In a world of darkness sanctioned by evil,
where the only light of hope is a group of unlikely heroes,
the legend's final chapter is about to begin...

- TOH SHIN DEN III: Walking Into Ruin -

a Battle Arena Toshinden 3 fanfiction by Athena Asamiya and Kasumi Todoh


CHAPTER TWO: Meeting



Translations:
hai - yes
anou... - um...
mina-san - everyone [polite]
-sama - honourific used for people of higher authority, gods etc.


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


"This totally blows!" steamed Tracy as she headed back to her resident police headquarters, the Tokyo Police Bureau, in her small rented jeep. It was mid-morning the next day, and she was currently fuming about a small aspect of her new case that she had not been told about until now. "I mean, dammit, I was lookin' to get away from the stress of New York, and now they have the nerve to saddle me with a goddamn partner?! I've never needed a partner, and I don't wanna start now, thankyouverymuch, assholes!!" She pulled herself out of her complaining for a minute, then lightened up and started to laugh. "God, now I'm talkin' to myself! What would the others think?" Oh yeah, she thought, the 'others' are two sword-wielding boys, a nasty girl with a whip, and an almost-too-cute little girl. Damn, what was I thinkin'? We ain't no ordinary extermination squad. Or organization extermination squad.
Tracy grinned in spite of the situation she was now in. And the situation she had been in, both a year and two years ago, at the second tourney and the ever-fateful first one. At first, she didn't want to trust the others. After all, who would? But still, her cop's instinct had told her that there was something wrong about this tournament, and after a little research of her own coupled with Eiji, Kayin, Sofia, and Ellis's confirmation, Tracy was all too happy to help them take out the Himitsu Kessha once and for all.
Or so they had thought, at least.
And now that this crazy woman Shizuku (at least in Tracy's not-so-humble opinion) had showed up on the scene, evidence had started to point towards the fact that perhaps something was starting up again. And more of the pending evidence was the report of the young Tokyo woman, Nakatoshi Sayuri, who had disappeared the other night and found dead. The autopsy had shown that it was from numerous slashes from sharp weapons, as well as some burn marks that Tracy had identified herself as caused by ki blasts. A witness reported seeing five strange characters following her the other night, almost as if they were stalking the girl. If only we had gotten some identification, Tracy thought in frustration, Even some info on what they looked like would have helped!
But, as it seemed, the five mysterious people had kept to the shadows, and it was presumed that they attacked the girl. Tracy mused to herself, So what does this Soshiki thing want now? She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Guess it's up to New York's best cop to find out. She briefly considered turning back, since Eiji and the others had gone with this Shizuku to confer with the boy who the people of the new organization were supposedly after. As Tracy pulled into the parking lot of the Police Bureau, she remorsefully thought, Here goes nothing. Tracy grimaced, brushed a few strands of her blue hair aside in order to look presentable, straightened her gaudy gold badge, and headed inside.
Finding her way around proved to be quite difficult, and asking for directions proved to be an even harder task, given Tracy's very limited Japanese vocabulary. Finally, she managed to find someone that understood English, who pointed her in the direction of a large office. Tracy knocked once, and heard a voice answer, "Hai!" which she was pretty sure meant it was okay to come in. The young policewoman entered, marveling at the room's eloquent furnishings of various Japanese paintings, assorted certificates, badges and the like. She approached a big oak desk in the center of the room and saluted, announcing, "Captain Tracy of the New York Police Department, reporting in for duty, sir."
The man sitting behind the desk turned around in his chair, and Tracy realized by his tan complexion, sharp black haircut and the X-shaped scar crossing his face that this man was none other than Iwashiro Nagisa, a formidable Japanese cop whom she had heard about, even back in New York.
"Ah, Miss Tracy. I've heard a lot about you," Nagisa said in almost perfect English. "You're responsible for bringing down the crime organization, the Himitsu Kessha, last year, correct?"
"Yeah, I s'pose had a part in that, but I can't take all the glory, y'know," Tracy admitted. Forsaking her natural New Yorker street slang, she hastily added, "That's why I'm here, sir. To investigate the new organization that supposedly is building, and take it out before it has a chance to expand."
Nagisa looked amused. "Yes, well, I have also been put on this assignment, so it appears we'll be working together."
"Wait a sec. You mean you're the partner the guys said they were stickin' me with?"
"Yes. I can tell you're not pleased with it."
"Look, Nagisa," Tracy began with a sigh, "Not that I have anything against ya, man, it's just--"
That was all she was able to get out.
Nagisa suddenly erupted in such an explosion of rage that Tracy jumped back about three feet. He lept out of the chair and slammed a large fist down on the desk.
"Don't EVER call me by that name!" he roared at her. "You don't realize how humiliating it is to be one of the toughest policemen on the force and be stuck with a woman's name like Nagisa! I don't ever want to hear you mention that name again, do you understand?!?"
"Holy shit," Tracy muttered, allowing herself to breathe normally again. "A bit touchy, aren't we? Then what should I call you, Master?" She smirked. "And as I was about to say, I'm used to flyin' solo, so I really don't think this partner thing is gonna work out."
"Well, don't consider it a privilege," Nagisa snapped, his anger subsiding. "I usually work alone too, and I'm not thrilled having to work with an amateur."
"Amateur?!" Tracy was highly insulted. "What the hell d'ya mean, 'amateur'? I helped destroy the Himitsu, remember? Or have you forgotten already?"
"That does score you some brownie points, kid, but it's absolutely nothing compared to the things that I've been though. Things that a woman like you would never be able to handle."
This enraged Tracy no end, and she had to curb her first instinct to go straight for her tonfa and beat this guy into submission. "WHAAAAAAATTT?!?!? Look, you jackass, not only can I handle this assignment, but I could do it ten times better than you ever could!!"
Nagisa settled back into his chair, smiled calmly. "Fine then. We'll see who does the better job."
"Fine with me!" Tracy stormed out of the office, still fuming. I'll show that sonuvabitch, she thought to herself. With that, Tracy climbed into her Jeep and drove off in search of her friends.

