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 THREE: Discoveries



Translations:
-san - honourific used for respect; somewhat like our "Miss" or "Mr."
gomenasai - I'm sorry [formal]
koitsu - you [rude]
oi oi, yamete! - hey hey, stop it!
mina-san - everyone [polite]
-chan - honourific used for close friends, children or pets


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


"I'm telling you, no!!"
"We might need his help, Tracy. Come on, please?"
"Forget it, Eiji! I will NOT ask for his help!!"
"But he could be a good fighter..."
"Eiji, I said NO and I MEAN NO!!!"
Eiji sighed. He had known Tracy to be unreasonable, but this...? "Tracy," he began, curbing his first impulse to lose his temper, "you said yourself that you heard he was a terrific fighter. And this 'Nagisa' probably has access to computer networks and things like that. We could find out what's going on, see if there really is a new threat here. Get it?"
"Huh." Tracy tossed her head, annoyed. "He's some macho asshole who thinks I don't know what I'm talking about. What difference would this make? That, oh hey, forgot to tell ya, I just happen to hang out with a group of fighters who all own concealed weapons, which is a felony I might add, and we're planning to take down this group by ourselves?? There's no way!"
Eiji looked thoughtful. "Then maybe we could persuade him to fight with us..."
"WHATTTTTT??"
"You're going to have to tell him sooner or later. You're not going to be able to keep a secret like this if he's going to be hanging around you a lot."
"Whose side are you on, anyway? I'm not saying it again, I won't do it!"
The outcome of the argument was pretty obvious.

"All I can say is that this was not my idea."
Tracy had somehow found herself back at the Tokyo Police Headquarters, standing in front of Nagisa's desk. The Japanese cop looked at her skeptically, and Tracy could tell he was hardly believing the explanation she had just finished giving him.
As Tracy tried to give him a convincing smile, she cursed inside. Eiji, I'll get you for this. If it was up to Tracy, her so-called 'partner' would have nothing to do with the group's new mission at all. Eiji, once hearing about Tracy's dilemma, had thought Nagisa would be great help and a powerful ally in their mission, as well as the fact that he didn't want Tracy to get fired from the force because she was too stubborn to apologize. As Eiji had reminded her before she left, "Being a fighter isn't a full-time job. We all have to make a living some way or another."
"Guess savin' the world doesn't get us big bucks, huh?" Tracy had replied with a cocky grin as she sped off.
Looking back on their whole conversation in general, Tracy decided the reason she'd lost was because there were times when Eiji was even more stubborn than she could be. Not to mention everyone else was backing Eiji on this one, so Tracy hadn't had much to stand on, despite her loud protests.
Now, standing in front of Nagisa's disbelieving gaze, she tried saying, "Look, you read the files you got on me so you know I'm telling the truth about the tournaments. This was my friend's idea, not mine."
Seeing him nod, she continued coldly, "You may have more experience than I have when it comes to police work, but my friends and I know have more experience with the Toshindaibukai than you'll ever have with policing. So as long as we're layin' down ground rules for each other as partners, I'm gonna say that I don't ever want to hear that I don't know what doing when it comes to this sort of case. Fighting in this circuit, I've seen things that none of you ever have or ever will see in your life." Nagisa still said nothing. Apparently he knew she had more to say, and was going to let say it before replying himself.
"And as much as it disgusts me to admit," Tracy went on, "Eiji might have a point. Of course, he hasn't met you, so that could be why. However, guess we ARE partners now, so for the sake of David, Shizuku, and my friends, and even though it does get really - really REALLY - dangerous when you deal with a group like the Soshiki, I'm willing-" she made a face, "-to give you another chance." Finishing her speech, she waited for a reply.
Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.
Tracy was barely able to hide a smile as she imagined the scenario where Nagisa refused. If he did, she could simply tell Eiji and the others that she'd tried her best, but he didn't want to agree to help...
"All right."
"Huh?"
"I said all right," Nagisa replied absently, checking the large gun and long retractable blade he had holstered at his sides. "I was also assigned to this case, so if you have any information, I need to know too. We ARE partners now, and that's an order from your superior."
Lucky me, Tracy thought sarcastically. And dammit, why won't he just shut up about being my 'superior'?
Nagisa got up out of his chair and walked out from behind his desk, turning his back to her and attaching a pair of silver handcuffs to his belt loops. "Since we are going to be partners, I don't want there to be any tensions between us after this, so I'll respect your ideas, and try to not criticize you."
What d'ya know, Tracy thought to herself, pleased. I guess when he tries, he can be somewhat decent. "And I'll try not to call you--you know--again, Iwashiro."
"Good." He offered her a black-gloved hand, and they shook on it.
"We're having a meeting Shizuku's house right now," said Tracy, adjusting the large goggles that were strapped to her backwards-turned ballcap. "My friends are already over there. You coming?"
"Of course," Nagisa replied. "You wanna take my car?"
"NO! Uh, nothing personal, but I rented a Jeep, so I'll use it myself if you don't mind."

