Chapter 28
[Planeptune]
Hikan slowly opened his eyes, he was lying on his back in a white void, everywhere around him was white. The only thing he saw. Hikan leaned up and held his head, it was no longer hurting and neither were his hands. He observed his surroundings. "Am I in the shares again? No… this feels different it's not share energy." Hikan thought and stood up to his feet.
"Welcome Red Heart, or should I say Hikan?" a voice said and Hikan turned quickly, a man stood behind him, he had short golden hair and gold robes. His eyes were blue with, what looked like to be, lighting bolts in his pupils. "I've finally gotten in contact with you."
"Contact with me? Who are you? And where am I?" Hikan replied and the man put his hand up.
"Fear not, you are still alive and in your body. We're just inside your mind right now. I brought you here." the man said and Hikan's hands clenched
"You were the one that sent me here? So you're the one that's in charge of the cave?"
"Kind of, yes."
"You bastard!" Hikan yelled and ran towards him, he pulled back his fist and launched it at the man, but the man held his hand up and grabbed his wrist.
"Hikan, hear me out. I mean no harm." the man said, Hikan yanked his wrist away.
"Fine. You better have a good explanation." Hikan warned and crossed his arms, the man nodded in response.
"First, I'll explain what has happened and why I brought you here." the man started, "Right now, each of your friends are inside the caves. Some of them had separated due to this caves purpose; They're trying to protect the blade that you found, they only listen to my commands and I commanded it to bring you here, I'll get into that later. Here, allow me to show you." the man swiped his hand through the air and the room started to have circles appear, the circles had each of the group in the caves. Uni, Rom, and Ram were fighting the giant suit of armor, the Planeptune group were still going through the caves, Vert was lending Shizuki her shoulder as she struggled to walk, Makoto had the robed man that took Kotomi, Ozaki and Blanc were running through the caves, Blanc was in her CPU form and looked extremely pissed as she flew through the cave with her axe in hand, Ozaki running close behind her, both of them had scratches and bruises all over their body. Ozaki was holding onto his arm while he was running, Hikan could see glimpses of blood escaping through his fingers. Then it showed Noire going through the cave alone. She was looking around, probably pondering where to go next, and held her arms with her hands.
"No… how did they separate…? Noire's alone too?" Hikan questioned himself then he snapped back towards the golden haired man, "Get on with it, hey!" Hikan yelled, the man was staring at the circle that showed Blanc and Ozaki.
"Oh, sorry. I was just wondering what that girl seems to be upset about." he said and looked back at Hikan, "Anyway, it seems this one was able to capture the one you were searching for." the man said and pointed at the circle that showed Makoto, "I brought you here because I needed to tell you this message Hikan, you can think that you were born into this world for many different reasons, but there is only one that is true. You weren't born because you were a mistake, you were born because this world needs you."
"I already know that, I told you to get to the point already." Hikan replied, clearly getting impatient.
"You do not know what you face. Or what your true purpose is Hikan. Why you were reborn as a CPU, why you began your journey, you don't know."
"Fine. Enlighten me then."
"Hikan, you have something within you that not many people have, more specifically, your blood. You have something in your blood that has yet to awaken." he said and started walking around, "There is something like this that has happened for generations. Heroes with this blood were able to overcome a great evil that dwells in their certain timelines, there are multiple dimensions that has the same thing happening, but it always ends with the hero or villain triumphing over the other. You may believe that your moment is already done and over when you fought the one known as Akumu, but it's not over yet. There is someone out there that is still wanting Gamindustri in their control."
"Then I'll stop him, I'll protect Gamindustri and its inhabitants." Hikan said and the man chuckled.
"I never said you wouldn't."
"But what you said about my blood… heroes… what do you mean?"
"Before Gamindustri was even made, there were men or women that had the blood that you have today, they fought for the world in order to protect it. There is always some sort of evil in the world, and there is always something to counter it. Light versus Darkness. Good versus Evil. it's an ongoing battle, whenever one is defeated, another rises in its place. And it shows itself inside us."
"What?"
"What I'm saying Hikan is that you were born to continue the fight against darkness, just like the previous ones before. Including myself…" the man said and held his hand in front of him. "I've been in the same situation as you before, I've fought against the darkness and it killed me. I bring this message to you just like everyone else before. It's not the same as being birthed by our mothers, but we were born from the light. To fulfill our role and beat the darkness. We're all related. I never knew about it myself in my time, nor did the previous one before me. But it's true."
