Lunar Succession
Author: Anegel Trinton
Disclaimer: I don't own SM or GW. I DO own Dederi, so no stealin'! AND IBAREN TOO!!! NOVA BELONGS TO
ESS-CHAN!!! (Youhko's my own character too, if you haven't realized that by now...) BTW, HAKAI BELONGS
TO DIANE, MY TALENTED COUSIN. If you want to read Diane's fics, her pen name on ff.net is SNAPdragon! All
other villains are mine as well..yes, it is a lot of characters. DEAL WITH IT. The other enemies are mine.
AN: Wanna know a song that would REALLY go well with this whole chapter? Bring Me to Life by EVANESCENCE! Well..
actually this song would go with it when the whole fiasco gets a little worse [deals with Ibaren a bit]...
well..anyway...Bring Me to Life by Evanescence still goes well with this chappie..^^
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Lunar Succession
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Chapter 16: Open Flesh
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"I'm going to go outside for a moment."
Dederi hugged her waist as she closed the lattice door behind her. She gazed softly at the roses which had
been replanted the day before. They were beautiful; the late morning dew glistened on them as if they were
crystal sculptures of etherial beauty. It was marvelous how they shined against the morning sun, as they
glowed just as bright as the sun did. The scene was picturesque, in fact; red rose petals were strewn
across the grey cobblestones of the courtyard. The wind, blazing with unseen anger, raised the raven locks
of the Dark Incarnate, imprisoning her face in an invisible mask of darkness. Her eyes were shadowed over,
unseen by anything or anyone. Her silk white robe billowed around her as she crossed her arms. She walked
slowly to the form who sat on the rim of the large, stone angel fountain, her bare feet feeling the soft
touch of the petals and, in contrast, the cold, relentlessness of the stone floor.
The gasping form before her was the demon that had given her the Demovalran necklace that hung on her neck.
He was bleeding profusely, cuts and jagged burns all across his scarlet red skin. His eyes held the same
neon green monotony, but the emotion held within them said otherwise. *~Kuroi...~* He whispered softly in
her mind, his tone held relief. His bloody lips curved into a smile, albeit a small one. Yukio's hand
held to his side; it was obvious that this was the place that he had lost the most blood in. A pool of
blood had been spilt around his armored feet and his armor had been broken. His black-red hooded cloak laid
next to him in a sloppy fashion, seeing that it had partially fallen onto the ground.
"Yukio, what happened to you?" Dederi asked. Though hidden by shadow, her eyes held deep remorse; she felt
that whatever happened was her fault.
Yukio looked up, his breath ragged and hoarse. *~Youhshiro.~*
"I see." Dederi was now standing over his hunched form. She placed her pale left hand on the side of his head,
tenderly running her fingers through his blood soaked raven hair. It had been unraveled and the braid which
had almost always been orderly was now disheveled. "But you survived." As she glanced at his bloodied face,
Dederi realized that he had been holding a defeated grin.
*~He grows weary of my failures.~* Yukio answered. *~So...I take it the Dark Incarnate has revived?~*
Dederi nodded.
*~Then...~* He breathed out softly as he continued the telepathic conversation, *~Why are you hiding your
armor in that robe of yours?~* Dederi had to smirk at his perceptiveness.
"It is because they still fear me. How did you know of it?"
Dederi closed her eyes and smiled ruefully, pulling the silk cord which tied her robe around
her. The silk cord unraveled and fell from the silk robe loops. It remained limply in her hand as the silk
robe itself opened, revealing the legendary red breastplate and black armored pants, along with the pelvic
armor and demonic combat boots. The shadow on Dederi's eyes lifted, revealing the small, entrancing eyes
of the deepest black and red. The dove white robe fell gracefully around her feet, revealing her flawless,
pale peach skin, albeit with long scars from the previous night, the twisted fingerless right glove, and
the aged Gauntlet of Chiosu. In all its splendor, the Gauntlet shined mysteriously in the morning light.
Dederi closed her eyes softly and arched her back, floating into the air as the mysterious black and
white-boned demon wings sprouted from her back. Black feathers flew everywhere around the courtyard as she
raised her arms from her sides to her chest. A gasp escaped her pale rose lips, the familiar black and red
blood flowing from her left eye. The blood dried to a stripe, touching the side of her lips and the end of
the left side of her chin. The transformation became complete once more; she landed back on the ground.
*~Of course I know. How could I not know?~* Yukio answered breathlessly (literally..er..continue). *~You
are still beautiful.~*
Dederi smirked, hugging her sides as the coarse wind blew, her hair flowing like a sea of black silk around
her pale face. Yukio couldn't help but marvel at the sight before him; he never grew tired of his love's
mysterious and enigmatic complextion. "Why are you here?"
