GyoJin Pride
Chapter 39
Oni
Arlong Park II, Dragon's Head Island- "You've been offered clemency, on the requirement that you get treatment for your illness. All of you have been offered clemency, I suggest you take it." "So, the great Jimbei is so afraid that he would try to make a bargain with me?" Arlong boasted loudly. "Hardly. He simply doesn't want to have to kill all of you." Oni replied. "An act of mercy? Don't make me laugh. He knows what I can do to him, to his organization." Oni's eyes narrowed, "You could bring our whole government down! Everything our people have worked to accomplish for centuries wiped away! We'd be back at the beginning, pathetic little tribes at the mercy of the humans! Do you really want that?" Arlong scoffed, "Of course not! I will take Jimbei's place and bring our people into the future! I will make no alliances with the human filth! Jimbei has made us weak! We will return to our former pride as Gyojin, the rightful Masters of this World!" Oni snarled, "You will revive the Race Wars! You will destroy us all!" "No, I will merely take that which is rightfully ours, brother. Evolution has favored us, the humans will crawl at our feet!" Oni shook his head, "The same old song, Arlong. The Gyojin people don't want any more wars, we have a peace with the humans. We don't want to lose the advances we've made. If we turn on the humans, they will once again view us as animals, inferior and unworthy of respect." "They already do! The treat us like fools and savage beasts, the only way to be respected is through fear!" Oni shook his head sadly, "You're sick, Arlong. Come back with me, come back home and get some help." Arlong's eyes were tinted red with rage, "I don't need help. I see the world more clearly than those groveling cowards who want to make peace with the humans. It is our destiny to rule, not to serve."
Oni frowned, "Then I have no choice. I will take you in, Arlong, for your own good." He took a combat pose, "Defend yourself." Oni delivered a vicious kick to Arlong's face, knocking him backwards. Arlong responded with a vicious swipe at his brother's abdomen, "So, you're with them! I'll kill you myself!" Arlong swiped his claws across Oni's face, cutting the skin, and Oni picked up his brother by the neck and flung him across the courtyard, "Don't make me hurt you, little brother." Arlong lunged, his blade-like nose aimed at his brother's heart. Oni lept aside and grabbed his brother's leg as he passed by, swinging him into a pile of boulders. Arlong arose from the shattered pile of stone, his eyes glazed over with rage.
Kurobi watched in horror as his master battled his own kin. Oni was strong, lacking in his brother's berserker ferocity, but a true threat. He watched as the two incredibly powerful Gyojin fought, This could get out of hand, they could destroy the whole island!
Arlong and Oni struggled hand to hand, each trying to wrestle the other to his knees. In the end, Arlong fell, but he slashed his brother across the knee with his blade. Oni fell back and Arlong lept atop of him, trying to stab him through the chest. Oni clapped his massive fists together, Arlong's head in-between. Arlong fell unconscious, collapsing to the ground. The crew gasped as Oni slung his brother over his shoulder, "It's over. I suggest you all come with me." Oni began to limp toward the ocean. "What should we do, Kurobi?" Kurobi stood silent for a moment, "We follow our captain, wherever he goes." He began to follow Arlong and Oni to the sea.
Togorogiri and Chuu were busy putting everything back into it's place, as most of the Tatsu's contents had been flung to the floor during the tsunami. Togorogiri insisted Katarina not do any work, as she was, of course, pregnant. "Thanks for all of the help, Chuu. Have you thought about where you want to rebuild your house?" "In the same place, chu. The location is perfect, quick, easy access to the sea and the village." The sound of footsteps, then knocking, interrupted them. Bran stood in the doorway, looking excited. "Arlong's been captured!"
To be continued...