Hikan held his head, "Whoa whoa whoa, so you mean that I'm related to you? Not by actual blood, but by… light?"
"I'm not sure exactly either." the man said, "but it's the closest assumption that I can think of." the man held his hand in front of him, "Hikan. You have to continue the fight against darkness. For the previous ones before you and for the future ones after you. You can't give up, no matter what."
Hikan didn't know what to think, he was a type of hero that had certain blood in his veins? How could anyone believe that, but it was the only thing he could go off from. He didn't believe it entirely, but he had to get out of here quickly. Uni, Rom, and Ram were fighting, Shizuki's injured, and Noire's on her own in the cave.
"Alright, I'll do it." Hikan and grabbed the guys hand with a firm grip, the man returned it with his own grip. "You control this place right? Can you get me to that girl there?" Hikan said and pointed at the circle showing Noire.
"Of course, but that's all I can do, it took alot of power just to get you here. It'll take the last bit to get you there." the man said and Hikan nodded, "good luck to you Hikan."
Hikan's vision went black as his body fell over, quickly disappearing. The golden haired man turned back to the circles but he only stared at one. The one showing Blanc and Ozaki.
Hikan quickly opened his eyes and shot up to his feet, he was still in the chamber with just the sword. He quickly saw an exit that wasn't in the room before. He sprinted towards the exit and ran through the dark caves. He lit fire in his hand as he ran so he could see, nothing showed up that would have gotten in his way.
Hikan kept sprinting through the caves, not stopping until he found Noire. Why did Uni separate from her? And why did Rom and Ram separate from Blanc and Ozaki? Hikan had many questions, maybe it was just the cave. The golden haired man did say that the cave was trying to protect the sword that was in that room, but what did Hikan have to do with it? The unending battle between light versus darkness, that was going on even before he was born?
Hikan snapped back to reality when he heard something, he carefully walked to make sure that he didn't spook whatever it was. He summoned one of his swords in his hand, just in case it was something that could harm him.
Hikan waited until the footsteps were closer. Once they were right near him, he leaped out and sliced. Whatever was there parried his blow and followed up with a slice of their own, but Hikan quickly reacted and pressed his sword to the other blade. Pushing the blades together, Hikan's sword lit on fire and brightened the tunnel. Showing who was on the other side of his blade.
Noire eyes lit up as she saw him, "H-Hikan?" She called out and Hikan dropped his sword to his side.
"Noire, I finally found you." Hikan replied, Noire remained silent as she stared at Hikan. "How did you get separated from Uni? Hey Noire?" Hikan waved his hand in front of Noire.
"H-Hikan…" she said again, her hands were trembling. "Y-You…"
"Me? What?"
"YOU SHOULD HAVE SHOWN UP SOONER!" she yelled and punched Hikan's chest. He gritted his teeth from the slight pain, but it soon disappeared.
"I'm sorry if I couldn't show up- Whoa!" before Hikan could finish his sentence, Noire wrapped her arms around him and pulled her head into his shoulder. She started to cry into his shoulder, it was quickly wet from tears. "You… dumbass… I-I…"
"Noire, it's alright now. I'm here." Hikan replied and returned her embrace. "I don't know what happened to Uni and you, but I can reassure you that Uni is alright. For now though, we need to leave these caves. Makoto found our culprit."
Noire looked up at Hikan and then looked down at her arms, her face quickly turned red then let go of Hikan, "Ah! D-D-Don't get the wrong idea!" she cried out.
"Okay I won't, but we need to get out of here." Hikan repeated himself, then pulled out his phone. He set up a group call involving the others. He started calling and each of them started picking up one by one.
"Hikan! Are you alright?" IF's voice went through the phone.
"I'm fine IF. Thanks for your concern." Hikan replied. "I met up with Noire."
"Don't be trying to pull anything Lonely Heart!" Neptune chimed in, making Noire's face red again.
"As if!" Noire shouted.
"Why are you calling Hikan?" Vert spoke up.
"Makoto found the suspect, he's taking him back to the surface now." Hikan told her.
"He won!" Shizuki's voice could be heard in the background.
"That's good news, but what about the others?" Ozaki said and then another voice came through.
"We're here too." Uni's voice was heard, "Rom and Ram are here with me."
"See Lady Blanc? They're alright." Ozaki whispered in a low voice. "Then all of us can make our way back to the surface. Lady Vert and Shizuki, you meet up with Makoto."
