Disclaimer: Soul Eater is copyrighted to Atsushi Okubo and all other third parties (characters, series, and concepts). I and HopeDiamond101 of DeviantArt claim no ownership to it. We do, however, own the original characters and content presented in this story.
The Right Way, The Wrong Way
A geyser erupted from the Port of Chicago with Cancer standing on top. Once level with the hand railing, she grabbed it and flung herself onto the concrete. She checked her surroundings, seeing it was abandoned. A breeze passed by, billowing her long silver hair. An omen, for sure, but whether for her or her enemies, she wasn't sure. Raking her bangs back, Cancer closed her eyes. "Release."
Once her Soul Protect dropped, the wind picked up and a black aura covered the outline of her body. "Crustacean crustaceous. Crustacean crustaceous—"
She was interrupted by the screeching of tires. Cracking one eye open, she saw a car come to an abrupt halt. From it, Noel and Stein rushed out with Spirit transforming into a scythe and slipping into Stein's hands. Cancer raised an eyebrow. "The DWMA's greatest meister and the 'Demon of the DWMA'. This is unexpected."
"Hey!" Spirit complained, "What I am? Chopped liver?!"
"Not now, Spirit." Stein chided, keeping his eyes on Cancer. Taking another step forward, the scientist then said, "You really should do a better job picking your accomplices. Because of them, we now know about Project Omega and the Anria, and how they are linked to you."
Cancer pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "Wonderful. There goes the one leverage I had against the Academy." She gazed up to the skyline obscured by the buildings. "Oh, Walena, you are going to pay for not communicating with me."
"Cancer," Noel spoke up, stepping forward as well. The two of them weren't going to let her go, but they still had to be careful, "What are you doing here anyway? Don't take this as a compliment, but I never thought you'd associate with common criminals."
Soon, they heard the roar of engines, signaling the arrival of the rest of the Chicago Gang. "Perfect timing." Cancer thought, tapping into her magic power again. "Here is your answer, gentlemen."
She raised her hand, and the waters behind her suddenly stirred. As the ground rumbled, Stein and Noel braced themselves. A pillar of water rose behind her, growing larger and larger to the point it towered above them and eclipsed the moon. The rushing water drowned out the distant screams of the gangsters. A mechanical leg stretched out from the column of water. A single step crushed a building, the shockwave knocking everyone flat. The sky suddenly turned red as another leg came out, repeating the process.
The water finally disappeared, and the first thing everybody noticed was the red eye glowering down at them. The light of the moon and stars gleamed off its stark white, streamlined, and organic body, a contrast to its dark legs.
Stein shot a hand up to his bolt and cranked it furiously. Eyes, blood, and darkness flashed through his vision. All of a sudden, he wanted to giggle – a sure sign of Madness. His hands itched and twitched. It was the unmistakable urge to cut up the nearest specimen. He bit his lip hard to the point he tasted blood, forcing himself away from the realms of insanity he swore to his loved ones he'd never return to.
"What is that?!" Noel shouted, standing up on his feet. He spotted Cancer conjuring up another summoning. From the port, giant crabs, black and blue, jumped over the barricades and flooded the territory. The screams of the Chicago Gang in the distance intensified. At that moment, Noel realized who the real enemy was.
As Project Omega brought its hind legs onto land, Noel whipped out his phone. "Tezca. We need backup now."
Adjusting his trenchcoat, Tsuji walked from around the corner of a building and spotted the villa in the distance. Throughout the artificial park, gang members seeking refuge from the outside world were ambushed by Walena's puppets and turned over on their side. There was no way he was getting through without someone seeing him.
"Screw this. I'm goin' up high." Tsuji backtracked to the nearest fire exit on the side of a building and climbed the ladder and stairs to reach a rooftop. Even though he had to do a little circling around, he eventually made it to the closest possible building to the villa. He held the bow up to face and asked, "So, Marcellus, what should we do now?"
"Well, she's inside, that's for sure," Marcellus replied, reflection appearing on the crystal ball, his Sonar working, "Probably the foyer if I'm right."
"Well," Tsuji took several steps backwards, preparing to get a running start for his jump, "time to dive right in."
"Now, are you sure we shouldn't wait for the others?" Marcellus questioned out of the blue.
Tsuji laughed. "You ask me that now of all times? C'mon, Marcellus, have a little faith. We can do this." His smile vanished as he assumed a runner's stance, now focused on his goal. "You saw what was goin' on. We can't wait."
Inside the villa, its whole structure had been changed to better suit Walena's tastes. Masks of different colors and patterns lined the walls, green and black vines clung to the walls and columns, and the atmosphere was brighter thanks to the addition of green, pink, and red lights. At the foyer on the apex of the stairs, Walena, garbed in her witch outfit, sat on a throne looking in her crystal ball on its pedestal.
