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BU- TOH SHIN DEN: To Challenge Fate -/U/BP
Ia Battle Arena Toshinden fanfiction by Athena Asamiya and Kasumi Todoh/I
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BCHAPTER TWELVE: Destiny/B
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BTranslations:/B
DDIyokatta ne/I - I'm glad
DDIminna/I - everyone
DDIarigatou/I - thank you
DDImakenai mo/I - I'll never give up, I won't lose, etc.P
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DD"All right then, just what the Ihell/I are we supposed to do about it??" Tracy snapped. "Those two ain't back yet. They've been gone for way too long as is."
DD"I agree, something's wrong here," Ellis added worredly. "Eiji-kun would have been back by now."
DDSofia shook her head firmly. "We cannot go after them. It is their fight, and we have absolutely no idea where Eiji & Kayin are by now."
DD"Still..." growled Tracy. "I wanna see some ACTION!! I want to go out there and kick some Himitsu ass!"
DDEllis turned away. "But there's nothing we can do...isn't there."
DD"You would struggle against your fate, then. It does make sense."
DDThe three girls whipped around to see another woman standing slightly behind them. Clad in a black-and-red bodysuit with a deep maroon scarf wrapped around her neck, short purple hair, pale white skin and ruby lips. Her blood-red eyes were as piercing and sharp as the halberd she was carrying. The woman walked towards them slowly, and the trio tensed, grabbing their respective weapons. Sofia held her whip out in front of her in a defensive pose and said in a threatening tone, "If you are our enemy, do not come any closer. I am warning you."
DDThe mystery woman shook her head. "I am an enemy of the Himitsu Kessha. Therefore we are not. I am the turner of the wheel of fate. I am Cupido."
DD"Wheel of fate?" Tracy questioned, confused. "Isn't that a game show...?"
DDSofia sighed and shook her head in pity. "That is Wheel of Fortune, you idiot."
DD"Hey, who're ya callin' an idiot?" Tracy snapped back. Sofia merely gave her a cold look in return. As the two started arguing, Ellis had enough sense to ask, "Cupido? Why were you not in the tournament?"
DD"It is...a long story. And I'm afraid your friends Eiji Shinjo & Kayin Amoh are too tied up in it."
DDTracy, deciding that this was more interesting, waved one of her tonfas menacingly. "Oh yeah, girl? Then what do you know about it?"
DD"I cannot say, for even I do not know. But it is a safe bet that they are in danger. I will show you where to go."
DDSofia glared at Cupido. "Fine. But do not try anything. You have not fully gained my trust, and I can see clearly that you are not telling us the whole story."
DD"No. That I am not. It doesn't matter now. What does matter is the lives of your two friends, which may be extinguished very soon, unless we can work together. For both Eiji & Kayin are extremely important to the fate of this world. And their lives are in dangerous jeopardy."
DD"Isn't that a game show too?" murmured Tracy, confused again. Sofia shook her head. "Hopeless."
DD"Cupido, I don't understand..." Ellis said quietly. "...but I couldn't bear the thought of Eiji-kun being killed. I'd rather die."
DD"Right!" agreed Tracy. "I'll surely get a good fight now!"
DDSofia sighed. "If Eiji and Kayin are in danger, then I would do anything to help. I suppose we must leave now."
DDCupido nodded. "That would be wise." She motioned towards one path leading into the trees. "Now, go straight down that way, into the forest. They should both be there."
DDObediently, the three girls followed Cupido's directions into the darkened heart of the forest, and towards their destiny. Cupido, however, stayed behind, watching them with a certain curiousity. IStruggling against fate.../I she mused. IIt could be the end of them, or the end of this world. They have no idea how important they are. No idea at all./I Cupido sighed, but with a hint of a faint smile. IMay luck be with you all./IP
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DD"What the hell is that??"
DDThat was, of course, Kayin.
DDThere was a dark, mysterious figure across the moon. A figure with wings. Eiji tensed,
reaching for his sword-sheath. "That must be who niisan was warning us about!"
DDAs he said that, the winged silhouette slowly began to descend from the sky. It floated
down, towards the ground, until it hovered in the air right in front of the battered Eiji and Kayin.
