- TOH SHIN DEN II: Thicker Than Water -

a Battle Arena Toshinden 2 fanfiction by Athena Asamiya and Kasumi Todoh


CHAPTER NINE: Ties



Translations:
matte - wait
saa - now
e? - what?
tatami - straw floor mats
ototo - little brother
mou! - geez!
hai - yes
bakayaro - stupid bastard
aa, sou ka? - oh, is that right?
kare ga - he was
itai! - Japanese word for 'ouch'
bokken - wooden practice sword
na, sensei? - right, teacher?
hai - yes
kakatte koi! - come and get me!
otousan - father
nani yo? - what is it?
son'na - Oh my God / it can't be


***************


Standing before the blazing torch, the only light source in the darkened room, her face glowed in the blackness. She was holding a scroll, reading it by the light. She looked up from it, finally, a smile cracking the stillness of her face.
"So then," she whispered. "The time is coming."

***************

"Are they serious?" Tracy demanded as Kayin handed the letter over to Eiji to read. "What makes the damned Himitsu think you're just gonna show up because they so?"
"It's got to be a test of some sort," Eiji replied after reading the letter. "Why else would they hold this match so soon after the last?"
"This probably means you have also received the same note back at your cabin, Eiji," Sofia said. "And it is most likely been put up at the bulletin too, although we never thought to check so soon."
"Eiji and Kayin are the only fighters left that haven't yet fought in a tournament match," Ellis reasoned. "Maybe the matchup was just a coincidence."
"'Just a coincidence' my ass!" Tracy responded with vehemency. "I agree with Eiji. The Himitsu's trying to pull something here."
"So what are we supposed to do?" Ellis asked.
"I'll tell you what I'm not going to do," Kayin grumbled. "I'm not going to that match, and you shouldn't either, Eiji. And they honestly believe that we're going to walk right into such a fucking obvious trap..."
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be a wise move at all, Kayin Amoh."
Everyone turned at the sound of this new voice. Standing in the doorway was a large man, appearing to be over six feet tall and at least forty years old. He had long gray hair and a dark gray mask covered the lower part of his face. His clothes, if they could be called that, consisted of a gray and yellow breastplate, similar-looking gloves, and a large gray cloth and belt over red pants that covered the feet, with what looked like pieces of metal armour attached to the lower legs. Had it not been for the giant sword he carried one hand, the five fighters probably wouldn't have recognized him. Ellis was the first to realize who it was.
"Father!"
Indeed, it was Ellis's father, Gaia. Former leader of the Toshindaibukai, now branded as a traitor to the Himitsu. Gaia no longer looked like the giant monster Ellis had been forced to fight in the last tournament. The huge, reddish-black armour with the two hulking appendages on top was now gone, and now he almost looked human.
Gaia only nodded at Ellis, before turning to Kayin. "You are forgetting, Kayin, that the Himitsu Kessha is holding your daughter. They will most certainly be watching the fight. If either of you forfeit, they will undoubtably kill her." Ellis gasped in horror.
"Can you tell us where Naru is?" Sofia asked.
"Unfortunately, I cannot. All I can tell you is that she is safe, for the moment. However, only the Master knows where she is being held."
"And just who is this 'Master'?" Kayin demanded.
"That is something else I'll let you find out for yourself. Just remember this: don't be fooled by appearances, and don't underestimate your opponent. That is all I came to tell you." Gaia turned to leave.
"Matte." Eiji's voice was stern and almost commanding. Gaia looked over his shoulder in surprise at the young red-eyed warrior. "Gaia, what do you know of the Shitennou?"
Gaia sighed and looked away. "Saa, the Shitennou...the four of the governing council of the Himitsu Kessha. What might you want with them?"
"Personal business. Who are they?"
The older man thought for a moment. "One, you have already destroyed. Another, you have met before. Another, you will soon face. And the last..." He looked back at all of them, especially Ellis. "Is I."