"This couldn't have gone any better!" She squealed, watching more and more of the gang become her puppets. "As soon as the whole of the Chicago Gang falls under my spell, I can cut off this territory from the rest of the world, pretty it up some more, and then Tazmina can finally have her happiness."
The roof broke open with a crash, startling Walena to the point she almost fell out of her throne. Looking up, she saw someone standing in the very middle of the room. Tsuji stood with his hands out and raised like an actor about to demand the audience's attention. "We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness—"
A legion of Walena's masked soldiers came out of the shadows and dogpiled Tsuji. Walena smirked, closing her eyes and preparing to hear his cries of agony.
"—until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight."
Walena's eyes shot wide open, looking off to the side to see Tsuji aiming an arrow dead at her head. The boy gave her a mocking smirk. "To liberate us into life."
The minute he fired, the arrow was intercepted and Tsuji was tackled to the ground away from Walena. As he tumbled along the floor, Tsuji grabbed the offender and pushed him or her away, quickly getting to his feet. He saw another guy wearing those strange masks, picking up his top hat and putting it back on his head. Tsuji took steps back, keeping his view of all enemies in the room.
Marcellus's reflection appeared on his weapon form's crystal ball, eyes going wide. "Left? Right?"
"Yeeeeah, Marcey, they found out about me so they were the first to go," Walena stated as she retook her seat on her throne, crossing her legs and slouching on it.
Marcellus glared at her, disliking her casual tone. "I'm back, Miyuki, just like I said I'd be."
"Oh, please, call me by my real name, Walena." The wombat witch met the eyes of Tsuji. He didn't look anything impressive, but he did waltz right in, recite a poem, and dodged a preemptive attack in the blink of an eye. "So who's your lapdog?"
"My partner's name is Tsuji Ricardsen," Marcellus replied with a bite.
Tsuji grinned, toying with her. "Sup?" A masked puppet lunged at him across the room, like an animal pouncing its prey, but Tsuji kicked the person through the hole in the roof. Several more decided to challenge him. Tsuji assumed a kickboxer's stance and fended them off with precise kicks to their guts or faces, either knocking them out instantly or blowing them away like the last.
Walena gritted her teeth. Since these were the weaker ones, they'd bruise more easily. "Womba batta wom wom ba ba wom." Once she completed the incantation, every single one of them beside Left and Right retreated to the shadows, disappearing. "So you're not just full of it, huh?"
Tsuji relaxed and sauntered towards the middle of the foyer, keeping his eyes on Left, the only obstacle between him and the witch. "Hey, gotta make a good first impression, right?"
"Tsuji," Marcellus whispered, "That guy's name is Left and the weapon he's holding is Right. If you couldn't tell, they're very fast. Don't let your guard down around them."
Tsuji nodded. He figured as much since Left reacted swiftly enough to stop his arrow from beheading Walena. "That's a bold move, calling off your goons like that. Ya ask me, you were better off dividin' my attention."
"Don't patronize me," Walena retorted, narrowing her eyes, "Like I needed to see you show off any more than you already have."
"Know what they call your kind?" Tsuji quipped, spinning his bow in hand. "A hater."
Walena responded by snapping her fingers. Tsuji automatically adopted a defensive stance, anticipating an attack from Left, but he stayed put. "Tsuji, look below!" Sure enough, in the space between Tsuji and Left, a portal made from the shadowy tendrils of Walena's mask formed. A droning groan echoed within it as something was pulled out from it.
Once it was revealed, Marcellus forgot how to breathe. "D-…Dad?"
Tsuji went slack-jawed in horror. "That's your dad?!"
Portis's face couldn't be seen behind the Anria mask. His velvet brown skin was now so pale it made snow look filthy. White spines jutted out from his back and shoulders. Finally, growths of sickly-looking rocks and crystals dotted his body like a parasite threatening to consume its host.
Shock gave way to anger. Marcellus's slate blue eyes burned with a fire completely foreign to him. He glared at the wombat witch and asked with a snarl behind his voice, "What did you do?"
With a slight giggle, Walena stood from her throne. "Well, you can't give me all the credit," she said, descending the stairs, "A little friend helped me make this particular Lao." She stopped between Portis and Left, using her delicate fingers to trace the most outstanding parts of the transformed Portis. "It uses my Voodoo Magic to transform the wearer into something like an Anria. If I'm going to have a utopia for me and my adorable little sis, I need protectors, right?"
"Go make you some," Marcellus argued, "Leave other people out of your delusions of grandeur."
Walena placed a finger on her chin, pretending to ponder the idea. "Hmm… Neh, this is easier. That'd be far too much trouble for my little friends and I." She whipped back around and walked back to her throne, heels clicking against the wood floor. After she took a seat, she continued, "You know what, Marcellus? I thought about doing the same for you, but I think I'll let you have your free will. After all, you're smart, handsome, levelheaded, if a bit rough around the edges. You'd make a great husband for Tazmina. She'd definitely be happy."