The two quickly grabbed their swords, ready for what was looking to be another battle.
DDThe shadow was a young woman, with light blond hair and pale green eyes. The moon
was gleaming off of the white armour that adorned her body; her wings were outstretched and
feathered with gossamer white. In one hand she held a glowing golden bow, and the look on her
face was of serene cruelness, if there was even such a thing. She regarded Eiji and Kayin smugly.
DD"Well," she spoke, her cold, monotone voice echoeing through the recesses of the forest.
"It appears you two have lived up to my expectations."
DD"Who are you?" yelled Eiji.
DD"Yeah, and what do you want with us?" Kayin added, his voice rising.
DD"You foolish boys," the woman said mockingly. "I am known as, simply, Uranus. I am the
leader of the Himitsu Kessha, the organization that runs the Toshindaibukai tournaments. And I
must say that you two, Eiji Shinjo and Kayin Amoh, are remarkable fighters. In fact, I have a
proposition to make to you two. You will join our organization and fight for us."
DD"And what if we say no?" Eiji asked curiously.
DDUranus shook her head. "I'm afraid I neglected to mention that 'No' isn't an option.
You will come or die by my hand." She smirked slightly. "And may I remind you two that in
your already weakened state, it may not take much to kill you."
DDKayin and Eiji exchanged glances. As much as they hated to admit it, she was right. Their
power was almost all gone, and they weren't sure how much longer they could go. But still,
there was no other choice. Eiji shrugged, and waved his sword at Uranus. "We'll try."
DD"Right," Kayin added in agreement. "It's better to die than to be enslaved." He
pulled out Excalibur and grinned. "So, come on, hell angel. Let's see what ya got."
DDUranus snickered. "If you do insist." Without warning, she shot forwards, quicker than lightning, fire enveloping her wings. "FIREHAWK!!"
DDThe attack caught Eiji and Kayin offguard, and they both were nailed with the powerful double blow. Uranus landed, grabbed her bow and spun around, then fired two glowing energy arrows. "Eagle Rage!!"
DDKayin managed to jump out of the way, but Eiji wasn't fast enough due to his more serious injuries and was hit. Kayin dashed in to open up a combo, but Uranus simply shot upwards into the air calling "Swany Swap!", one of her wing-tips catching Kayin under the chin and knocking him backwards towards Eiji. Uranus landed deftly on her feet, a cruel laugh escaping her lips.
DD"Is that all you've got?" she asked mockingly. "It appears that I have overestimated your abilities." She laughed louder. "This world will soon be mine to command!"
DDThen she was interrupted.
DD"We beg to differ."
DD"What?" Uranus turned away from the battered Eiji & Kayin just in time to see Sofia, Ellis, and Tracy bearing down on her with a vengeance.
DD"Thunder Ring!"
DD"Screw Dancing!"
DD"Honeymoon!"
DDUranus was hit backwards from the equally powerful aerial attacks, which caused her to go flying to the ground. The girls landed and quickly ran to help Eiji & Kayin.
DD"Eiji-kun! Eiji-kun!" Ellis was saying desperately, kneeling beside Eiji's bruised body. "Don't you dare leave me! Eiji-kun!!"
DDEiji coughed for a second, then wearily opened one eye, smiling. "Don't worry...Ellis-chan...you're still stuck with me...for a while yet."
DD"Eiji-kuuuuuun!!" Ellis sobbed, hugging him. "You're all right! Thank God you're all right!!"
DD"What, nothing for your ol' mate Kayin?" said a voice behind her. Kayin was standing too, with help from Tracy and Sofia. He was grinning, despite his injuries. "S'pose that means you like Eiji better than me then."
DD"Oh, Kayin!" Ellis cried. "Yokatta ne! I'm so glad!"
DDTracy made an annoyed noise. "But we've got bigger probs to deal with now. None of us are gonna be all right if we don't finish off that angel-girl." She motioned to Uranus, who was just starting to get up.
DDEiji nodded, and started to get up himself. "I'm going to do it."
DD"No, Eiji-kun!" Ellis protested. "You'll be killed if you go on much longer!"
DD"Eiji's right, Ellis," Kayin interjected. "It's gonna take all of us to defeat her. Even if we have to die ourselves."