Yukio exhaled, and for the first time that morning he spoke aloud. "Because...I wanted..no, needed to give
you something." He strained to pull out something from his armor pocket, which was stained with his own
dried blood and sweat. The bloody mercenary pulled out a vile, which contained a dark crimson liquid. When
he pulled it close to his face, Yukio smiled, his sharp fangs peeking out from his mouth. The vile began
to glow with etherial energy and a single black orb appeared in the center of the contained liquid.
"This is a sample of the experimented demon protoplasm. I took it from the containment chamber after I was
'disciplined' by Youhshiro." He said his superior's name with such malice and distain now. "The enlarged
nucleolus was injected with human and valkyrian blood and energized by a few drops of melted Gundanium ore.
This sample is one of the successes of the demon experiments. Some others were failures. They also
proceeded in taking out the genetic information that controlled their instincts. When the demon protoplasm
matures, it will evolve into a new form of science-born demon called Kaibutsusei X31, type A-39. The project
began even before I was employed by the Ten'no, and even before the Second War. I don't know how they
produced or managed the experiments, and I do not know when they will be matured enough to be released,
but I do know this." He then strained to hand her a piece of paper, which was partially drenched in black
demon blood. "This is a copied note of Youhshiro's scientific methods to the human familiars from Rommefeller.
Although, despite all the information you and I now possess, the chances of defeating all of these
monstrosities and destroying the culture chambers are small. Lives will be lost."
Dederi closed her hand onto the small piece of paper, tucking it into her right glove, gingerly avoiding the
spikes. She ignored the wet sensation of demon blood against her pale skin; humans would have grimaced at
the sight and screamed painfully at the touch of the blood (if you don't remember from the beginning, the
demon blood is poisonous to humans because of their lack of spiritual awareness and strength). "I see that
you have gone to great lengths to give me information."
Yukio nodded.
Dederi held the vile in her right hand, gazing ruefully at the protoplasm it held inside. "So it will grow
into Kaibutsusei." She tucked it safely inside the hidden pocket inside her elevated claw-like shoulderplate.
The girl closed her eyes. "What are the chances, in ratio, that we would be able to defeat them?"
"Depending on attack strengths, thirteen (13) out of fourteen thousand (14,000)."
She smirked. "So we have a chance?"
"Yes, albeit a small one." Yukio grimaced as he drew his hand to his right shoulder. "Although, in this
condition I am not sure I will be able to defeat more than three." He groaned painfully. "The poison of
Youhshiro's attack is setting in." Dederi's eyes narrowed at the bloodloss, walking closer to him until
her face was directly in front of his. She lifted his disheveled bangs and inspected his forehead. There
was a deep gash where demon flesh would have been. Black blood seeped through the thin bandage he had placed
and multiple shades of purple had begun to set in.
"This deep gash could not have been set by Youhshiro's disciplinary movements, if by energy." Dederi concluded
thoughtfully. "You received this from stealing the protoplasm, ne?" She felt the edges of his wound, which
had been burned and cut jaggedly. "It is infected. Had you not time to treat it?"
"From the time it took to escape those impudent guards to the time I fell to this courtyard, I was too
focused in keeping the vile from breaking." Yukio groaned. "If the vile touches any form of skin when it is
not mature, it will act as a form of miasma and surround the epidermis. The immature miasma will feel like
acid and dissolve the infected skin. It could penetrate any form of epidermis, eventually infecting major
organs and nerves."
Dederi sighed aggravatedly at the lengths her previous superior had gone to in order for humanity to be
annihilated. She released the burned skin from her gentle touch. "I cannot believe he has gone this far.
Using human resources to destroy. The sailor senshi and pilots will not be able to handle this without
severe injury, nor even I."
"And what of your first friends? The halfling, the magi, the sorceress?"
"They will survive for the time being, but I cannot be certain."
"Why are you," Yukio groaned as Dederi touched his side, which turned out to have a gaping hole, "Why are you
so concerned for the senshi and pilots?" He grit his teeth as the young woman felt around through the torn
and infected skin. His crimson demon skin was burning with the white hot pain of an enemy energy sphere.
Dederi shook her head in uncertainty while she removed his abdomen plate of Demovalran armor, inspecting
the hole with fervent interest. "I do not."
"Then why do you protect them?" Yukio asked solemnly.