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

"How are we supposed to find out we're up against?" Ellis questioned David at Shizuku's house the following morning. The whole team was there with them, crammed into a rather small living room, except for Tracy, who had left an hour earlier to fetch the newest ally, her partner Nagisa. For some odd reason, David had taken more of a liking to Ellis than the rest of them - it was probably the closeness in age as well as circumstance - but even that wasn't much, as he still showed enough acidity to scare practically everyone except Ellis and Shizuku away. And even though Eiji was turning a bit green around the edges from Ellis showing David so much attention (as well as attempting to restrain Kayin from snapping back at the kid's often-sarcastic comments), Ellis continued to try and find out as much as she could from their new ally. "Is there anyway we could find out more about them?"
Laid back in an old chair with his arms crossed defensively in front of him, David shot back, "You want to know the enemy better?"
"Quite frankly, yes."
"Well," David considered this for a second. "The Soshiki does have a main computer system where they keep all their important documents and files. You'd probably be able to find some interesting bits of information from there. Good luck gaining access to them, though."
"Perhaps I could find a way in," offered Sofia from the couch, speaking up for the first time that morning.
"Oh yeah?" David challenged, standing up and clenching his fist. "How?"
Sofia stood up to meet his gaze coldly. "I am - or rather was - a secret agent. It was my previous profession. I have learned a few things about hacking into computer files, one of the things that used to be my, how you say, forte."
"That would be great if you could, Sofia," Eiji said enthusiastically. He turned to Shizuku. "Do you have a computer we could use?"
"Gomenasai," she answered back apologetically, "but I don't. As good a gambler as I am, most of my money goes towards keeping this house."
"So much for that idea," Kayin replied, sighing. Just then, the sound of two vehicles pulling into the driveway was heard. "Must be Tracy and her new partner. About time too."
In a few moments, Tracy came through the front screen door of the house, along with a tall, tough-looking man wearing a half-open, high-collared shirt and black vest with dark red pants. Tracy pointed to her companion and said, "Guys, this is Iwashiro Nagisa, of the Tokyo police."
Kayin glanced at him, smirking, with a light in his eyes that was familiar to Eiji. (Noticing this, Eiji buried his head in his hands and muttered some Japanese words) "Nagisa, huh? Anyone ever told you you have a girl's name?"
Behind him, Tracy winced.
Nagisa's scarred face turned bright red. "I DO KNOW THAT!!" he roared at Kayin. "That's why I never want to have it said!! If I ever hear you call me by that again, I will kill you on the spot! Do you hear me?!?"
Failing to notice the frantic gestures Tracy was making, Kayin looked Nagisa straight in the eye (for they were about the same height), nearly laughing at this point, and said, "Get a breath mint, pal. You know what? You're a jackass."
"Koitsu...how dare you address me that way?? Do you even know who you're speaking to?"
"Why, yes I do. I think I've heard of you, actually. You're the biggest asshole in all of Japan, right?"
"That's it! I'm gonna teach you not mess with the law!!" Nagisa shouted, drawing out and extending his long-bladed knife.
"Hah. You can sure try, Travolta!" Kayin snapped back as he unsheathed Excalibur.
"Oi oi, yamete!" Eiji finally shoved himself between the two, clutching the sheathed Byakko no Tachi as a warning. "Can we get back on topic here? We need to find a way to hack into the Soshiki's computer system, remember?"
"You're right," Kayin replied, starting to calm down.
"What's this about into a computer?" questioned Nagisa, putting away his knife.
"We are trying to get into the Soshiki's main computer," Sofia explained, "so we can find out more about them and learn what they're up to."
"Now, wait a minute. Network hacking is illegal."
"What the Soshiki is trying to do is way more illegal than anything we could do, Iwashiro-san," Shizuku commented quietly.
"And we don't have any other choice," Ellis finished, shrugging. "There's no other way of getting the information we need."
"Except maybe going over to the Soshiki and personally asking," Kayin muttered sarcastically. "And I can see two reasons why that wouldn't work: one, we don't have a damn clue where the headquarters is, and two, chances are the people there wouldn't take very kindly to our barging in, and would most likely kick our asses and laugh about it."
