Disclaimer: See chapter one


Chap. 28


"There can be only one."

With his sword high overhead, the masked immortal made ready to bring his sword down on the defenseless Cody. Cody held his arm up in a meager defense, but knew that would do no good. Nothing short of a miracle could save him now. And when he felt the sensation, he knew one had come.

Hopefully...

Vega paused in his attack and lifted his head to locate the intruder. From the rocks behind, a new figure stepped out into the clearing. Cody's eyes widened as he saw the arrival of the newcomer. More or less Cody's stature the man was large, practically towering over Vega in both width and height. Cody guessed he was at least close to seven feet tall and judging by the way he was dressed, the cap of feathers on his head and the paint on his face, the stranger must be Native American. In his hand, he held a large tomahawk which too helda line of feathers. Vega turned fully to the new immortal.

"This does not concern you." Vega spoke out. "Take your leave."

The man was unfazed. "On the contrary, this concerns me greatly." His eyes shifted over to Cody, who was trying to inch his way away from Vega's blade. "You are Cody, correct?"

Cody stopped and looked at him. "Yes. Who are...?" Cody soon stopped in his words, remembering the whole reason he came to this place to begin with. "T. Hawk?"

The man nodded and Cody felt like slapping himself for not realizing it sooner. Of course the name would have indicated the man's heritage and the fact that he was an immortal and in the area should have made that fact clear to him. Returning to the present situation, Cody looked on as T. Hawk continued to advance toward Vega.

"He is my responsibility. If you are to have him, you must go through me."

For a moment, Cody thought that his stature would have been enough to scare or at least intimidate Vega. But the masked immortal merely chuckled and whirled his blade.

"Is that a promise?"

Seeing that he wouldn't get through this without a fight, T. Hawk lifted his weapon and spoke to Cody. "Those stones behind me mark a burial area. Holy ground, understand?"

Cody looked behind him and saw the stones a good jogging distance away. He knew what T. Hawk was telling him to do. He had to reach that area immediately. It was the only way he could be safe. But as Cody rose to his feet, his eyes fell upon his sword, which was just a bit away from him. It would be even simpler if he grabbed his sword and assisted the big man.

"Don't." The native spoke again. Cody paused and realized that he T. Hawkhad seen where he was heading. Before he could question it, T. Hawk continued. "You can not interfere in this. Just go now."

Cody blinked, but obeyed and began to move. Vega's eyes watched him leave off before refocusing back on T. Hawk. His eyes narrowed in a hidden smile. "I must say, I wasn't expecting to find one like you here. This will be more enjoyable than I thought."

T. Hawk grunted. "Or more costly."

At that, T. Hawk suddenly swung overhead and brought his tomahawk down. Quickly, Vega lifted his own sword to defend and both blades clashed with a spray of sparks. T. Hawk came again, hacking vertically across and forcing Vega to block again. Vega pushed back and jumped aside as T. Hawk brought his tomahawk down once more. Vega then sprung to his feet and stabbed in. T. Hawk swung his weapon around and caught the incoming blade before it could touch him. Gripping it with both hands, he then swung it around mightily, disarming Vega and sending the man's sword flying to the side. Then with a quick motion, T. Hawk brought the tomahawk to Vega's throat.

Cody had reached the stones and looked back to see what appeared to be T. Hawk's coming victory. He couldn't believe that such a large individual could move so fast. Meanwhile, Vega remained still, letting his eyes curve down to the weapon at his throat.

"I have no quarrel with you. Leave now."

Vega continued to stare at the tomahawk. "Hmh. You dumb animal."

Vega suddenly snapped backward and flipped away from T. Hawk. T. Hawk was surprised by the act and followed the spinning man. Vega continued to backflip until he reached his sword, which he grabbed and held forward, with his side held out to the front as well. T. Hawk continued to pursue, but his instincts told him to stop immediately.

No sooner than he did Vega slash out; not with his sword but rather it was with his claw, which he had also recovered during his backflips. The razor weapon ripped across the native's chest, tearing the front of his shirt. T. Hawk reared his arm and weapon back, readying himself as Vega bent to the ground and then suddenly leaped into the air. Cody continued to watch on as Vega began to slow in his ascent, looking down at T. Hawk with both his claw and sword outstretched. T. Hawk bent his knees and reversed his grip on the tomahawk, twisting it upside-down.

'Guide my hand, ancestors.'

