A/N: Welcome back to When The Brothers Cry! And now, things get hectic for the Club. Enjoy Chapter 8 - Ride or Die!
Chapter 8 – Ride or Die
After the explosion, the students cried out in shock, before everyone heard a voice come over a walkie-talkie attached to the Yamainu leader's belt. Picking it up, the man asked, "Could you repeat that?", before a frantic voice came over the walkie-talkie, saying, "The fucking jeep's just exploded!" Taking the advantage of the Yamainu being distracted, Adam grabbed the barrel of the assault rifle, spun towards his target, and elbowed the man in the head, disarming him, as Jamie disarmed another of the Yamainu by grabbing his rifle and slamming it into his jaw. Shouldering the assault rifles, the brothers opened fire, gunning down almost all of the Yamainu members, but two managed to dive out of the way, just as the brothers ran out of ammo. As Adam tossed his now useless rifle aside, one Yamainu member ran out and threw a punch at him, but Adam blocked it, and slammed the man's head on a desk, before kicking the other Yamainu member backwards into Jamie, who took over the fight with him, before Adam slammed his member's head repeatedly on the desk, reducing it to a bloody pulp. As he let go of the body, Adam heard Jamie grunt in pain. Turning round, he saw Jamie's opponent had thrown him to the side, and unsheathed a knife. Walking towards Adam, the man grinned and said, "Time to die, Robertson!", before slashing at Adam, who just barely managed to roll out of the way.
"Adam!" the younger Robertson heard Mion yell, causing him to turn just in time to catch the baseball bat she had tossed him, and crack it across the oncoming Yamainu member's arm, causing it to shatter in half. Growling, the man went to throw another punch, but Adam blocked it, only to open himself up to a punch to the jaw. Recoiling quickly, Adam managed to grab his opponent's arm, spin him around, and slam the remaining half of his bat into his back, sending him to the floor. Tossing the remainder of the bat aside, Adam managed to block a stab from the knife, bend his opponent's arm back, and push him against a desk, the knife pointed at his throat. After struggling for a couple of seconds, Adam managed to wrest the knife from his opponent's hand, backhand him, stunning him for a second, and slam the knife into his chest, stabbing him straight through the heart, killing him instantly. As he dropped the body to the floor, he breathed out, "Well fought.", before picking up a pair of pistols, passing one to Jamie, and turning to the class. "The fuck you still standing there for?" he asked, before pointing to the door. "RUN!" He yelled, inciting the class to run out of the room, with the brothers at their head.
As the class got close to the front door, Adam and Jamie backpedalled quickly, and pushed them back round the corner, just in time to avoid a torrent of bullets. "Son of a bitch!" Adam growled, before he and Jamie leaned round their corners, and started to open fire on the Yamainu outside. After a few seconds, they had eliminated a fair number of the Yamainu, but Adam took a shot to the shoulder, causing him to fall to the ground. "Adam!" Rika called out, before Adam saw a grenade roll to beside his hand. Smiling as he picked it up, he pulled the pin out, said, "Right back at you!", before throwing it out of the front door, ducking back behind his cover as it went off, killing the remaining Yamainu members stationed at the door. "Right, go!" Adam ordered, causing the class to run out, but the Games Club ran to the Charger and Skyline. "Get in!" Adam yelled, sliding over his bonnet, while shooting a couple more Yamainu members, giving the rest of the class room to escape. Nodding, Rika, Mion and Keiichi got into the Charger, and Rena, Satoko and Shion got into the Skyline. After sliding into the driver's seat, the brothers peeled off, and they were soon a fair distance away from the school.