DD"But..." Ellis started.
DD"No," Eiji said. "You three can't take Uranus on alone."
DDSofia nodded briskly. "Then let us get to it." She struck a fighting pose. Tracy followed, along with Eiji, Kayin, and eventually Ellis. Eiji then said in a defiant tone, "You're not winning this one, Uranus. You'll never have our world."
DD"Is that so?" Uranus answered snidly, floating off the ground towards them. "We'll just have to see about that, Eiji Shinjo. All of you will die."
DD"Don't bet on it!" roared Tracy, leaping in and performing a quick aerial Jackpot, blades of knives protruding from her boots. The attack hit Uranus, but she managed to take Tracy out in the air with a Swany Swap. Sofia lept over Tracy's falling body, and attempted a corkscrew kick to Uranus's face with a loud cry. Uranus simply whacked her away with one of her wings, then shot Sofia with an arrow before she hit the ground. Kayin tried rolling inwards and attacking from the left side, but Uranus saw this and executed a quick footslide followed up by a wing slash, causing Kayin to lose his momentum and fall over backwards. Eiji and Ellis took to the air at the same time, Eiji yelling "Ryuseikyaku!!", Ellis calling "Screw Dancing!!". Uranus flipped backwards and fired two arrows diagonally into the air, striking both Eiji and Ellis at the same time. They, too, fell to the ground with Tracy, Sofia, and Kayin. Uranus stood up, laughing.
DD"You see?" she mocked. "There is no way you can defy the Himitsu Kessha and live! Now, to finish you all off once and for all!"
DDWith that, Uranus folded her wings in front of her, and began gathering her ki into them, waves of greenish energy being absorbed by her wings.
DD"This isn't good," muttered Kayin.
DD"PHEONIX!!" Uranus spread her wings out to her sides in one rapid movement, causing several pulsing bird-shaped fireballs to shoot out of her wings and towards the downed fighters. But just then, a sixth fighter decided to join.
DDI"AEGIS WALL!!"/I
DDThe five grimaced, bracing themselves for the fire to hit them, but the blows didn't come. They opened their eyes to see themselves surrounded by a shining gold force field. The Pheonix attack was reflected off the wall, and exploded into Uranus's face, causing her to scream in pain. She quickly recovered, however, and snarled in annoyance at the tall figure who stood between her and the Toshin fighters.
DD"You! Cupido! I will have your life for this treachery!"
DDCupido smirked. "My immortal powers are stronger than yours--" She smiled slightly. "IUranusu-sama./I"
DD"It's you," Eiji whispered. "The dream-girl. You are on our side, then."
DDBefore Cupido could answer, Uranus shook an armoured fist at her. "You will pay for this! You and Sho both!"
DD"I think not, Uranus." Cupido motioned to the fighters. "These warriors will spell the end of you and your organization. I have foreseen it, Uranus. And the future does not lie." She smiled, and it was both fire and ice. "You will die today. My treachery will never be known. We will eventually destroy your organization."
DD"That will never be so!!" Uranus lunged at Cupido, wings aflame, but Cupido stopped her cold by smashing her halberd blade across Uranus's face, raking blood and knocking Uranus back a few feet. And then, Cupido vanished completely. However, the five fighters could hear some of her whisperings caught on the air.P
DDIThe key to everything lies with you. Everything could change in an instant, but only if you make it so. In this place where the weapon is a way of life, you five are the fated ones who will shape its future here, in the arena, through your skills and courage. I have seen it and know it to be true. Good luck, and above all else, always remain allies. I'll always be watching.P/I
DD"'We will shape the future'?" Tracy muttered questioningly. "What the hell's meant by that?"
DDEiji got up off of the ground slowly, despite his injuries, flame burning once more in his eyes. "It Iis/I all up to us. Don't you see, minna? Only we can defeat Uranus. And that's what we have to do."
DDEncouraged by Eiji's words, Kayin too rose of the ground, followed by Tracy, Sofia, and Ellis. Ellis nodded in agreement. "That's right. We'll never give up, Uranus. You should know that."
DD"Not until our world is safe from your evil plans. Both we and the rest of the fighters are not your toys," Sofia finished.