Vega suddenly bent his body downward and shot down with a shriek. At the same time, T. Hawk propelled himself into the air, flying at a speed that belittled his size. The two bodies flew at each other in the air with Vega crossing his arms downward while T. Hawk hurling his arm and tomahawk upward. They finally crossed each other and a blinding spark prevented Cody from seeing what had happened for a split second. When he was able to see, Vega had landed on the ground, his arms outstretched. T. Hawk landed a moment later, with his back facing Vega's. The two immortals were still and Cody was left in wonder as to what had just happened. The Vega turned around and crossed his claw and sword.

With blood etched in them...

Cody's eyes widened as the eyes of T. Hawk seemed to fade off into lifelessness. But not before the Native American whispered his final words.

"...sorry..."

The massive frame of man toppled, his head rolling off as soon as he hit the ground. Cody was shocked at this and the body soon began to glow. Lightning flashed forth and struck Vega. The masked warrior tensed at the repeated strikes to his body, but made no outcry. Whether he was holding it in or simply in to much pain to stream, Cody didn't know. This was the first time he had seen a Quickening and just seeing it was enough to fill him with awe. Vega lifted his weapons high into the air as the Quickening increase in intensity and then with a swift outstretch of his arms, he cried.

"Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"

The cry was followed by the exploding of stone around him, shattering the rocky outcroppings into rubble and dust. Cody backed away and covered his eyes from the flashes of light that continued to rage over the landscape. Finally it stopped and Cody was faced with a cloud of dust. Waving the particles that were floating at him, he saw a lean figure appear and draw close. Cody backed away further, already knowing who it was. The dust settled and Vega's form became clear before Cody as he continued to close in. However the masked immortal stopped a good foot or two away from the defensive Cody.

"Normally, it's not my nature to let my prey go, but in this case, I think I will."

Cody narrowed his eyes, until he remembered. He was on holy ground. Therefore, Vega couldn't kill or even fight with him there. But what could he do, just sit in a burial site for the rest of his life? Vega continued speaking.

"But don't think that you're off the hook. Grow stronger, get better. That way, when I do come for you, your Quickening will be just as sweet as his was."

Vega let out a dark chuckle before turning around and walking away, taking the jeep that had been left over, and leaving the newborn immortal and a headless corpse.


'Lead up not into temptation, but deliver us...'

Cammy sat in the midst of the church, her head bowed in prayer. But her prayer was interrupted by the presence of an immortal entering the church. Normally, she would have ignored it and continued on, but for some reason, she felt she had to see who it was. 'I can always pray' she mused as she looked up. And she wasn't disappointed. In fact, she was a bit surprised by whom it was.

"Kenneth. You're back sooner than I expected."

The blond-haired immortal strode in through the pathway of the church, accompanied by Eliza and Mel. Cammy approached him and gave him a light embrace.

"Just thought I'd get this over with." he muttered jovially. Taking the hint, Eliza backed out of the embrace and looked at the two occupants standing nearby.

"So this is Eliza." she smiled, bowing her head slightly.

"And you're Cammy." Eliza smiled back. She held out her hand to which Cammy grasped lightly. "Hello." After the handshake, Eliza indicated to the little boy hanging near her leg. "And this is Melvin. But he likes to be called Mel."

Cammy bent down to look at the boy more closely. "Hello, Mel. Nice to meet you."

The boy seemed to shrink closer to her mother, but nevertheless replied "H-Hi…"

"Don't mind him." Eliza said, reaching behind his head. "He's just a little shy."

"Really? Must be genetic." Cammy answered, giving Ken a glance.

Eliza noticed this. "What do you mean?"

Cammy smiled again, but this was a dangerous smile. "As I recall, Kenneth was quite the shy one. I pretended not to notice, but he often kept a fair distance from me. A little too fair." Ken's face flushed as Cammy went on. "It was often cute at times. Especially that time when I came out of a shower as you were entering and..."

"That's enough!" Ken exclaimed, his face now a light shade of pink.

The priest nearby held up his finger to quiet him and Ken apologized for the outburst. Eliza giggled to herself, pleased that Ken wasn't the playboy he always bragged he was.

"You'll have to tell the rest of that later."

"I have tons of them."

Ken sulked quietly to himself. 'I was afraid of this.'


Ryu walked down the street alone, striding purposefully though in fact he was simply walking around. He felt as though he had spent a lot of time in the mansion and needed to get out a walk a bit. Truthfully, he hadn't spent so much time in another place since he was young, with the exception of his dojo in Japan and that was usually to renew his basic training. He had never remained in a place that didn't revolve around his training and there was no real reason to stay in the mansion at all. So why did he stay? Before he could think about answering his own question, he stopped walking, sensing a presence behind him. No, it wasn't an immortal. Which meant only one person...

"Following me still?"

Dan shrugged jovially as he caught up to Ryu. "That's my job. But the truth is I was just heading to a bookstore in the area."