"It is because of their involvement. I have enough innocent human blood on my hands. I do not need the blood
of Mercurians, Jovians, Martians, Uranians and the like on mine. They are all proud races of living beings,
those of which cannot be ignored. Despite their stupid and innocent acts, I refuse to let them die. If they
do die, only their blood and spirit will remain. Their blood will only add to the final incantation of
Ten'no Youhshiro."
"Are you certain that that is the only reason for your protective involvement with them? I had half expected
you to be infiltrating the Valkryian base by now." Yukio said wryly, although frowned as he said his next
sentence. "Your emotions..."
"What about them?" Dederi said monotonously.
"They lie with the human...don't they?"
Dederi turned away from his piercing gaze, putting both of her hands on the gaping, bloody hole as she knelt
down in front of him. Her hands were greatly stained and dripping with black demon blood. "Why do you ask?"
"I would like to know who I have lost to."
"Yukio..." Dederi stopped her inspection in shock, her hands frozen in place. The young woman's breath
was caught in her throat. "I suppose no explanation will help you to understand..."
Yukio shook his head, the bloodsoaked hair lifting itself from its sticky hold on his forehead. "I suppose
not. After all, I am a demon, and demons were not meant to have emotions. You said so yourself last night,
that I remember." He moved his left hand from its rest on the stone rim and cupped her cheek, staining it
with more of his own blood. Yukio gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "Your eyes glow with fire still.
I once had that effect on you.." Dederi closed her eyes and stood, the welcoming touch of his hand to her
face ending. "It is unfortunate that I have lost to hi-"
"Yukio, you still do." Dederi whispered into the calloused wind. Yukio stared into her endless orbs of black
and crimson. Despite his body's pained and screaming protests for him to remain still, the demonic mercenary
stood. Yukio looked straight into her eyes, feeling the familiar emotion of love and unrestricted devotion
flooding into his calloused heart. "You still do, but..." He silenced her with a finger to her lips.
Ibaren felt a shock go through him as he sat in the mahogany chair. He narrowed his eyes. [Something is
very wrong.] *~Yasuo, Seito, Hakai. There is a fell voice in the air and the stench of demon blood is blinding
my sense of smell. Do you concur?~* He ran his right hand through his spiked raven locks, the sidebangs
wafting with the sudden movement. *~I feel pain and confusion emitting from the courtyard.~*
Nova's facial expression turned from comical to grim. She sniffed at the air softly, then winced. The halfling
stood from her mahogany seat, sniffing at the air and narrowing her eyes in determination. Her gruff voice
disturbed those around her. "Youkai." Nova's eyes were mere slits of violent anger and tempted malice.
"He has returned."
Hakai gave a small nod to Nova and Ibaren stood from his seat. Yasuo looked onward in confusion, as the
rest of the pilots and senshi did. He scratched the back of his platinum blue hair, feeling the soft caress
of the etherial tresses fall through his fingers. "What is going on? I do not understand."
"Is something wrong with Dederi?" Setsuna wondered outloud. There was a definite tinge of concern in her
calm, collected voice.
Heero reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun, the dark metal shining against the kitchen ceiling
lights. The rival for the title of 'Perfect Soldier' held the gun behind his back, expertly loading the
magazine cartridge without a sound. He clicked the safety off, although with the current moment nobody noticed
except the half-youkai.
"Make haste, Perfect Soldier." Nova said in a sharp whisper. "Your chance to avenge your friend's anxiety
is at hand." Heero's usually monotonous eyes widened in shock at her knowledge, then went back to its cold,
steely gaze. He nodded to her slowly. Nova walked calmly to the lattice window near the door.
"What is going on?" Makoto asked worriedly. "What friend? What do you need to avenge, Heero?"
"Yeah, what exactly is going on?" Haruka glared.
Heero looked at her with his prussian blue orbs. "A friend whom you all take for granted. I need to avenge
her pain. For what she has done for me, I will return in favor."
[Her?] Duo scratched his head. "Hee-chan, do you have a girlfriend we don't know of?"
"There is no time for your foolish questions, osage-baka." Wufei growled, unsheathing his katana with
fervor. [If the magi is this worried then that must mean the demon of sensei's past romance has returned to
'talk' with her.]
*~You're certainly a great student, Wufei Chang.~* Hakai told him telepathically. *~Dederi has helped to tone
your skills and perceptiveness very well.~*
Trowa nodded and got up from his seat, leaving his chocolate cake behind on the mahogany table. "Ibaren, I
suppose this little celebration has come to an end?" He said in a sad tone, although no one noticed the
emotion in his voice. Ibaren simply nodded as he joined Nova and Hakai at the window. "I see." He was about
to go for the lattice courtyard door when Ibaren held his left arm out to stop him.