Picking up the phone in his car, Adam passed it to Rika. "Can you call Miss Rumiko?" he asked, before Rika nodded, and started to punch in the number. After starting the call, she held it up to Adam's ear. "Adam?" Chie's voice asked from the other end of the call. "Yeah. It's me, Miss Rumiko. Are you and the other kids safe?" he asked, before he heard Chie hum in confirmation. "Yeah, we are. What about you?" she asked. As Adam went to reply, he, along with his passengers, were caught off guard when the back of his car was rammed by a jeep. "Son of a bitch!" Adam growled, before he skidded around a corner. "I need to go, Chie. Just run!" he said, before hanging up, just as the jeep rammed him again. "Oh, you did not just ram my car, asshole!" he said, before Jamie's voice came over the walkie-talkie. "We need to get these bastards off our back, bro!" he said, before Adam looked to the Skyline, and nodded, before picking up his radio. "Agreed. What's your plan?" he asked, before Jamie replied, "We do what we do best. We improvise." Smirking, Adam said, "Ride or Die." Looking over to Jamie, Adam heard his brother reply, "Ride or Die". Replacing the walkie-talkie, Adam turned to Rika. "Ready?" he asked, before Rika nodded. "Ready." She said, causing Adam to nod in return. "What about you two?" he asked, looking in the rearview mirror. "Ready!" Mion and Keiichi said, before Adam smirked, and shifted his gearstick, speeding up, the Skyline following close behind.
After driving for a while, the Skyline and Charger were leading the jeeps up the road of the cliff where Adam and Jamie had met with Ōishi, before they saw another convoy of jeeps coming down the hill. Pulling on their handsticks, the brothers skidded to the side, causing the back of their cars to barely miss the edge of the cliff, and pull to a stop, facing the Yamainu jeeps. "Adam?" Rika asked, before Adam raised his hand off his gearstick, and waved it from side to side, signifying her to be quiet. As they watched, they saw the door to one of the jeeps open, and Takano herself stepped out, and a number of the Yamainu exited their jeeps, and pointed rifles at the cars.
"I have to say, I'm not usually impressed. But you two have caused more trouble than I thought you'd be capable of, despite my previous paying you." Takano said, before Mion looked to Adam. "You worked for her?" she demanded, before Adam looked straight ahead, and said, "We did. But we were hired to observe you, not kill you." Nodding, Mion saw Takano continue to speak. "Hand over the Furude girl, and the rest of you can walk away." She said, before Adam cracked his neck. Reaching down, he put the walkie-talkie into speech mode, as Rika said, "What's the plan, Adam?" Briefly looking to Jamie, Adam said, "You might want to put your helmets on for this one.", confusing the Club. "Helmets? What…" Mion said, before she spied a helmet at her feet. Picking it up, she placed it on her head, and Adam saw the rest of the Club do so. Scowling, Takano said, "Target the drivers!", causing the Yamainu to cock their rifles, just as Adam looked to Jamie and nod, before both of them shifted their gearsticks, and pulled their cars into doughnuts, kicking up a large dust cloud, obscuring them from view, and when it died down, the cars were seen to be pointing the opposite direction, facing out over the town. "Interesting." Takano said, just as Mion looked to Adam. "You're pointing the wrong way!" she said, before Adam smirked. "Am I?" he asked, revving his engine, enticing Jamie to do the same. "Fire on my mark!" they heard Takano yell, before Adam smirked.
"3!"
Shifting himself in his seat, Adam looked to his brother, who winked.
"2!"
"Hold on!" Adam said, revving the engine more.
"1!"
The brothers stepped on their accelerators, and sped forward, just as Takano yelled "Fire!", and the Yamainu opened fire on them. As the Club braced themselves, the cars flew off the cliff, crashing into the rocks on the side, causing them to roll down, the frames being torn apart, and disappear into the forest below, as the Yamainu ceased fire, and Takano walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked down. "Find them! Kill them all, but bring Furude to me!" she ordered, before the Yamainu bowed and took their leave.
With the brothers…
"Ohhhhh!" Adam said, kicking open the door to the Charger, and climbing out, before reaching a hand back inside to help out Rika, Mion and Keiichi. After getting the last of the three out, he cracked his neck, before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Reacting quickly, he spun round, slamming the one who grabbed him into the wreck of his Charger. "Whoa, whoa, friendly!" Jamie's voice cried out, causing Adam's eyes to widen, before he released the figure. "Sorry, bro." he said, before he saw Rena, Shion and Satoko standing behind them as he embraced his brother. "Damn shame about our rides." Jamie said, causing Adam to look at the wreckage of the vehicles. "Yeah. And after we went through the trouble of reinforcing the chassis for something like this." He said, before they saw a flash of light further into the forest. "The Yamainu." Rika said, before the Club looked to the brothers. "What do we do now?" Shion asked, before Adam cracked his knuckles. "We do the only thing we can…" he said, before he looked to the Club…
"We run."
