The Genome Offspring

Kuja and Ruby were screaming and hollering at the top of their lungs; they screaming hard enough to scare the other parents. The infirmary was out on the arena floor with two stretchers. They picked up the bruised, battered and bloody twins.

"How unfair was that, huh? What kinda loser would beat two defenseless kiddos! They didn't even get a chance, danget!" Ruby was trying to keep her language acceptable. Kuja was of course, not holding back.

"You sunava bitch! What kind of battle are you holding? If I didn't have chains on me this very minute, I WOULD BE DOWN THERE KICKING YOUR ASS!!"

Anzonin ignored the curses and shouts coming from the twins' parents. He made his way towards the sideline where Jade and Matai were in awe.

"I guess your little techniques don't work. Oh well, Matai has his turn now. Will he be lucky and win, or will he perish like his cousins, Jade? Can you answer me that?" Jade's eyes narrowed.

"Don't speak to me you scum. I can't waste my breath on people who hurt my loved ones." She jerked her head to face him, eyes still narrow.

"Got it?" Anzonin made his little smirk again.

"Yes of course. I just cannot wait for our turn, I would just love to see your wonderful skills. Now, let us see how Matai does, hmmm."

Minako walked side by side with Matai, as they entered the arena, Mikoto went ballistic.

"Show um what you're made of son!" Blank joined in.

"Make that witch writhe!" Minako having keen hearing swiftly turned to Blank.

"Watch it buddy! Or your son will be eating arena floor in a minute!" Blank ignored her.

"My son is no failure! He'll take you down! No sweat!" The loud speaker boomed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! It's time for our second battle of the evening! In the Champions corner…Minako!" the crowd hooted and whistled. "And in the challengers corner…Matai Carson!" the crowd roared. The ref entered the ring once again.

"You now the rules! I want a good clean fight! Now lets get it on!" The ref ran out of the ring. Matai pulled out a long blue staff.

"Just because you are a woman, doesn't mean I'll go easy on ya! Are you ready?" Minako pulled out her blade once again.

"Alright twerp…I'll make you into a living barbecue, don't you worry. It won't hurt…much. Now fight me!" With that Matai launched into the air, spinning his staff wildly. "I'll use one of my weaker attacks! I don't want to hurt you right away!" Minako snickered.

"You will go down as your cousins did!" Her blade lit up a red evil color.

"Blade of Darkness!" suddenly, the whole arena was dark; Matai could not see, and his eyes stung.

"Aaahhhhh! What's happening?!" Off in the distance he heard Minako snicker.

"How do you like my poison? Even if it grazes the skin it can do unchangeable damage!" Matai staggered around the arena, staff still in hand. Blank and Mikoto were both confused.

"Blank what's wrong with him? Why is he staggering around like that? What did that witch do to him!?" Blank looked just as confused and worried.

"I don't know sweetie, but I don't like it! Matai is probably already thinking of a way to get out of this predicament." Zidane was very calm, he knew what Minako was going to try and do next, and when Matai lost this match it would be all up to Jade. Zidane cleared his head. He thought.

"Why am I thinking like this!? What is happening…?" he felt a bulge in his pocket and pulled out the circlet from the gift that Garland sent. "What does this suppose to mean?" Zidane's thoughts were interrupted by Dagger and Mikoto's screaming. He became frantic.

"Dagger! What's happened?!" Dagger looked more worried than ever.

"It's Matai, Zidane! He's glowing!" Zidane glanced down into the ring to see Matai---as Dagger had said-glowing a reddish pink color. In the arena Matai had his eyes closed.

"I don't need my eyesight to see you, Minako…" He threw the staff in the air, and put one foot in front of him.

"Hanabira kinoi kame susha…" Minako looked frightened.

"I recognize that spell!! Anastasia!" She looked up to see Anastasia hovering over the stage. Anastasia smirked and winked, then she disappeared. Minako's eyes shot back to Matai, who was continuing his spell.

"Kentonai…BINAKANE!!" Matai's black eyes opened again. The glowing turned into a flash then a flame. Minako advanced back to keep from getting scorched. The flares from Matai's scorching body turned into arms and clutched Minako in their grip, they wrangled her petite body causing her to scream out in agony.

"Why of all times, Anastasia?! It was Anzonin who started the whole thing not me!" Anastasia reappeared behind Minako.

"This is true, but I cannot risk you dying a much more dreadful way than this…I am so sorry." Minako's eyes welled up with tears of pain, and a small pitiful smile came across her face.

"Thank…you…Anastasia. I'll see you…in the next…world." Minako let out a final scream of pain, and Anastasia vanished.

"Thank you Matai!" Matai's face softened, but he could not take his power down in time to save the already dying Minako. A small ray of light flashed, and Minako left in a fiery explosion. The time seem to just slow down at that very moment.

When the smoke and the floating debris cleared the arena, Minako laid on the other side of the arena, dead and bloody. Her eyes were closed and blood stricken. Matai stood on the other side of the arena, still as ever. His eyes became soft and he slowly, slowly, dropped to his knees, then to the ground.

"Noooooo!!! Matai! Please get up!!" Mikoto screamed through tears of worry and fear. Blank clutched her hand and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He whispered.

"It will be alright…he is going to…" he trailed off and let his tears come too. Anastasia made another appearance by Minako. She too, let her tears come. She had lost her friend like so many others. Yes, her friend Minako. A victim of Anzonin and his deadly mind games. He tricked her to be his servant, promising her that she would eternally be happy and appreciated. But instead…all she got was dread, hate, and sadness. Anzonin had no shame and care. He always lived in solitude. But why now? Why does he show such interest in Jade? Is it because of the hidden power she can harness? Or is it because his heart has opened up to something new? Love…

The infirmary came and picked Matai onto a stretcher. When they came to pick up Minako, Anastasia waved them away. There was no need.

**On the Outer Continent Surface, outside of Madain Sari**

Anastasia stood on a small knoll with a picture in her hand. In front of her was a tombstone, with the words engraved.

Minako

A friend who leapt before she looked, but left in peace. May she play and experience happiness for the first time, in the next world.

Anastasia bent down, dripping tears as she leaned into the tombstone. She placed the picture on the tombstones surface. The picture showed a small alien girl with her arm around a small blond genome girl. Anastasia and Minako…friends since childhood.

Authors Notes: What u think? My friend said she personally cried when she read this! Please RR!! Thank u!