"DAMN YOU!!!" In an instant, Eiji had his sword unsheathed and was lashing out towards Gaia, who almost looked shocked. Quickly, a pink-and-white streak got in front of Gaia, brandishing two silver daggers.
"Don't, Eiji-kun." Ellis's voice was dark. "I don't know what you have against my father, or the Himitsu Kessha, but we can't afford to go after our own personal vengeances now."
Eiji's hands, gripping the sword-hilt tightly, were shaking. "The Shitennou were the ones who gave the orders to kill my family...destroyed my niisan's and my life forever by waking us up to this whole damned destiny thrall we have to live through...and I'm supposed to forgive one of the ones who made us suffer?!?"
"God DAMMIT, then don't put me through the same thing you did!!!" Ellis's voice came out in a scream. Calming down slightly, she started again. "You're not going to kill my father. He may have been one of the ones who did those awful things. But he's not anymore, and I know it."
"Daughter." Gaia put one of his hands on her shoulder gently. Ellis looked up at him in surprise. "I am proud that you seek to defend what you care for. However, Eiji has a worthy vendetta with me as well." He cast his eyes on Eiji again. "But she is right, Eiji. I am no longer one of the Shitennou."
"But why?" Eiji whispered. "Why did you even try to capture niisan and I...?"
"It was all in the legend, my boy. All in the legend." He turned against to leave, continuing. "Ask the legend for your answer. Or better yet, ask your brother."
"Wait!" Ellis cried out. Gaia stopped and looked at her. "I mean," she added, "I heard that the Himitsu Kessha was after you, and that they were going to kill you, and..."
Gaia almost seemed to smile. "Do not worry about me, daughter, I shall be fine. I have avoided their forces thus far, and will continue to do so. I know now that it is you who will avenge your mother's death, although it is I who have wished it for so long." With that, he was gone.
Ellis was left shocked. "What did...what does my mother's death have to do with it...?" She clenched a fist, trying not to cry. "Father...when will I ever know the truth...??"
A heavy silence followed for the next few minutes. Eiji, finally composing himself and re-sheathing his sword, walked over to Ellis. "Ellis-chan...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say those things to you...it was just a blind fury I was in..."
Ellis shook her head, pasting a smile on her face. "It's okay, Eiji-kun. I'm sorry for yelling at you, and..."
"It's forgotten." Eiji smiled at her, before Kayin broke in by asking, "So now what are we going to do?"
"If Naru's life really is at stake here, then it looks like we don't have a choice, now," Eiji said. "But I don't want to fight you."
"You think I do?" Kayin retorted. "This isn't exactly a picnic for me either."
"Maybe you could fake it," Tracy suggested. "You know, the way actors do in martial arts movies?"
"I don't think it would work," Eiji replied. "If representatives from the Himitsu are going to be there, then they might catch on." He looked at Kayin. "As much as I hate to say it, I think we'll have to fight each other for real."
"But we haven't seriously sparred since we were training together years ago," Kayin protested. "And even then, one of us usually got hurt."
"I'm not thrilled about it either, but it doesn't look like we have any other alternative."
"Tracy and I are going to go ahead with our plan to check out this gold building," Sofia interrupted. "If Gaia's right and they will be watching the match, then chances are they won't be watching us when we try to find the entrance." Then she added, "Ellis, I think you should go with Eiji and Kayin to the match and keep an eye on things there."
Ellis nodded. "Right. Good idea."
Eiji stood up. "We'd better get over to the arena right away. Who knows how long ago that note was put up, and we might be running out of time."
The group split up outside of the cabin. As they were about to go their separate ways, they all wished each other good luck. As Tracy and Sofia headed towards the mysterious building, Tracy muttered under her breath, "Somethin' tells me we're all gonna need it."

