This is the 18th chapter. I don't own the series of Maken-Ki. Also, the last chapter I made was over the top, sorry about that and relax. Minerva is still alive since the Finnian Twins time and space ability was still intact, but that don't mean that Minerva was genuinely dead so don't panic.
I know some of you guys were use to see that horror flick shows and seeing people getting killed and all of that and some of you aren't which I can understand that. Again, sorry about that.
Tenbi Academy, Rooftop
(Seeking Answers-Naruto Soundtrack)
When Azuki have finished the ceremony, both Zane and Akaya readied their fighting stance.
'I will find answers, in this fight.' Zane mentally thought as he look at Akaya with a glare, charging after him when Akaya was about to use his Maken. However, Zane punched him in the face while deliver him a knee to the stomach, leaving Akaya cough in pain while Zane deliver an spinning heel kick to him, causing him to stumble as Zane used his knee to the face and kicked him. Akaya was stumbled a bit, but didn't get a breather as Zane used his roundhouse kick, but Akaya blocked his attack while grabbing his leg and tossed him, but Zane manage to land on his feet.
"You have gotten stronger since the past 2 years when we work together." Akaya compliments with a smirk. "You even fought strong opponents like Minori, Haruko, and even Yan. However, whether it is a fist fight or a fight with Maken, I'm superior to you. Maken Revolver: Swindle."
Akaya unleashed his gun to fire at Zane, but he dodged his shot when he used the matrix evasion.
"Impressive, instead of getting hit, you dodged it." Ayaka said. "I didn't expect that."
"You never did." Zane said, raising his body. "Maken Gunblade: Revolver"
Zane unleashed his gunblade as he aim at Akaya.
"Lightning Shot" Zane fires his lightning bullet at Akaya, but he dodged it as well. Zane charge after him with his Maken as he began to slash Akaya, but it was an illusion, leaving him cringe.
"Zane, behind you!" Takeru shouts as Zane was about to slash him, but Akaya manage to dodge his attack. However, both the Finnian Twins noticed someone managed to get in the barrier.
"Akaya, someone has broken through the barrier. The intruder is a student from Class 1-B, Kengo Usui." The Finnian Twins informed him in unison, leaving Akaya shocked.
"But how did he-" Akaya questions. 'The barrier should have been fixed immediately...the only people that are strong enough to break through are Aki and Minori-'
"You shouldn't look away during the battle. Lion's Roar" Zane began using his slash combo with his gunblade coated with fire and roar's.
"Renzokuken Flame" Zane used his slash flame combo on Akaya, leaving him gritted with pain.
"Beat Fang" Zane used his slash combo while stabbing him, leaving him knocked out on the ground.
"Guess you failed to realize about that barrier." Zane said with a smirk. "True that you can be strong to break the element, but you can also bring your Element to nothing in order to get through which I think that's how Kengo got through the barrier."
That got the members of Maken-Ki shocked when Zane told him about Kengo, but they noticed Akaya was behind him.
"What are you slashing at!?" Haruko shouted.
"He's right behind you, dude!?" Takeru added with a shouted.
However, Akaya wasn't just behind him, there were clones that surrounded Zane, leaving him gritted his teeth.
"You may be aware of my power, but the others aren't which I guess I'll explain to them about my Maken." Akaya told him as he began to explain. "My Maken Swindle means Swindler. I have 6 bullets, and each bullet has Trick that infused into it."
"Hey no fair!" Takeru yelled with tick mark on his head.
"Fight fair you chicken wuss!" Azuki yelled at Akaya with anger, leaving a tick mark on her head.
"Forget it guys, he's much more of technicality type who thinks and not much of a powerhouse." Zane told them.
"He's right, I'm more of technicality than a powerhouse. Anyway, the bullet that Zane dodges was an Illusion." Akaya explained. "Tell me, how many of myself do you see right now?"
Zane remained silent which he was aware of Akaya's trick.
"You've seen some of my other bullets. The big screen that I projected my image from was Vision." Akaya continues. "The bullet that can make someone listen to you or put them asleep was Hypnosis."
