(P.S A NEW CHAPTER OF BLACK! AND THE SECOND PART! LET'S GO EVERYONE! ALSO SORRY THAT THIS IS COMING OUT SO LATE! WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHY IT'S SO LATE!)
Bold = English Conversations
Bold + Italics = Japanese Conversations
BLACK 20
Previously on BLACK Rebellion...
The match between the team formed by Sora Minakaze against Maxwell Zakarion's team of seniors was under it's way. Sora's team struggled as Sora himself was doubting most of his own actions in the process. Maxwell, having planned this, tried to take this into his advantage but was too slow and Sora's team escaped. As Sora's team regrouped and began to make plans in the town's square where Maxwell's team were, Sora himself heads off to the town, this time no longer content with just being by the sidelines. What will he do when he arrives there? That...nobody knows.
And now, the continuation of BLACK Rebellion
Makoto, Marcus, Chikacho and Allison were hiding inside a bakery, taking shifts to check out the town square. Their eyes were watching the scene with an intense look in their eyes as their minds were trying to think of something. "God dammit...what are we going to do guys." Makoto moaned quietly as she swiftly hid her tail from the window, trying to make sure that the people outside didn't spot it. "What are we going to do indeed...what to do indeed..." Chikacho said as she was pondering on that question herself.
Marcus himself was not trying to show it, but he was secretly panickly just a little bit inside as he kept a serious face looking at the scenario in front of him. He was the only man at the moment and this was something that he never really liked, not because he was sexist or other nonsense like that. It's because from experience, women are fearsome creatures... "Dammit...we can't keep inside here forever, we should attack them while we have the art of surprise!" Allison suggested. Fearsome creatures indeed.
"Maybe we should try contacting Nii-san again...before we rush in full force." Marcus suggested, trying to make sure that violence is the last option they were going to use. They didn't have their rocks so they are actually in danger of losing. What if the other team already has the stones and just wanted to take them out to make sure they can't give chase. "That may be a good idea...but Mas...Sora's radio isn't picking up at all..." Chikacho said, looking at the radio worried about what was going on over at Sora's side but kept it hidden with her scarf.
Her eyes nearly betrayed her as Makoto couldn't help but notice. "A-Are you worried about Sora Chikacho?" Makoto asked as Chikacho quickly looked at her and swiftly blinked her eyes, making sure that her eyes don't betray her in the end. "Don't be silly Makoto...I'm not worried." Chikacho said a bit coldly as Marcus simply placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't try to retort the hand immediately but eventually, she gently took the hand off. "Maybe we should leave the city and see if Nii-san is back at the tent... if we can't contact him then I bet that he can't contact us as well." Marcus suggested as Allison couldn't help but sigh greatly.
"If that's the case...then we might as well try to figure out how we are going to get out of the city in the first place." Allison said as Makoto couldn't help but rub her forehead a bit. They got into the city and now they were going to have to get out of here. "Damn...we really got our work cut out for us huh." Makoto said as she scratched her head. "Well...if that's what we are going to do, then what's our next move then?" Makoto asked as everyone began to think about this. As they did so, Maxwell's own team was busy looking for them, unaware about the predicament that befell the group they were looking for.
"Are you sure they are somewhere around here? It feels like I am searching for a needle in a haystack." Vix complained as she checked the insides of the town hall. The group was divided all over the town square but thanks to the wonders of communication ars magus, they were able to talk with ease. "I know they are here...it's the only place they can go to." Maxwell said, a bit confident and refined with his speech as he looked at his map, crossing another location of the map.
"How can you be so confident about that?" Bart couldn't help but wonder as he lifted up with ease a piece of machinery that was blocking the door of the local bank's entrance. He himself couldn't help but be skeptical as he began to wonder about the possibility of the group having moved from the town square and to some other location. "Because we are here... and if we are here, they are going to most likely plan to attack us from behind." Maxwell answered as he spied from the rooftops, the town hall itself, keeping track of the various entrances available.
"Is that why you suggested that we split up? So that the prospect of us being separate will entice them to ambush us?" Jin wondered as he sliced down the rubble that stood in his way with an ice blade. "That's right Jin... and when they do, we will descend on them with speed, take them down, take their rocks and win this." Maxwell said, feeling a bit confident as his eyes landed on the door of the bakery, noticing the doors rock a little bit to the left and right.
"...Is anybody near the bakery?" Maxwell questioned as Vix and Bart couldn't help but turn their way to the bakery. "Me and Vix are near the bakery, want one or the both of us to enter to check?" Bart asked as Maxwell thought about it for a bit. "You head in there Bart, Vix you standby at the entrance to make sure things are alright." Maxwell said as Bart and Vix simply nodded their heads at each other before heading to the door slowly.
Their footsteps were quiet but fast, as if they were prey eying on the prize. Taking both sides of the bakery entrance, both Vix and Bart looked at each other as Vix began to give a counting gesture. Counting alongside her, the moment her finger struck 3 Bart slammed the door out of the way, breaking it off it's hinges as Bart quickly approached the inside of the bakery. The moment he stepped into the bakery however he immediately dived back out as soon, a huge ball of fire exploded from the bakery, blasting away all of the windows from the ground floor, making even Vix take cover.
"Hey you two! Are you alright down there!" Maxwell yelled through the communicator, seeing the bright yellow flame as Vix reached for her communicator. "Y-YEAH...Did you catch that?!" Vix yelled as Maxwell simply gave a small grunt, making that a yes as Bart looked at the burning scene. "Damn...I can't believe that just happened...did they expect us to come into the bakery?" Bart wondered as Jin's own communicator began to act up as everyone heard Jin's voice.
"I found them, they are running away from the town square to the train station!" Jin shouted as Maxwell immediately acted. "Vix, Bart, make sure you two are alright and then head to the train station!" Maxwell said as he ran from the rooftops to the direction of the train station. Vix and Bart picked themselves up and followed Maxwell. "Don't worry so much about us! We are alright dammit!" Vix shouted as Jin himself was on the trail of the group as he was riding on an ice saber to keep up.
