- TOH SHIN DEN II: Thicker Than Water -

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


CHAPTER TEN: Betrayal



Translations:
dare da? - who is it?
nani?! - what?!
shimatta! - dammit!
baka - idiot
nani - what
omae - you
iya - no
shinjirarenai - I can't believe it
onore - damn you
wakarimasen ka? - don't you understand?
damare! - shut up!
asobi wa owatta - this game's over
hou - yes, sir


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


Well, well, what have we here.
For Eiji, every word sounded like a hammer pounded against his skull. Opening his eyes wearily, he found himself lying stomach-down on a cold, hard floor in what seemed to be a cell of some sort. It was dark, and the only light was an annoyingly bright source coming from behind the barred door. After adjusting his eyesight, Eiji saw that there was a tall, lithe woman silhoetted behind the bars, on the outside, the light streaming behind her and making it near to impossible for Eiji to see who she was. He moaned a bit as he attempted to get up, but failed. "dare...da?"
You know who I am.
In a flash, something clicked in Eiji's head. The echoeing, quiet voice...the tall figure...the way she stood, straight and proud... "Cupido?"
She seemed to smile. So you do remember. I'm flattered.
Eiji struggled for a second before finally making it to his knees, with the shafts of light striped by darkness shining down on him. "Damn...where am I?"
Cupido cocked her head to the side. What do you last remember?
"Last...remember?" Eiji thought for a moment, scratching his head. "Oh yeah...that guy, Vermilion or whatever, zapped me out and I landed here, fell unconscious..."
He 'zapped you out', as you so eloquently put it, adventurer, to here, the Himitsu Kessha headquarters building on the tournament property.
This answer was far from what Eiji had expected. "NANI?! You mean I'm actually in the building?? But--"
Why do you think you are here? When he failed to respond, Cupido shook her head and continued. Rather, why did you come here in the first place? You had a reason.
Eiji hung his head, looking downwards at the Byakko no Tachi in its sheath, frowning. "It was something personal."
A vengeance against the Shitennou?
"...." He didn't look at her.
Cupido's interest was piqued; or at least, that's how it appeared to be. Why haven't you got over it, after all this time?
Eiji turned his back on her, and the light, staring blankly into the darkness. "Why should I?? It was my--our original mission."
But he gave it up. You have yet to.
"And I'm not going to!" Eiji yelled, whirling around and glaring at her. "I WILL avenge my parents' death, and I'm going to find out why niisan gave up on me and left!!"
Cupido seemingly didn't react at all to this outburst. So you're looking for your answers as well.
Eiji shook his head, looking away. "I just want to know the truth--about everything that happened, and nothing was explained...I felt like I was supposed to know, to understand why it had all happened, but I didn't and I was just a confused kid...niisan knew though, I was sure of it, and even after all those years he never told me, so when he left I knew I had to find him so I could know why..."
His correspondant sighed in pity. That is one of the nature of mortals, to live unsatisfied until you have the answers to your questions...then I suppose I shall have to help you again. Though you were never supposed to be what you are now. Not a mistake, but...
"What do you mean, I'm not supposed to be what I am?" Eiji snapped, before throwing up his hands in frustration. "Shimatta! See? That's what I mean. There's so much I don't know, about niisan, my power, the Shitennou, our past--"
Cupido responded with silence again, before turning to the side and pointed her halberd blade outwards, towards the light. Out there you will find your answers, lying with the only one who can tell you them. Seek that one out, young Shinjo, if you have the courage to face the truth.
Eiji growled, quickly standing up despite the pain. "Why do you keep telling me riddles? Cupido, I want to know the truth about what's been going on, and what part I play in all this!"
If that is your wish, then so shall it be. With that, she turned and walked into light, quickly disappearing from Eiji's view.
"Cupido, wait!!" Eiji yelled, reaching out to her before the light shut off and the very world he was in shifted and dissolved...

Eiji opened his eyes.
He was still in the cell, except the light was gone, replaced by a dimly-lit hallway, and the bars were gone as well. It was a free exit. However, Eiji wasn't quite ready to comprehend this.
Sitting up, he rubbed his head wearily and gazed up at the door. "Was it...a dream? But it was so real, and--" Realizing that arguing with himself wasn't going to do any good, he stood up and clenched a determined fist.
"I don't know what any of her bullshit meant, but..." Eiji headed out the open door and into the corridor. "I'm outta here!"