"Don't forget," David added, arms folded in disbelief, "we still need a computer in order to get anywhere."
"Well, if you put it that way," Nagisa offered, "I have a laptop in my car, if it'll help you out."
Five minutes later, Sofia was typing away at the computer, a look of extreme concentration on her face while the others watched over her shoulder in a large huddle. Finally, she turned around in her chair.
"As I believe most 'hackers' say, I am in," she announced proudly. "I have not lost my skill one bit." She turned back to the computer, moved the mouse and clicked on 'Himitsu Kessha - Invitee Main Personal Files'. "This sounds interesting. Now, let us see just how much they know about us."
Instantly, a list of names appeared.
Ellis peeked over at the screen on her tiptoes, her small stature proving to be a disadvantage. "Those are all our names. And the names of the other fighters from the Toshindaibukai."
"I told you," David replied smugly. "The Soshiki has stuff on all the fighters who have taken part in the Himitsu Kessha's Toshindaibukai tournaments."
"Then let us see what kind of 'stuff' they have on us," Sofia said. She looked at Eiji over her shoulder. "Eiji, you do not mind if we look at your file first?"
Eiji shrugged. "Go ahead."
"All right." Sofia moved the mouse and clicked on the file marked 'Eiji Shinjo', and read aloud what appeared.
"Shinjo, Eiji. Age: 23. Height: 5'9". Weight: 149 lbs. Blood Type: A. Hair Colour: auburn. Eye Colour: red. Nationality: Japanese. Weapon Type: Byakko no Tachi (katana).
"Background: One of the key fighters in the Toshindaibukai, supposed leader of the rebel fighters. Exceedingly strong with much spiritual power. Younger and only brother of Sho Shinjo. He and his band of fighters pose the second-greatest threat to the Soshiki.
"Procedure? Destroy at all costs."
"Well, that's bloody cheerful," Kayin muttered. "You're very popular, Eiji-chan."
Meanwhile, David was looking at Eiji strangely. "Eiji, it said that you have a brother named Sho...right?"
Eiji seemed startled, then quietly replied, "Yes...I do."
"Ah," David murmured, almost to himself. "So that would explain it..."
"What do-" Eiji began to ask, but Tracy interrupted him by saying, "Second greatest? Why not first?"
"That title belongs to Eiji's brother, I would think," answered David.
"How much do you know about my niisan anyway?" Eiji questioned, confused.
"Enough to know that the whole Soshiki is scared shitless of him." David thought for a minute. "During the ceremony where they tried to sacrifice me, I can remember some people of the Soshiki muttering something about two people called the Blood-Eyed Angel and the Blood-Red Angel."
Eiji was surprised enough for all of them. "Kesshoku no Tenshi. I remember that."
"Then the other one has to be Cupido," mused Ellis.
"Cupido? Oh yeah, they mentioned their real names after that. They were saying something about how Sho and Cupido were the biggest threat they had ever encountered."
"No doubt that is because they were the real ones who destroyed the Himitsu Kessha," Sofia said, still typing away.
David raised an eyebrow. "I thought that was you guys."
"When you look back on it, we only helped. They were the ones who took them down, pretending to be their henchmen," Kayin murmured. "What a pair. You still have to wonder if they were just pretending to be our allies..."
"Does that mean that niisan is involved with them now too?" Eiji asked David, who just shrugged. "Don't know. Probably. But if he's a threat, that means he's not on their side."
Eiji almost sighed in relief, but caught himself just in time. Why am I feeling relieved? This is going be trouble for both of us. I know he can handle it, but...what's he gonna be like if I see him again...?
Shizuku interrupted his thoughts by saying, "Mina-san, look there."
Sure enough, Sofia had exited out of the file and went back to the main menu and, one by one, read through Kayin's, her own, Ellis', Tracy's, then two additional files, Shizuku's and David's. All of them ended the same the way: Destroy at all costs, except David's file, which ended with Capture immediately.
"That's no fair," Kayin protested indignantly. "How come the kid gets off easy?"
"That's not getting off easy!" David argued. "Some things are worse than death. And coming from the Soshiki, that's a lot of things."