"Stop. We will go when she goes."
"Magi, we need to stop that demon from getting to her again." Wufei walked up to him in an aggravated voice.
"She is returning to the land of past spirits, within her mind, if not body. Her mind is fraying inbetween
her thoughts. Her emotions from the dead are coinciding with the future, although they are not settled
within her mind just yet."
"Then how do we help her?" Ami asked earnestly, ignoring the pang of confusion in her intelligent mind.
Hakai closed her eyes sadly. "We can't. She must choose her own way. We will assist when we can. For now,
we watch until the demon is more vulnerable than he already is. Even with the bloodloss, he is still more
powerful than even that deceased NeoQueen of yours."
Yukio looked into her eyes, losing himself in the darkened pools of oil and blood. His finger remained
to her lips, which were stained with demonic blood. "I have already lost, haven't I?" Dederi couldn't answer
his question/statement with certainty. From the previous night, she realized how much she was in love with
Trowa Barton, the pilot of the Heavyarms Gundam. She would not forsake that gift and miracle that had been
endowed to her, even if it meant forsaking her past. Yukio noticed the contemplating look on her pale, bloodied
features, and sighed softly. "Kuroi." He cupped her chin delicately as he looked straight into her eyes.
"Kuroi, I will never forsake that love that we had before all of this. Even if I am driven to sacrifice my own
spirit for yours to live, I will do so without hesitation. For your happiness."
"Yukio, please." Dederi whispered. "I am not worth being thought over. I am not worth being saved. I am only
worth death and destruction. Demons have no emotions and you should know that."
"Kuroi," Yukio whispered back, "For the last time, you are worth everything to me. Without you, I would be
incarcerated in Ten'no Youhshiro's dungeon. Kuroi, have you not realized that I am-"
[Still in love with her.] Ibaren felt a small trickle of water flow down his right eye. He looked down onto
the floor, his beautiful eyes shadowed. "I cannot allow this to happen again."
"Allow what to happen again, Ibaren?" Quatre interrogated calmly.
"I cannot allow him to..." Ibaren muttered the rest of his sentence. Yasuo caught the rest of the sentence,
seeing as he was standing right next to him. The Jrocker narrowed his eyes angrily.
"Damnit." Yasuo cursed. "It's him, isn't it?"
"Hai." Wufei answered patiently as he leaned on the right side of the lattice door, away from the window.
"I am not completely aware of your pasts, Hirotoshi-kun, but I do realize by now that the demon you are all
so heavily concerned about is not liked and that you are angered every time he nears Dederi-sensei."
"Yukio..." Yasuo growled hoarsely. "Why is he here?"
Nova sighed. "Yasuo, please have patience. I know that-"
"Why is he here?!" Yasuo interrupted aggravatedly.
Hakai mumbled, "He still does..."
Yasuo bared his teeth, showing his small fangs with anger as he growled. He slammed his black plastic fork
onto the mahogany table, leaving a permanent scratch on the well-polished surface. "DAMNIT. Why, of all
people, does *he* have to come back?!"
"He never died." Ibaren said solemnly, although his eyes held unbidden anger towards the bleeding youkai of
Ten'no Youhshiro. It was always him that resurfaced all of Dederi's confusion and past insecurities, leaving
her in a state of indecision. [A tragic flaw. It is unfortunate that Kuroi has to go through all of this once
again. Despite all that we have gone through, he still manages to return and attempt to gain Kuroi's affections
with fervent interest. Alas, we still do not know whether or not he is merely toying with her emotions to
'help' her to lose her humanity.]
"You seem to be in a state of pondering, Iba-kun." Ami commented amidst the nervous silence of the mahogany
kitchen.
Ibaren had the smile at the petite young woman's intelligence and perceptiveness. He did not turn to face her,
for he continued to watch as Yukio held his comrad's chin in his bloody hand. "I am afraid so."
"Well why can't we just go out there and stop that demon from doing any more damage?" Rei asked. "I mean,
even if we all know Dederi can hold her own against demons, wouldn't it be better if we assisted her in some
way rather than just standing around in the kitchen?" [Why the hell am I worried?] Rei pondered. [Don't I
hate Dederi?]
Nova shook her head, her light brown/blonde tresses wafting around her. "We cannot do anything until Kuroi
makes her own decision."
"What do you mean?" Trowa interrogated.
Heero and Wufei seemed to be contemplating the exact same thing as they looked straight at Nova with expectant
eyes.