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

"Dammit, do we even know where we're GOING??" Kayin grumbled as he, Ellis, Sofia and Tracy made their way cautiously down the corridor. It was only after they snuck into the Himitsu Kessha building about an hour earlier that they realized that the place was more like a labyrinth on the inside. Of course, they were lost, and no one was very happy about it. Tracy stopped for a moment, checking the knives that were hidden in the soles of her boots. "We'll find `em sooner or later, and Eiji too. Don't give it up, guys."
"It is too odd..." Sofia murmured. "There has been no resistance..."
"You'd think they'd know we were here, even though we didn't make an entrance," commented Ellis quietly. "You think it's a trap."
"Good guess, girl." Tracy blew some of her dark-blue bangs out of her face. "Wouldn't be surprised if that was the case...I've seen it happen before, too many times. These badasses ain't stupid."
"Besides," Sofia began, "it may not just be us, but the world could be in danger again--"
Kayin's fist abruptly slammed into the hard metal wall, causing most of the girls to jump in surprise.
"Did any of us ask for the job of saving the world? Did I ask for it?" Kayin scowled, looking downwards. " All I wanted to do last year was find my father's killer. And guess what, I did. And you know what? It was all a waste. Just a fucking waste."
"Kayin..." Ellis started towards him, but Kayin turned away.
"I wanted to give it up. It was too much for me last time, me, who's gone through my whole life only looking out for myself. But now they've got my daughter, the only thing in the world I care about, all I have left...just to make sure I'd turn back to the only thing that used to matter to me: fighting." He stopped himself, closing his eyes and sighing, before continuing. "So I did. I've tried to be the hero. But I always wanted to just leave the hero bit to Eiji, who's damn well suited to it. Me?" He shook his head, leaning on the wall. "Who was I to play that part?"
He looked over at the three of them, his normally cold aqua eyes filled with pain. "You want to know the truth? I'm no hero. Not after everything I did. None of us are heroes, just people who were thrown into a bullshit situation with a responsibility that no one else wanted to take. And you know what? Screw this. Screw this whole world and everyone in it." Kayin turned away and set off down the hallway, not waiting for the others. "I'm not going to be a standing target here. I'm going to find Naru and get back to my life."