"Fated Aura" Zane used his Element to channel his body with flame as Akaya used his Maken to shoot the ground, making a duplicate.
"Of course, my personal favorite the 4th bullet Dummy." Akaya said with a smirk as the clones began to charge after Zane, but he was on the defense position when he keeps on blocking the incoming attacks from Akaya, leaving them shocked as the real Akaya punched Zane in the stomach, leaving him coughed in pain while Akaya punched him in the face. Zane was sent flying and landed on the platform.
'Shit, that bastard was still crafty as ever!' Zane mentally cursed as he get back on his feet with his gunblade.
"Dummy doesn't create illusions." Akaya told him with a smirk. "It creates a real copy of myself with all my powers intact...It copies me so perfectly that not even Minerva's eyes can tell the difference."
"True, but the downside is that the only way to destroy them is to damage it." Zane said with the smirk as he began to raise his gunblade that was coated with lightning element. "Too bad that I already know your weakness, thanks for the history lesson doofus. Bow Shock"
Zane slammed his gunblade down to the platform as the electric forcefield began to draw close to Akaya and his clones, leaving him electrocuted and scream in pain. With that, Akaya collapse down to his knees while feeling the numb from the sparks as Zane approaches him with a glare.
"Now, explain yourself. Why did you attack the female student from Tenbi long ago?" Zane asked seriously while Akaya couldn't help but chuckle with a smug look on his face.
"You really want to know?" Akaya asked. "Alright, I'll tell you an interesting story about a certain boy...in a certain school...You see, this certain school has a very unique tradition...They have a rule that allows their students to settle their disputes by fighting. However, there were rules to the fights and that took all the fun out of it."
"What are you talking about?" Takeru questions.
"Now that a certain boy...he strongly felt that there rules were a burden, and soon grew tired and bored of that 'playful' school life. He decided as a test to gather a group and attack a female student when she was alone." Akaya said with a grin.
"WHAT!?" Takeru yelled with shock, leaving Zane tense his glare.
"Among the rules set by the school, the winner, the stronger fighter was not allowed to torment the weaker opponent who lost. Don't you find that rule ridiculous? Everyone knows that the best part of a fight is torment your opponent." Akaya said with delight as Zane punched him with anger.
"Don't tell me...you."
"That's right, Takeru...that boy was me." Akaya answered with a proud grin, spitting his blood. "I was the one who attacked that girl. I'll admit the risk were great, but I was able to accomplish my goal and caused a ripple in that pathetic, boring school. I'll always remember the way she looked...screaming, running away, and crying for me to stop. It was so much fun."
Zane's muscle was tightened as his whole body began to channel with rage.
"Fated Force" Zane's body began to channel with flames, making it much more stronger as the aura of the lion revealed, leaving the members of Maken-Ki shock with awe.
"Blasting Aura" Zane's body began to channel together with fire and ice as he roared at the sky like a lion. Zane then charge after Akaya with his gunblade now coated with fire and ice.
"Dual Fang" Zane began using his slashing combo, leaving Akaya grunted with pain as he landed on the platform once more when he felt in the mixture of frost and flame.
"You bastard, all this for you petty agenda! Didn't you join Maken-Ki just so you can have fun!?" Zane yelled at him with pure anger.
"That's right." Akaya admits. "Protecting the school wasn't something that I want, I joined because I was bored. If only those wretches didn't interfere, I would've been able to enjoy tormenting her for a little longer...The same way that man enjoyed killing Takeru's mother!"
The members of Maken-Ki stared at Akaya with horror and anger while the members of Venus stood silent.
Suddenly, Zane was began to surround himself with the mixture of fire and ice as he looked at Akaya with pure rage and killing intent aura while the aura of the lion revealed itself once more, leaving them shocked when they saw a lion.
"What the hell!?" Azuki question with worry and fear when she heard her brother growled.
"Akaya...Kodai...you...bastard!" Zane growled at him with pure anger as he readied his gunblade.
"YOU...YOU SON OF A BITCH!?" Takeru screamed with rage and anger. Suddenly, the wind picked up as steam came from Takeru's body.
