I went to Kyoya's room, to consult with him of course." He said as a matter-of-factly. "He told me about how he was to kill Madoka… Weird, you would want her to be killed, don't you think? And then there was the matter about sending Chao Xin and Da Xiang after Zeo Abyss."
Nile continued. "We already knew that your purpose behind stealing those papers was not simply search for information. It wasn't a play for gaining knowledge and confidential data."
With a certain amount of smugness Ryuga added, "So we decided to alter the original plan."
"It was already evident that you used Damian to keep an eye on your 'loyal subjects'. So we thought why not use that to our advantage?"
"Kyoya was to come at my place with news regarding your 'sinister plans' and inform them to me." Gingka told.
"Damian would follow and we could set up a show."
The next to add information was Nile. "Then when everything would settle down we were to carry out an ambush."
"But, the problem arose when you captured Zeo and Toby…"
"I was never informed of any of this and your plan in creating hostilities between Gingka and I somewhat succeeded when I came here. Gingka was not yet authorised to tell so I never came to know what was going on." Masamune explained.
"I contacted Nile and he told me about Masamune's appearance so I consulted with Gingka."
"So, when Masamune went 'berserk' after reading the message that was handed to him along with the knife and Damian was called over to your office, I sent Chao Xin to inform Masamune of the situation," Nile carried on.
"But of course, we couldn't let Damian get suspicious so Chao Xin beat me up… Of course due to our past rivalries," Masamune snickered.
Doji seethed at the lads looking at him as Nile handed Masamune a gun and the number of potential bullets to come his way increased by one.
Damian growled at the prospect of being fooled so easily and glared at the azure orbs which were gleaming with mischievous glee.
"Didn't see that coming did you, Hart?"
"Even when everything was planned? Oh, boy..." Ryuga added, chuckling darkly sneaking a glance at his comrade.
"It was quite clear," Nile said with a restrained amount of satisfaction.
"I killed."
"I died."
"And you watched, thinking everything was going your way."
"While you were busy with Masamune still acting strange… I contacted Gingka and helped him reach this place with a police force which should be arriving any moment now," Nile explained further.
Masamune grinned. "Gotcha."
Ire like a furious devastating hurricane of contempt burst through Doji as he gritted his teeth. "You think you can get away with this so easily?"
The click sounded. He cocked his gun.
Then another. And another and another and another.
"For once, yes."
The wails from the approaching cars grew louder and louder and Gingka smiled. The police had arrived. Great work Hikaru!
A wry and dry laugh left his withered and fear-licked lips as Doji's head swivelled towards the introduction of new sound of the blaring sirens and with trembling hands he grabbed hold of something resembling a black plastic remote.
"Think again, boy."
A lot of things happened at once.
Ryuga's head jerked to the right– towards Gingka. The door opened to reveal a lilac haired lad, holding a bundle of papers. Nile stepped back suddenly grabbing hold of Masamune's sleeve pulling him back, foreseeing the upcoming events.
Ryuga ran towards Gingka and then past him. The redhead's heart pounded as he looked over at Dynamis then Doji then at Damian who looked shell-shocked. Doji pressed the conspicuously bulging button. Time seemed to halt.
Gingka rushed towards the door. A horrible rupturing and deafening sound of the explosion along with a blinding bursting spell of light engulfed his surroundings. He fell and hit the ground roughly. All he felt was excruciating pain and an annoying buzzing as if he had gone deaf. He tried getting up to get away from the scorching and singeing sensation that had been clawing at his back but the black anaesthetising sensation was already dominating everything.
When he regained consciousness, the first thing he heard was the repeated utterance of his name. The voice seemed recognizable and pitchy.
"H-hikaru?" He groaned, pushing the word out of his lips.
A gasp of relief resonated as her slender arms pulled him up with a hug so that he was sitting. He winced and she let go.
When he looked around all he saw was a shattered and bludgeoned version of the peaceful office he was standing in a few moments ago. Getting his feet under him with difficulty and a lot of help from Hikaru, his eyes rested on the brutally gashed body lying crumpled at the far end of the room, the corpse's face a melancholy pealed picture of bright red which was dull and oozing wet. The golden glint of the piece of a circular metal and wisp of dark hair in a mess of ripped limbs and bloody flesh looked like a grotesque image that seemed to cause a shudder to run down his spine. He wanted to retch and tear his eyes away at the sight but could not and so he kept staring, awe-stricken.
Hikaru nudged him to break him out of reverie.
"Dynamis…" she said softly.
Gingka's attention snapped to his comrade. He lay curled at the floor, the files he was sent to retrieve in his hand now burnt at the edges and bloodied. The protruding wooden edge of the door had impaled his side as he groaned in pain, his gaze frantic and breathing heavy.
"Help me."
Hikaru nodded.
The brunette headed towards the building, body trembling with fear, praying to the gods above over and over to not take him from her too…
Kyoya's absence was enough to leave her wrecked and broken and if Gingka–if he–
Her vision blurred due to the wet wringing her tear-stained cheeks. The loud sirens were echoing in her surroundings but she did not care. There was a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see an officer saying something to her and pulling her away from the building. She struggled trying to push him away. Gingka was in there. He was in that building and she had let him go. She let him…
"Let go of me!"
"Miss, you can't–"
"I said let go!"
"Miss, you need to understand. This is a res–"
"He is in there! Let go!"