Marcellus grimaced. "So, in other words, you still want to rob me of my freedom just under a different pretense. No thanks."
"And you're a damn fool if you think I'm gonna let this slide," Tsuji interjected, narrowing his eyes, "Uh-uh. It's a wrap for you."
Having no more intention of humoring her, Marcellus decided to bring this expository banter to a close, "The fact of the matter, Walena, is you're guilty of a serious crime. And I, Marcellus of Death Weapon Meister Academy, am supposed to make sure you are convicted of it. Try and stop us if you can, but you'll see Tsuji and I won't lose that easily. So you better go ahead and pray to whatever god you believe in. Because your soul is ours, end of story."
"And since Marcellus can't hit the broadside of a barn, the honor goes to me. Nothing personal, ya know." Tsuji smirked and licked his lips, anticipating the taste of a sweet, well-earned victory, "Well, okay, maybe a little."
Left moved like a phantom – there one moment and gone the next. Tsuji quickly bent backwards to avoid the swipe of his cane sword. He rotated, bring his leg up as he did so, but his kick was blocked by Left's sheath. Tsuji went for another kick, but Left ducked beneath it, lunging at him. Seeing it coming, Tsuji blocked the sword with his bow. He gritted his teeth, forced to take some steps back to alleviate the pressure. "Gotta create some distance. I'm mid-to-long range. I'm only good at kickboxing so I can knock people back when they get close!"
"Behind you!"
The warning was unnecessary. Portis already hammered his fist into Tsuji's side, sending the boy into the wall with a bang. He slid down into a squatting positon, feeling dull pain in his back from the impact.
"Tsuji, are you alright?" Marcellus asked in concern.
Tsuji rolled his eyes, straightening up. "Oh, please. Don't nobody hit harder than Old Man and Sis." Before he did anything else, shadow tendrils phased through the wall and wrapped themselves around his neck. The boy choked and flailed, trying to wrest himself from them.
"What the?!" Marcellus looked up to see the Laos on the wall grinning and laughing, being the source of the tendrils ghosting the walls. Growling, he then commanded, "Tsuji, Mode Change! Javelin Form! Throw me right above you!"
Hearing that, Walena gestured to the Bow Meister. "Don't you let him!"
Even with Left's great speed, Tsuji was now more efficient in Mode Changing. By the time the henchman closed the gap, Tsuji threw the javelin up to the Laos and Marcellus made himself detonate via Meteor Javelin. The explosion blew Left away and caused the Laos to release their grip Tsuji. The masks frowned and chanted faint lines in unison. Walena's stomach twisted in a knot, hearing their cries. "Shh, shh, shh! Don't worry. That won't happen again."
Tsuji rose to his feet, the javelin returning to his hand, and he chucked it at Walena. "One more time! Meteor Javelin!" Portis rushed over to the throne with thunderous footsteps. Once in the way, he crossed his arms in front of his face and accepted the brunt of the attack. Tsuji growled in frustration. "Dang. They won't let me hurt her."
"Here comes Left!" Marcellus yelled.
Immediately after the javelin came back, Tsuji used it to deflect several of Left's swings. He kept his feet moving and eyes peeled as the swift henchman tried attacking him from every direction. The two locked blade and javelin after a certain point, getting into a contest of upper body strength. Unfortunately, Tsuji let his competitiveness get the best of him. Slowly but surely, Left began pushing him back. Gritting his teeth, Tsuji stopped resisting, which caused him to fall backwards. Bringing his feet up, he drove them into Left's exposed gut and used his legs to toss the henchman into the waiting wall.
"You know who that guy reminds me of?" Tsuji said as he completed a somersault to get back on his feet. "The Twin Gentlemen."
"Yeah, you're right," Marcellus replied in realization, comparing Left's and theirs fighting style and seeing the similarities, "Except we don't have Kim's fire to keep them at bay, but you got a point."
Hearing an inhuman roar, the two males looked to see Portis launching his spines at Tsuji. After dodging them, they watched as they retracted all the way back to Portis's body. Then, the man charged forward like a bull seeing red. Tsuji's mind raced to figure out what course of action to take. "Javelin Form's gonna make me fight up close and I don't want that. It's harder to fight these guys in Default Form. Longbow Form's definitely not happenin'… Crossbow Form?"
Tsuji strafed side-to-side to avoid Portis's punches. The force of each one was palpable to him, making sweat pour more and more down his face. After the archer backpedaled some more, Portis punched the ground and summoned spines from the floor. Tsuji released a brief grunt as some of them pierced his clothing and flesh, making him stumble. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Left rushed from behind Portis and swung through the spines, hitting Tsuji.