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

"So you say you couldn't find this boy's parents?" Ellis inquired as she and the others headed over to Shizuku's to meet David, the young boy who was wanted by the Organization.
"Unfortunately, no," Shizuku replied. "It's not something he talks about very much, but from what I gather, his entire family died when he was six. There was a sudden fire, and only David got out alive."
"Oh," Ellis replied quietly, eyes cast to the ground. "I know what that's like."
Eiji put a hand on her shoulder. "We all know how it feels to lose a parent." Kayin only nodded, though it was in mild sadness.
They had reached the front steps of Shizuku's house, a small, typical Japanese cottage tucked away in a mountainous region, close to where Ellis's gypsy band was stationed for the next week or so. Shizuku unlocked the door and held it open for them as the four entered. As soon as they all stepped inside, they were intercepted by a young boy in his mid-teens. He was a couple inches taller than Ellis, with jet-black hair and saddened, empty blue eyes. He wore a long tan trenchcoat that was adorned with a pair of shoulder pads, similar to Kayin's, over a pair of dark maroon pants and green vest with a white shirt and blue tie tucked into it. Around his left leg was wrapped a small pink scarf, and he was carrying (much to the complete and very startling surprise of the fighters, even though they were all used to seeing weapons being held out in the open) a very large chainsaw. He was holding it up, ready to attack, but lowered it a little when he saw Shizuku. However, he held on to it tightly as he regarded with suspicion the other four strangers.
"I'm glad you're back," he said quietly to Shizuku, focusing on her and her alone.
Shizuku, unfazed by this whole picture, merely answered in a kind tone, "David-chan, I've brought some friends for you to meet. They're the ones that destroyed the Himitsu Kessha, and they've agreed to help us." She introduced each of them politely to David.
David only studied them individually for a while before saying, "So. You think you can defeat the Organization."
Kayin, noticing the familiar tone of sarcasm in David's voice that he himself used quite often, started to retort in his usual brash manner before Eiji interrupted him, for good reason.
"We'd like to help you be rid of them, and stop them from targeting our families and friends as well," Eiji said, nodding, while casting an annoyed look at Kayin, who looked away mock-innocently.
"Hmph," the young boy snorted. "The Soshiki is way more powerful than the Himitsu Kessha was, and their fighters are twice as strong as you. It won't be as easy as you think to beat them."
Eiji wasn't quite sure of what to say to that. "Anou..."
"David-chan," Shizuku began patiently as if she had been through this many times before, "You know you can't go up against the Soshiki by yourself and hope to survive. Eiji-san and his friends have offered to help. I think it would be best, for all of us, to accept their generous offer."
"That's right," Ellis added. "You can trust us, David. This Soshiki obviously means business, and that makes them our enemies too." She finished by holding her hand out toward him. David looked at her for a long time without saying anything, and just as she started to pull her hand away he said, "All right. You can try if you like. But be warned, you'll be going up against a very powerful adversary."
"Um...thanks, I guess."
Just then Tracy stormed in, muttering, "God, he is the most sexist, conceited...oh, hi guys. This is the right address then."
David immediately raised his chainsaw in defence and stepped menacingly towards her. "Who are you and how did you find this place?"
"Hey, easy, kid," Tracy said quickly, putting her hands in front of her and taking a couple cautious steps back. "I'm guessin' you're David."
"This is Tracy," Eiji introduced.
"She is with us," Sofia hastily added.
"And as for how I got here, I looked your address up in a phone book. Do you know how many Fujis I found?"
David lowered the chainsaw again, but still regarded Tracy with warning. "You're also here to help?"
"You bet. Sorry `bout the `tude. I just came from a meeting with my superior and things didn't go very well, if ya know what I mean."
"You can trust her, David-chan," said Shizuku. "I know."
"You can trust all of us," Sofia continued. "We would be more than happy to finally rid the world of the corrupt existence of these such organizations."
Here, Shizuku sighed and said, "Mina-san, it's getting late. I'm sorry that we have no extra beds, with myself, David, and my brother all staying here as well, so if you could all meet us back here tomorrow morning so we can plan what we're going to do about this..."
Eiji glanced at the others, then responded, "That sounds fine. Tomorrow morning, then."
After the group had left and were on their way back to the hotel where they were staying, Tracy remarked, "That David kid don't like to lighten up much, does he?" She smirked. "They oughta put a sign up out front, 'Beware Of Chainsaw-Wielding Adolescent'."
Kayin laughed, and Sofia chuckled lightly, but only until Eiji and Ellis gave the three of them hard looks. They all shut up.
"I do not think I saw him smile once," muttered Sofia.
"He must have gone through a really hard time," Ellis joined in.
"There's not much we can do right now," Eiji interrupted. "I suggest we all get some rest and prepare for tomorrow."

