Hiyee!!! I've already finished the next chapter and here it is!!! Anyway, this is the TWENTY-SIXTH chapter of 'Between Two Hearts'. Yes!!! It's about to finish!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yami no Matsuei so don't sue me. But Kageyami Saino, Yumeki Sakura, Akizuki Kyla, Cerberus, Strength, etc. (Previous and Upcoming characters not related to YnM) belongs to me.
*Kaldea: Thanks for reviewing!!! ^^
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Between Two Hearts
Chapter 26: You are…
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It was already night. The three were already heading to Tokyo and encountered an unexpected welcoming. Black spirits approached them and furiously attacked them. Hisoka nimbly slipped out ofudas from his sleeves and used them against it while Tsuzuki called upon one of his Shinigamis.
"Suzaku!" the fiery bird appeared.
It attacked the black spirits and blew tongues of fire on them. Cerberus transformed himself into a wolf and attacked the spirits with his lightning. Even if they already had defeated some, plenty still kept on charging.
Tsuzuki told them, "This is endless!"
"Have any plans?" Hisoka asked as their backs where on each other.
Tsuzuki put his fingers together and chanted some words, calling…
"Byakko!"
The silver tiger appeared right before them. Tsuzuki went on the tiger's back.
He said, "We have to get away from here and head to…"
"Tokyo tower. That's where Muraki wants us to go," he finished the sentence for him as he leaped onto Cerberus' back.
The brunette nodded, agreeing, and headed to their destination.
After a few minutes of flying, the black spirits stopped from following them, making them wonder.
"That's weird. How come they're not following us anymore?" the brunette asked in wonder.
Cerberus suddenly spoke, "A strong force…" The husky wolf stopped and gritted its teeth.
"Yes, I also can sense it," the young boy agreed, squinting his eyes and searching around the vast area.
He felt a sudden aura surrounding them. A small figure appeared from the dark and stood on one of the electric post.
"Who are you?!" Tsuzuki demanded.
It was wearing a black ninja suit. Its face was covered with dark cloth, leaving only the eyes uncovered. And its eyes were cerise, purplish red.
The figure suddenly chuckled, sounding like a female child, "Namae wa…"
"… Okami desu."
She continued, "And I was sent by my master to stop you."
Cerberus suddenly changed back into his true form and said, "Tsuzuki-san, I give the responsibility of Hisoka to you. I'll take care of this one! You must go now and rescue Saino!"
Tsuzuki nodded, "All right!" He then turned to the young boy and said, "Let's go!"
Hisoka hopped on Byakko's back as Tsuzuki pulled him. They already went off.
"I won't let you!" she was supposed to follow them when Cerberus stopped her.
"Your opponent's here!" he taunted.
"Hmph! Well, then. It would be a pleasure to defeat the greatest Shikigami," she smirked and Cerberus noticed it even if it's covered by the cloth.
Hearing that from her, his head started to ache. He knew he had heard it somewhere.
She taunted, "I haven't done anything yet to you but it seems that you're already losing."
The slight headache vanished and Cerberus glared at her, "I still haven't lost!"
"Then, let's start!" she said as she suddenly vanished from his sight.
He smirked and also vanished. They were running in an incredible speed. Cerberus started to attack with his lightning but Okami nimbly dodged it.
"Is that all you can do?" she taunted again, making Cerberus pissed off. "My turn then!!!"
Cerberus and Okami both are equal in speed. She started her first move and attacked him with her fist. Cerberus quickly crossed his arm to block it but he crashed onto a building, destroying it.
"Oh my, I think I over did it," she intentionally said.
Cerberus got off the debris and was badly wounded. His face was full of bruises and scars due to the crash. He gasped for air, as if his powers were drained.
He thought, "I never expected that she's that strong… Remind me of someone…"
His head started to ache once more and images game running into view.
"… who can grant master the strength he needs…" only the lips of someone who was talking was shown.
"Who are you?…" he softly thought.
"Give up already?" another voice said, making him wake up from his reverie. "You're no match for me! Yes, we have equal speed but I'm much stronger than you. So, whatever you do is useless."
"No, I won't give up! For Saino's sake!!!" he pledged.
She shrugged and sighed, "Very well. I have to kill you then."
She charged towards him and prepared for her next move. As she was fast approaching, Cerberus also positioned himself for defense, trying a move. Okami gave him a strong blow but Cerberus read her moves. He nimbly moved to his side, held her arm and turned her back, doing a karate move. It was a success. His hand was holding her arm on her back while the other was around her neck.
"I know I should be gentle on kids and girls but you're exceptional," he sneered.