Zane then noticed that his aura was faded and the elements of fire and ice was gone. He looked at his hand, noticed that his energy was draining as his eyes followed the small stream of his energy which lead straight to Takeru. Zane stared at Takeru as he saw a purple aura surround him and his pupils were gone, only his eyes were white. Zane then noticed that the other's energy were drained as well as entering Takeru.
'I knew it, Takeru was using Blood Pointer. His body won't last if this keeps up!' Zane mentally shouts when Takeru roared as his new energy being poured into him.
"Yes...this is it...This is what I wanted to see." Akaya said, staring at Takeru with amazement. "Blood Pointer."
"Damn you, Akaya!" Zane yelled at Akaya. "So your plan was to make Takeru angry on purpose. You bastard! You're killing us all and Takeru won't last much long!"
"That power...it sucks up all the Element around them using their mouth. Up until now, every time he'd start to lose control of his emotions...He would unconsciously suck away at their element. I've heard stories...but seeing it is completely different." Akaya said in disbelief and amazement. "His anger activated the power...but now he's gone out of control...There's no limits...He's even sucking Element from his surroundings...Things are going to get dangerous is he doesn't stop..."
Akaya groaned a bit as he felt himself getting weaker. Then both he and Zane noticed that Takeru's body began to spurt blood.
'His body couldn't take much more of this! It's tearing him apart!' Zane mentally thought.
"The power is so great that it's even damaging his own body." Akaya said as he fell into one of his knees as he gasping a bit for air.
"I feel like my strength is being sucked away...what's happening?" Haruko questioned, gasping a bit for air.
"I guess I'll have to get serious now." Akaya said seriously. "His anger is aimed at me. I don't want to...but I'll have to use myself as a scapegoat to reduce his anger. Who knows what'll happen if I don't..."
Akaya tried to summon his Maken, but it won't appear in his hand.
'My Maken won't activate!' Akaya thought with shock. 'He's absorbing my Element so fast that I can't use my Maken. In that case, I'll just use my fist.'
"Sorry Takeru, Lightning Shot" Zane fires his lightning bullet at Takeru, leaving him shocked in pain as he collapsed down unconsciously.
"Relax guys, he's unconscious but he's okay." Zane assures them with a shout. "Just keep an eye on him."
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" They heard the scream. "WHY IS HIMEGAMI STILL HANGING FROM THAT CROSS YOU GLASS-WEARING SHITHEAD!"
Kengo then drop kicked Takeru in the back, leaving Zane and Akaya sweat drop.
"That's right...I completely forgot there was someone who broke through the barrier, but how did he get in here?" Akaya asked himself, watching Kengo beating Takeru from afar. Takeru got up from the floor and grabbed his head as he turned to him.
"Kengo...What are you...doing here?" Takeru questioned groggily when he noticed that his small wounds scattered around his upper body and face. "Whoa! Blood!? Why am I bleeding!?"
Takeru then noticed that both Inaho and Haruko panted heavily.
"Kengo...what happened?" Takeru asked his friend.
"You don't remember?" Akaya questioned. "Your power sucked away the Element from everybody in here."
"I...did this?" Takeru asked with shock when he noticed that members of Maken-Ki, Venus, Akaya, and Zane were panted since their Elements were sucked away from Takeru's Blood Pointer.
"Now isn't the time to worry about it. I don't know what happened either, but didn't you come here to save Himegami?" Kengo questioned, making Takeru looking at him. "You're an idiot remember? If you think about the consequences, you'll forget what you came here to do. You should just focus on one thing at a time."
Takeru stared at him before grinning.
"I don't need an idiot like you telling me that! I already know!" Takeru exclaimed with new confidence.
"Tch, whatever. We can save Himegami after." Kengo said.
"Hold it! I don't mind dealing with the three of you-"
"Bullshit, you're scared of Zane when he owned your ass." Both Taker and Kengo said in unison with dull looks, interupting Akaya.
"Hold Your Tongues!" Akaya shouted with annoyance before composing himself. "Anyway, I was having a match with Zane."