"Dammit! Jin sempai's going to catch us!" Makoto yelled as the group ran like hell for the train station. Marcus and Chikacho looked behind them as they noticed the 3rd year senior riding on his ice blade at rapid speed. Marcus thought about it for a quick moment as he looked at Allison. "Allison! Can you handle Jin-sempai!?" Marcus asked as Allison couldn't help but grin a little as she stopped her movement with a simple stomp on the ground, taking a graceful slide as she fired a fireball right at Jin.
Jin saw this and simply leapt into the air as the fireball consumed his ice blade, melting it down like an ice Popsicle. As he did so, Allison fired another barrage of fire balls as she made sure that Jin didn't try to close in too much on her position. "COME ON!" Allison shouted as she leapt out of Jin's crash zone as he formed an ice pillar to slam the ground and extinguish all the fire balls that were coming to him. Sliding on the ice, Jin pulled out his katana as he slid on the ground and spun like a top, threatening to slice Allison's legs, making her leap into the air as she rolled on the ground and stared him down.
"Hehehe. so...You ready to dance again Jin?" Allison asked as she couldn't help but keep on smiling. She was smiling at a situation that normally would be something she should take care off...but couldn't help but smile at this scenario. "We never did finish the match that we had a week ago... we should make sure to finish it." Jin said as Allison prowled on the ground she and Jin leapt at each other, ready to clash with each other.
While Jin and Allison were beginning their battle, Makoto, Marcus and Chikacho were running to the train station. The reason they were heading there was so that they could find a sort of railway to ride upon. It didn't matter if it was not a working train or a lever operated cart, as long as they could find a way to ride the rails. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I don't think that there's a railway that leads to the outside." Makoto wondered as Marcus and Chikacho were scratching their heads as they were relying on memory.
"If I was not mistaken, the railway has a place that leads us the closest to the exits... if memory serves me right." Chikacho said as they soon entered the building and barricaded the entrance. Even though they knew it would be useless, it's better than just leaving the door by itself. As soon as they did that, they began to search for anything they could have used to try and ride on the railways. Their luck was dropping down as they heard the door immediately rock.
Their foreheads sweated heavily as they walked away from the door, cold sweat dripping like mad as Makoto felt panic swelling into her. "Oh my god, Oh my god, What are we going to do!?" Makoto said as Chikacho held her mouth shut, spotting something that they can use. "I think we can use that to get out of here Marcus." Chikacho said as Marcus turned around and noticed the item in question, he couldn't help but smile just a little as the door soon came down hard.
As soon as the door came crashing down, Vix and Bart came crashing right in into the building as they saw Makoto, Chikacho and Marcus holding onto what appeared to be a piece of sheet metal. " OH FUCK! DO IT NOW MARCUS!" Makoto yelled as Vix and Bart realized what was going to happen as they quickly gave chase. As soon as Makoto shouted those words, Marcus pointed EMPTY right behind him as a huge gust of wind picked up from the blade and began to blast him forward, accelerating the group forward as they formed one massive skateboard grinding on the rails.
Marcus found it difficult for him to even speed up the rate of his wind while holding onto the sheet metal. "MARCUS! I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH!" Chikacho yelled as she managed to web everyone's feet to the metal rail they were standing on as they couldn't believe they were doing it, they were grinding on a freaking railway track. Vix and Bart looked at each other as they jumped onto the railways and ran, proving to be much faster as they soon began to strike a balancing act over the floating railway bars.
"COME ON COME ON COME ON!" Makoto shouted as she tried to find a way to accelerate their slow ride as Chikacho and Marcus decided that was ridiculous as Marcus decided to do something drastic. "CHIKACHO! UNWEB ME!" Marcus shouted as Chikacho looked at him for a brief moment before nodding her head, slicing the webs connecting his feet as he leapt off the board forming a small ice crystal on his hand. He felt it, all the sadness that was collecting within him at that moment was bursting out as he fired right onto the rails, creating a massive ice slick as well as a gigantic wall to scale over.
Vix and Bart slipped on the bar as they slammed shoulder first right into the ice wall, making their shoulder feel sore greatly. As they did so, Marcus remained in the air as Chikacho quickly unwebbed her feet, jumping just in time as she managed to web Marcus's shirt and the board at the same time, turning herself into a bridge as Makoto grabbed the web and began to pull both Marcus and Chikacho back onto the board while releasing the sheet metal that they used to give themselves an acceleration boost.
"Dammit...that was just insane you guys." Makoto said as she managed to get both Marcus and Chikacho into the board as they both panted heavily. Makoto crouched lower to support the both of them as they got onto the board, grinding to a stop. "We need to get out of this board now." Marcus said as Makoto quickly nodded her head and ripped the webbing out of her feet. The three of them then leapt off the railings and landed on the rooftops.
"Well...there goes that ride of slow death." Makoto whipped as she was not amused at what she had to go through. Marcus and Chikacho could only look at her and nod their heads as they saw Vix and Bart slip on the ice. "We got to move now. Before they give chase again." Marcus said as he turned his head towards the direction they wanted to head. As soon as he said that, they heard the sound of something moving as it made a loud rumbling noise they heard.
"What...what is that noise?" Marcus said as Chikacho kept an eye out for the group that was on the rail as Makoto closed her eyes to focus on her hearing. It then became clear to her ear that it was the sound of a motorcycle, and the moment she deduced the sound, she figured out what could be the cause of that noise. "It can't be..." Were the only words she could muster as she quickly began to run towards the direction she heard. "M-MAKOTO!? Wait up!" Marcus shouted as he kept pace with Makoto while Chikacho followed him closely.
As they did so, Makoto ran faster as she leapt through the gaps of the rooftops focusing greatly on the sound as she managed to finally reach a perch that allowed her to see the area. She then caught something that made her eyes blink greatly. It was moving fast but not fast enough that her beastkin eyes cannot spot it, a motorcycle that resembled greatly the same bike that she had spotted in the camp. The person on the bike had white hair as she immediately knew what to do as she began to look around for something to signal that person.