"The stripe on her face." Nova used her right index finger to outline her left cheek from her eye to her
lips and chin. "It is derived from her demon blood. The stripe did not mean anything the night before because
of the fact that the dragon had just been awakened. But now that the Dark Dragon has been revived and now
consciously coincides with Kuroi's spirit and body, the stripe bears a striking relevance to the vein of
the Gauntlet of Chiosu."
"The 'vein'?" Setsuna wondered outloud.
"How is the 'vein' relevant to her decision?" Ami asked.
"It is a nickname for the protruding blade on the wrist of the Gauntlet. The blade is connected to the
weilder's blood and major veins. It is mostly used to transfer blood to the pedestals in Youhko's fortress.
The blood of demons are used as passcodes. If one demon should not have enough blood, the demon is sucked
dry of its remaining blood. He or she then proceeds to either disintigrate or be used as introphenostene
for new, cultured demons. It is relevant to her decision because if she chooses a path that will lead to
inevitable destruction, the vein of Chiosu will then signify her turn against light into darkness. It shall
turn black, showing that she has chosen to lose her humanity forever."
"Why would they do such a thing to their own kin?" Makoto asked angrily. "Even if demons are merciless, I
have seen those who care for their own kind."
"They do care for their own kind." Nova answered sadly. "Although, despite their bonds, the weak perish.
It is the way of Tsurideragon, and it shall always be."
"You make your dimension seem savage." Michiru commented quietly, playing with a strand of her hair as she
contemplated about the 'vein'.
"It is not savage." Hakai growled softly. "It is merely the way we go about our lives. Although the ancient
Tsurideragon temple still tends to those who are weak and decrepit, we of the Temple still go against the
demons with no compassion. They must be destroyed, even if humans are to be sacrificed."
"You...you cannot." Dederi breathed out. Her hot, moist breath warming Yukio's bloodied hand. "You cannot have
such feelings for me. Youhko...no, Youhshiro will have your head and your demonic blood...He has reprimanded you
for your actions before, you cannot take such a risk upon your own life-"
"I do what I wish with my own life, koishii." Yukio interrupted. He drew her forehead to his slowly and tenderly,
like a child's hands upon a delicate china doll. "I cannot simply deny my emotions."
"It is a demon's trait to deny emotion, Yukio."
"Well, I am not of the ordinary demon, now am I, Kuroi?" Yukio retorted, his voice getting more shallow and
breathless with every word.
Dederi's eyes glittered with worry for the mercenary. "Yukio, onegai. Do not waste your breath. Your breath is
shallow and your heart distempered. Rest-"
"I do not have time to rest...!" Yukio interrupted once more. "I may not be able to live for more than a few hours,
let alone days. Let me say what I must."
"You surely cannot take human lives!" Ami exclaimed distressfully.
"Oh, but we will and always will, if the need arise. We protect the weak, and the weak are the humans; but
the weak must be annihilated so that the strong may be destroyed." Hakai countered. "You are a human, Mercury-
hime, and as a human you do not understand our beliefs. Even if we believe in protecting the weak, if the
weak get in our way we will destroy them. Humans without our powers are weak, and being so makes them
obstacles. We do not kill needlessly, although you should understand what we are saying at this moment."
Another tear fell from Ibaren's cheek, and this time it did not go unnoticed by Yasuo.
"You still..." The young Jrocker began.
Ibaren did not turn. He remained at the lattice window, holding the light velvet curtain for support. No one
else knew that he was resisting the urge to have an emotional breakdown. For reasons unknown, he continued
to watch as Yukio held his close friend within his tender grasp. "Yes."
Yasuo nodded slowly. He moved his right hand to cover his eyes, contemplating what he should do.
"He still what?" Minako asked cautiously, her curiosity getting the better of her once again.
The young Jrocker shook his head. "That story is for a later time. It is not relevant to the situation at
hand."
"Wait...didn't you say you weren't a warrior, Yasuo?" Haruka asked suddenly.
"Why, yes I did."
"Then how do you know of Tsurideragon and of the demon Yukio?"
Yasuo grinned, making himself seem wolfish, but a trace of sadness was still left in his stoic eyes. "I am
not a warrior. I am only a human. I merely know of these things because I feel whatever happens in my
dimension I should help in some way or another. I believe that whatever my friends must go through, I must
support them with every ounce of my will."
"Simple enough." Haruka commented gruffily. [I still feel uneasiness about him...] "I can understand where
you are coming from."