"I don't give a shit about your duel after what you did to Himegami!" Kengo said with anger as Takeru raised his hand.
"Sorry, but we should let Zane take care of this fight." Takeru told him with a smile as he look at Zane. "Kick his ass Zane."
Zane nodded as he turned to Akaya with a glare as he channels his Element with the mixture of fire and ice once more when he noticed the cheer of the girls and his sister.
"I'm ending this quickly." Zane said, readied his gunblade.
"Give him hell, Zane!" Azuki exclaimed with a smile, pump her fist.
"Kick his butt, Zane!" Haruko shouted.
"Show him the Heart of the Lion!" Inaho cheered.
"Go, Zane! Give him hell!" Kengo shouted.
Zane then give them a nod as he turned to Akaya.
"By the way, I unlocked my ability a while back." Zane told him with a smirk. "It's called, 'Lion of Battle.' It reduces my delay of my abilities which Akaya...you're in big trouble."
Akaya was shocked when Zane learned his new ability. Zane began to charge after Akaya which he won't be able to activate his Maken in time.
"Fated Fangs" Zane began using his ten slashing combo that coated his Maken with Flames.
"Renzokuken Firefang" Zane used his slash combo, leaving Akaya screamed in pain when he felt so much burns.
"And for the final touch! End of Flame" Zane then fused his Maken and body with scorching flames as he began to use his flame slashing combo while slamming his gunblade to the platform, making a Supernova Explosion. That impact caused a major shockwave as they embraced for the impact.
(Music Ends)
"Whoa! Did he get him?" Kengo asked, surprised of that attack while trying to hold the bar.
"I don't know! I couldn't tell!" Haruko answered when she planted her Maken toward the ground.
When the dust cleared from the platform, they noticed that Zane was still standing, panted heavily when he used that powerful attack while Akaya was down the platform with scorched slash marks all over his body and burnts. They were shocked that Akaya was not only hurt but had major degree burns.
"The winner is...Zane Shinatsu." Azuki announced as Zane ran up the stairs, leaped over to the twins and continued to get Himegami.
"ZANE!" Azuki yelled.
"DUDE, BEHIND YOU!" Takeru yelled. Zane began to turn around to see what was behind him, but the assailant made it in front of him to deflect the bullet.
"I figured that you're a sore loser, Akaya Kodai." The assailant said as he pulled his cloak. He revealed to be a tall man with brown eyes, spikey black hair, and a beard. He wore a sleeveless leather jacket with black shirt underneath, cargo pants, leather belt, fingerless gloves, and combat boots. He had a prosthetic left arm that was made of metal and he hold a cigarette on his mouth.
Both Akaya and Zane were shocked when they recognizes him.
"Jin." Zane said with shock.
"Hey, kiddo." Jin greeted with a grin. "Sorry I'm late, I didn't know if I can make it in time when I got less than 10 minutes."
Zane couldn't help but chuckle a bit as he spoke. "Well, you're here now."
Jin nods as he turned to Akaya. "Still have a habit of trying to be sneaky bastard Akaya?"
"Long time...no see...Jin." Akaya said weakly, getting up slowly. "I didn't think you come here."
"Zane gave me a call and letting me know what Kamigari was up to." Jin explains. "Which, I didn't think that you and your team would be doing there dirty work. I thought you were better than that."
"Spare me the lecture." Akaya spat out. "You always take one step ahead of me."
"And I'm damn proud of it." Jin exclaimed as he turned to his pupil. "Better go and get Himegami."
Zane nodded to his teacher as he get to Himegami. He began to get that rag out of her mouth when used his Element to release her from the restraints.
"What kept you guys!?" Himegami said with a glare. "Geez, do you really have to go for overkill?"
"Now was that a way to say 'thank you?'" Zane said sarcastically. "Also, Akaya's fine. He got what he deserve for working with Kamigari this whole time and for making Tenbi an all girls school in the first place."
Himegami was shocked for what Zane have told them as she gave him a smile.
"Well, I guess you're right." Himegami nods with agreement. "Thank you."