"H-HEY MARCUS! CAN YOU FORM SOMETHING BRIGHT!" Makoto shouted instinctively as Marcus looked at her confused as he looked at Chikacho. "Just do that, she's got something in mind." Chikacho said as Marcus nodded and formed a small flame that he managed to make it shine through a mirror that acted like a bright signal despite the sun slowly fading into the background. As soon as Sora saw this, he knew what that meant as he slammed on the brakes on the motorcycle and slid on the ground, creating friction as he quickly parked the bike in the alleyway that they were in. Soon, Sora managed to climb his way up to Marcus, Makoto and Chikacho as they looked at him in stunned shock, wondering what the hell was he doing.
Makoto: S-Sora! What's going on!? Why are you in the city!?
Sora: It's a long story...but let's just say that I am feeling better now.
Chikacho: You shouldn't be in the city right now...wouldn't you be disqualified if you are in the battlefield?
Sora:...Screw the rules.
Makato: Excuse me? Are you...screwing the rules of the coach!?
Marcus: Heh...so you have a plan that involves you being in the city?
Sora: Not really...but I do have an idea that we can try out.. but it involves bait...and that bait is you guys.
As soon as Sora said that, Marcus and Chikacho couldn't help but feel worried all of a sudden. This is something that they never thought they would hear Sora...Say something like that. They honestly thought that Sora had just lost his mind but his brilliant left eye didn't lie at all, in fact, it was very honest as Sora looked at the ground. "I know this sounds crazy...but I know you guys can do it...I need one of your walkie talkies because mine broke. Just trust me on this alright." Sora begged as Marcus and Chikacho looked at each other as they didn't know what they should say at that moment.
"Alright Sora...If you say so." Makoto said as she reached into her pocket to get out her walkie talkie. Marcus and Chikacho couldn't register what they were seeing as Sora gently took the walkie talkie from her hand. "Are you sure Makoto?" Sora asked as Makoto sighed a little bit as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "We are not in the battlefield alright Sora...so lives aren't going to be lost. But even then...this is an exercise of trust and I...I want to trust you with this. So don't mess it up alright." Makoto said, punching his shoulder as Marcus and Chikacho looked at each other before nodding their heads. If this was going to be the case, why even bother trying to fight against it.
Sora didn't have a way to say his thanks, he didn't know what to say in this situation. He was ready to fight for his plan to work yet here he is...with his friends going to agree to his crazy plan. Shaking his head for a moment, he looked at them briefly and pulled out from his pocket the combined rocks, stunning all present. "Is...Is that the rock!?" Makoto said in shock as Sora quickly nodded his head while he checked the area to see if danger was coming close.
"Yes...this is the rock...they combine when together and give the location of the item that we are supposed to find. We can use this knowledge to our advantage." Sora said as he could feel the appending danger coming closer as he looked underneath to check if anybody was heading from the ground. "I'll let you know more of the details later, but you guys need to keep running now. I need to find Allison." Sora said as the others nodded their heads as Sora jumped off the building into a couple of step ladders. He soon landed on the bike as Makoto, Marcus and Chikacho turned to see Vix and Bart crashing from the sky in a flurry of bolts and earth. "THERE YOU GUYS ARE!" Vix shouted as she couldn't help but feel angry at that moment. Makoto, Marcus and Chikacho took cover as they knew a battle was ensuing.
As they did so, Sora continued to ride on the bike trying to find Allison in all of this. He needed Allison in this great crazy plan and she was not with the group when he found them. 'Damn, they most likely asked her to be a distraction...where the hell is she...' Sora didn't need to wonder about that anymore as he saw a gigantic plume of smoke as Sora stopped the bike at that moment and stared at the sight. 'Most likely where the smoke is.' Sora thought again as he rode the bike to that location, curious as to what awaits him when he arrives at that location.
What he saw was a gigantic plume of smoke and dust as two furious figures fought heavily. One wielded an ice blade as his cold exterior would creep the toughest of mercenaries, Sora included. On the other side was a grinning woman wieding what resembled to be a flaming blade, something that puzzled him as her red fiery hair and constant flipping didn't match her normal...in fact now that he thought about it there wasn't much normal about her in the first place. 'Dammit, What am I going to do now?' Sora thought as their flurry of attacks were furious and dangerous to get right in the middle of.
But there was no choice, he had to take this chance otherwise he wouldn't be able to get Allison away for just a brief moment. Revving up the motorcycle greatly, Sora waited for the chance he had to grab in order for him to ride right through the insanity. Soon, the both of them took a stance as they began to have a small conversation. In that moment, Sora immediately revved up the motorcycle and drove right for the opportunity.
He honestly didn't care if he was interrupting an honor bound match, he needed Allison and needed her now. "H-HUH!? SO..." before Allison could finish her sentence, Sora grabbed her fast and hoisted her right at the back seat, not stopping the motion of the motorcycle as Jin had a split second to register what happened before turning to the direction of the bike. "Was that...Minakaze?" Jin wondered as he immediately radioed in on his team mates to inform them of what they saw.
As Jin did that, Sora was having to contend a very pissed off Allison as she continuously pounded on his shirt with anger. "O-OI! What the hell was that for!" Allison shouted into his ear as Sora was trying to drive the motorcycle while focus on thinking of the plan thus not hearing what she had to say to him. "I SAID...WHAT THE HELL SORA!" Allison shouted as Sora was forced to stop the bike out of surprise, sliding right into another alleyway as he rubbed his ears in pain.
Maybe he deserved that for interrupting their fight but this wasn't the time for bickering about this, he was on limited time here. "I know you're pissed right now Ally...but now is not the time for us to fight about this or even explain. I have something that I need to do now and I need to let you and the rest know about it." Sora said but Allison wasn't going to have any of it and just gave him a rough grabbing by the shirt.
"What the hell are you even doing in here Sora...You were supposed to stay in the base and give orders there." Allison said as Sora shook his head. "I never remembered the coach saying that, and even then I can't. My walkie talkie broke so I couldn't communicate with you guys." Sora explained as all Allison could do was sigh heavily and slap her forehead hard with frustration. She had so many questions for him at that moment but just didn't care right now, she decided that arguing about this will result to nothing and needed to settle this moment immediately.