DD"You may turn everything against us, but good will always win," Kayin said.
DDAnd Tracy, good old violent-obsessive that she was, summed up all their feelings in one sentence.
DD"We are gonna kick yo' ass to heaven, hell, and back, ya bitch!!"
DDUranus screamed in fury at them. "Try to stop me!" She took to the air gracefully and hovered above them before letting another ki-arrow fly loose, but the group managed to dodge this one. As Uranus was coming down from the air, slowed by her wings catching the updraft, Kayin turned to Ellis with a cocky grin and suggested, "Hey, Ellis-chan, I think she's askin' for a double uppercut. What'd ya say to it?"
DDEllis grinned. "Sounds good to me. Soar Wind!"
DD"Deadly Rays!"
DDKayin's attack hit Uranus and pushed her back, followed by Ellis, who knocked her back into the air then down again. Uranus flipped up just in time to see Tracy bearing down on her, tonfas raised, as she called "Pale Slider!!", performing a powerful double flip kick that caught Uranus offguard again, the knives and heels of Tracy's boots slashing upwards across her stomach and face. Sofia spun in dizzying circles in her Aurora Revolution, pounding Uranus over and over again. Once she was finished, Sofia sidestepped and let Eiji & Kayin take over, the two both launching their identical fireballs that combined and struck Uranus with twice the power of a single one. However, fueled by her hatred for these two most of all, Uranus ran forwards and smashed Eiji & Kayin in the faces and then their midsections with her wings. The two flew backwards, while Uranus quickly whipped out two arrows and charged them with ki.
DD"It's been nice knowing you." She pulled the arrows taunt on her bow-string, ready to fire, when suddenly...
DD"ARC SLASH!!!"
DDEllis appeared behind Eiji & Kayin, somersaulting through the air and diving straight at Uranus, daggers on fire. The Dirks came in contact with Uranus's chest with such force that it pushed her to the ground. As she started to fall, Ellis flipped over Uranus with ease and landed on her feet behind her. Eiji got up, smiling. "Arigatou, Ellis-chan."
DD"No problem, Eiji-kun," Ellis grinned, flashing a victory sign. "Makenai mo!"
DDUranus retreated to her favorite fighting area, the air. She swooped down towards them, but was stopped short by a Chopper Strike, executed deftly by Tracy. Uranus hit the ground but hovered up, then tried to smash them with another Firehawk. The five all either dodged or blocked the attack, but in any case, it didn't hit them. Eiji dashed in and sliced her with a quick Hishouzan, then flipped back out again, the five Toshin fighters now all standing in a line in front of the Himitsu Kessha's weakened and bruised angel of death.
DD"Now," Eiji hissed to his friends, "Everyone concentrate. Close your eyes and gather your ki. This is the only chance we'll have."
DDAnd so, Uranus rose angry and humiliated to the not-so-cheerful sight of five fighters, the very five that she had conspired against, Eiji Shinjo, Kayin Amoh, Sofia, Ellis, and Tracy, all with their ki, the fire and power of the soul, flaring off their bodies. Surrounded by different coloured forces, the fluxuating energy causing the wind and trees to blow and swirl around them, the group of fighters were pooling their power in one final attempt to destroy her. One by one, they all opened their eyes, burning with their fighting spirit. Uranus had one thought before her death.
DDIForgive me, my Duke, for I could never have returned./I
DDWith equal cries of fury, Eiji and his allies slashed their weapons downwards, causing the huge power and sheer force that they had all collected to erupt out of them, the magnitude and strength of the energy fusing together, five seperate fighting spirit's fire combining to make one.
DDA scream.
DDAnd the explosion, to put it mildly, was defeaning.
DDThe five were thrown backwards, and were forced to shield themselves after they landed on the ground a few meters away. Once the explosion and energy dissapated, there was one sentence floating on the breeze, a whispered final phrase from Cupido.
