Author's Notes: Hello, minna! I'm alive. Finally, I've gotten a few days off school to relax and just catch up with whatever I've missed online. Anyway, here's another installment for this fic. Kuroudo fans, please don't kill me... just review! :p

Twenty-Seven

His battle with Phoebe was in such a blur that when she had managed to pin him to the ground after what seemed to be quite a short span of time, he couldn't believe or even remember how he had ended up in such a position. She was a good fighter, yes - but so was he. Reflexively, he tried to get back up on his feet, but as soon as she saw him attempt to do such a thing, she exerted even more energy into keeping him at bay, not holding back at digging her knee deeper into his chest. With such force against him, he felt as though he was about to explode in pain.

"Well, looks like you're at the losing end. Why don't you give up now and save me the trouble?" Her voice dripped with much sarcasm as she said those words, and when she received no reply, she pushed her knee against his torso even more, making him scream involuntarily. "Resistance will do you no good, Marume. Continue this, and I won't hesitate to put an end to your miserable existence. Give up now."

Kuroudo's mind spun, barely hearing her words of jest. He wasn't even aware of anything else, except for what was immediately in front of him. The pain that continuously fed on his body was apparently blocking his senses, hearing included. At his shot to clear his thoughts, only one question surfaced: Where was Lan Fang? She was the one who Phoebe and those goons wanted to take back to Ming Wu. She was the one who was in trouble.

She was the one who he promised to protect.

Although he said nothing to his best friend about their little shopping trip, he silently promised Kyousuke that he would take care of her. He knew that if something bad would happen to her while they were together and while he was capable of doing something, he would never be able to forgive himself. And it wasn't only because she was his best friend's girlfriend; it was also because - as much as he tried to deny it, even to his own self - he loved her. That willing him to do what needed to be done, he gritted his teeth and replied, "Never!"

That one precious second was all he needed. He overpowered her at the time she least expected, throwing her away from him and him regaining his footing. She landed on the ground, unable to recover from the surprise attack immediately, and he looked on, panting. That move cost him so much of his energy, most of which had already been consumed by the pain she had inflicted on him. But there wasn't a moment to lose. He was well aware that in a few heartbeats, she would rise to meet his challenge, and that might just be his last stand. She still had the advantage.

Suddenly, he froze. And it wasn't because Phoebe had gotten up. He felt something come in contact with the side of his head, and then heard a soft yet distinguishable click. When he thought that was the last of the heart-stopping turn of events, a new voice flooded into his ears. Taunting. Sardonic. And above all, unmistakably familiar. Its owner asked, "Perhaps I can make you change your mind?"

He didn't even have to look at him. "Takeshi."

"Leave this kid to me, Phoebe. You bring Lan Fang home; I've got her secured in my car. I'll meet you there in a while," the dark-haired young man instructed coolly, his deep brown eyes focused on the blonde Gear Fighter's already-still form. In no time, the girl he had addressed obeyed and left, and he let out a knowing smile. "I have an offer to make, Marume. Say yes and you'll live. Say no…" His smile turned cruel. "…and you get this bullet."

"I'll never join you," Kuroudo told him fiercely. As much as he wanted to just make a run for it, he knew he couldn't, and that he'll end up wasting his life. He had been robbed of a lot of energy, and he was up against someone with a deadly weapon. But despite the fact that he practically had no other option left, he was determined to resist Takeshi's efforts to make him one of the bad guys. He'd rather die than betray the ideals of Gear Fighting. He'd rather die than betray his friends. He'd rather die than betray himself. "I'll never become a puppet for Ming Wu's evil plans. I'll never be like you."

Knowing that he had pronounced his death sentence by saying such words, he closed his cerulean eyes and inhaled deeply in preparation for what he was about to do. The Grim Reaper was knocking on his door and it would only be a matter of time before he would get caught. And he wasn't going to let himself get caught without even trying to keep his promise to his best friend, so he fought. He fought even though the odds were against him. He fought even if he barely had any strength to continue. He fought even though Takeshi had a gun, and he had nothing but his bare hands. He fought with all of his strength, and with all of his heart.

And that battle was Kuroudo Marume's last.

-x-

Kyousuke awoke.

He knew that he was alone in his house, but he could almost swear that he distinctively heard a gunshot. And after that apparent sound buzzed into his system, he felt himself grow cold. Something had gone terribly wrong. He didn't know what, but there was a nagging voice at the back of his head, suggesting that he go out of bed and check out what had happened.

And so he did. While he headed to the bathroom to splash his face with water, he tried to recall what had happened the day before. Lan had taken an earlier flight to Japan to be able to spend some time with him, and he picked her up from the airport; then they went out to eat and enjoy themselves. They went to the park to go stargazing, and there they talked about their plans in life, in and out of Gear Fighting. They even confessed their feelings for each other, though he didn't kiss her for some reason. Then she fell asleep and Kuroudo…

Clang!

The sound startled him, it having disrupted the stillness once more, and as soon as he recovered from the jolt of shock that surged through his body, he rushed back into his bedroom to look for what had fallen from its place --- wondering how it could've happened in the first place. And in no time, he found what he was looking for. On the floor, just beside his bed, was a picture frame, its glass covering already shattered into pieces.

And the photograph was of him and his best friend.