The Bow Meister screamed as the blade run across his torso, the fine edge igniting his pain receptors. "Cr-Crossbow Form!" He managed to scream out to Marcellus. "I need to get these guys off me!" He dodged a second strike, one that still was close enough to graze his head, Mode Changing to Crossbow Form.
Swinging his arm, he sent out the boomerang-shaped blade as it spun and whirred like a buzzsaw. The charging Left and Portis separated to avoid it. Crouching down, Tsuji leapt over them, catching the buzzsaw on its return trip. After landing some feet away, Tsuji released it again. Portis deflected it was his arm, causing it go back. Tsuji continued backing up, well aware of the approaching wall. A Lao smiled and prepared its tendrils to skewer him. Its smile faded when Tsuji suddenly looked over his shoulder with a grin. "Special delivery."
Lifting his leg, Tsuji kicked the blade straight into the mask, breaking it. The Laos frowned and released otherworldly cries, condemning Walena for her carelessness. Portis and Left froze in their spot as Walena tried to pacify the voodoo spirits. Marcellus watched the restless masks chant. "You figured out those guys don't like it when they get hurt, huh?"
Tsuji focused on the unmoving Portis and Left, switching from Crossbow Form to Default Form. "Yeah, it buys us some time too." Pulling the bowstring back, he unleashed a barrage of blazing arrows straight at them. "Ultima Arrow!"
By the time she soothed the Laos, Walena was alerted to the sounds of arrows hitting flesh, and she saw her two best puppets being driven into the wall. She clicked her tongue in disgust, crossing her arms under her chest. "That Meister is impressive for a mere human. I'm actually considering making him apart of my utopia."
Tsuji flashed her his middle finger. "Kiss my ass. How's that?"
Walena deadpanned. "It's a good thing manners aren't necessary."
As much as they should be taking this time to try and score a killing blow, there was still something about Walena that bothered Marcellus. "I don't get you, Walena," he said against his better nature, "Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I fail to understand why turning people into puppets will help you. These are human beings with their own lives, goals, and emotions. Here you are robbing them of that."
The witch rolled her eyes, not in the mood for a lecture in morality. "Pft. They're lawbreakers, criminals, and bloodsucking scumbags. Who's going to miss them?"
"You're dodging my question," Marcellus retorted, rolling his lollipop around in his mouth, "But if you don't want to answer that one, how about this? Does your sister approve of this? I want to hear her input and don't you dare lie to me."
Something snapped inside Walena, and she spoke without thinking. "She wants this as much as I do!"
Marcellus raised an eyebrow and pretended to look around. "Then why isn't she here helping you? If this is something you both want, where's the teamwork?"
"What do you know?!" Walena screeched, shooting up from her throne and marching down to the floor. Her eyes glowed, daring either boys to say something else out of line. "You ran away from your folks! Your standoffishness caused them so pain, more than you realize! You have no right to lecture me!"
"Well, first off, I wasn't talking about Portis and Morgan. Secondly…" Marcellus closed his eyes, sighed, and hung his head. "I know. I'm man enough to admit it. I never noticed how hard those two were trying to repent." Flashes of his parents' sacrifice to ensure his survival came across his mind. He clenched his fists, trying to stay strong for them. "Today made me realize that. Which is why I'm here with Tsuji fighting for what little of their legacy remains."
As they talked, Tsuji quietly watched Walena, taking note of her reactions to Marcellus's series of questions. "Hey, Marce?" He finally piped in, "Call it a hunch, but I don't think this chick's sis actually knows about it. You saw how she reacted. Pretty guilty if you ask me."
"BE QUIET!" Walena's shout came like a roar of thunder. The shadows danced, and the masks smiled, beginning to chant in ancient language. To the boys, it implied guilt more than ever. The innocent never acted this defensive. "You don't know a damn thing, human!"
"I'll fill him in," Marcellus said, remembering their conversation in his bedroom, "Apparently, their mother was killed in an attack. Now, at first, I thought it was just gang violence. In light of these recent developments, I'm guessing it had to do with the Academy instead. I can understand wanting to protect your blood, I'd do the same, but it sounds to me you made this rash decision all on your own."
"I'm not here to listen to you bastards judge me!" She pointed a sharp fingernail at Tsuji. "Hurry up and kill them already!"
Finally, Portis and Left advanced towards the archer, ready to fulfill their mistress's wish. As Walena returned to her throne to watch a bloodbath, Tsuji locked onto his targets. "Slow your roll before you get pumped full of arrows! Ultima Arrow!" He rapidly fired an array of arrows, hoping to stop them dead in their tracks again.
Left took the lead, and both Tsuji and Marcellus saw the orange glints in his eyes.
The cane sword moved like a blur, knocking arrow after arrow away. Once the path was clear, Portis lunged at the surprised Tsuji, driving a fist full of spines into his side. Eyes growing wide and gnashing his teeth together, Tsuji was driven into the wall and dragged across it. With the meister still on his fist, Portis extended the spines and shot Tsuji straight to the ceiling.