Hakai nodded in agreement. "So you see, then, that despite our 'savage' beliefs we still believe in unity
with our friends and loyalty in our connections. But pertaining to this task at hand, of which includes that
monstrosity of a demon, we will spare no forgiveness for him. He must be destroyed and will be...or else
Kuroi will be sucked back into the darkness. We cannot allow that to happen, for fear that the end of all
dimensions will commence."
*~Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement, dear sorceress of Dragonn Temple.~* A peculiar female
voice said within Hakai's distempered mind.
"Na..nani yo?!" Hakai growled a little bit too loudly.
"What is it?" Quatre asked slowly.
"It's..."
"Arashi." Ibaren stated the colonel's name with distain. "She's here for revenge."
"The colonel from the Valkyrie base?" Heero asked gruffily as he loaded his second handgun.
"Hai. She is to avenge the death of her sister-"
"Inabikari." Makoto finished grimly. "So this whole thing deals with family ties?"
"In a way, yes, but none of us at Dragonn are of family. This whole fiasco revolves around chaos and an intricate
web of conflicts and evil that you will never be able to comprehend."
"Who are you to judge our intelligence?" Rei narrowed her raven eyes. "We've been through so much more than you'll
ever be able to-"
Hakai barked back before Rei could finish her prideful banter. "You have never seen the deaths of millions!" She
growled ferociously at the priestess. The growl enough was to silence even the male Perfect Soldier. "This whole
thing revolves around the emotions of the Dark Incarnate, of which our actions will coincide with until the end of
the universe! One single despondent emotion could tip the scale and chaos would ensue! Do you think *you*, a Martian,
could carry that weight upon your shoulders!? You have not seen the first battle of this unending war..." She
said with a hoarse voice, the familiar lilac aura wafting around her. "The first battle included so much chaos and
despair that the mere thought would result in tears. Your battles would not even compare. You think so proudly of
your 'daring' feats of saving your world from monsters and flowers. I must disappoint you, Martian priestess, the
things you are up against are far worse than monsters. Demons of the ancient world, demons of blackened hell and
ill-reverenced will. Demons that would destroy and consume their own kin to gain more power. If you find yourself
against one of them and manage to kill without regurgitating from the awful sight, another will take
its place. They do not follow the concept of family honor, even if they will take revenge for their fallen kin. The
only reason that they will destroy their family's killer is that without that creature's death, their own honor is
tainted."
"Not to mention that their bloodlust controls most of their concience if they are not of royalty and free will."
Nova added, nodding slightly at Hakai's angry speech. She spoke to the sorceress in a calming tone soon after,
in the same etherial language that all of them had heard the night before. Hakai sighed and nodded, muttering softly
to herself. Ibaren seemed to remain indifferent, relentlessly staring at outside the window, where Dederi and Yukio
still stood.
Hakai crossed her arms and lowered her head. "I apologize, Mars-hime, this war has taken most of my calm judgement.
Our patience grows very thin with every passing day and I did not mean to snap with such insolence. I am not
necessarily sure if what I have said before is of any revelance, but I apologize again. I only wish I had not said
what I did before..."
Rei stood, completely confused. [One moment she's raving mad with anger..the next moment she's calm again..] "Umm..."
The Martian priestess set her plastic fork down next to her plate on the counter. "It's all right...I guess...maybe
I shouldn't have underestimated your strengths either.."
*~I laugh at your futile attempts to join forces between others, dear sorceress..~* Arashi's voice cut into her
mind again.
*~Damn you, Arashi. Come out and fight.~* Hakai narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth. "Or are you a coward..."
"I AM NOT A COWARD!" Rei growled. "I merely apolog-"
"Not you!" Hakai cut her off again. "You insolent fool...I speak to Arashi not you."
"Insolent-!" Rei gasped in aggravation.
"Damare, konorayo." Ibaren harshly reprimanded the prideful princess of Mars. "Silence is your best option at this
moment if you do not want to be killed so soon in this war."
Rei narrowed her eyes at the magi, but kept silent. Even she knew when it was time to be quiet.
"She will appear soon." Ibaren stated.
"Yukio, onegai." Dederi pleaded once more as Yukio was closing his eyes in pain. His wounds were opening once more
and the blackened blood from his veins spilt on the cold ground. A pool of this sustaining liquid remained at their
feet. Both of their armors were completely stained in blood. "Stop your distempered breath...rest...onegai...you
need not speak of this..."