***************

"Eiji, I'm taking in another student."
Eiji's eyes snapped open from the meditation he had just been in. "E?"
His brother was sitting right in front of him on the tatami of the small training dojo, regarding fifteen-year-old Eiji with curiousity. "I assume you're not pleased with my decision?"
"Uh, iie, but...I thought you were only training me."
Sho, who had just turned twenty, looked out the window. "That I will do. But I owe a favour to the one who taught me. And he wishes for me to train his son." Sho looked back at his little brother, smiling. "Come on now, ototo. It will be fun and a good experience for you, getting to know another boy close to your own age. There aren't enough here in Aizu for you to be close friends with. He's sixteen, only a year older than you, and I hear he's quite good already..."
Eiji picked at the tatami, debating whether or not to argue with his elder brother. "Mou! I don't need any friends! I have you, niisan, right?"
Sho almost didn't respond to this innocent question, but looked away. "I...I suppose so. But I think it would really be best if you had someone else to train with."
Eiji commented in confusion, "But if you trained us both, our styles would be too similar with the same techniques and all..."
Sho stood up, walking towards the window. "Then that is why you must always fight together."
"Niisan?"
Sho pulled out a length of white cloth from the folds of his shirt, regarding it for a moment. Just the sight of it brought back enough memories...watching their own late father train with adoring eyes, the time his father had finally broke down after Sho had begged him to let him try his hand with the sword, and when his father had given him this cloth to keep his long hair out of his eyes... Sho fingered the hilt of the Byakko no Tachi, which lay slung at his side.
After all, it's not a matter of decision. It's a matter of destiny. It's about time we stopped denying that we're a part of something more, something that will take effect soon... "Eiji."
Eiji straightened up in his place of kneeling on the mat. "Hai?"
His brother tossed him a strip of white. A headband.
"You'll need this. For your training. We begin in a week."

***************

Fortunately, Eiji and Kayin did manage to make it to their battle in time. They both quickly warmed up a bit with their respective swords, then glanced to where Ellis was waving at them from her seat in the stands.
"This sure brings back memories, huh?" Kayin asked.
"Just like our old practices," Eiji agreed. "Only this time it's for real. Still, it's for Naru-chan's sake..."
"So I guess I'll have to try to not kick your ass that hard. It'll be a real temptation to, but I'll try to resist."
Eiji shook his head. "Baka."
Kayin grinned and held out a gloved hand. "Best of luck to you, Eiji-chan." Eiji smiled and accepted it. "And to you, Kayin-chan."
The announcer's voice crackled through the stadium, packed full with spectators who wanted to catch a glimpse of this "unforgettable" match-up. "Minna-san, your fighters for this match: EIJI SHINJO and KAYIN AMOH!!" The crowd cheered, Ellis being one of the loudest. Eiji and Kayin both took their respective fighting stances, which were almost too similar to each other. Kayin made a thumbs-up to Eiji with his free hand. "May the best swordsman win."
"Bout One!! FIGHT!!"

***************

"So, um..." Eiji tried to think of what to say to the boy who stood in front of him in the dojo, duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Taller, more built, sixteen, blond with cold aqua eyes, Eiji wondered if his niisan was right, if there actually WERE any similarities between the two of them. This's just his appearance, anyway, Eiji reminded himself. "So you're Kayin Amoh?"
"Yeah." The answer was brusque, slurred with a heavy Scottish accent. "You're Eiji?"
"Hai--uh, yeah." He grinned apologetically. "Sorry, I forgot, niisan said I shouldn't speak too much Japanese."
"S'okay." Kayin sized up Eiji's appearance. "Nice hair, kid."
Eiji bristled. "What's wrong with my hair? And I'm not a kid, I'm fifteen!"
Kayin was obviously waiting for this. "Well, looks like you could probably impale someone on it. And I'm older than you, so you better respect me."
Eiji glared at him, narrowing his eyes. "Niisan said we should treat each other like equals."
"Yeah, and I suppose you always do what big brother says, don't you?" Kayin shook his head in pity, probably for himself. "Jesus. I was sent here to train with a wuss. Why didn't Dad just train me instead...?"
Eiji got right into Kayin's face, holding up a fist. "You want to fight about this, bakayaro?"
"Bring it on, Spikes." Kayin stepped back into a empty-handed fighting stance. "You'll live to regret it though."
"Aa, sou ka? Well, I'll be sure to kick your ass twice as hard for that!" Eiji took up a defensive stance, both of them ready and waiting for the first move.
Which neither of them made.
"What are you two DOING?!?"
"Aaaaaargh!" Both boys jumped about a foot in the air from their concentration being broken so abruptly. Kayin whirled around, trying to find the speaker. "What in bloody hell do you think you're doing, you--" Then he saw Sho standing in the doorway. "--oops."
Sho looked like a cross between amused and not happy. "It appears I'm stopping you two from killing each other before the training ever starts."
"Niisan, kare ga-" Eiji started to protest, but Sho cut him off.
"Eiji, I don't want to hear any childish insults from you."
Kayin grinned triumphantly. "Ha ha, see what-"
"...Or from you, Kayin."
"Hmph." Kayin, defeated, sat down on the mat. "So I'm supposing you're our sensei. Sho, right? Dad talked about you a lot."
"I am. And I'll always believe I'm still in debt to your father for training me."
"Ah, `twas his decision." Kayin flicked a few pieces of strawberry-blond hair out of his face. "I still don't see why I couldn't have just stayed in Scotland and trained with my father."
Sho smiled. "It was his request, and a favour from myself to him. Don't worry, you'll both find this training...adequate."
From the sound in his voice on the last word, for the first time ever, Eiji and Kayin exchanged worried looks. Kayin moaned.
"Damn, isn't this going to be a jolly old time...?"