Once they retracted, Tsuji fell from the ceiling. He forced his eyes open despite the pain, only to be face-to-face with Left. His irises were unmistakably orange, broad black rims around them, and his pupils were like a reptile. "He has 'em too?!" Tsuji thought right before Left swung, dense orange energy trailing his weapon, and sent him into the stairway's handrail and into the waiting wall.
Tsuji fell forward onto his hands and knees, his blood dripping down to the floor. "Come on, Tsuji, move!" Marcellus urged, "We aren't down for the count yet!"
"Good, I'm glad." Walena held up a finger. The shadows grabbed Tsuji and promptly tossed him back into the foyer where Portis and Left lurked. "That means you aren't done entertaining me."
Catching himself midair, Tsuji landed on his feet and quickly identified his threats. The two were circling around him like predators sizing up their prey. Though, most of his attention was on Left and his newly-revealed Enchanted Eyes. Orange light surrounded the shikomizue and then crumbled away. Nothing drastic happened to it, just aesthetic changes – the blade was now bright orange, and the darker handle had some designs on it.
"So that means he's got all the benefits of the Eyes too," Marcellus pointed out, "No wonder he was able to deflect Ultima Arrow."
"Hold on now, Marcellus," Tsuji contended, "That's only cuz that dude is naturally that quick. Like you said, the Eyes don't boost speed and reflexes. It just gives you a stronger body cuz of the wavelength flowing through it."
He also recalled something Voice told him during their training session: 'Meisters with the Enchanted Eyes are known as Blood Meisters, and Weapons are Blood Weapons. The humans have come to apply this distinction to their partners as well. I trust you noticed your weapon form changes whenever he activates the Eyes?'
The time was right. If these guys wanted to take it to the next level, Tsuji was more than happy to oblige. An exhilarated grin stretched across his face, prompting Left and Portis to move at the same time. "It's put up or shut up time."
The villa shook as the former don and henchman hit the spot where Tsuji once stood. "Saw that comin' a mile away!" He shouted from some feet back. As soon as Portis and Left turned to the source, several orange arrows hit the area around them. Left managed to dash out, leaving Portis to be engulfed in an explosion of black and red hellfire.
Near the corner of the room, a grinning Tsuji relaxed from his stance. Marcellus had transfigured into a red and orange bow the minute his meister turned on the Enchanted Eyes. "Blood Bow: Ichaival." When he saw Left charging, quick as ever, his grin widened to reveal his sharpened, vampiric teeth. The first swing of the sword was easy to dodge, so Left kept up the pressure, chaining together strokes and jabs at an increasing pace. Despite that, Tsuji continued to avoid them.
"Make some distance, man, quit showboating," Marcellus coached, aware his partner was having fun using his newfound mastery over the Enchanted Eyes. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Portis in a peculiar, hunched-over stance. "Incoming!"
Knocking away Left's arm to force him off-center, Tsuji grabbed and put him in the path of the volleyed spines. They dug into Left's body, making him go limp and convulse in pain. Tsuji then kneed Left into his prone face hard enough to send him all the way to Portis, the two masked men tumbling to the floor.
"Now's your chance!" Marcellus shouted. "Finish them off!"
As Tsuji pulled back the bowstring, an arrow of compressed Demonic Wavelength formed, black and red hellfire soon swirling around it. "Alucard's Blaze." He let it loose. As soon as it made contact, an explosion engulfed the two gangsters. Seeing Walena shield her eyes from it, Tsuji saw a chance. "She's open!"
Out of nowhere, he sensed danger. Turning around, he saw the Laos forming a maw made of sharp shadows to try and assault him. Tsuji glared at the Laos and exerted his Demonic Wavelength. The masks stopped and gasped in unison. Their tendrils quivered, wanting to keep going but fearing the consequences.
Walena saw the scene, unable to form words. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Th-They're scared of him?! Are you kidding me?!" She balled her fists as the sight of Tsuji shooting down three of the Laos. "Y-You guys are supernatural voodoo spirits. And you're scared of him? Him?! A human!" She placed her hand on her face, summoning black and green markings like the face paint on her masks. In her other hand, a rod appeared in a wisp of green smoke. She punched the ground with the end of the rod, summoning a giant fist to crush an unsuspecting Tsuji.
The boy coughed out blood the moment he was driven into the floor. Surprised, Marcellus growled and shouted at Walena. "HEY! That was a dirty move!"
Ignoring him, Walena walked down to the foyer, gesturing Portis and Left to stand down. Her grip around the rod was so tight her knuckles turned white. "If only… If only you Academy people never existed!" Seeing Tsuji trying to get back up, she repeated move and floored him once again. "Then none of this would've ever happened! If killing you solved everything, I'd do it right here and now, you rotten scum!" She did it again, this time with enough force to shake the foyer.