DDIIt is done./I
DDEiji, Kayin, Sofia, Ellis, and Tracy all looked up to see Uranus's now-lifeless body hanging in the air, crackling with the electricity and flame of their power. It was there for a second, then it shimmered and splintered into a number of dancing sparkles of light, which disappeared into the lightening sky of the hopeful and arising new dawn, never to be seen again.P
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BU- TOH SHIN DEN: To Challenge Fate -/U/BP
Ia Battle Arena Toshinden fanfiction by Athena Asamiya and Kasumi Todoh/I
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BCHAPTER TWELVE: Destiny/B
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BTranslations:/B
DDIyokatta ne/I - I'm glad
DDIminna/I - everyone
DDIarigatou/I - thank you
DDImakenai mo/I - I'll never give up, I won't lose, etc.P
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DD"All right then, just what the Ihell/I are we supposed to do about it??" Tracy snapped. "Those two ain't back yet. They've been gone for way too long as is."
DD"I agree, something's wrong here," Ellis added worredly. "Eiji-kun would have been back by now."
DDSofia shook her head firmly. "We cannot go after them. It is their fight, and we have absolutely no idea where Eiji & Kayin are by now."
DD"Still..." growled Tracy. "I wanna see some ACTION!! I want to go out there and kick some Himitsu ass!"
DDEllis turned away. "But there's nothing we can do...isn't there."
DD"You would struggle against your fate, then. It does make sense."
DDThe three girls whipped around to see another woman standing slightly behind them. Clad in a black-and-red bodysuit with a deep maroon scarf wrapped around her neck, short purple hair, pale white skin and ruby lips. Her blood-red eyes were as piercing and sharp as the halberd she was carrying. The woman walked towards them slowly, and the trio tensed, grabbing their respective weapons. Sofia held her whip out in front of her in a defensive pose and said in a threatening tone, "If you are our enemy, do not come any closer. I am warning you."
DDThe mystery woman shook her head. "I am an enemy of the Himitsu Kessha. Therefore we are not. I am the turner of the wheel of fate. I am Cupido."
DD"Wheel of fate?" Tracy questioned, confused. "Isn't that a game show...?"
DDSofia sighed and shook her head in pity. "That is Wheel of Fortune, you idiot."
DD"Hey, who're ya callin' an idiot?" Tracy snapped back. Sofia merely gave her a cold look in return. As the two started arguing, Ellis had enough sense to ask, "Cupido? Why were you not in the tournament?"
DD"It is...a long story. And I'm afraid your friends Eiji Shinjo & Kayin Amoh are too tied up in it."
DDTracy, deciding that this was more interesting, waved one of her tonfas menacingly. "Oh yeah, girl? Then what do you know about it?"
DD"I cannot say, for even I do not know. But it is a safe bet that they are in danger. I will show you where to go."
DDSofia glared at Cupido. "Fine. But do not try anything. You have not fully gained my trust, and I can see clearly that you are not telling us the whole story."
DD"No. That I am not. It doesn't matter now. What does matter is the lives of your two friends, which may be extinguished very soon, unless we can work together. For both Eiji & Kayin are extremely important to the fate of this world. And their lives are in dangerous jeopardy."
DD"Isn't that a game show too?" murmured Tracy, confused again. Sofia shook her head. "Hopeless."
DD"Cupido, I don't understand..." Ellis said quietly. "...but I couldn't bear the thought of Eiji-kun being killed. I'd rather die."
DD"Right!" agreed Tracy. "I'll surely get a good fight now!"
DDSofia sighed. "If Eiji and Kayin are in danger, then I would do anything to help. I suppose we must leave now."
DDCupido nodded. "That would be wise." She motioned towards one path leading into the trees. "Now, go straight down that way, into the forest. They should both be there."
DDObediently, the three girls followed Cupido's directions into the darkened heart of the forest, and towards their destiny. Cupido, however, stayed behind, watching them with a certain curiousity. IStruggling against fate.../I she mused. IIt could be the end of them, or the end of this world. They have no idea how important they are. No idea at all./I Cupido sighed, but with a hint of a faint smile. IMay luck be with you all./IP
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DD"What the hell is that??"
DDThat was, of course, Kayin.
DDThere was a dark, mysterious figure across the moon. A figure with wings. Eiji tensed,
reaching for his sword-sheath. "That must be who niisan was warning us about!"
DDAs he said that, the winged silhouette slowly began to descend from the sky. It floated
down, towards the ground, until it hovered in the air right in front of the battered Eiji and Kayin.