"Alright alright fine...what's this plan that you're proposing for us Sora." Allison asked as Sora quickly got out Makoto's walkie talkie and began cranking on the dial. As he did that, Marcus, Chikacho and Makoto were busy fending off the assault of Bart and Vix as they rained paralysis and earth in one powerful combination. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT YOU FOX!" Vix shouted as she fired multiple bolts right at Marcus's knees as he countered by forming a wind that blew against the bolts, spreading them away.
"But you're one too!" Marcus said as Vix simply continued to rain bolts in anger. Bart in the meantime was trying to swing his hammer with the furious force required but Chikacho kept webbing the head of the hammer to the wall, creating unnecessary tension as Bart gritted his teeth inside the helm. "C-COME ON..." Bart gritted as Makoto winded her fists and began to pound on the armor with the use of her brass knuckles, charging each of her punches with fury as she felt her arms slowly turn into lead.
"J-JUST BREAK ALREADY!" Makoto shouted at Bart's armor, her patience running thin as her fists were running even thinner. "Makoto! I don't think I can keep on holding that hammer back!" Chikacho shouted as Bart's hammer was slowly snapping her webbing string by string. His strength was just abnormal as she couldn't help but smile at this fight. Soon, the webbing snapped and Makoto barely dodged the hammer's vicious swing, slamming right into the brick wall that was holding the roof door.
As that happened, Chikacho and Marcus felt their walkie talkie crack as they both looked at each other immediately. "Makoto! DOWN!" Chikacho shouted as Vix and Bart thought that they were going to use some sort of blinding light to shine into their eyes akin to a flashbang. When they heard that, their basic instinct was to close their eyes and shield them from any blinding light that might enter. What they heard was the ground crumbling down as they opened to see their foes had jumped through a hole where Makoto was.
"Dammit! We can't let them get away Bart!" Vix said but before she could take action, she felt her communicator act up as she immediately stopped herself to take the call, not in the mood at all. "Oh what is it now Maxwell! We are in the middle of chasing after a couple of Sora's team dammit!" Vix shouted as Maxwell rubbed his forehead, trying to keep his team calm as all he needed to say was one word and it would change her mood completely.
Maxwell: We got a bit of a change in the scenario here, Sora's here in the city.
Vix: !? W-Wha!? What the hell do you mean by that Maxwell!?
Maxwell: It's like what I said Vix...Sora Minakaze is in the city right now and we have to move now.
Bart: I see...so if he's here, then that means something is wrong with their communications right now if I am correct to presume...
Maxwell: Well..maybe...but let's not going to jump to conclusions. Now that we know about his appearance, we need to start thinking of the plans that he will be coming up with right now...
Vix: So...What the hell are you making us wait here for, let us go and chase after those guys now! We are going to let them get away!
Maxwell: It's alright... just meet me on the coordinates that I am sending to your map now.
Vix couldn't help but feel a bit pissed at the words that he chose to say as she rubbed the temple of her head. "I am seriously starting to hate taking orders from this guy..." Vix said frustrated as Bart could only shrug for his friend. In the end, orders are orders so he didn't mind them...but. "Do you want to chase after them?" Bart asked as Vix simply looked at him for a moment before she sighed. "I want to...let's just get going already." Vix said as she went down on the hole only to see Makoto, Marcus and Chikacho just in the floor underneath them.
The moment of silence made things awkward for the four of them, staring into each other's eyes as they blinked before... "HEY! YOU STAY THERE NOW!" Vix shouted as Makoto, Marcus and Chikacho immediately took tail and ran away from the scene hard as Vix gave chase. Bart could only look at this scene with confusion as he just scratched his head and jumped off the building's roof, taking advantage of the armor's shock absorbing properties.
At the same time... a few minutes before.
"And that's the plan you guys." Sora explained as Allison stared her eyes right at him while the rest simply were silent from the radio. As if in a collective manner, every single one of Sora's team mates raised their voices in the air and shouted, "ARE YOU SERIOUS SORA!?" Sora himself was not looking forward to that reception as he tried to remedy this problem with a quick solution. "Well...to be fair, we can try something else if..." before he could finish his sentence, Allison grabbed his shirt and slammed him into the wall once again.
"You already came up with the idea already dammit! So commit to it already!" Allison said, trying to give Sora some guts as she had to admit, this was the first time in this entire exercise that Sora had taken initiative with this and he was already slowly going to pussy out of the idea he made. "W-Well nobody sounded like they liked the idea...so I presumed that it's bad you know!" Sora complained as Allison rubbed her forehead. "Well...It's shit, but it's better than nothing alright." Allison said as a sign of reassurance to Sora.
"Y-Yeah Nii-san...we just didn't expect the plan to be like...that." Marcus explained as Sora couldn't help but close his eyes just a little bit, trying to take in the support that they were giving him at that moment. "Though you should have commited to making a plan that is not as risky next time mas...Sora." Chikacho said as Sora felt a sweatdrop drip down his forehead. "Oh come on...Not next time, every time from this point onwards despite me knowing that you will fuck that up regardless!" Makoto said as Sora couldn't help but scratch his head a little.
"Right...so everyone's..." Before he could finish his sentence, he immediately shoved Allison into the other side of the wall as he dived behind the broken window. A cascading trail of ice followed as Jin held his katana in an iaido stance. "So there you two are." Jin said as Sora looked to see the bike was right in the middle of that ice trail, impaled right into the air as the oil guzzled out of it, signalling that it was out of commission.
"Oh...Just right in time Jin-Sempai." Allison said as she twirled her arms to stretch them greatly. Sora couldn't help but swear a little as he was slowly growing attached to that bike already. "What are you doing here Sora...you should have been back at your camp..." Jin said as Sora quickly thought of something that would make sense in his mind. "W-Well...my communicator broke so...It's not fair that my team cannot hear what I am saying so I decided to come out and lead them personally!" Sora said, hoping that Jin would buy that semi-truth in a way excuse.