Tsuji struggled to breathe. Every single one of his wounds flared up on top on being violently crushed. "What the hell… I did nothing to you…"
"The world would be fine, and I'd have my life!" Walena saw red, completely letting her emotions control her. She crushed Tsuji two more times, trying to get some catharsis. "You guys the reason why! What do you have to say for yourself?!"
Tsuji slowly lifted his head and flashed her a grin, blood dribbling from the corners of his mouth. "This coat… was eighty dollars…" He was driven into the floor yet again so Walena couldn't see his smug mug.
"Walena, stop!" Marcellus shouted pleadingly. If kept up, Tsuji would be easy prey for Portis and Left. "That was a terrible thing that happened to you and your family. But you can't take it out on humanity as a whole! All you're doing is perpetuating a cycle! You're acting just like Witches like Medusa!"
"Don't you dare group me together with those wretches!" Walena screeched in response, "I am a Witch Society member no more!"
Marcellus was officially a roadblock with this woman, one he wasn't sure he could surmount. "So she hates humans and her own kind. Man, she is so far gone I've no clue if she can even be reasoned with anymore. How sad…"
Tsuji shut off the Enchanted Eyes, causing Ishaival to revert to Default Form. Despite his body crying out for him not to move, he mustered the strength to Mode Change the bow into a javelin. In the second it took Walena to realize he was up to something, the javelin hit the space before her. "Meteor Javelin!"
The explosion took place, swallowing up a screaming Walena. Portis and Left instantly shot into the smoke to check up on their mistress. The woman writhed on the floor, still crying in pain.
Once the smoke clear, Tsuji was gone.
In Portis's office, Marcellus shut the door and propped a chair against the knob. He wasn't sure how effective the barricade would be, but it was the best he could do in this situation. Tsuji threw himself into the office chair behind the desk, releasing a long, drawn-out sigh of relief at the feeling of the cushion against his sore muscles.
"Crazy-ass bitch," The archer muttered, "As soon as I catch my breath, she's good as dead."
Marcellus sat on the desk itself, deciding to keep watch while his meister regained his energy. "For it basically being three-on-one, you're doing great, Tsuji. The only thing that caught us off-guard were the freaky masks and Left having the Enchanted Eyes."
Tsuji closed his eyes, resting them. "You notice, every time we go for Walena, those dudes go to her aid? They don't even worry about me. Just her."
"Yep." Marcellus crunched down on what was left of his lollipop and spat out the naked stick. Too bad it was the one Tsuji gave him. "Just like those masks didn't like it when others got destroyed. So that's two things we can use."
Tsuji gripped the edge of the armrest tightly. "We're still in this. This ain't over by a long shot."
Silence reigned. During it, Tsuji thought about the situation. Having someone to watch his back would optimize his success. Honestly, he wondered how Crona even managed to beat Medusa, who was likely even stronger than Walena. "You know, man, let's try to make it even easier on ourselves. Think the guys are here yet?"
A giant bang shook the whole territory, knocking Marcellus off the desk and making Tsuji jump in shock. "Yo, what was that?!"
Marcellus scrambled to the window and separated the blinds. His face turned blank as he witnessed Project Omega's Second Form tearing up the land. "Yeah, um, I don't think our friends will be joining us."
Kujira lied in a bed in the medical ward, having long finished surgery. When she woke up, Henderson said he removed her damaged eye and replaced it with a fully functional artificial eye, cleaning up all the mess in the process. It'd be awhile before those bandages came off however.
The room was deathly quiet. No mode of entertainment besides her shut-off phone was around, Henderson was still working on Soriano, and Cancer and Walena were nowhere to be found. All she could do was lay there and stare at the white ceiling. Even then, she couldn't see much thanks to blurred vision. The boredom growing too much for her, she reached over to the bedside nightstand, groped around for her phone, picked it up, and turned it on.
The reality set in when she was bombarded with messages.
"Oh, crap." The time read a half past 10:00 PM. It had been hours since the attempt on Morgan's and Marcellus's lives. If the sheer number of messages were any indication, the aftermath was dreadful, and both she and Soriano weren't around for the gang. Swallowing thickly, Kujira dialed a number and put it on speakerphone.
"Kujira! Where the hell are you and Boss?! You won't believe what's going on!"
"I-I'm sorry," Kujira croaked, voice hoarse from grogginess, "Me and Boss got hurt, and I didn't come to until now. What's up?"
"The S.W.A.T. Team is at our front door, that's what!"
Kujira's brain shut off for several seconds. By the time it rebooted, she asked, "Say that again?"
"Damn it, Kujira, we're under attack! Help us!"
The line cut off after a series of garbled words. Kujira ended the call and stared at the ceiling. During a time when she, a leader, was needed most, the Other Side Gang was on the verge of shutdown, and her underlings were outright begging someone to save them. Gritting her teeth, Kujira gripped the metal railing of her bed and forced herself to sit up. "These guys are all I know. And Lord knows Boss will lose his mind if he wakes up to hear the Other Side Gang is no more."