***************

As soon as the fight began, Eiji shot forward and immediately used his Shugekidan foot-slide to knock Kayin to the ground. Kayin quickly recovered, springing back to his feet and, shouting "Sonic Slash!", tossed a large fireball from his sword at Eiji, who rolled out of the way but got clipped in the side in the process. Eiji then took advantage of the fact that Kayin had left himself open and attacked with his spinning uppercut move, the Hishouzan. But Kayin sidestepped quickly and he missed, and Kayin then counterattacked with his own spinning uppercut, Deadly Rays, knocking Eiji out of the air. Eiji landed on his stomach, but quickly got up again.
"Not bad," he muttered. "Here's my newest move: Mukurowari!!" Almost unexpectedly (at least to Kayin, since Eiji had taught himself this move), he flipped through the air before bringing his sword down on Kayin's shoulder. As Kayin was getting up, he heard Eiji shout "Rekkuzan!", and as he turned to face Eiji he found himself on the receiving end of a fireball in the face with no time to block. Staggering back, he replied, "Not bad, yourself. I've got a couple of new attacks up my sleeve, too."
With that, Kayin swept his sword downwards and then slashed it upwards. Eiji, however, had time to block this attack. He lashed out to Kayin's shoulder followed by a hard kick in Kayin's stomach, and while he was still reeling from that, Eiji finished off his combo with another quick Hishouzan. Kayin landed on his back a couple feet away, and as he got to his feet again he found Eiji charging towards him, orange ki rippling off his body.
"JIGOKUMON!!" Eiji launched Kayin into the air with numerous sword slashes that carried them both upwards. Eiji let up after about half a dozen hits or so, and the two dropped back to the ground. Kayin managed to recover and very quickly leapt into the air to land closer to Eiji. He landed on his feet, but suddenly realized he had overshot his target and landed in front of Eiji with his back to him. Kayin started to turn around, but he was already too late. Eiji hit him the back with another biting slash from his katana, knocking Kayin forward. He staggered for a few seconds and then crumpled to the arena floor. He remained down long enough for Eiji to be declared the winner of the first bout. As soon as that was announced, Eiji rushed over to where Kayin lay and helped his friend up.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Kayin answered. "You can bet you're not gonna be that lucky in the second round, though."
And he grinned.