The two quickly grabbed their swords, ready for what was looking to be another battle.
DDThe shadow was a young woman, with light blond hair and pale green eyes. The moon
was gleaming off of the white armour that adorned her body; her wings were outstretched and
feathered with gossamer white. In one hand she held a glowing golden bow, and the look on her
face was of serene cruelness, if there was even such a thing. She regarded Eiji and Kayin smugly.
DD"Well," she spoke, her cold, monotone voice echoeing through the recesses of the forest.
"It appears you two have lived up to my expectations."
DD"Who are you?" yelled Eiji.
DD"Yeah, and what do you want with us?" Kayin added, his voice rising.
DD"You foolish boys," the woman said mockingly. "I am known as, simply, Uranus. I am the
leader of the Himitsu Kessha, the organization that runs the Toshindaibukai tournaments. And I
must say that you two, Eiji Shinjo and Kayin Amoh, are remarkable fighters. In fact, I have a
proposition to make to you two. You will join our organization and fight for us."
DD"And what if we say no?" Eiji asked curiously.
DDUranus shook her head. "I'm afraid I neglected to mention that 'No' isn't an option.
You will come or die by my hand." She smirked slightly. "And may I remind you two that in
your already weakened state, it may not take much to kill you."
DDKayin and Eiji exchanged glances. As much as they hated to admit it, she was right. Their
power was almost all gone, and they weren't sure how much longer they could go. But still,
there was no other choice. Eiji shrugged, and waved his sword at Uranus. "We'll try."
DD"Right," Kayin added in agreement. "It's better to die than to be enslaved." He
pulled out Excalibur and grinned. "So, come on, hell angel. Let's see what ya got."
DDUranus snickered. "If you do insist." Without warning, she shot forwards, quicker than lightning, fire enveloping her wings. "FIREHAWK!!"
DDThe attack caught Eiji and Kayin offguard, and they both were nailed with the powerful double blow. Uranus landed, grabbed her bow and spun around, then fired two glowing energy arrows. "Eagle Rage!!"
DDKayin managed to jump out of the way, but Eiji wasn't fast enough due to his more serious injuries and was hit. Kayin dashed in to open up a combo, but Uranus simply shot upwards into the air calling "Swany Swap!", one of her wing-tips catching Kayin under the chin and knocking him backwards towards Eiji. Uranus landed deftly on her feet, a cruel laugh escaping her lips.
DD"Is that all you've got?" she asked mockingly. "It appears that I have overestimated your abilities." She laughed louder. "This world will soon be mine to command!"
DDThen she was interrupted.
DD"We beg to differ."
DD"What?" Uranus turned away from the battered Eiji & Kayin just in time to see Sofia, Ellis, and Tracy bearing down on her with a vengeance.
DD"Thunder Ring!"
DD"Screw Dancing!"
DD"Honeymoon!"
DDUranus was hit backwards from the equally powerful aerial attacks, which caused her to go flying to the ground. The girls landed and quickly ran to help Eiji & Kayin.
DD"Eiji-kun! Eiji-kun!" Ellis was saying desperately, kneeling beside Eiji's bruised body. "Don't you dare leave me! Eiji-kun!!"
DDEiji coughed for a second, then wearily opened one eye, smiling. "Don't worry...Ellis-chan...you're still stuck with me...for a while yet."
DD"Eiji-kuuuuuun!!" Ellis sobbed, hugging him. "You're all right! Thank God you're all right!!"
DD"What, nothing for your ol' mate Kayin?" said a voice behind her. Kayin was standing too, with help from Tracy and Sofia. He was grinning, despite his injuries. "S'pose that means you like Eiji better than me then."
DD"Oh, Kayin!" Ellis cried. "Yokatta ne! I'm so glad!"
DDTracy made an annoyed noise. "But we've got bigger probs to deal with now. None of us are gonna be all right if we don't finish off that angel-girl." She motioned to Uranus, who was just starting to get up.
DDEiji nodded, and started to get up himself. "I'm going to do it."
DD"No, Eiji-kun!" Ellis protested. "You'll be killed if you go on much longer!"
DD"Eiji's right, Ellis," Kayin interjected. "It's gonna take all of us to defeat her. Even if we have to die ourselves."