Zane nods as he, Himegami, Azuki, and Jin headed down the platform to get toward the rooftop. The members of Maken-Ki were happy to see that Himegami was alright, but Jin noticed the deceased Minerva as he turn to Zane.
"I take it you killed her?" Jin questioned, getting a nod from his pupil. "I figure that Akaya and Venus would try something stupid, but I didn't think this would happen soon."
"Well, I agree with you on that, Jin." They all look at the side to see Gen and Minori came out of the door, along with Aki, Chacha, and Uruchi. Both Minori and Gen walked towards Jin with small smile on their faces while Chacha rush towards Zane, hugged him.
"Hey Jin, didn't think you come back here in Tenbi." Gen greeted with a smirk.
"What, you guys didn't think I come here for a reunion?" Jin retorts with a smirk while Minori walk towards him.
"Jin you son of a bitch. You've been away for over 10 years and yet here you are, returning to Tenbi looking like that." Minori said with a glare, sighed. "Zane told me what happen to you few years ago."
Jin winced when his pupil told them what happen in Syria which that didn't surprise him as he spoke.
"Yeah, I guess that's what happen when I put my pupil in this situation." Jin said with guilt while Azuki walk towards him, kicking his shin with anger as he hopped with his one leg while grabbing his other leg.
"You Bastard! Do You Have Any Idea What You Put My Brother Through!?" Azuki shouted with anger. "I Almost Lost Him Because Of You!"
"And I'm sorry, neither of us thought that it was a set-up from Kamigari!" Jin countered. "Which they wanted me and your brother dead."
"Well now they want to recruit him, they want Zane become part of Kamigari." Minori told him. "I pretty much learn that from Ouken which he wants him."
"I'm not interested in being part of Kamigari." Zane said seriously. "I figured that they would try to pull something since they wanted me dead in the past few years and now they want to recruit me. I would rather see Kamigari gone."
The members of Maken-Ki were shocked for what Zane have told them, but both Azuki and Jin nodded with an agreement. Gen looked at Akaya in that state, he was shocked.
"Dude, was that your work!?" Gen shouted with shock.
"Yeah, that was me." Zane admits. "I guess what I did was a bit overkill."
"Who cares, you did beat his ass." Kengo said with a smile. "Though it was overkill, but for real...it was badass."
"Yeah, we saw that lion aura surrounds you." Takeru agreed. "That was really cool."
"Don't encourage him you two." Haruko said with a annoyance. "But you're right, it was kinda cool."
That got Jin laughing a bit when they looked at him with confusion.
"I guess that's what gonna happen when you face someone who's really strong." Jin said with a toothy grin. "Kind of reminded me when I face Minori back at the day."
"Yeah, we did a whole lot of overkills when we fought." Minori admits with a grin.
However, Akaya overheard of their conversation which he figured that nothing will go his way since the members of Maken-Ki have won this battle as he gave those twins a nod, they began to activate their Jingu.
"Time-Space Lock Barrier Release" The Finnian twins declared at the Giant Pot glowed.
Suddenly, everything was starting to reform and change to normal. The huge split in the building from Haruko's attack, the tattered clothes of Maken-Ki and Venus members that fought and wounds were healed as well.
"Our wounds." Azuki said looking herself.
"Our clothes...the damage on the building. Everything's returning back." Himegami said.
Zane heard that gasping noise as he noticed that Minerva was alive again with her wound was healed.
"Welcome back Minerva." Akaya said with relief as Minerva nodded him.
Chacha hugged Zane once more with joy.
"I'm glad you're safe!" Chacha said pressing his face against her breasts.
"Chacha, don't smother him!" Azuki shouted as she pried her brother out of Chacha's strong grip.
"Everything's...returning back the way it was before." Inaho said with confusion. "But why?"
"It just means that Venus lost and all of you, the Maken-Ki won." Akaya said with a shrug when they noticed that he was healed up from his burn marks and wounds.
A helicopter then flew over them, making them look up.
"Isn't that the helicopter that was supposed to take me away?" Himegami questioned.
However, Akaya took out his Maken and shot a bullet at a helicopter which it led to turn it around and flying away.