Nodding in agreement, the Club took off running through the forest, just as they heard their cars explode. "They're gonna pay for that." Adam thought to himself, as they ran.
After running for what felt like hours, the Club came to a halt when they saw a flash, followed by a gunshot. Skidding to a halt, the Club were shocked when they saw Keiichi fly backwards, and land on the ground, coughing up blood as he connected with the dirt. "Keiichi!" Mion yelled, running to her boyfriend's side, the rest of the Club following suit. "That…kinda hurt." Keiichi coughed out, spitting up blood as he laughed lightly. "Easy, Keiichi." Adam said, reaching out to his friend, but he was caught off guard when Keiichi batted his hand away. "Just run." He said, before Adam felt his last breath leave his body, and Keiichi fell limp. Looking up, the Club saw a Yamainu jeep parked up ahead, with Takano holding a smoking pistol, and several Yamainu members closing in on them. Growling as he clenched his fist, Adam saw Mion place one last kiss on Keiichi's lips.
"Guys…" Adam said, as he subtly palmed a smoke bomb, "Run!" he yelled, before throwing the smoke bomb down, encasing the area in a thick fog. When it died down, the Club was gone, but they had been forced to leave Keiichi's body behind. "Find them!" Takano yelled, before the Yamainu nodded, and dispersed, chasing the Club through the forest.
After running for a fair bit, the Club saw that a number of the Yamainu were ahead of them. "Jamie?" Adam asked, looking to his brother, who nodded. Sprinting ahead of the Club, they unsheathed knives they had hidden in their belts, and swiftly killed their targets by slicing their throats. As they regained their breath, the rest of the Club joined up with them. They then heard the calls of the Yamainu, as they got closer. Growling, Adam said, "These guys just don't give up." Nodding, Jamie clapped his brother on the shoulder. "You're right. They ain't gonna stop until Rika's dead. Maybe we can't stop them, but I can slow them down." He said, before the Club turned to him in shock. "Jamie, you saw what those guys did to Keiichi. They will kill you." Adam said, before Jamie nodded. "I know. But, if I can save the ones I love…I can imagine no higher honour." He said, before Adam sighed. "Alright, just don't die, you idiot. If anyone's gonna kill you, it's gonna be me." He said, before Jamie nodded. "Alright, but Shion, can I talk to you for a second?" he asked, before the Sonozaki girl nodded, and walked over to him. Leaning down, Jamie whispered briefly in her ear, causing her to look him dead in the eye, before she lunged at him and kissed him full force. When she pulled back, Jamie smiled. "Right, well, you'd all better get going." He said, before the Club nodded, and went to leave, but Adam ran up to Jamie and hugged him. "Fight or Die, brother." He said, before Jamie smiled. "Fight or Die." He said, returning the hug, before he pushed Adam away. "Go. GO!" he ordered, before Adam nodded, and led the Club away.
After running further into the woods, the Club stopped once again when they heard another gunshot. Looking to Adam, the remaining members saw that his face had turned pale. Turning round, Adam was shocked when he saw Jamie stagger weakly into view, clutching a severe bullet wound on his left side. "Sorry, brother. I think I fucked it." Jamie coughed out, before he collapsed. Running over, Adam checked his pulse, but he growled when he felt nothing. "Is he…?" Shion asked, before Adam nodded. "Yeah, he's dead. And now…I'm pissed!" he said, before he stood up. "You girls, get Rika out of here. Anything happens to her, I'm holding you personally responsible." He said, going to go in the direction Jamie had come from, but Rika held him back.