DD"But..." Ellis started.
DD"No," Eiji said. "You three can't take Uranus on alone."
DDSofia nodded briskly. "Then let us get to it." She struck a fighting pose. Tracy followed, along with Eiji, Kayin, and eventually Ellis. Eiji then said in a defiant tone, "You're not winning this one, Uranus. You'll never have our world."
DD"Is that so?" Uranus answered snidly, floating off the ground towards them. "We'll just have to see about that, Eiji Shinjo. All of you will die."
DD"Don't bet on it!" roared Tracy, leaping in and performing a quick aerial Jackpot, blades of knives protruding from her boots. The attack hit Uranus, but she managed to take Tracy out in the air with a Swany Swap. Sofia lept over Tracy's falling body, and attempted a corkscrew kick to Uranus's face with a loud cry. Uranus simply whacked her away with one of her wings, then shot Sofia with an arrow before she hit the ground. Kayin tried rolling inwards and attacking from the left side, but Uranus saw this and executed a quick footslide followed up by a wing slash, causing Kayin to lose his momentum and fall over backwards. Eiji and Ellis took to the air at the same time, Eiji yelling "Ryuseikyaku!!", Ellis calling "Screw Dancing!!". Uranus flipped backwards and fired two arrows diagonally into the air, striking both Eiji and Ellis at the same time. They, too, fell to the ground with Tracy, Sofia, and Kayin. Uranus stood up, laughing.
DD"You see?" she mocked. "There is no way you can defy the Himitsu Kessha and live! Now, to finish you all off once and for all!"
DDWith that, Uranus folded her wings in front of her, and began gathering her ki into them, waves of greenish energy being absorbed by her wings.
DD"This isn't good," muttered Kayin.
DD"PHEONIX!!" Uranus spread her wings out to her sides in one rapid movement, causing several pulsing bird-shaped fireballs to shoot out of her wings and towards the downed fighters. But just then, a sixth fighter decided to join.
DDI"AEGIS WALL!!"/I
DDThe five grimaced, bracing themselves for the fire to hit them, but the blows didn't come. They opened their eyes to see themselves surrounded by a shining gold force field. The Pheonix attack was reflected off the wall, and exploded into Uranus's face, causing her to scream in pain. She quickly recovered, however, and snarled in annoyance at the tall figure who stood between her and the Toshin fighters.
DD"You! Cupido! I will have your life for this treachery!"
DDCupido smirked. "My immortal powers are stronger than yours--" She smiled slightly. "IUranusu-sama./I"
DD"It's you," Eiji whispered. "The dream-girl. You are on our side, then."
DDBefore Cupido could answer, Uranus shook an armoured fist at her. "You will pay for this! You and Sho both!"
DD"I think not, Uranus." Cupido motioned to the fighters. "These warriors will spell the end of you and your organization. I have foreseen it, Uranus. And the future does not lie." She smiled, and it was both fire and ice. "You will die today. My treachery will never be known. We will eventually destroy your organization."
DD"That will never be so!!" Uranus lunged at Cupido, wings aflame, but Cupido stopped her cold by smashing her halberd blade across Uranus's face, raking blood and knocking Uranus back a few feet. And then, Cupido vanished completely. However, the five fighters could hear some of her whisperings caught on the air.P
DDIThe key to everything lies with you. Everything could change in an instant, but only if you make it so. In this place where the weapon is a way of life, you five are the fated ones who will shape its future here, in the arena, through your skills and courage. I have seen it and know it to be true. Good luck, and above all else, always remain allies. I'll always be watching.P/I
DD"'We will shape the future'?" Tracy muttered questioningly. "What the hell's meant by that?"
DDEiji got up off of the ground slowly, despite his injuries, flame burning once more in his eyes. "It Iis/I all up to us. Don't you see, minna? Only we can defeat Uranus. And that's what we have to do."
DDEncouraged by Eiji's words, Kayin too rose of the ground, followed by Tracy, Sofia, and Ellis. Ellis nodded in agreement. "That's right. We'll never give up, Uranus. You should know that."
DD"Not until our world is safe from your evil plans. Both we and the rest of the fighters are not your toys," Sofia finished.