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

"This is ridiculous," Eiji muttered as he crept along the dark corridor, trying hard to keep to the shadows. "She must have been lying, I don't see an exit around here anywhere..."
Baka, he reminded himself, she didn't exactly say that there was an exit out here, just that I'd find my answers--
Suddenly, there was sound of footsteps approaching from around corner behind him. Eiji sucked in his breath and hid in the opposite corner of the hallway, gripping his katana tightly. He was ready to fight, if he had to.
But, catching a glimpse of the figure he saw passing, he could only gape in shock.
The same purple scarf, red shirt, leggings and knee-high boots. The same auburn hair, only a shade lighter than Eiji's own, and worn down, trailing down his back. Same height, complexion, and eyes...the same red eyes as Eiji's, the same ones he knew so well...
A smiling face filled his mind, a figure from the past. "Eiji, I know you have a lot of questions now, but I promise, they'll all be answered in time."
Yeah, and you never did keep your promises...
Eiji ducked back behind the corner quickly, breathing hard and still clutching the sword. He raised it to eye level, and saw that his hand was shaking.
It's now or never.
Without thinking, his mind blank, Eiji lept out into the light of the corridor, in plain view of the figure in front of him. "Niisan!"
The man stiffened in place at the sound of Eiji's voice, then slumped slightly as if he was ashamed of what he was about to do. He turned around, facing Eiji, their mutual resemblances reflected in each other's faces. His eyes were filled with more pain than Eiji had ever seen. "Eiji..."
Eiji could only stare in bewilderment at his older brother. "Niisan, nani--" He cut himself off sharply.
It was the look his brother had shifted to.
Sho's eyes were fairly flashing darkness, and he had replaced the sadder, weaker appearance with a cold look of almost...evil?
Eiji took a cautious step back. "Niisan, why..." Before he could say anything else, a group of dark-clothed, gun-carrying soldiers came running up behind Sho.
"Sho-sama!" the supposed leader of the brigade exclaimed suddenly, bringing his group to a halt and dropping in a bow to the higher warrior, who hardly acknowledged his presence at all. "He's escaped, and we've searched for an hour but haven't found any trace of--him?!?" The lead soldier spotted a still-dumbfounded Eiji, who's eyes were still fixed on Sho.
"Shall we kill him now?" The henchmen readied their guns to take Eiji down.
"No."
Eiji almost sighed in relief. "Niisan, omae--"
"He's not to be killed just yet. Master-sama's orders." Sho locked red eyes with his little brother, smiling cruelly. "Go on, take this pathetic excuse for a disciple away. And don't be afraid to hurt him a bit, for all the trouble him and his little friends have caused us."
Eiji was so devastated by these seemingly nonchalent remarks, he could barely move from the spot. Once the group shifted towards him, he took a wary step back, then turned and broke into a run. Eiji closed his eyes, pushing back bitter tears as he ran, hearing his brother's voice hollering "Catch him, you fools!" echoeing behind him.
Iya... Eiji shook his head in disbelief. Shinjirarenai--
Suddenly, he was knocked to the ground by the mob of henchmen behind him, and a number of savage blows from the butts of the guns rained down on him, rendering him unable to get up or fight back. Once Eiji was weakened by the hits, his hands were restrained behind him and he was hauled to his feet. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes painfully was his smirking brother.
Sho stepped up to his little brother, and grabbed a handful of his spiky hair, yanking his head back violently. Sho cocked an eyebrow.
"So, little brother..." He said the words in a mocking tone. "A bit surprised, aren't you? Well, you shouldn't be. It's been an enjoyable little game you've led us on, trying to play the hero and finishing our first "mission", but eventually, the hunter becomes the hunted, and then all you can do is run." He lowered his voice. "I'll let you in on a little secret. Everything I told you about your destiny, that you are destined to be someone great someday..."
"Don't say it, niisan," Eiji whispered, like a child who wished to be shown mercy. "Please..."
Sho grinned maniacally. "It was all a lie."
Eiji bit his lower lip in pain, then glared in fury at his elder brother. He managed to turn his head to the side slightly and spat out a mouthful of blood. He cast flaming red eyes on Sho, in a dark, frightening look that rivalled Sho's own. "Onore..."
"Hmph." Sho snickered. "Insults aren't going to save your worthless life. I thought I trained you better than that."
"How dare you...how COULD you..." Eiji's eyes filled with sadness. "Wakarimasen ka, niisan? Haven't you figured it out yet? They--they are the ones who killed otousan and okaasan."
Sho quickly wrenched Eiji's head back even farther. "Don't you EVER bring that up again, or I will be forced to severely hurt you."
Ignoring this, Eiji continued, his voice choked. "But you know it's true, don't you, niisan? You're working for the ones who ruined our lives...both of ours. Onore..." He grit his teeth even harder. "You see what you're doing? Destroying more innocent peoples' lives. What about our first mission, to avenge our parents' murder and do the same to those responsible? The Shitennou? What happened to you, to make you turn against everything we believed in?"
"Damare!" Sho threw Eiji to hard floor below, with the younger having to keep from yelping out in pain. Eiji backed up against the wall, only to find a samurai katana blade at his throat.
"Never. Question. My. Actions." Each word was as forced and malicious as the last. Eiji could hear it in his brother's voice, and turned his head to the side.
"If otousan and okaasan here now, would you treat them the same way you're treating me now? What would you say to them? Che--" Eiji glared back up at his brother. "You probably wouldn't be able to face them, after disgracing our clan like you have. If you plan to kill me, niisan, at least let me say this: I may be the younger, and I wasn't supposed to be the clan inheritant anyway. But this whole damned mess was dumped on me. And now, who's the unworthy one?" He stood up shakily, inches from his brother's blade. "The Byakkotai, our ancestorage, the Shitennou...you know what? I was as destroyed as you were that day. And we were just goddamn children. But now you've blacked it all out, haven't you? Left it all behind when you sold your soul to the devil?"
"That's enough!" Sho's fist smashed into the side of Eiji's face, sending him spinning to the ground again. Eiji managed to whisper a final sentence.
"You never told me...my answer, niisan...you never...told...me..."
Once Eiji had fallen unconscious, Sho could only stare tight-lipped at his brother's still form.
"Asobi wa owatta..."
He shook his head, and snapped at the soldiers. "Well, what are you waiting for? Take him away, now!"
"Hou, Sho-sama." A small amount of the men lifted Eiji's limp body and dragged him away. The leader of the group observed this, and turned to Sho. "Dammit, your own brother--"
Sho shot him a vehemently dark look. "He doesn't mean anything to me. Now, go and set him up with his next little playmate, and I'll report to Master-sama that we have our little band of troublemakers right where we want them."