"...I see...But that doesn't mean I will hold back because of that excuse." Jin said, priming his blade to slice right at Sora, hoping to knock him out when he couldn't see it coming as he took cover within the building. "Oh no you don't!" Allison shouted as she decided to take advantage of the bike's oil and set it alight on a flammable piece of cloth, in this case, her handkerchief as she used the fire made to amplify her fire ars magus, forcing whatever ice was in front of her to melt away.
As soon as she did that, Jin had to dive out of the way for safety while forming an additional ice wall to stave away the extra fire ars magus that was charging for him directly. As soon as she did this, Allison simply gestured for Sora to get going as he nodded and ran out of that room and for the other side of the alley. As soon as he did that, he saw Makoto, Marcus and Chikacho running his direction as they were panting heavily. "JUST RUN SORA! RUN!" Makoto could only shout as they ran past him, confusing him until he felt the heavy vibrations on the ground.
Looking forward, Sora saw a heavily armored giant with an angry looking fox. "! SORA!" Vix yelled as she pointed her crossbow bolts right for him. His instincts kicked in at that moment as instead of running, he ran forward, confusing both Vix and Bart as Vix fired multiple bolts right in front of his way in her confusion, giving him a chance to quickly mount on Bart's waist and snatch the pouch that was dangling right at the side while racing for where Vix stood.
As soon as he did that, Vix pulled out her daggers and attempted to stab him right at the hand but he was quick as Vix's dagger struck the helm of Bart instead, ringing loudly in his ear and forcing him to stop as Both Sora and Vix mounted on his shoulders and stared each other down. "Don't...ask me what I am doing here...I already had to..." Before he could finish his sentence, Vix thrusted her dagger right for his shoulder which made him roll underneath Bart once more and mount quickly from the other side, making Vix switch to the other side.
Bart was not going to be used like a platform, friend or enemy alike and began to swing his shoulders, prepping to catch Sora with his massive hands. Seeing the hands come right for him, Sora focused for a quick moment, and soon phased right through the set of hands and swiftly reached into the pocket of Vix at the same moment, stealing the rock that was inside as it glowed a red tint before jumping off Bart's shoulder and bolting for another alleyway.
As soon as that happened, Bart and Vix only had a split second to register what just happened as that all happened in a surreal moment for them. "D-Did I catch him?" Bart said, completely dumbfounded by what he had just experienced as Vix immediately checked her pockets and began to fume red. "GET THAT GUY!" She yelled, even jumping off Bart's shoulders to give chase as Bart clumsily followed as well. "C-CALM DOWN VIX! WE CAN'T LET ANGER GET TO US!" Bart yelled, trying to give her a nugget of knowledge. "OH SHUT IT BART! I WILL BE CALM WHEN I CATCH THIS GUY!" She yelled back in anger as Bart could only sigh through the metalic armor and follow his friend.
Sora in the meantime was not wasting time with his advantage despite his body feeling sore all round from the stunt he had just pulled with Soul Shift. Having to move his entire body at the same time in different directions on something solid was more stressful than he though as he climbed up a couple of stepladders to reach the roof tops once more. As soon as he did, he had to quickly dodge a kick that came from his blind spot all of a sudden as he barely sensed the intent from it to send his head flying. 'Damn! If I saw Jin, Vix and Bart just now...then that could only mean one thing.' Sora thought as he turned to see a spiked fist coming right for his face, forcing him to grab the punch otherwise his face would have been tenderized in one blow.
" You were not supposed to be here Minakaze..." Maxwell said as Sora held his fist from the arm with him kicking him away at the end. "I know...But communications broke and I don't have the pleasure of seeing things unlike your fancy communication ars magus." Sora explained as Maxwell shook his head. "I don't know if you're going to win or lose at this point...But I guess it doesn't matter, we should make things interesting shall we?" as soon as he said that, Maxwell immediately tried to do a backfist slam which Sora had to roll away from as he gripped the circular round that is Kizuna and equipped them on his wrist.
Soon, Maxwell began to deliver a series of punches with ferocity hidden through a calm expression as Sora deflected the punches left and right. Though they were not as hard as Makoto's punches, they were still quick as some managed to slip through his guard and nick his arm a little. As Sora was busy guarding those attacks, Maxwell tried to use a kick to the shin as a way to take him to the ground. Shins soon collide as Maxwell felt the intense pain course through his own shin as both combatants grabbed their respective shins.
"Shit..didn't see that one coming." Sora muttered, quickly nursing his right shin as Maxwell quickly stomped his left foot to stop the pain from his shin. 'Damn...his legs are much more dense than I originally thought.' Maxwell thought as soon Sora decided to increase his offensive momentum and slowly crank it up by delivering a powerful kick aimed for the stomach. Maxwell managed to deflect most of the impact away from his stomach by elbowing the leg to the side, making the leg graze through his side as he caught the kick with his other arm.
Before Maxwell could attempt to attack the leg once more, Sora used his other leg and sprung himself into the air, doing an enzuguri and striking Maxwell's head as he released the leg due to the pain he felt. Quickly recovering his footing, Sora began to run right for the next roof. As he did so, he saw something zoom right past his ear, nearing nicking it as he rolled around to see Maxwell wielding a couple of throwing daggers as he pulled his hand back, revealling a chain of sorts as Sora had to duck under to avoid being stabbed in the eye.
"Come on! Don't run!" Maxwell taunted as he flung his throwing dagger combo multiple times, doing some feints each time to confuse Sora as he kept his guard raised to protect his face. As he did so, his arms felt the prickly touch of the throwing daggers as they barely grazed his chest. Maxwell then decided to throw his daggers right at Sora's thigh, striking it and forcing Sora to take a compromised guarding position to shield his injured thigh.
Looking at the ground, it seemed to be a better option than just the roof as he quickly jumped off the roof, accidentally scraping more of his thigh right on an exposed piece of rebar, making Sora swear a lot. ' Fuck! Shit! Dammit! Why does this happen to me all the time!' Sora swore inside, cursing his injury streak as he knew he was going to have another scar there that will need hiding after this. Soon, his feet landed on the ground as he had to hold his wound hard while he speed walked into another building.