"You can't go up against her, Adam! This world needs to end with me dying! I just found you, I can't lose you! I won't live in a world with my friends dead, especially the man I love!" she said, before Adam kneeled down to face her. "What are you talking about, Rika? You sound like you've done this before." He asked, before Rika nodded. "It's complicated, but I've been through many worlds, and I've always died shortly after Watanagashi." She explained, to the confusion of the girls, before Adam nodded. "And in these…other worlds, did Jamie and I ever appear?" he asked, before Rika shook her head. "I see. Well, I guess…we'd better hope we show up in the next one, eh?" he asked, before Rika nodded. "Alright, get going!" he said, going to stand back up, but Rika pulled him back down, and kissed him, full on the lips. When she pulled away, she said, "Now, go and kill that bitch!", making Adam smirk. "Go!" he said, before the girls nodded, and ran off, leaving him standing near Jamie's body. "Alright, let's see what you've got, Takano." He said, waiting for the woman to arrive.
Eventually, his target, along with a group of her men, ran up, and Takano immediately smirked. "Well well well, if it isn't the lonely little Adam Robertson! Ready to join your foolish brother in death?" she asked, before Adam nodded. "Yeah, sure, but first, I wanna say something." He said, before Takano raised an eyebrow. "Fine." Smiling, Adam said, "I'm willing to let your men chase after Rika and her friends, but not you, Takano. You, I wanna talk to." He said, before the Yamainu looked to Takano, who nodded. "Bring Furude to me. Kill the rest." She ordered, before the Yamainu ran off.
"Okay, so let me clear one thing up; Why d'you wanna kill Rika?" Adam asked, causing Takano to smirk. "My grandfather. He made lots of research into Hinamizawa Syndrome, the same disease that killed poor Tomitake. But the fools at the World Health Organisation dismissed his findings, and branded him a laughing stock. Now, I am going to validate my grandfather's work, and become a god equal to Oyashiro-sama in power!" she said, before Adam smirked, and crossed his arms, making sure his hands went under his jacket. "Well, I'm certainly impressed. And to become a 'god', you have to kill a 10-year-old girl. Why?" he asked, before Takano laughed. "You wouldn't understand." She said, before Adam nodded. "Maybe not, but I understand two things that prevent me from siding with you." He retorted, making Takano tilt her head. "Oh? And what might they be?" she asked, causing the young Scotsman to smile, as his hand gripped round the handle of his target. "One; I'm in love with Rika, as I'm sure you're aware…" he said, making Takano nod. "And Two; which is the more obvious of the two…" he continued, pulling his target out of his sheath…
"You just killed my brother."
In a flash of steel, Adam's hand shot out from under his jacket, but just as the knife left his hand, there was a gunshot. As he stood, looking at his enemy, Adam's gaze went down to his chest, where a bright red pool was gathering on his chest. "Well, that's a first…" he coughed, looking back to his knife, only to find it embedded in the tree next to its intended target. "I missed." He stated, before he fell to the ground, next to his brother. "First time for everything." Takano said, stepping over to him. Looking up, Adam smiled. "I'm just a diversion. Shoot me if you want, or leave me to bleed out. Either way, Rika's farther away from you now. Either way…" he said, reaching up, grabbing her head and yanking her down, "I win." Growling, Takano pushed him off her, and aimed her pistol at him. "I'll see you in hell, Takano!" Adam laughed out, before Takano pulled her trigger a second time, and his vision went black…
As the girls ran ahead, they had to come to a stop when they heard the gunshot. Falling to her knees, Rika said, "There's no point. Why go on any more? Keiichi, Jamie and now Adam. They tried to help me, and they got murdered for their trouble.", before Mion grabbed her by the shoulders, and slapped her, to the shock of the remaining girls. "Crying about it won't change anything! If we let Takano get her hands on you, those three died for nothing! Is that what you want?" she demanded, before Rika shook her head. "Alright, well, I guess it's my turn. Shion…" Mion said, standing up and looking to her sister. "Keep Rika and Satoko safe. And Rena…" she said to her orange-haired friend. "Keep the rest of them safe." She ordered, before Rena nodded. "Alright, now go!" Mion ordered, running back towards the Yamainu. Pulling the other girls along with her, Rena led the group further into the woods, until they heard the next gunshot.