***************

"HAH!"
"Itaiii!!" Eiji hit the mat, almost losing his grip on the bokken he was attempting to defend with. However, Kayin had managed to slip past his defences and knock his feet out from under him with his identical bokken. Kayin was laughing; Eiji was moaning and rubbing the back of his legs.
"Mou, Kayin! What'd you have to do that for?"
"You weren't guarding low enough, or watching your back either," Kayin answered back, still snickering, before turning to a corner of the dojo and the man supervising them. "Na, Sensei?"
"Kayin's right, Eiji," Sho said simply, regarding his little brother, sprawled out on the tatami. "You should have seen him dodging behind you. You have to keep your eyes open, and be aware of where your opponent is at all times."
Eiji got up slowly, nodding. "Hai, niisan." He turned back to Kayin, brandishing his bokken again with a cocky smile. "So then, Kayin-chan, kakatte koi!"
"I hate it when you call me that..!" Kayin yelled jokingly and flew in with a lunge to the midsection, which Eiji parried and attempted to nail his training partner with a roundhouse kick. The practice continued on, under the watchful eyes of Sho.
So, it looks like they are almost ready for what's ahead of them. Hm, Eiji is nearly seventeen, and Kayin almost eighteen...it looks as if destiny has a turn coming for us all. Sho pulled out a slip of white paper that he had received in secret quite a many years ago, his sole reason for deciding to train Eiji and Kayin. A letter. More specifically, a note of warning.
And you, Cupido...? Who are you and why would you risk everything to tell me what you did...? Shaking his head, he recalled the lines of the note without even having to consult the actual words.
'...And the legend spoke of a stranger...'
"Dammit, Eiji, at least let me get up before you beat the crap out of me!"
'...The most sacred battle that the legend fortells is about to begin, of the Shitennou, the rivalry between Jikoku and Komoku for possession of the Earth, with Zocho paired with Jikoku and Tamon with Komoku...in a sudden decision, Tamon enlisted the aid of a stranger in order to hinder the battle which would surely destroy them all, in expectance that the next generation of the Toshinden's warriors would be able to stop the battle themselves...'
"You're the only opponent I'll hit when down, Kayin-chan!"
'...Together, allied, after Tamon rebelled against Komoku and broke the spell Jikoku put over the stranger, they two became the angels of the legend's past and current generations...blood-eyed and blood-red...'
"Jesus Christ, I'm bleeding here!"
"Ha, NOW who didn't defend properly?"
"Eiji, I'm gonna kill you."
'...Fate has become disrupted by the rivalry, the strings of it becoming entangled in corruption. And the plots against this generation of warriors of the legend have already begun. Abandon your identity as your own clan's successor and follow your written destiny in the legend, attend the Toshindaibukai, but rebel against Jikoku's plans to take control of you and make you the prized warrior, before all fates become one...'
"And here I thought you Scots were supposed to be tough. Then again, I guess you would have to be, to wear those kilts in public!"
"Oh, you asked for it, you little bastard--"
"YEOWWWWWW!!!"
'You have more of a destiny than you could ever imagine. Your destiny is foreordained, that is true, but you will always have a choice. Choose to continue your life as you always have, giving up your position in the legend, or choose to follow your preguided path into the heart of your legendary fate. Choose wisely, stranger, lest this world and the inhabitants be condemned by your decision.' Impulsively, Sho looked up to see Kayin nearly throttling Eiji with pleasure. Shaking his head, he fell back into his own thoughts.
If that's true, if it's ALL true, what this 'Cupido' says about how I will go to the Toshindaibukai where they will try to take control of me, and what the Shitennou's warriors said to my father a long time ago about my own destiny, then it must all be true, and I suppose I have no other choice. Sho watched the quickness of the two teenagers, darting around each other and attempting to get the best of their opponent. He himself glanced down at the Byakko no Tachi, sheathed at his side. The sword of the clan is only given to one...only one...it would only make things worse for all of us if I took it and obtained its magical power before I am "taken over" - or whatever this 'Jikoku' plans to do with me. If Cupido is right about my part in the legend, then I can't be the clan inheritant, as it seems I have a bigger purpose...God help me, Otousan, but I can only take one path. If I give this up, Eiji will have to be the successor...can he accept the responsibility that only I was supposed to take...?
"Damn, you suck, Kayin-chan, you missed me again!"
"Well, I'll be sure not to next time!"
Eiji, Kayin, what's to become of you...?