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

"Abel-sama."
The sword-wielding young man and two of his cohorts, the native boy in the colourful costume and the woman with the tonfas, crouched bowed on one knee before a large and somewhat mysterious-looking man with sandy blond hair and green eyes, wearing a navy-blue bandana and a matching small top, with striped orange pants. He frowned at the group, obviously displeased, before addressing the leader of the three.
"Leon. How goes the search for David and the woman believed to be hiding him?"
Leon, the swordsman, averted his glance. "Forgive me, but I have nothing to report. We are still searching."
"Fools!" Abel thundered, taking a step towards his henchmen. "How difficult can it be to locate one boy?"
"Zola may have some news when she returns," the tonfa-bearing young woman replied, pushing some of her short red hair out of her face. "We're doing the best we can under the circumstances."
"Well, apparently your best hasn't been good enough, has it?" came a raspy voice from the corner. All eyes turned toward a tall, spindly man wearing tinted glasses and a black suit, with stringy red hair and matching crimson marks etching his face. He was leaning against the wall and polishing one of two golden guns that he carried, a hint of a smirk on his lips.
The red-haired woman stood up and folded her arms in annoyance. "I'd like to see you do better, Vermilion."
"And I don't think you could do any worse, Rachael. Don't forget, I am your superior."
Rachael snickered nastily. "Superior, my ass."
"Rachael," Atahua, the native boy, said warningly in a hushed tone.
"What about that girl you killed two nights ago?" Abel demanded, cutting in between the two. "I told you all to keep a low profile for now. Do you have any excuses for that faulty order, Vermilion?"
"We had our reasons for that," Vermilion answered carelessly, shrugging. "We thought she had information that would lead us to David."
"Well, you were wrong, as I recall. A screw-up like that can bring too much attention down on us, and until we get our hands on that boy, that's not what we want."
"Abel-sama!" The young woman dressed in the leather cat suit ran in, pausing to bow before her master.
"What is it, Zola? Do you have news worthy of mentioning?" Abel asked, though he didn't sound too expectant.
"I do," she said hastily, her words slurred with a thick Australian accent. She dropped to one knee before him like the others. "David and Shizuku have joined forces with Eiji Shinjo, and the four other fighters from last year's Toshindaibukai."
Abel growled deep in his throat. "I thought something like that would happen. They could pose a great threat to our plans."
"Abel, let me deal with them," Vermilion requested. "I've faced those brats before, and I want to have the pleasure of burying my bullets in their skulls."
"I've been waiting longer than you for a fight with Eiji Shinjo," countered Leon, standing up and facing Vermilion. "I suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of that blasted swordsman many years ago. Now's my chance to even the score. Let me go!"
"Need I remind you that I am second in command," Vermilion retorted angrily. "The privilege should go to me!"
"I've waited years for this!" Leon yelled back, hand inching towards his sword. "I will not be denied this chance!"
"Enough of petty squabbling!!" Abel shouted, shutting the two men up. Calming down, he murmured, "We may be able to kill two birds with one stone. We can both kill the Toshin fighters and capture the boy. Now is when your duplicated skills of the fighters will be put to good use."
"Like Tracy, huh?" Atahua said while glancing over at Rachael. "Well, how `bout that, huh, Rach? Looks like you might finally get the chance to settle things between you and her, once and for all."
Rachael said nothing, and refused to look at any of them. Leon noticed this and was quick to taunt her about it. "Hey, sounds to me like our little Rachael's getting cold feet. If you don't got the guts, Rachael, then maybe you shouldn't have joined the Soshiki."
Suddenly Leon found himself lying on the floor on his back, with one of Rachael's flaming tonfas pointed directly at his throat.
"You wouldn't like to repeat that, would you?" she asked, smiling with venom and green eyes glittering coldly.
"Uh...n-no, of course not."
"Good." She let him up off the floor, but not without kicking him in the side first. "I'll have you know I have just as much guts as any of you here. Just wait until I see Tracy again. She'll never expect what's coming."
"Patience, my fighters," Abel commented. "Very soon you will all have a chance to face this group of fighters." He smiled.
"Very soon indeed."

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