Rena fell next, after deciding to slow up Takano, but she sent Shion ahead to protect Rika and Satoko. After a brief conversation with Takano about how real the god Oyashiro was, Rena was killed by a shot to the heart. After this, Shion led the remaining two girls through the woods, until they reached a bridge. Halfway across, Shion's leg came out from under her, and she fell to the ground, bringing the other two down with her. Due to the delay the fall had given them, the Yamainu managed to catch up with them, and quickly tied their hands behind their backs, before pulling them back to Takano, depositing them in front of the Yamainu jeep, where the three girls saw they had also dumped the bodies of their friends. When Shion and Rika had seen the bodies of the Robertson brothers, they had began to cry, before Takano burst out laughing. "Oh, don't worry. You'll be joining your loved ones soon enough." She said, stepping over to Satoko, causing Shion to cry out, "Don't! Kill me instead, but leave Satoko alone!" Nodding, Takano immediately shot Shion in the head. "Alright, Satoko. I'll make you a deal. You like to play games?" Takano asked, causing the yellow-haired girl to nod. "Alright, here's the rules. I'm going to ask you a question. Answer correctly, and I'll let you go. Sound good?" Takano suggested, before Satoko nodded. "Alright, here's the question; Broccoli or Cauliflower, which one is green?" Takano asked, before Satoko went to answer, "Cauli…", before stopping herself. "Broccoli." She stated, causing Takano to smile. "Correct." She said, shooting Satoko in her head, killing her instantly.
"And now, for you, Rika." Takano said, stepping over to Rika, who glared at her. "I have one request." The blue-haired girl asked, causing Takano to halt. "Fine. What is it?" she asked, before Rika replied, "I wish that you kill me without putting me to sleep." Raising an eyebrow, Takano said, "What? You don't wish for a comfortable death?" Shaking her head, Rika said, "I wish to carve you tearing my stomach open onto my soul. That way, when I see you again, I will know you are my enemy." Nodding, Takano looked to the Yamainu. "Gag her and load her into the jeep." She ordered, before her men did as ordered, and gagged Rika, before depositing her on the back seat of the jeep. Getting into the driver's seat, Takano started to drive towards the Furude shrine.
Arriving at the shrine, the Yamainu placed Rika on the altar, and Takano withdrew a scalpel. As she prepared to plunge it into Rika's chest, the girl herself looked up, and she was shocked to see ghostly images of her friends appear. First Keiichi, then followed by Rena, Mion, Shion, Satoko, Jamie, and finally, to Rika's immense joy, Adam. Looking down on Rika, all the members of the Club smiled at her, and placed their hands on top of hers, only for them to be followed by a smaller hand. Looking over, the Club saw the ghost of a purple-haired girl in what looked like ritual robes. "Hanyuu!" Rika thought to herself, and the purple-haired girl nodded, just as Takano swiped the knife down, and blood splashed over the altar…
Immediately after…
Regaining consciousness, Rika sat up, and looked around the void she was in, various glass shards floating around, detailing the outcome of the various other worlds she had visited. As she stood up, she was joined by Hanyuu. "We almost had it." Rika said, putting her face into her hands. "I believed we could do it, and we almost did." She said, before a voice she recognised caused her to look up, where she saw her friends. "We all believed we could do it, Rika." Keiichi said, before Adam shook his head. "Not all of us, Keiichi." He said, stepping over to Hanyuu. "We were believing we could do it, that we could defeat fate, but you gave up." He said, causing the purple-haired girl to nod. "I thought that world would end as it always did." She said, before Jamie cleared his throat. "Well, here's what we do. We do it one more time, and this go around, we win." He said, before the Club nodded. Placing his hand in front of him, Jamie said, "Together?" Looking to each other and nodding, the Club members said, "Together!", and placed their hands on top of his, except for Hanyuu. Looking over to her, Adam said, "We can do this. If you help us.", causing the girl to nod, and place her hand on top of the pile, causing a flash of light to fill the void. "One more go. We can do this! One more world…" Rika thought to herself, as the Club vanished from the void…
A/N: And...that was weird. I've never written a death for the OC version of myself. Well, there's always the next world. See you in Chapter 9 - A New World. Madman out!