***************

"Bout Two!! FIGHT!!"
Kayin ran forward and dealt Eiji a scrape across the chest before kicking him in the stomach. The force of it left Eiji slightly winded, but he still managed to pull of a quick recovery. He jumped into the air and dove at Kayin with an aerial flame-throwing kick. "RyuseiKYAKU!!" Kayin, with an anticipated grin on his face, saw this coming and was ready for it. He launched into his Shoulder Crush, raising one leg almost vertically and then bringing it down on Eiji's outstretched leg as he closed in on Kayin. With his attack cut short, Eiji landed rather gracelessly on the ground. Getting up again, he tried to catch Kayin off guard with another Rekkuzan, but this didn't work either. Kayin cancelled out the fireball quite nicely with a Sonic Slash. Finally, Eiji was able to grab Kayin, throw him over his shoulder to the ground to the ground, slash him before he could get up, and finish by hitting him with another Hishouzan. After a few seconds Kayin rolled to his feet again, and Eiji received a sharp kick to the side of his head. He attempted another Mukurowari, which hit, but so did Kayin's Deadly Rays. At this point Eiji decided to wear Kayin down with some kicks and slashes. It worked for a few seconds, but then Kayin landed another inwards/upwards slash.
As Kayin was thrown on his back again and this time hit with a sweep kick, Kayin realized he suddenly stood a good chance of losing this bout, and the match. Both Eiji and Kayin were showing signs of exhustion. A strong hit from either could determine the winner.
Just then, Eiji pooled what was left of his ki and came charging towards Kayin again, sword outstretched, the same orange flames resonating off his body. That move again, Kayin thought. This time he rolled out the way, and the attack missed, at the same time giving him an unprotected shot at Eiji's back.
Kayin knew he only had one chance to pull this off, and if it missed, he had lost. But he decided to try anyway, focusing all the energy he had left, and then leapt into action.
"Hell's Inferno!"
Kayin assulted Eiji's body with a series of lightning-fast kicks and punches, along with a Shoulder Crush and a Deadly Rays thrown in. It worked like a charm. With a loud cry of pain, Eiji was flung backwards and lay flat on his back on the arena floor. Kayin was declared winner of Bout Two. Now it was Eiji's turn to be helped up.

***************

"They're both very good fighters," Master remarked. She and Vermilion stood watching the match from the office of the Himitsu Kessha headquarters. "This match could go either way."
"I've seen enough to know those two pose the biggest threat to both of our organizations," Vermilion said. "They need to be eliminated immediately."
"I agree, this match has gone on long enough." Her cold eyes glimmered. "Put phase two of our plan into action."
Vermilion nodded. "The sooner they and their three friends are dealt with, the better."
Outside the office, Tracy and Sofia, who had managed to find their way in using a great deal of stealth (and Sofia's skill of hacking into combination codes), were listening intently to this conversation. Having heard enough, they exchanged glances without saying a word, then turned and slowly crept back towards the exit. Vermilion noticed them out of the corner of his eye, and started to go after them.
"Don't bother." Master didn't even take her eyes off the screen that was broadcasting the match. "They will get what's coming to them, in due time."
Sofia and Tracy headed out of the building with no problems and began to dash towards the arena.
"Looks like we have a winner," Tracy muttered.
"We had better tell Eiji and Kayin right away," Sofia replied.
Tracy snorted. "If they haven't killed each other by now."