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

"Kayin...? Kayin, wait up...!!" Ellis has been trying in vain to keep up with the blond man's long strides, with Sofia and Tracy right behind her, but it wasn't doing much good, as she had to take several steps for every one of his. The lights along the corridor were getting dimmer, and Ellis could barely see Kayin, save for his bright red jacket.
"Just go and leave me alone!" was the brusque answer. "I'm going to handle this myself!"
"Do not be a fool!" Sofia's sharp voice came from behind him. "You know you cannot possibly take them all on alone! We have to find both Eiji and your daughter, and then leave!"
Tracy nodded in agreement, keeping up the pace with the other girls. "Right...we can come back again and try to take these assholes down later, after we actually have some kinda plan in mind..."
"No. I'm settling this now, whether any of you are with me or not." Suddenly, there was a flash of silver, and Kayin yelped, leaping back a few steps and putting a gloved hand to his cheek. It came away covered in crimson blood. "--The hell are you?!" he swore at the figure hidden in the blackness.
Nothing but a series of high-pitched, childish giggles.
"Okay, you DON'T want to fuck with me now, so are you gonna answer me or am I gonna have to cut you open first??" Kayin drew Excalibur and charged forwards with an overhead slash, but was surprised when he heard the air break above him and a pair of feet kicked him sharply in the back, sending him off-balance and flying to the ground. Once Kayin struggled to his feet, eyes flashing black murder, he ended up staring in disbelief at the figure - a young girl - as everyone else was -- except Ellis, that is, who stared stonily at the girl in front of her.
A replica of herself.
Except different, darker than Ellis' own pink-and-white costume colour scheme. This Ellis instead was clothed all in black chiffon with a dark blue bow tied around her waist, same feathery skirt and sleeves as Ellis' new dancing costume. Her short brown hair slid around her face from a slight breeze down the hallway, and coldness glimmered in her blue eyes as she pulled a pair of Dirks out of the ribbon in the back, smirking all the while. The dark Ellis seemed to be oblivious to the other three, focusing on her "original" alone.
"Well." Her high voice, sounding exactly like Ellis' only with a more chill tone, echoed through the others' silence. "You've brought everyone here with you to play. How nice. However, my dear," here she tossed one of the daggers up into the air and caught it, before breaking into a perfect replica of Ellis's own fighting stance. "I'm interested only in defeating you and you alone. Then I'll take care of your friends."
"Who the hell do you think you--" Kayin was silenced from behind Dark Ellis as a sliver of silver light flashed past his face and into the wall that he was leaning against. Dark Ellis glared at him. "You have no part in this. None of you shall interfere." Here she also turned and looked pointedly at Sofia and Tracy, who exchanged looks before inching their hands towards their weapons.
"No, everyone. She's right. This is our fight."
Tracy glanced at a determined-looking Ellis and exclaimed, "Whaddiya mean? We're not going to let you take on her alone! She's one of those clones, right? So she's more powerful than you!"
Sofia nodded, clutching her whip. "We cannot go on without you, Ellis."
"Yes, you can and you will. All right?" Ellis looked at the other two women and smiled faintly. "Go on. I'll catch up. Go find Eiji, save Naru and take these bastards down. While I handle this one."
Kayin stared at her for a moment, then back at her dark-clothed twin, before nodding in gratitude to Ellis. "Thanks. All right, no questions, let's just go."
"A-all right..." The two girls caught up with Kayin as he continued down the hallway. However, Dark Ellis didn't seem to care more or less, as she yanked her other Dirk from the wall and started circling around Ellis, smiling coldly. "So I guess I WILL be taking care of you...like my companion is taking care of your friend as we speak."
"Do you mean Eiji-kun??" Ellis whirled out her Dirks and got ready to fight. "Just what are all of you planning to do here?"
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough." In an instant, Dark Ellis took to the air, daggers flashing as she lunged towards Ellis...

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

"Owww..." Eiji groaned as he woke up, yet again, in another dark room. Glancing around and seeing that there was no visible door OR light source, for that matter, he rubbed the side of his face, still stinging from his brother's blow, and hung his head sadly. "Niisan..."
Someone laughed at him. A familiar voice...
"Dare da??" Eiji unsheathed the Byakko no Tachi and tried to scan the murky darkness for the other person in the room with him, but could see no visible figure. Whirling around when he heard the sound of movement, Eiji struck out at the blackness with his sword, but didn't hit anything. Instead, he was rewarded with a sharp roundhous kick to the back that caused him to fall forward onto his knees. The voice commented with a hiss.
"On your knees to the superior one...that's the way it should be..."
Eiji, on the floor, growled and raised his sword. "Who are you?!?"
All of a sudden, the lights came on from the high ceiling, revealing that they were in some sort of arena-like room. And Eiji could clearly see the smirking person who stood over him.
Himself...

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