Because of the conditions of the battlefield, he didn't really have a way to stop the bleeding rapidly. All he could do was just rip off a small portion of his small coat and tie it around the wounded thigh area tightly. Soon, Maxwell smashing his hand through the window and grabbed Sora who was trying to hide at the sides of the window, forcing him through the other portion of the window, shattering and scattering the glass throughout Sora's body. Soon, Sora was forced to guard some more as Maxwell's own communicator acted up.
"Hey Maxwell! We finally managed to get one of them!" Vix said as a person was heard shouting through the communicator. "OH GOD DAMMIT! LET ME GO ALREADY!" Makoto shouted as it triggered something within Sora's head, an instinct to rescue as he attempted to get away so he could go to Makoto. What happened instead was Maxwell attempting to clothesline him to the ground, making him roll out of the way for safety while rolling the glass shards right into some of his own scars.
Soon, Sora began to run once more, groaning in pain as he hid from Maxwell. He would have just fought against Maxwell as this point but he knew he had no time to waste with him. Makoto was captured right now and he needed to get her. 'Where is he right now...he should know which building I am hiding in.' Sora thought as he peaked out of a crack in the wall. Maxwell then walked right past him as Sora didn't like the aura he was having at that moment. It was an aura of uneasiness, something that didn't comfort him at all as he stood up once more and looked for the stairs inside the building.
As he did, he felt the temptation to grab that communicator and talk into it to see how the others are doing as his hand hovered around the walkie talkie. He soon relented and continued walking as he soon allowed the memories of that day flow into his head. The day that he and Reiko finally bonded properly in that cathedral, that same day where she died... In the end, no matter how much he tried, what he did to forget this day along with many more days, they are permanently engraved into his body. Scars, broken hearts, they remain in this body of his and they are the only thing he feels is real in the end as he reached the top of the roof, exposing him to the setting sun which was as dim as his heart but as empty as well.
But Sora couldn't linger on about this anymore... not while he was in the middle of a mission. She deserved that much respect at least as he looked around for Makoto. It was then he saw Vix and Bart hoisting Makoto who was as still as a rock. On her leg was stabbed a dagger which was most likely coated with Vix's paralysis poison which is enough to take him down. Makoto then noticed Sora as she immediately stopped herself from shouting out his name by accident as he quietly watched from the distance.
He was debating on what to do, but before he could do so, he felt a kick right on the head that sent him flying to the ground right next to Vix and Bart. Holding it in pain, he noticed the two of them staring at him as he quickly recovered from the ground and felt a wall of ice right behind him. 'Oh don't tell me...' as he slowly turned around, he saw Jin standing right on top of the ice wall, Allison nowhere in sight as he slid down the wall. Here he was, outnumbered 3 to 1.
It was then Maxwell came charging in by stabbing on the wall with his throwing daggers and scaled down. Change that original number to 4 and he felt fucked. Not that he was not used to fighting this many people at the same time, He just didn't have to fight this many strong people at the same time, each one powerful in their own way. "S-Sorry Sora, they got me when I least expect it." Makoto said, disappointed as he could see the visible disappointment in her face. Makoto is always the type that loves to fight so to be a damsel in distress is not only frustrating for her, it's also rather hard to see her as one.
"Its alright...though it does remind me of a certain time." Sora muttered as Makoto looked at him before chuckling a little. As she did so, Maxwell and his team couldn't help but feel confused by how casual they were talking at this point, not panicking at their presence but actually having a normal conversation. "What is this...why are you having a normal conversation?" Bart asked as Sora looked at him while Makoto stiffly tried to do so. "And where...is our rocks!" Vix shouted as she noticed that Sora didn't have the pouch that Bart had on before.
"I don't know...where could it be?" Sora pondered as Jin had enough and Sora felt a chill encase the bottom of his feet then slowly wrap themselves on his wrists. "Well will you look at that, you made Jin-sempai angry." Maxwell said as Jin walked right in front of him and smacked him in the head. "I will not hesistate to interogate you for it...so tell me, where is the stones." Jin asked as Sora simply gave him a smile and shook his head. "I really honestly don't know what stones they are talking about." Sora lied as Jin smacked him in the head again.
"Jin...You don't have to do that. Let Bart do it." Maxwell insisted as Jin sighed a bit before looking at Bart who gave Makoto to him, holding her at her shoulders despite knowing that she can't move at this moment. "Now..you will answer our question or Bart here will send you six feet into the air." Maxwell threathened as Sora looked at the big metallic fist of Bart."Oh come on. Send me six feet Barty! Try me!" Sora begged as Maxwell and Bart looked at each other, confused that their gamble went this way.
"Oh just do it! I am sure he's going to be alright even if you send him 6 feet into the air. He's tough to kill after all." Vix muttered as Makoto could only watch the scene helplessly, unable to help Sora even if she wanted to. "Come on...DO IT...DO IT!" Sora yelled, actually giving Bart his chin as if mocking his strength, trying to prove him. This is not like Sora at all, he wasn't the type to actually beg for pain like this. Then again, they barely even talk to the guy and he's still a mystery to this day. 'You're nothing but a big bag of mysteries Minakaze...I don't like that at all.' Maxwell thought as suddenly, The walkie talkie created static as Maxwell immediately grabbed the item from Sora's pocket.
"Hey Sora! Lost Jin! And I got the stuff you asked for!" Allison's voice echoed through the walkie talkie as everyone looked at each other at this point. "Also...We may need some help carrying this objective here! It's too bloody heavy!" Allison continued as that immediately sent signals to Maxwell's team as panic began to envelop their hearts. As soon as the walkie talkie stopped transmitting signals, Maxwell immediately turned around to grab Sora's collar but by the time he did that, Sora had not only vanished, so did Makoto as everyone was looking at each other. "W-Where did they go!?" Maxwell asked, bewildered by such feats as meanwhile, Sora carried Makoto piggyback style.