She put on her spare set of glasses. Her clothes were on a rack in the corner and arranged on the floor were all her weapons. If this were any other time, Kujira would be impressed by Henderson's neatness. Slowly rolling out of bed, Kujira stopped at her bedside and hunched over. Even with the supply of morphine, her head swam, and her body was numb. "But, man, the S.W. ? Is nothing ever easy?" Even as she said that, Kujira ripped off the IV to free herself. Now, dull pain coursed her body, but it was something she could work with. In the past, she had to outrun K-9 units with five bullets in her body.
She dressed herself for battle as quickly as her ailing body allowed. She already made the decision to save the Other Side Gang by herself, but the answer to how escaped her. These weren't regular police officers. They were S.W. , men and women who spat in the face of danger just about every week or so.
Then, it hit her. She stared into the palm of her hand, remembering exactly what she could do. "I guess it's a good thing I'm not normal."
Tsuji learned quickly he was terrible at stealth when he wasn't trying to snipe someone. When he exited the office, the quietest creak of his footstep prompted Left to rush into the hallway like a moth to a flame. What followed was a race, Tsuji trying to get out of the enclosed space and Left attempting to kill him before so. During the first blows, Tsuji concentrated on his defense and let his muscles settle into the rhythm of blocking and dodging. It was easy to do with the Enchanted Eyes and Marcellus volunteering to look out for Portis or Walena.
After several minutes of close-quarters combat, Tsuji's defensive front prevailed, and he made it back to the stairway leading to the foyer. Marcellus noticed Walena changed the scenery, instead positioning her throne right at the front door. She watched them come into view with a neutral expression, impatiently drumming her fingers on her rod. "Does she intend to be more proactive?"
In that brief instance he let his focus slip, Marcellus failed to notice Portis stampeding out of the shadows and pinning Tsuji to the wall with his arm. Left appeared beside his superior and swung his cane sword directly at Tsuji's neck. Eyes shrinking to the smallest degree, Tsuji angled his head down, opened his mouth wide, and caught blade with his teeth in an act of desperation.
His fight-or-flight system kicking in, Tsuji drove his foot straight into Portis's gut to send his away and then bashed his bow against Left's head to stun him. With a small running start, he jumped from the top of the staircase and landed in the center of the foyer. His whole body trembled. "Holy shit, my heart's pounding. Remind me to never do that again."
Walena had expected a quick defeat and easy humiliation, not an equal opponent, and her simmering anger now boiled. The wombat witch wouldn't be content with wounds and victory; she was out for blood. Tsuji was ready to fight for his life harder than ever now. His ordeal made him more appreciative of life and making the most of it while having fun. He wasn't going to let anything stopped him from living life to the fullest. Losing was not an option.
Now everyone was back in the foyer like before. Portis and Left were circling a guarded Tsuji once again. Walena scornfully gazed down to the first-degree burns and wounds on spots of her exposed skin. "How dare you mar my beautiful body like that."
He smiled mockingly. "Oh, live a little, sweetness, pain can make ya stronger."
Placing a hand on the end of her rod, she then drew it back, conjuring a whip of dark energy. "Naughty boys like you need to be taught a lesson."
"I'm in school, thank you very much," he quipped, immediately back-flipping to avoid the crack of her whip. Portis and Left flanked him on either side, so he backpedaled to keep them in his line of sight. He fired a quick arrow at Portis to keep him from advancing. Reacting to that, Left swung his sword downward, launching a stream of energy through the floor.
The attack crashed into Tsuji, sending him back-first into the stairs. Giving him no time to rest, Portis jumped up with a fist geared back, intending to squash his head like a bug. Tsuji fired two quick arrows to intercept him, blowing the don away. He rolled to the side to avoid another stream of slashed energy and then shot some arrows, which Left deflected.
The archer hurried away from the staircase. Walena lashed out her whip, but Tsuji sidestepped it. Left and Portis charged in unopposed, but Tsuji stayed dauntless. When he sensed danger, he identified the threat so his Eyes could work their magic. This scenario was a higher level than what Voice subjected him to, but his will to live made him rise to the challenge.
While Marcellus was impressed with Tsuji's defense, he was doing very little to ease up the pressure on him. The numbers would overwhelm him at this rate. "Don't be afraid to switch off the Eyes. We can't use Mode Change with them on, so you lose utility."
Striking Left with a hard kick, Tsuji realized Marcellus had a point. Ishaival catered to his strengths, but it made him predictable. Seeing Portis shoot spines, he ducked under them. "But, shit, Marcellus! You see what's happenin' right now?!"
The Blood Bow chuckled. "Then make it easier on yourself. Go for the knee or the Achilles' tendon."