"Of course." Vert followed.
"Be careful everyone. Call me when you get back to the surface." Hikan said and everyone hung up. Hikan looked at Noire, she was breathing sighs of relief.
"Thank goodness Uni's alright." Noire said and Hikan smirked.
"Yeah, and she's with Rom and Ram. We won't have to worry about her being alone." Hikan reassured, then took a serious expression. "Enough blabbering, we need to leave."
"I don't need you to tell me that."
"Follow me." Hikan said and raised his sword again, acting like a torch.
Hikan and Noire wandered through the caves. Being careful not to fall or slip into pits of darkness. The last thing that either of them need is to be separated.
While walking, Noire kept her eyes on Hikan. She still didn't understand him completely, even though Shizuki told her most of the things she needed to know, she felt like they were all lies. But Hikan does do what he says most of the time. Back when she first met him, he told her that he was going to help her win her nation back; he did. Shizuki told her that Hikan was willing to help anybody, even back when he was in The Saviors, he still helped Shizuki whenever she had a problem. When she saw Uni let go of her hand back where they separated, Noire's mind immediately went towards Hikan, she was hoping that he'd come swooping in and save Uni. But he wasn't there. But he was searching for her, and he finally found her. Noire was happy to be with him again, she felt so safe… "Gah! What am I even thinking?!" Noire scolded herself and felt Hikan's hand grab her arm. She felt the first half of her feet on air and the rest on solid ground.
"Careful!" Hikan quickly said and pulled Noire back to his side. Noire didn't even see that she would have walked right into a pit. "What's up Noire? Losing your touch?" he teased.
"No!" Noire shouted, "You, of all people, shouldn't even try to say that to me."
"I'm just kidding." Hikan stated while putting his hands in front of him, "Although, you should be more careful. You're usually focused constantly. What's going on?"
There he goes again. He's teasing her one second then super considerate the next. Noire stared back at Hikan at a loss for words. "J-Just been thinking about some things."
"Would you mind if I asked what?"
"Y-Yes! Yes I would. Geez, you're so nosy!" she said and Hikan put his hands in front of him again.
"Alright alright, sorry." he said and then turned around, "We should really get moving."
Hikan and Noire continued on their way after those words, nothing stopped them as the made their way out. Hikan eye's almost lit up when he saw light. "No way… is that the way out?!" he shouted and sprinted towards the light.
"Hey! Wait!" Noire shouted and followed after him. Hikan bursted out of the cave and saw that he was on the mountain beside Lastation. The city was about three miles away.
"We made it!" he said and pumped his fist in the air, "Let's head back to Lastation and wait for everyone to get out." Hikan advised, but quickly snapped his head over to the side.
Noire followed his gaze and noticed a figure standing on top one of the steep parts of the mountain. Out in the light, you could see his whole figure. His robes were off, but you couldn't see any of his skin. The figure made sure to hide all of their skin in black clothes and he still had the mask that looked like the beasts mask. He looked small compared to Hikan.
"So you made it out…?" the figure said and jumped in the air, landing on the same level as Hikan and Noire, "As expected of you two."
"You're a fool if you think you can take both of us." Noire stated and clenched her fists. The figure placed his arms behind his back.
"You may think that both of you are invincible. But let's be honest, you've both almost died so many times, if not already." the figure said making sure to look at Hikan.
"Shut up." Hikan growled and summoned one of his swords, Noire flashed white as light engulfed her. Revealing herself as Black Heart once it died down.
"You can't win!" Noire shouted and summoned her weapon in her hands. The man simply looked between them.
"Who said that I was fighting?" he said and looked at Noire, "Noire… do you remember what you were told…? He deserves revenge… he wants you to provide it to him."
Noire's eyes went blank as she stared at the figure. "I'll be happy to provide what he seeks." she said and gripped her sword with a tight grip. "Hraaah!"
"...!" Hikan quickly reacted and threw his sword up to block Noire's strike. Noire quickly retaliated and sliced again. Forcing Hikan to dodge out of the way. Noire flew in front of the figure, "Noire! What the hell's wrong with-" Hikan cut himself off as he stared into her eyes, "I was right."
"Very observant of you Hikan." the figure said and walked up to Noire and put his hand on her shoulder. "Take care of him and his dream will come true."
Noire didn't say anything, she only nodded at his words and tightened her grip on her sword even more. Then she dashed towards Hikan once more.