DD"You may turn everything against us, but good will always win," Kayin said.
DDAnd Tracy, good old violent-obsessive that she was, summed up all their feelings in one sentence.
DD"We are gonna kick yo' ass to heaven, hell, and back, ya bitch!!"
DDUranus screamed in fury at them. "Try to stop me!" She took to the air gracefully and hovered above them before letting another ki-arrow fly loose, but the group managed to dodge this one. As Uranus was coming down from the air, slowed by her wings catching the updraft, Kayin turned to Ellis with a cocky grin and suggested, "Hey, Ellis-chan, I think she's askin' for a double uppercut. What'd ya say to it?"
DDEllis grinned. "Sounds good to me. Soar Wind!"
DD"Deadly Rays!"
DDKayin's attack hit Uranus and pushed her back, followed by Ellis, who knocked her back into the air then down again. Uranus flipped up just in time to see Tracy bearing down on her, tonfas raised, as she called "Pale Slider!!", performing a powerful double flip kick that caught Uranus offguard again, the knives and heels of Tracy's boots slashing upwards across her stomach and face. Sofia spun in dizzying circles in her Aurora Revolution, pounding Uranus over and over again. Once she was finished, Sofia sidestepped and let Eiji & Kayin take over, the two both launching their identical fireballs that combined and struck Uranus with twice the power of a single one. However, fueled by her hatred for these two most of all, Uranus ran forwards and smashed Eiji & Kayin in the faces and then their midsections with her wings. The two flew backwards, while Uranus quickly whipped out two arrows and charged them with ki.
DD"It's been nice knowing you." She pulled the arrows taunt on her bow-string, ready to fire, when suddenly...
DD"ARC SLASH!!!"
DDEllis appeared behind Eiji & Kayin, somersaulting through the air and diving straight at Uranus, daggers on fire. The Dirks came in contact with Uranus's chest with such force that it pushed her to the ground. As she started to fall, Ellis flipped over Uranus with ease and landed on her feet behind her. Eiji got up, smiling. "Arigatou, Ellis-chan."
DD"No problem, Eiji-kun," Ellis grinned, flashing a victory sign. "Makenai mo!"
DDUranus retreated to her favorite fighting area, the air. She swooped down towards them, but was stopped short by a Chopper Strike, executed deftly by Tracy. Uranus hit the ground but hovered up, then tried to smash them with another Firehawk. The five all either dodged or blocked the attack, but in any case, it didn't hit them. Eiji dashed in and sliced her with a quick Hishouzan, then flipped back out again, the five Toshin fighters now all standing in a line in front of the Himitsu Kessha's weakened and bruised angel of death.
DD"Now," Eiji hissed to his friends, "Everyone concentrate. Close your eyes and gather your ki. This is the only chance we'll have."
DDAnd so, Uranus rose angry and humiliated to the not-so-cheerful sight of five fighters, the very five that she had conspired against, Eiji Shinjo, Kayin Amoh, Sofia, Ellis, and Tracy, all with their ki, the fire and power of the soul, flaring off their bodies. Surrounded by different coloured forces, the fluxuating energy causing the wind and trees to blow and swirl around them, the group of fighters were pooling their power in one final attempt to destroy her. One by one, they all opened their eyes, burning with their fighting spirit. Uranus had one thought before her death.
DDIForgive me, my Duke, for I could never have returned./I
DDWith equal cries of fury, Eiji and his allies slashed their weapons downwards, causing the huge power and sheer force that they had all collected to erupt out of them, the magnitude and strength of the energy fusing together, five seperate fighting spirit's fire combining to make one.
DDA scream.
DDAnd the explosion, to put it mildly, was defeaning.
DDThe five were thrown backwards, and were forced to shield themselves after they landed on the ground a few meters away. Once the explosion and energy dissapated, there was one sentence floating on the breeze, a whispered final phrase from Cupido.
DDIIt is done./I
DDEiji, Kayin, Sofia, Ellis, and Tracy all looked up to see Uranus's now-lifeless body hanging in the air, crackling with the electricity and flame of their power. It was there for a second, then it shimmered and splintered into a number of dancing sparkles of light, which disappeared into the lightening sky of the hopeful and arising new dawn, never to be seen again.P
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