"Don't force yourself Sora...you look like you're hurting." Makoto said worried as Sora removed the paralysis dagger off her leg. "Don't...Mind me, I am used to this shit." Sora said casually as he continued to wince in pain. This was his first time having used soul shift more than once a day and he was feeling it's straining effects as his muscles felt stiff and the feeling of his foot and wrists still felt cold. "But still...I can't believe this crazy plan of yours is working right now." Makoto said as Sora shook his head. "It's still too early to call you know...for what we know, they are not going to bite on the bait. Also panic usually doesn't last long when adrenaline is..."
As soon as Sora was going to finish his sentence, he felt the ground shake as he couldn't help but fall to his butt, his leg muscles strangely felt dead. Was this just the effect of using Soul Shift just twice? Makoto could feel her muscles return to normal as she got to her feet to see Bart charging through the roof door. "WE GOT TO GO NOW!" Makoto said, instinctively grabbing Sora by his shoulder and began to drag him away from the stairs. As she said that, Bart began to run down the stairs, most likely hearing the voice as Sora decided on a shortcut.
Grabbing her with his arm, he immediately shifted his entire weight away to the gaps between the stairs, shielding her from most of the impact in the process as his body struck the pole multiple times, each more painful than the last but he didn't release his grip nor did he stop his curl, not giving the pole his neck to smack into as they soon reached the bottom of the stairs, Sora feeling like his entire body was going to die at that exact moment. "ARGH...Bad...Idea..." Sora moaned as his muscle felt like mush.
Makoto wasn't going to complain, it was a lot faster than walking down the stairs...BUT... "You idiot, you didn't have to do something that brash!" Makoto muttered as she carried him bridal style out of the building. Sora didn't care that he was being carried this way by a woman, his body was sore all over for him to walk normally in the first place. "Let's just head...to the rendezvous point, Marcus and Chikacho should be waiting for us there." Sora muttered as Makoto simply picked up her pace. Running through the city streets as the night slowly arrived.
SORA POV
It wasn't easy for us to get to the location I had in mind... but we made it, the old church where we spotted Marcus and Chikacho waiting for us at the main entrance. My muscles still felt like mush as Makoto still had to carry me bridal style. "What happened to you Nii-san!" Marcus said, clearly worried for me as he began to check all around my body in pure worry as I noted the fright in his eyes. "It's nothing Marcus...I just got overworked that's all." I tried to say in order to reassure him that things were going to be alright but all that did was worry him even further as it took a slap to the head by Chikacho to finally calm him down.
"Calm down already Marcus. Sora's alright." Chikacho said as it took her words to finally calm him down. As he released his grip off my wrist, I looked around for a bit as I felt some strength in my muscle. "Wheres Allison..." I asked as they both looked at me briefly and pointed to right behind my direction. "She's in the alley...I would be careful though Nii-san...she looks a bit pissed." Marcus said as I knew something was off. I couldn't help it as I forced myself of Makoto's grasp and start walking slowly to that direction. I could hear an audible sound of worry from Makoto so I turned around and gave her my best smile
"It's alright Makoto...I am just going to check on her to see if she's alright." I said as I looked to make sure Makoto's face didn't look worried at all. "A-Alright...just don't push yourself alright." Makoto said, turning around to face Marcus and Chikacho as their communicators cracked. "Teams...this is the coach. I am calling a ceasefire to the fighting for now...I have seen what I need to see through the viewpoint, please take it easy and stay in your groups until I come back with what I have decided." I heard as I walked into the alleyway to try and find Allison.
These alleys felt familiar to me, just paint them the colour red and I would recognise this immediately. No matter what I did after I got my memories back...I knew that I would someday have to come back to this place...not this soon though. My muscles ached with every step as if my whole body was in pain from just being in here in general, forcing me to support my whole body right on the wall to make sure the pain didn't get worse. "Allison...where are you..." I called out for as I stood still, waiting for a voice to call back by now.
Nothing came back, nothing for a few minutes. Just where could she be in the middle of these dense dark alleys. I just decide to continue exploring the area to find her. As I do so, I can't help but feel so many other thoughts begin to come into my head. Thoughts of what happened here, the bloodshed and tears. That doesn't matter though because all I wants is to just find some sort of closure with this place before I leave. The last thing I want to do is just leave with bad memories.
"ALLY! WHERE ARE YOU!" I shouted once more as hear a sudden spring in someone's step as I noticed a brief flash of light coming through my right. I walked to that light as I noticed Allison, standing in surprise as I figured that she must be ready for combat. She must have noticed my shitty look right now because she rushed to me with a look of worry on her face. "Are you alright...you look like crap" Allison said as I simply allowed her to hoist my arm on her shoulders. "Oh nothing, Just wondering where you were... Why were you in the alleyways?" I asked out of concern as a conversation bloomed while we walked.
Allison: Sorry... Just thought that I was onto something you know... But that doesn't matter now.
Me: Huh...What were you...
Allison: Come on, don't you think it's wise to keep the rest waiting? We should head back now.
Me: Huh...Alright. You got a point. We should get going...
Allison: Speaking of which... You look like you been through hell. They got you good huh.
Me:... Try being stabbed at the leg through rebar, slamming your back into multiple railings on at least a 10 storey building from the very top and guarding a whole onslaught of attacks.
Allison: Right...Why didn't you want back. It could have been a lot easier you know...
Me: Makoto was paralyzed and in their grasps...I just couldn't risk another person getting captured.
The moment I said that, I notice the expression on Allison's face as she looked a bit worried for her. "Is Makoto alright? Did they do anything to her?" Allison asked as I simply nodded my head to make sure that she understands... "Yes, Makoto is alright." Breathing a sigh of relief in the end, she looks at me again. "What about you though...I think we should be patching up that leg soon." Allison continued as I sigh a little bit. "We will when we get back to the church...besides I doubt that the coach is pleased I am here in the first place... like I care in the first place." I said as Allison looked at me weirdly.