"Hmph! I guess I won't be bored after all," she said as she got off his grip and jumped away from him.
She suddenly removed the cloth that was covering her head, revealing a long shiny blonde hair. His eyes widened seeing the resemblance of Strength on her. His memories about her finally came back.
"Strength's the name. A Physical Shikigami who can grant master the strength he needs…"
"S-Strength???" he doubtingly said. "No, you're not her. She has those emerald eyes that I love to stare at. Also, you don't speak the way she does!"
"Really? Uh… Strength's depressed about that," she then smirked.
"Stop imitating Strength! You're not her!!!" he shook his head, not wanting to believe about what she said nor shown. "Also, she's dead! She doesn't exist anymore!"
His thoughts fell into the abyss and Okami took the opportunity to attack him. She dashed towards him and made another punch but this time, a flame was blazing on her hand. Cerberus flew again to another building and an explosion occurred. Okami jumped back as her final position.
She grinned, "Ha! You see! Strength's the greatest of all the Shikigamis! Not you! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
The voice echoed throughout the place, reaching Tsuzuki and Hisoka.
The young boy suddenly felt a deep and painful twinge, "Cerberus?…" He turned back to where they left him.
Tsuzuki patted his shoulders, "I'm sure Cerberus would be all right. So don't worry."
He nodded even though he felt uneasy.
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"Cerberus… Cerberus!…"
Cerberus slowly opened his eyes, revealing a blurry ethereal figure before him.
"Where am I?" he shook his head and spun around the dark place. "Am I already dead?"
The figure revealed itself as a female child with long blonde hair and emerald eyes.
"Strength???" he blinked his eyes, unbelieving what he's seeing.
She nodded and said, "You're not yet dead but soon you will be. But Strength don't want you yet to die that's why she's here." She softly caressed his cheek. "Strength's also glad that you kept her in your heart. That's why you still remembers her…"
He turned away, "Strength, gomen. But it's useless to save me. I failed… I lost…"
She suddenly slapped him, making him stunned in humiliation. Crystal-clear droplets started to run down her cheeks.
"Baka! How can you say that?! After all the years of having the name, you're already saying that you lost!?! Baka, Cerberus! BAKA!!!" she cupped her hand to cover her face.
"So, it means that you don't care about how Strength feels!!!"
"Strength, I…" he was about to stretch a hand over her shoulders but he stopped. Instead, he gave her a hug, "Of course I care about how you feel. I don't want you to…"
She removed her hands off her face and cut off his sentence, "Prove it to Strength then! Prove to her that you're still willing to live and to defeat that impersonator!"
"But how will I defeat her?"
Strength smiled, "Strength will lend you her power. Of course, she doesn't want you to be defeated easily!"
Cerberus replied back a smile and shifted her hair, "Arigato…"
"Hayaku! Before it's too late!"
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Slowly opening his eyes, he realized the blazing inferno around him. Even though he was severely wounded, he quickly jumped out of the place and landed a few meters away the pleased ninja's front.
"I'm back and still haven't lost," he gave her a cold glare. "Also, I'm ready to fight you!" he positioned himself, determined to fight her.
"Ah! So, let's continue then!"
As she was charging, flames started to generate once more on her fist, "YAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
Cerberus caught her fist with single hand and his eyes closed.
"What the?!" the girl awed.
When he opened his eyes, he pushed her with her other hand. She flew away, hitting a building just like Cerberus before. She then weakly stood up from the debris.
"H-how come?…"
Cerberus walked towards her with his eyes in death glare, "I told you I won't go easy on you…"
"I lost…" she whimpered. "I lost…"
"… Gomen… Master…" a clear droplet fell on the ground.
Her figure suddenly turned dark then slowly vanished. Cerberus then fell back on the ground and stared at the dark sky. It started to rain. He was just lying on the ground as the droplets hit continuously his weak body, washing away the blood that stained him. He raised his hand to stare at the scarlet scarf that was tied on his wrist.
"Asuka… Strength…" he slowly closed his eyes.
*****
Reia: Is Cerberus dead??? Is the battle scene corny??? I think so… : (
Next chapter hints: (Illusion)
Kamui: This time, it's Tsuzuki's time to battle another kid but a year younger. Geez, I better call the Child Abuse Department! They're using children as weapons!!! Anyway, he'll be having a hard time defeating her for she'll be threatening our dear Shinigami.
Reia: Wah!!! I'm really getting excited!!! The END is near!!! Hurray!!! Saino will be saved!!! But would it be easy for Hisoka? Anyway, please review! Arigato! ^^