"Now, what we can find out about the Soshiki members themselves..." Sofia said, averting the argument by clicking on another file. "Hmm. Apparently, the Soshki recruits its warriors with promises of anything they want. To become better at something, to become stronger, to become more powerful, usually more powerful, these people promise it all. They can grant all these promises too, somehow, though I am not sure how."
"Who are these people though?" Nagisa urged. "This wasn't a case I've studied, but I think I'd have seen some files by now."
"Not if they work for one of these organizations. There are at least fourteen people who have joined, but there seem to be five in particular, who stand higher than the rest. They all obey someone called Abel -- their leader, obviously. The one who is second-in-command is...Vermilion?!?"
"Vermilion??" chorused Eiji, Kayin, Ellis and Tracy in loud unison.
"You know him?" questioned David in a slightly monotone voice.
"All too well," Kayin responded, growling. "He worked with the Himitsu Kessha, but it was all just a plot, and he ended up killing the Master and would've liked to do the same to us. That goddamn gun-crazy loony."
Tracy scowled. "He tried to kill us all. At the second Toshindaibukai tourney."
"...By making clones of Ellis-chan and I," Eiji added, still angry over the incident from a year ago.
"But I thought he was destroyed along with the Himitsu Kessha headquarters," pondered Ellis, looking over at the computer screen to see the writing for herself. "How can he still be alive?"
"Guess he did make it out," commented Eiji, "and got back to the Soshiki alive." He glanced over at David. "It sounded like you knew him too."
David looked the other way. "Let's just say it wasn't under welcome circumstances."
"Listen to this," Sofia said. "There's also another person who appears to be third-in-command. It says here his name is Leon." At the mention of this name, Eiji groaned.
"I take it you've met before, Eiji?" Kayin asked.
"I met him quite a few years ago," Eiji explained with a pained look on his face. "Leon challenged me to a fight once. He was pretty good, almost as good as me. Almost. His problem was that he was too brash, too overconfident. That's why he lost."
"Seems you have a habit of getting people mad at you, Eiji," said Kayin, grinning.
"Shut up."
"Like to, but I have to go pick up Naru. Later." With that, Kayin rose and left the house without another word. Eiji watched after his friend, sighing. I hope he's not being too overprotective of Naru-chan, after what happened last year...
Meanwhile, Ellis was still looking at the computer screen, and reading who the next person on the Soshiki list was. "Zola? I've heard of her. Isn't she a famous opera singer?"
"That appears to be just her, as you say, day job," Sofia replied, glaring at the screen. "By night she is an underground assassin and a spy for the Soshiki."
Just then there was a loud squealing sound in the kitchen, indicating that the tea Shizuku had put on was ready. Shizuku, who had been very quiet through this whole experience, started to get up silently.
"I'll get that for you," Tracy quickly said, rising and going into the kitchen.
"The fourth one," Sofia went on, "there does not seem to be much on him. Except that his name is Atahua, he is about the same age as Ellis, and he is exiled royalty from a native village somewhere. From the pictures he looks to me like he is African or South American, perhaps." She read a bit closer. "One of the lower-ranked warriors is his father."
"And the last one?" Shizuku asked. "You said there were five."
"There is not really much on her either," Sofia answered, clicking the mouse button. "Just that she is in her early twenties, from America, and her name is Rachael--"
There came a loud crash from the kitchen.
Everyone rushed into the kitchen. A tray, which Tracy had placed the teacups on, now lay upside down on the floor, admist the pieces of the smashed teacups, in a large greenish puddle of tea. Tracy just stood there, staring at the mess, dumbfounded.
"Are you all right?" asked Nagisa, concerned.
"I...uh...I'm fine," Tracy stammered. "I-I need some to get some air. I won't be gone long." Before anyone could say anything, Tracy pushed past them and left the house.
"Weird," Ellis commented. She and Shizuku began picking the teacup pieces while Sofia went to look for a mop.

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

Tracy was back in her Jeep, gripping the wheel so hard her knuckles were turning white, and was trying to get as far away from the house as possible.
Or at least that announcement...and her own bitter memories...
She would return within the next couple of hours, but in the meantime, she had to clear her head. But still, Tracy couldn't stop her own troubled thoughts.
Rachael...Goddammit, why...?

**********