"Sure...When we back to the church...right after hearing from your mouth that there's something worse than being stabbed with rebar, falling through a 10 storey building while blocking a barrage of attacks? What could possibly top that combo?" Allison asked as she said in a way that not only confused me, it made me feel so confused. What kind of question is she asking in the first place...but a combo that's worse then what I had just told her today...Hmmmm... "That's a rhetoricial question man!" Allison shouted all of the sudden. "A rhetorical what now?" I couldn't help but say as Allison scratched her head.
"A question that doesn't need answering..." Allison said nervously. Great...she got me even more lost now. "Then it's not a question in the first place?" I answered as I couldn't help but just be confused. "It...IT JUST WORKS THAT WAY OKAY!" Allison shouted as she groaned and slapped her forehead. "Oh let's just get going already..." Allison said as I nodded my head and agreed with what she just had said. Soon, we walked some more as I couldn't help but start thinking about...big...sis...
Why am I thinking about big sis right now?.. It not only feels so inappropriate at time like this..the timing for it is just not meant for it. "Hey... You doing okay? You're being awfully quiet right now." Allison as I looked at her with surprise. Oh man...do I say what I am saying? or.. "Just thinking what would my big sister would do right now." God damn my mouth! Why did I say that! Now she's going to ask... "Oh? You have a big sister?" DAMMIT! Now I have to answer Allison's question regarding my sister!.. Take a deep breath Sora...don't keep thinking about this now... just tell her...the...truth... "...Had." Was the only word I could muster and it's enough to convey the words that I wish to say to her. Saying anymore would...be too much.
"Oh...I'm...I'm Sorry..." Allison said, trying to apologize as I couldn't help but scratch my head. "Please don't apologize...I don't feel like telling my story would change anything..." I said trying to divert Allison's attention elsewhere but it looks like she wants to focus on me right now. "Change...Change what exactly?" Allison wondered as I pressed my hand on my forehead. "It's...It's nothing really...I just have to live with it..." I continued as I managed to pry off Allison's grip on my arm as I tried to walk on my own.
"Oi Oi, You're in no condition to be walking by yourself... Let me help you alright." Allison said as she tried to get her hands on my hand again. I stopped her from doing son as we stopped walking briefly. "It's alright...I am used to this. Just don't babysit me when I don't need it alright." I said, trying to draw a line. An audible tch was heard from her as I couldn't help but feel that she wasn't satisfied with that answer. "Will you just stop with this tough guy act." Allison said as she got right in front of my face with a defiant look on her face despite her short stature.
"I am just tired...Tired of your tough guy act in these kind of situations dammit. Yeah I get it, you're tough and a man so you can handle it. But face it, you're hurt and can barely walk properly, so why won't you just let me help you and save your own strength dammit." Allison said as she placed her hands on her hips as she looked at me with a slightly annoyed brow. "No one in their right mind should limp themselves unnessacarily with a person willing to help them in the first place." she continued as I rubbed my head.
"I am alright...Just let me go and save me the lecture." I said, trying to make sure that she gets what I am trying to say. Unfortunately she didn't get my message as she tried to support me again. "I'll let you go when we get back, so stop complaining and let me help you." She said as I had to push her off me again as we only moved just a little bit. Just why won't she get the message, "Like I said...I am used to it...so let do it alright." I said, finally raising my voice just a little bit as she looked at me with a bit of a pained look.
"Just...Just why won't you let me help you. You're hurt...I just don't get it." Allison said, finally letting out a sign of frustration as I sighed. "There's nothing to get from this Allison... I just want to do this on my own... I'm not trying to be a tough guy here and refuse your help... I just want to do this on my own." I said, finally feeling like the message I want to give her as she sighed and slowly nodded her head.
"I guess...this is something you would say to Marcus and Chikacho as well huh." Allison said as I just nodded my head back. She then sighed hard as she turned around to face her back to my face. "Fine...but drop once to the ground and you're going to just pick your own ass up alright." Allison said as she started walking back as I couldn't help but think of something. "Say Allison...can I call you Ally? Saying your name is too long at times." I asked as I want to at least make her feel that this conversation wasn't useless as she gave it some thought.
"Fine...You can call me Ally." Ally said as I nodded my head. "But I will be still keeping my eye on you...so don't get comfortable with me alright." Ally continued to explain before finally keeping quiet. As she walked ahead, I looked to the night's sky as I breathed in the coming cold air. There was soo many things that were hovering in my head but I couldn't heave it to linger in my head for too long. From Ally to Big sis to even Reiko...a lot of stuff happened today but...I get the feeling that there is more coming my way.
And I need to be ready for what's to come next.
GREETINGS LOST SHEEP OF FANFICTION! I am soo Sorry that this is coming in so late! I didn't intend to leave you guys without a story to read for almost half a month! I feel like an ass for doing so but when you have assignments and examinations coming your way you tend to be lost. I tried to update the story before it was too late but I was unfortunately unable to do so. So I decided to make this chapter longer to compensate. What does this mean for the postings this month?
NOTHING! I AM NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE UPDATE SCHEDULE I HAVE SET MYSELF! I SAID I AM GOING TO POST TWICE A MONTH! I WILL POST TWICE A MONTH! JUST EXPECT THE NEXT CHAPTER TO COME OUT SOONER! AND IF YOU'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT ME OVEREXERTING MYSELF DOING THIS I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I WON'T BE HINDERED WHEN I DO THIS!
So I have to thank you guys for sticking around and checking out this chapter when you have the time and while I didn't post for a while. I know that there is some of you that probably gave up on the story because I took too long to post but I am grateful for the ones that stayed and waited. This story isn't getting as read as much but I don't mind. Fanfiction has always been something I enjoyed writing for and as long as there is people who are reading my works, I can happily continue writing. Though this arc feels like it's taking too long, don't worry, it's approaching it's end soon. And I have plans for the next arc!
AND SO! THE NIGHT HAS DESCENDED UPON OUR GROUP! WHAT WILL THE COACH SAY!? WHAT KIND OF TRIAL AWAITS SORA AND HIS GROUP NEXT!? IS MAXWELL AND HIS GROUP GOING TO TRIUMPH EVEN WITH THE DISADVANTAGE THEY HAVE!? ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE IN THE NEXT BLACK!