***************

"So you're leaving now?"
Kayin, now a young man at nineteen, shifted slightly under the weight of his bags. "Yeah, I guess. The train's coming in any minute, then I'm going straight to Narita Airport to catch a flight back to Scotland. It's been so long since I've seen my father, and my home..."
Eiji, at eighteen, didn't know what it was like to be away from home, but he nodded understandingly anyway. "Well, it'll be good for you to get back, anyway, Kayin-chan...you've probably missed it all."
Kayin nodded. The two were standing in the middle of a busy train station in a town near Aizu, with people bustling all around them and calls for train times sounding out every now and then. Kayin took in a breath and blew his bangs out of his face. "So isn't Sho coming?"
Eiji shook his head. "No...he said he had some more important things to take care of, and that I should wish you well."
Kayin looked away. "Figures. He's been acting really weird lately, you know? And I'm still curious as to why we were trained over such a short period of time. It usually takes the masters at least eight years."
"Maybe we were just really good...?"
"Yeah, sure, we'd like to think that, but it's still odd..."
Eiji grinned cockily. "But come on, there's still no doubt now that both of us can hold our own in a fight!"
"I guess so." Kayin made a victory sign, but quickly lapsed back into thought. "But about Sho...he's not leaving to go anywhere, is he?"
"I sure hope not." Eiji laughed, but it sounded nervous, even to him. He, too, felt a bit uneasy. He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Well, I guess you'd better catch your train."
"Yeah, doubt hitchiking back to Scotland would be much fun." Kayin hoisted his bags up onto his broad shoulders, and for a moment, the two stood in awkward silence, neither of them knowing where to start. Finally, Eiji held out a hand. "Friends?"
"Always." They shook on it. Kayin turned and headed down to the platform, waving over his shoulder. "I'll see you again, Eiji-chan, you can bet on that! It's not going to be forever!"
Eiji waved back, and continued to, even once his best friend had disappeared into the crowd. "It's not forever, my friend," he whispered sadly. "It never is. We'll meet again, somewhere, someday." He turned to leave the gare, but stopped for a second, recalling Kayin's words.
'He's not leaving to go anywhere, is he?'
Is he...?
The words from so long ago came back to him as well.
'I have you, right, niisan?'
'I...I suppose so.'
You "suppose" so?
Suppose?
Oh, God, no...
"Niisan!!"
Eiji shot back to Aizu as fast as his motorcycle would take him, skidding to a halt in front of the Shinjo house. He thrust open the screen door, and dashed into the house, calling "Niisan!!"
No answer. No one there at all.
A glimmer from an object winked at Eiji in a shaft of noonday sunlight. Eiji slowly approached it, lying on the kitchen table. It was the Byakko no Tachi, the clan's sacred sword that Eiji's brother had always carried with him. And pinned underneath it, a piece of paper, ruffling in a breeze from the open kitchen window, with characters inked in his brother's familiar Japanese hand.

Eiji,
Don't follow me. It won't work. You will not find me. Wait for me to find you. You keep the sword, and you're on your own now. I know you will be all right, if you remember what I've taught you.
Go in search of your destiny. I'm close to mine. You must find yours. Even though it may come to you instead.
Until next time...

Another glint of white paper came from the floor below, probably having been blown off the table by a gust of wind, as Eiji bent down to pick it up and examine it. He sucked in a breath.
It was an invitation in his brother's name.
To the Toshindaibukai.

And so, on that one unforgettable day, all of what the legend decreed had begun its course...