It clicked – slow down the bigger threat. Tsuji focused on Left and grinned excitedly. That told Marcellus all he needed to know. The older male ruefully closed his eyes. "Sorry, Left. Walena's making it really hard for us."
Tsuji switched off the Enchanted Eyes and then Mode Changed into Crossbow Form. He chucked the boomerang-like blade, watching as Left easily avoided it. Timing himself right, Tsuji dropped down and swung his leg, sweeping up Left's feet from beneath him. As the blade made its return trip, Tsuji used that same leg to put Left's Achilles' tendon in the way.
It was a clean hit.
"One down!" Tsuji thought triumphantly as Left crumpled on the floor by him. He was torn from his moment of pride when Walena's whip cracked against his chest. He released a strident yell, writhing as Walena kept up her assault. His skin, despite the layers of clothing, burned with pain.
"That's right," Walena taunted, "Dance for me!"
Marcellus saw Portis heading over. A big hit from him on the defenseless Tsuji spelled trouble. It was time to exploit something else. "Tsuji, go for Walena! Hurry!"
Tsuji reflexively reached out and grabbed the whip, though he was pretty sure that left a whelp. Then, he threw the blade from its stock. Like clockwork, Portis redirected his attention to Walena. As soon as he did, Marcellus cued, "Now! Hit him now!"
Portis knocked the buzzsaw back to Tsuji, who caught it in the stock. As he rotated in his spot, Crossbow Form became Default Form, and he fired. The first one lodged itself right in Portis's shoulder, blood spurting from the spot. A splat of blood managed to mar Walena's cheek as her eyes widened in shock. Once several more arrows hit Portis, the don collapsed.
There was nothing left between her and Tsuji.
His eyes narrowed, full of contempt, as he activated the Enchanted Eyes. His Demonic Wavelength flared around him like an inferno as he crouched down, preparing to sprint. Before Walena even tried to run away, he charged, roaring with effort at the top of his lungs like a man possessed.
It was like she was staring down the devil himself.
He performed a jumping roundhouse kick, leg burning with hellfire, and landed a direct hit right in Walena's face. "ORLOK'S WRATH!"
The windows in the foyer shattered, the doors flew off their hinges, the floor and walls cracked from the force, and the throne broke apart on impact from the explosive hellfire. All Laos retreated into the shadows and returned to whence they came, and the additional lights blew out like a candle.
Tsuji collapsed to the ground, having expended all of his energy. Marcellus reverted to his human state, kneeling beside his fallen partner. He could see the outside thanks to the gaping hole Orlok's Wrath made. Some Chicago Gang members lied unconscious, masks falling off their faces. Yet, Walena was nowhere to be found.
"If she isn't dead, she's long gone now," Marcellus remarked. He sighed in relief. The nightmare was over. He then heard Tsuji mumble a string of monosyllabic grunts. "Um, what'd you say?"
Tsuji turned his head. "Your dad's… over there."
Eyes going wide, Marcellus rose to his feet and looked to see the Anria mask slip off Portis. The African-American rushed over and kneeled by him. "Dad! Can you hear me? Say something!"
The former don coughed weakly. His body still showed the effects of the mask, and his injuries were fatal from the prolonged fight. "I-I'm… here…"
Knowing there wasn't much time left, Marcellus went straight to the point. "L-Look, Dad, I'm sorry. I gave you and Mom the cold shoulder when you guys were genuinely trying to make amends. And it took this crazy day to make me see it."
"A-And… I'm sorry it even… came to this." Portis coughed more violently, blood coming out. Marcellus scooted closer and propped his father's head up, trying to make his last moments more comfortable. Portis looked at him with glassy eyes. "Marcellus, my dear son… G-Go back… Don't associate… with gangs anymore. Be what you want to be… Be happy, live a great life with no regrets… make friends, fall in love…"
Marcellus took Portis's hand. It was cold as ice. "Definitely."
"I… love you."
"I love you too." Marcellus smiled sadly. "Tell Mom the same thing."
Glad to have finally reconciled their differences, Portis passed on with a smile, ready to see his wife once again.
Author Notes
Thus brings Marcellus's (and Tsuji's) character arc to a close. This fight was actually longer, and so far has the dubious honor of being the most edited chapter after initial proofreading. The last phase had Left pulling out a trump card (for those curious: Enchanted Eyes + Soul Resonance), but that's something I'll save for later with Tsuji/Marcellus and Shannon/Audrey. Because of that, you didn't get to see Left's Enchanted Eyes theme, which was lycanthropy (you know, werewolves?).
But, alas, the fight in Chicago isn't over yet. We still have to check on the Tezca's squad, see the arrival of the main group, and see how the heck are the heroes gonna stop Project Omega this time. The next chapter will feature a fight I've personally been waiting to write for some time.
Maka vs. Cancer