"There is no use to coax him, my fellow demon." A devilish voice interrupted the dramatic moment. Dederi, who now
had her arms supporting Yukio, looked up at the mansion rooftop. A dark silouette stood firm at the edge of the
terra cotta shingles. It shifted slightly, then disappeared from mortal sight. Dederi narrowed her eyes, recognizing
a familiar aura. A pair of arms shot out, one encircling Dederi's waist and the other around her neck. Yukio
stumbled backwards, away from Dederi. After gathering what remaining strength he possessed, he crookedly stood
in front of the silouette and the Dark Incarnate.
"Arashi..." Dederi groaned as the arm tightened its hold around her neck. The female colonel grinned, baring her
elongated fangs. Colonel Arashi was dressed in thigh-length black combat boots with Demovalran buckles, dark brown
leather pants, and a long-sleeved, black-ribbed turtleneck. "What do you intend to do..."
"With you?" Arashi grinned mercilessly. "Why, I will kill you, of course. It's not like it matters if you die or
not, it's just that I like the taste of your imperfect demon blood.." A small black blade shot out from Arashi's
right wrist, cutting Dederi's neck like a coarse wind. Dederi did not wince as the first of her black and red
blood spilled onto Arashi's vein blade. The merciless, cynical demoness licked Dederi's blood off of the tip of
her blade with her pink tongue. "With you dead, brother dearest will take control of the universe and your
presence will no longer be a bother to me. Inabikari was a fool to attack you with imperfect energy."
"There is a difference in what you and I think about 'imperfection'." Dederi grit her teeth as the blade cut
deeper into her pale flesh. Yukio was hunched over in front of her, looking on in anguish and pain. Despite
the loss of blood that would have sent any other demon through the Gates of Hell, Yukio panted heavily and
unsheathed his bloodied chinese schmitar. A heavy coat of dried black blood remained on the blade, some of the
caked blood falling onto the ground. Dederi groaned at his action. "Yukio you are not fit to battle Arashi.
Take shelter in the mansion. I can deal with this."
"There is no way I am leaving you here alone." Yukio stated as he swiftly began to sprint towards Arashi, his blade
held low near the ground. "There is no way..."
Ibaren grimaced as Arashi's arm tightened around his friend's neck, the blade cutting deeper and deeper into her
pale skin. Heero caught the grimace and walked towards him, placing the handgun at his side. "What happened?" He
asked gruffily. Ibaren shook his head and nudged his head towards the window.
"A battle has begun."
========
AN: GYAAAH! Sorry I took so long...damn proofreading... aaargh..anyway...yea...
Email: injusticepilot05@hotmail.com
Author: Anegel Trinton
Disclaimer: I don't own SM or GW. I DO own Dederi, so no stealin'! AND IBAREN TOO!!! NOVA BELONGS TO
ESS-CHAN!!! (Youhko's my own character too, if you haven't realized that by now...) BTW, HAKAI BELONGS
TO DIANE, MY TALENTED COUSIN. If you want to read Diane's fics, her pen name on ff.net is SNAPdragon! All
other villains are mine as well..yes, it is a lot of characters. DEAL WITH IT. The other enemies are mine.
AN: Wanna know a song that would REALLY go well with this whole chapter? Bring Me to Life by EVANESCENCE! Well..
actually this song would go with it when the whole fiasco gets a little worse [deals with Ibaren a bit]...
well..anyway...Bring Me to Life by Evanescence still goes well with this chappie..^^
======
Lunar Succession
======
Chapter 16: Open Flesh
======
"I'm going to go outside for a moment."
Dederi hugged her waist as she closed the lattice door behind her. She gazed softly at the roses which had
been replanted the day before. They were beautiful; the late morning dew glistened on them as if they were
crystal sculptures of etherial beauty. It was marvelous how they shined against the morning sun, as they
glowed just as bright as the sun did. The scene was picturesque, in fact; red rose petals were strewn
across the grey cobblestones of the courtyard. The wind, blazing with unseen anger, raised the raven locks
of the Dark Incarnate, imprisoning her face in an invisible mask of darkness. Her eyes were shadowed over,
unseen by anything or anyone. Her silk white robe billowed around her as she crossed her arms. She walked
slowly to the form who sat on the rim of the large, stone angel fountain, her bare feet feeling the soft
touch of the petals and, in contrast, the cold, relentlessness of the stone floor.
The gasping form before her was the demon that had given her the Demovalran necklace that hung on her neck.
He was bleeding profusely, cuts and jagged burns all across his scarlet red skin. His eyes held the same
neon green monotony, but the emotion held within them said otherwise. *~Kuroi...~* He whispered softly in
her mind, his tone held relief. His bloody lips curved into a smile, albeit a small one. Yukio's hand
held to his side; it was obvious that this was the place that he had lost the most blood in. A pool of
blood had been spilt around his armored feet and his armor had been broken. His black-red hooded cloak laid
next to him in a sloppy fashion, seeing that it had partially fallen onto the ground.
