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We Share the Same Tear

~ As long as I have my friends… as long as I am alive… ~

~ I need them… they need me… ~

~… Because we're friends… ~

Chapter 12 – Difference

Koganei stood up. He faced Kai and bowed, "Thank you… my friend." Kai smiled, and removes Hyoumaen from his arm. "I won't be needing this anymore. You might as well take it with you. You'll need it." He suggested, handing the Ice Sword to Koganei. Koganei nodded, "Thanks but no thanks. You keep Hyoumaen. Even if you wouldn't need it anymore, Hyoumaen needs you. You know that don't you."

"Well… I know for sure that he has served me well. Very well… and I guess you're right. I'll keep it as you say so. Maybe someday, I would need it again."

Kai smiled, "Be going. Let's meet each other again someday."

Koganei smiled in return, waving his hand as Kai distance from him.

"Oh dear… why did you let Kai leave you alone?"

Koganei turned back. That voice was familiar. It was from the person he's trying to hunt down, Mokuren.

"Isn't it stupidity? You even rejected Hyoumaen." Mokuren grinned, slowly raising up his arms. "You caused me too much trouble. You and your sister… Both of you must go to HELL!"

Mokuren attacks with a trunk of tree from his body. Koganei easily dodges it and jumps to a safe distance. "Don't be so sure about yourself Mokuren. I can destroy you." Mokuren sneered, "How frightening. You think I'm that easy to fool? Or do you think I'm too stupid to fight you alone?"

"Greetings commander. Mikoto, assistant commander, reporting on duty."

Koganei backed away. His eyes stared blankly at Mikoto. Sweatdrops slowly crawls to his chin, and he wasn't able to utter a word. "I know that Mokuren can't beat you alone. But with both of us, I guess it wouldn't be a problem would it?" Smiled Mikoto, then pushing her hand upon the ground, "come out, Shirohige!"

An android raised itself over the ground before Mikoto, and Mikoto excitedly jumped into the puppet madougu. "This is how it started Koganei… and this is how I'll end it…"

******

"Stop… I surrender." Mikoto begged before a gloomy face of an assassin. "Its useless fighting you. Come with me… I'll take you back to Master Kurei." Answered the assassin.

******

"You were the one who destroyed Mikoto. And on that same day, I faced the greatest embarrassment because you replaced me as the commander. I felt guilt. I felt envy… I felt unfairness!!!" Mikoto shouted, lunging towards Koganei with her Shirohige.

Koganei evades the attack and transforms his Kougan Anki to its second form. "Ni no Kata, Dragon."

He wraps the chainsickle around Shirohige and held it tight, restraining any movement from the puppet. "Stop it Mikoto please… get a hold of yourself. It's already history. Forget about it." Koganei said, forcefully trying to maintain his momentum.

"SHUT UP!!!" Mikoto shouted as she triggers Shirohige's maneuvering wheel. Koganei tries to hold it tight, and he clutches the weapon even more. "Mikoto… there are better ways than to end things off with violence. Please… listen to me."

Koganei tried to utter another word, but he felt something stab his left shoulder. He felt pain… and his hold on the Kougan Anki wears weak. Shirohige pulled away from the constraint and distances from Koganei a little. "Not ending things off with violence? Are you joking?" Mokuren smiled, "then what are you trying to do to me? You're trying to kill me. To end your revenge. Isn't that violence?"

Koganei removes the root from his shoulders and held himself back.

Mokuren growled in laughter, "You are not different from Mikoto. Both of you thirst for revenge. The only thing different this time is that you are about to die, while Mikoto will survive."

"Now Koganei Kaoru, commander of the Uruha Elite Group. Feel the power of Kodama!"

The ground shook, and Mokuren slowly transforms himself into a Plant Dragon. "This is the ultimate power of Kodama, a manifestation of unequalled power!" Shouted Mokuren. Koganei stood motionless as he stares at the magnificence of the madougu's power. "Blood!!! Murder!!! Kill!!!" Shouted Mokuren as he hastily attacks Koganei. He stretched his arm before Koganei and Koganei swerved right followed by three successive arrow shot to Mokuren's Chest.

"Ouch… it pains me a lot." Laughed Mokuren as he removes the golden arrow. "I feel no pain! Because I'm the ultimate battle machine." Shouted Mokuren as he prepares another strike.

Koganei dodges the second attack. "Don't forget about me commander." Yelled Mikoto. Shirohige slams Koganei into the ground, and Koganei coughs abundant blood. Shirohige pulled Koganei by the hair and stares to him, "This time… I'll defeat you." Mikoto uttered and slams Koganei's face back into the ground.

Mokuren stretches his hand and grabbed Koganei by the neck, raising him from laying on the ground to a standing position. "Now tell me Mr. Commander Sir, who's killing who?" asked Mokuren. Koganei bleeds from the mouth, but looked back at Mokuren with an evil face.

"Oh! How nice. I thought at this point you might be begging for mercy. But with that looks, perhaps your begging for more." Responed Mokuren. "Any last words, Koganei?"

Koganei smiles and gives Mokuren a more evil look. "Do you truly believe that I've reached my limitation?" He asked followed by cutting Mokuren's arm. Mokuren growled in pain as blood gushes out from the open wound. "Don't be so sure of yourself as though you're the strongest. You feel pain. Because you're human."

Mikoto was petrified as she sees the loose hand dropping to the ground.

"Mikoto… take care of your husband. I have to go now…" Koganei announced as he turns his back on Mikoto. "There is still some place I have to go. Fighting is useless now…"

He left. And Mikoto's eyes followed him until he faded in the shadows of the forest. "I'll build a world without hatred. And on that day… whenever that is… everyone will be happy."

Koganei strolled on the woods. Midway, he was interrupted with a familiar person. "You spared them."

"I know…"

"You're really something buddy. After all they did to your sister and you…"

"I know… but I told myself that I won't kill anyone anymore. It's over."

"Hmph… then… would you permit me to kill them instead?"

"I don't really care. Living or dead, it wouldn't make much change anyway."

Koganei started walking away. And the stranger walked on the opposite side.

"Teishaku Kaiten , it's been a while since I've used your power… now, I'll use it again."

~ Let's have some fun shall we? ~

~ Joker, the Trump Card of the Uruha… carrying on the mission. ~

End of Chapter 12