***************

Back at the arena, Eiji and Kayin had both had time to get a second wind, and were ready for Bout Three, the tiebreaker.
"If I didn't know any better, Kayin," Eiji said mockingly as the two faced each other, "I'd swear you were enjoying yourself."
"Hey, you don't exactly look like you're not having any fun either, Eiji," Kayin replied, cocking an eyebrow and readying for the next bout.
"Bout Three!! FIGHT!!"
Eiji jumped into the fight by launching another Rekkuzan. He had become so good at it over the years, and performed it so many times, that he could do it almost instantly, instead of having to pause to gather enough ki. However, Kayin blocked it and stood his ground. Eiji then leapt throught the air to get in closer -- only to come down into one of Kayin's Sonic Slashes. After that Eiji managed to deliver a fierce kick and a sword slash to Kayin's side, knocking him back slightly. Kayin recovered and responded with another gliding slash followed by a kick of his own that nailed Eiji in the chest. Eiji got up quickly and knocked Kayin backward with a Hishouzan. For the moment the bout seemed to be even, with most of the audience on the edge of their seats to see who would win, Ellis especially.
And that's when he showed up.
The clock timing the match suddenly stopped ticking down, and the announcer shouted, "Here comes a new challenger!!"
"Nani yo?" Eiji said, confused.
"Hey, what the hell's going on?" Kayin yelled in demand. "The tournament rules say no one can interfere during a match!"
"Well, as I make the rules, I can also break them."
Eiji and Kayin spun around. Standing not three feet behind them was a very tall and gangly man. He was dressed almost entirely in black, covered by a long, shredded trenchcoat. The colour almost seemed to contrast with his bright orange, stringy hair. In one hand he held a golden pistol, in the other, a golden shotgun. His face was covered with strange crimson markings that were only partially visible behind his tinted glasses. The man offered a long bow before speaking in a raspy voice.
"Allow me to provide an introduction. I am Vermilion. I was watching your fight and was quite interested in what I saw. I just had to meet you in person."
"You said, 'you make the rules'," Eiji said. "Does that mean you're the new organizer of this tournament?"
Vermilion smiled. "Fine deductive skills, boy. As good as your fighting skills."
"You're from the Himitsu Kessha, aren't you?" Kayin demanded, tightening his grip on his sword.
"Let's just say I have a 'partnership' with them." Vermilion spotted the readied sword out of the corner of his eye. "I wouldn't try it, kid. You don't quite know who you're dealing with yet."
At this point, Ellis, who had been watching all this from the stands, decided that she wasn't going to just be a spectator for this confrontation and leapt into the arena with the others, wearing her fighting costume and holding her Dirks out and ready. Eiji nodded at her, getting ready to fight again, but Kayin, however, didn't notice any of this. He was too focused on what Vermilion had just said.
"You bastard!!" he snarled. "What have you done with Naru?"
"Naru?" Vermilion asked in mock confusion. Then he seemed to remember, or at least, he pretended to. "Ah, yes, the little brat. Master, if you please?" With these words, a young girl appeared next to him. She didn't look much older (or younger) than Ellis, with light-blue hair and cold eyes. She wore a golden crown with a red jewel in the center, a mauve and white jumpsuit and yellow shoes. In her arms she was holding a little girl about six or seven years old, wearing a bright pink dress and little matching shoes. Her short blond hair was done up in pigtails, and her big blue eyes were wide with fear.
"Naru!" Kayin shouted.
"Otousan!" Naru cried. She tried to run to him, struggling to get out of the grip that the Himitsu Kessha ruler had on her, but Master held her tightly. "Otousan, help me!"
"As you can see, she's just fine," Vermilion went on. "Though I can't guarantee for how much longer."
It took the combined restraining efforts of Eiji and Ellis to keep Kayin from going for Vermilion's throat.
"If you want your little girl back safely," Master spoke for the first time, in a sinister voice that was oddly remeniscent of Uranus's, "you'll just have to come and get her. You know where to find us. We'll be waiting at our headquarters." With that, before anyone could stop them, she and Vermilion teleported out, taking Naru with them. Kayin pounded his fist against the arena floor. "DAMMIT!!"
"'You know where to find us'?" Ellis wondered. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hey, you guys!"
The three turned around just in time to see Sofia and Tracy climb into the ring and come running over to them.
"We found an entrance to the Himitsu Kessha's headquarters," Tracy cried breathlessly. Then, noticing the looks the on the others' faces, particularly Kayin's, she asked, "S'wrong? Did something happen?"
"No time," Eiji replied. "You said you found their headquarters? Then lead the way. We'll explain on the way there."
They started to leave together, but before they could, the same gravelly voice rang out.
"Oh no, I don't think you will."
The five turned in unison to see Vermilion re-appear on the arena platform. He was smiling cruelly, fixing a stare on Eiji. "I remembered that there's someone I know who'd like to see you, Eiji Shinjo. Or more like see you again. Why don't you come with me--"
"The hell do you mean-?" But before Eiji could get the rest out, Vermilion had turned and disappeared, and before Eiji could realize it or do anything about it, so did he.
"Eiji-kun!!" Ellis screamed and tried to stop him, but Eiji could only turn around and started to yell "ELLIS-CHA--" before he disappeared. Teleported.
Ellis stood there, hand still extended, eyes wide with fright. She whimpered a little before falling to her knees. "Son'na..."
The rest stood in rapt silence, none of them able to believe their eyes. Kayin took a deep breath. "What are they going to do--?"
Ellis couldn't stop herself. "Eiji-kun...EIJI-KUUUUUUNNNNN!!"

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