"Oh."

"Are you surprised?" Dan questioned as the two continued to walk on.

Now it was Ryu's turn to shrug. "You just don't seem like the type to be in a bookstore."

"Well, we all have secret passions." An inquisitive glint lit in his eye. "Don't you think?"

Ryu, who was no stranger to that look, frowned. "Don't even start."

"Oh come on." Dan started. "She's beautiful, smart, strong, and brave. Even a monk like you can't deny a woman like that." His grin broadened. "Hell, I may ask her out myself."

"Then why don't you?" the immortal sighed.

Dan didn't let Ryu escape that easily. "Why don't you ask yourself that question?"

"Are you finished?"

Dan narrowed his eyes. "Not by a long shot. But seeing as how this is my stop, I'll leave you alone for now."

Ryu's gaze softened at the prospect of Dan leave, taking with him this uncomfortable subject. "Well, I'll see you around then."

"Oh you can bet on that, Ryu."

That was what Ryu was afraid of.


In the courtyard in the back of the church, Ken and Cammy walked side-by-side in the low grass. Eliza and Mel went to grab lunch and Ken decided to talk with Cammy a bit. As the two walked aimlessly, Ken regarded his former lover. Despite her cheerful attitude, something was wrong. He saw it in her eyes. She was... what was the word...? Down at best. Depressed at worse. With a light sigh, he decided to ask on the issue.

"Are you alright?"

Cammy looked up from her reverie and at him. "Of course. Why do you ask?"

"You seem...I don't know. Offbeat." 'Understatement' he thought. Judging from that quick look, it bordered close to depression."

"Maybe I'm just a bit weary." she replied softly. "It happens."

That was true. Ken had seen a few immortals that grew tired of their prolonged existences and constant battles. Some sought refuge on holy ground, like Cammy. Others simply went on with their lives until they recovered. And there were a few who were so stressed that they would willing let themselves be killed or die just to end it. He was glad Cammy took option one, but that didn't change the fact that there was a problem.

"Want to talk about it?"

Cammy looked up at him again, this time, cautiously. "Shouldn't you get back to your wife and son?"

Ken knew whatshe was getting at. "Don't worry. I'm just helping a friend." He looked forward and chuckled. "Besides, Eliza would kill me."

This elicited a chuckle from Cammy and Ken pressed. "No, seriously. She has her own sword collection and she wouldn't hesitate to take my head."

Cammy let out an open laugh and after she had calmed down from that, she smiled. "Thanks Kenneth. You always knew how to make me laugh."

Ken nodded and gave her a light embrace. Cammy returned it gratefully and then they parted. Just then Eliza called out to Ken from across the grass.

"Well, I better go."

"Yes, you should. Thanks again."

Cammy continued to hold her smile as Ken went back over to his family. But once he was out of sight, the smile faded away. Despite her cheery appearance, it was just a facade as Ken suspected. She didn't want to worry him with her problems. Or single problem... Her dreams were becoming more vivid and each night, she felt herself coming closer to remembering what she was before she met Ken. But the closer she came, the more she began to dread it. There was something in her past that she didn't want to relive; something that made her feel fear; something that she felt was waiting for her. Looking up longingly into the sky, she finished her earlier prayer.

'Deliver us from evil.'


'Why did he have to say that?'

Ryu was on his way back to the mansion with a serious frown on his face. Dan's joking hit a serious chord in Ryu's mind, one that he had been trying to suppress or at least avoid. Up until now, he had some limited success due to her always being busy or him always training. But as he headed back to the mansion, it rattled in his brain. Everything Dan said about her was true. He'd have to be a fool not to have seen it already.

But Dan left out one thing; she was a recluse. Although cheerful and easy to get along with, she spent much of her time away from people. That wasn't to say that she went out of her way to avoid people. It just simply meant that see preferred to be alone. Much like him... This was why he found her all the more appealing…

Appealing...? Ryu shook his head, not believing that he had such a thought about her. Attraction was one thing, but appealing? Ryu began to reject the thought, feeling that it was some sort of violation on his part and confirming what Dan joked about when he called Ryu a monk. Now slightly irritated, Ryu dispelled his thoughts altogether and clearing his mind. He would go inside, head to the backyard, and continue his training.

With this focused thought, he opened the door and entered in. But the thought was shattered as he walked toward the back. He had long sensed Chun Li's presence, but it was a light sniffle that caught his attention. Turning to the left, he saw her by the wall with a cell phone in her hand. But what caught his attention was the stray tear that was on her face. That was something had never seen her do...ever.

"What's wrong?"

She wiped the tear away and answered quietly.

"Master Gen is dead."