"The helicopter's leaving!" Azuki said surprisingly.
"I shot it with my Hypnosis bullet. I feel bad for shooting them, but I had to retreat for now." Akaya explains.
"You made a barrier that freezes space and time, didn't you?" Gen questions. "It's made so that when the barrier is released. Everything that happened within it resets to the way is was before. You knew that all along didn't you?"
"You're still as sharp as ever, Gen." Akaya said with a chuckle. "One of Kamigari's orders was to abduct Kodama Himegami, the other was to test the power of the students of Tenbi. The ones before me might have failed, but this time around we were able to collect some valuable data. I'm glad all of you fought as hard as you did."
"You Bastard!" Azuki shouted with anger.
"You Scum!" Himegami shouted as she charge at Akaya. "Are you saying everything you did was nothing but an act!?"
However she stopped as Aki slapped him across his face, shocking everyone, except Zane and Jin.
"You...You're always making up lies like this...and you never care how much they hurt the people that you lie to...You Never Tell The Truth To Anybody! You're Just Pretending To Be The Villain So You Can Feel Better About Yourself!" Aki shouted as she starts crying. "Why do you always have to be like that...Akaya."
"Yup...I totally agree." Minori said when she placed her hand on Aki's shoulder.
"You're nothing but a real piece of work, you know that?" Jin said sarcastically. "Kamigari have cause more pain than helping people which that didn't surprise me at all which you and your team have kidnapped Himegami and planning to recruit my pupil. Not to mention putting me and my pupil in danger since we were set-up by them."
With that, Azuki and Chacha looked at Akaya with anger and give him a major beatdown, leaving them sweat drop.
"I guess Azuki and Chacha really do care about you?" Haruko said with a nervous chuckle.
"Sure looks like it." Zane nods.
"Remind me not to get on your sister's bad side. One was enough." Jin told him, getting a nod from Zane.
When they finished beating Akaya up, he was all battered and bruised which his face was right now the shape of baboon's ass, leaving Gen, Jin, Kengo, Takeru, and Minori burst out of laughter. It took them a few minutes to calm down as Minori spoke.
"Anyway, I have a lot to tell you all after this is all over, but could you let us take care of the rest here?" Minori asked.
"I know I have a lot of questions, but seeing that bastard getting beat up. I guess that's good enough for me." Himegami said with satisfactory smirk.
"Yeah, I told everyone we'd eat curry together to save you. If we stay here any longer, we won't have time to cook it." Takeru told her with a grin.
"Okay!" Inaho said cheerfully.
"I have a lot of questions for him, but I don't mind going home and taking a bath first." Haurko said with a smile.
"Same here, I think I had enough action for now." Azuki agrees.
"Then, let's go home!" Chacha said with the huge grin as they head toward their dorms, leaving the staff members, Jin, and Akaya alone for some long and serious explanation.
Tenbi Academy, Dorm Room
When the members of Maken-Ki finally made their way towards the dorm rooms. Takeru, Haruko, Inaho, and Himegami headed to Dorm Room 7 to have curry while Azuki headed to Dorm Room 9 to have a shower and cook some supper. However, both Zane and Chacha were outside of the Dorm Room.
"Well, I guess that means we won." Chacha said with a grin.
"For now." Zane nods with serious expression. "But, it was only the beginning since Kamigari have made there move. They may have failed to get Himegami, but they got the information they needed."
"True, but Akaya won't be forgiven by me, Azuki, or the others." Chacha said, getting a nod from him.
Zane made his move by placing his hands on to hers, making Chacha blushed.
"Chacha, I feel the same way about you." Zane admits with a blush. "I love you."
Chacha was shocked and surprised to hear what Zane have said as she hugged him with a smile.
"I love you too, Zane." Chacha said as they began to kiss each other.
Little did they know that Azuki was watching them with a smile.
That's it for the 18th chapter. Thought I can go ahead and get this chapter finish before I do anything else. Also, I added my OC which he had a similar appearance of Asuma from Naruto, along with the prosthetic arm that looked like Edward's arm from Fullmetal Alchemist.