She was screaming.
"He's… he's in there! I h-have to–"
She was flailing and thrashing her arms trying to push the man trying to take her away from him.
"I have to… He won't– He won't–"
She was being dragged away. Away from him… Away from all that she had left.
"GINGKA!" She cried, helplessly trying to push whoever it was making it difficult for her to reach him. She had to… why would they not understand? She had to get to him. Maybe she could save him. Maybe she could… Maybe…
Her knees buckled and she crouched, head in her hands and sobbed, letting the anguish drown her into the merciless depths of agony and misery. "G-gingka…"
The first thing as the white light encompassed him he felt was something hard pressing, no, smacking him harshly and then the clawing sensation turned into a burning and scorching pain.
There were numerous voices, a piercing light directed at his eyes and the feel of hands and arms trying to support his weight. A rough masculine voice rumbled through his ears and then the haze cleared and he saw white hair.
"Ryuga?"
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah. What just─"
"That pea brained bastard blasted the whole place into bits."
An answering pained groan met him.
"Hey! A little help, you pathetic twits!"
"N-no… I am fine," He pushed himself up ignoring the throbbing twinge brutally tearing his spine. "I am f-fine…"
The ground gave way from underneath his feet and Ryuga rushed to stop him from falling. "You're ability to tell the truth is wonderful as always. Idiot. C'mon."
She spotted him.
Dashing right towards him, Madoka abandoned all thoughts, paying no heed to any consequences or the looks from the people around them. A burst of relief shot through her.
"Gingka?"
The redhead turned to look at the worried brunette and wrapped his arms around her petite frame as she sobbed into his chest, clinging onto him as tightly as she could.
He had just left Dynamis in one of the ambulances and Hikaru had accompanied him. When he had turned he had seen the familiar brown tufts approaching him, rushing straight towards him.
She was clutching at him hard as if she was afraid he might vanish, her arms tightly curled around his torso and hurting his blistered back but he did not care. A numbing and relieving sensation shook him at the sight of her. So close…
"Shh… Madoka," Gingka said soothingly, caressing the brown locks gently, holding her close. "Madoka, it's okay. I am fine… It's fine."
"N-no… You–there was a f-fire, Gingka. You could… what if you weren't if– if…"
"It's okay, Madoka. Everything's okay now."
There was some truth to what he said. Masamune and Nile were okay and had not sustained any major injuries. And regardless of what Doji claimed, Zeo and Toby were found – alive and okay. Doji… Doji was dead due to the very explosion he caused…
"One usually seals his fate by taking the very path he chooses to avoid it."
Indeed.
…and many of his pawns were taken into custody. However, any source of information which could direct them towards Doji's ill intentions was burnt along with the fire. But one could not hope for everything, now could he?
The consolations spilled from his lips like a languid river as he tried to pacify the brunette's evident surge of panic.
"Don't worry, Madoka. Everything will be alright." He looked down.
She looked up. His face was covered with dirt, his hair matted with blood, shirt charred and torn and his eyes retaining a look of solemnity but she felt safe…
"Get in…"
He stood ignoring Ryuga's statement, staring at her languorously.
She was there. Beautiful as always…
In the arms of another.
Out of his grasp.
He felt his world tumble and crash… into something that could never be mended.
Sitting in the bulky vehicle opposite to her, a lazy and exhausted grin ghosted Gingka's lips as he stared at her.
She simply stared back, looking equally worn out, her head resting on her hand, elbow propped against the edge of the window.
It was over.
It finally was over.
Maybe now she could have some peace. With no more deaths… no pain… no killing… no nightmares.
They were about to leave and she gazed out the window looking at the after-effects of chaos and panic swiftly running through the crowd of medics, injured, police and criminals in front of her.
It was then that she saw him, that she suddenly caught sight of a poignant shade of oceanic blue directed her way, when they were leaving and she was moving far– farther. It was like her heart had forgotten how to beat as her lips parted in shock with the gasp stuck on her lips. The azure took her in, raking her skin with a familiar sense of intensity and craving that rendered her weak and coveting like a drug to an addict. His green hair was ruffled and a jagged slash was prominent and bleeding on the side of his cheek. His chest rose up and down in a soft natural movement as he looked at her face void of any emotion though the alluring blue of his eyes spilled all that he felt, yearned for, wanted…
The word left her lips like an inevitable utterance with an unusual sort of hastiness and voice so low and quivering but she still said it. Maybe to satisfy herself, maybe to break from this trance, maybe to assure herself that this was real, that he was there… standing amongst the aftermath of destruction and death.
Alive and breathing.
"Kyoya…"
A/N: *evil cackle* Muahahaha! HE GOT RESURRECTED! *holds a bowl of fake blood, running around in a weird tunic, grinning like a maniac* Yes, yes... I never mentioned of Kyoya's 'body' (nobody saw his corpse, right?) and Gingka said 'that you think I killed him...' and then Gingka smiling when Madoka mentioned they were doing this for Kyoya... Hehehe... Pretty obvious? No? Yes?
Anyway... this was officially the last chappie of this story. Only an epilogue is left and I am thinking of wrapping this up. xD
I hope this was a good ending chapter.
And oh, apologies for any mistakes... I was so happy that my paper went well that I wrote like a driven hag when i came back home! :P So, I didn't re-read this... Yes, I am exhilarated. *sigh*