"Yukio, what happened to you?" Dederi asked. Though hidden by shadow, her eyes held deep remorse; she felt
that whatever happened was her fault.
Yukio looked up, his breath ragged and hoarse. *~Youhshiro.~*
"I see." Dederi was now standing over his hunched form. She placed her pale left hand on the side of his head,
tenderly running her fingers through his blood soaked raven hair. It had been unraveled and the braid which
had almost always been orderly was now disheveled. "But you survived." As she glanced at his bloodied face,
Dederi realized that he had been holding a defeated grin.
*~He grows weary of my failures.~* Yukio answered. *~So...I take it the Dark Incarnate has revived?~*
Dederi nodded.
*~Then...~* He breathed out softly as he continued the telepathic conversation, *~Why are you hiding your
armor in that robe of yours?~* Dederi had to smirk at his perceptiveness.
"It is because they still fear me. How did you know of it?"
Dederi closed her eyes and smiled ruefully, pulling the silk cord which tied her robe around
her. The silk cord unraveled and fell from the silk robe loops. It remained limply in her hand as the silk
robe itself opened, revealing the legendary red breastplate and black armored pants, along with the pelvic
armor and demonic combat boots. The shadow on Dederi's eyes lifted, revealing the small, entrancing eyes
of the deepest black and red. The dove white robe fell gracefully around her feet, revealing her flawless,
pale peach skin, albeit with long scars from the previous night, the twisted fingerless right glove, and
the aged Gauntlet of Chiosu. In all its splendor, the Gauntlet shined mysteriously in the morning light.
Dederi closed her eyes softly and arched her back, floating into the air as the mysterious black and
white-boned demon wings sprouted from her back. Black feathers flew everywhere around the courtyard as she
raised her arms from her sides to her chest. A gasp escaped her pale rose lips, the familiar black and red
blood flowing from her left eye. The blood dried to a stripe, touching the side of her lips and the end of
the left side of her chin. The transformation became complete once more; she landed back on the ground.
*~Of course I know. How could I not know?~* Yukio answered breathlessly (literally..er..continue). *~You
are still beautiful.~*
Dederi smirked, hugging her sides as the coarse wind blew, her hair flowing like a sea of black silk around
her pale face. Yukio couldn't help but marvel at the sight before him; he never grew tired of his love's
mysterious and enigmatic complextion. "Why are you here?"
Yukio exhaled, and for the first time that morning he spoke aloud. "Because...I wanted..no, needed to give
you something." He strained to pull out something from his armor pocket, which was stained with his own
dried blood and sweat. The bloody mercenary pulled out a vile, which contained a dark crimson liquid. When
he pulled it close to his face, Yukio smiled, his sharp fangs peeking out from his mouth. The vile began
to glow with etherial energy and a single black orb appeared in the center of the contained liquid.
"This is a sample of the experimented demon protoplasm. I took it from the containment chamber after I was
'disciplined' by Youhshiro." He said his superior's name with such malice and distain now. "The enlarged
nucleolus was injected with human and valkyrian blood and energized by a few drops of melted Gundanium ore.
This sample is one of the successes of the demon experiments. Some others were failures. They also
proceeded in taking out the genetic information that controlled their instincts. When the demon protoplasm
matures, it will evolve into a new form of science-born demon called Kaibutsusei X31, type A-39. The project
began even before I was employed by the Ten'no, and even before the Second War. I don't know how they
produced or managed the experiments, and I do not know when they will be matured enough to be released,
but I do know this." He then strained to hand her a piece of paper, which was partially drenched in black
demon blood. "This is a copied note of Youhshiro's scientific methods to the human familiars from Rommefeller.
Although, despite all the information you and I now possess, the chances of defeating all of these
monstrosities and destroying the culture chambers are small. Lives will be lost."
Dederi closed her hand onto the small piece of paper, tucking it into her right glove, gingerly avoiding the
spikes. She ignored the wet sensation of demon blood against her pale skin; humans would have grimaced at
the sight and screamed painfully at the touch of the blood (if you don't remember from the beginning, the
demon blood is poisonous to humans because of their lack of spiritual awareness and strength). "I see that
you have gone to great lengths to give me information."
Yukio nodded.
Dederi held the vile in her right hand, gazing ruefully at the protoplasm it held inside. "So it will grow
into Kaibutsusei." She tucked it safely inside the hidden pocket inside her elevated claw-like shoulderplate.
The girl closed her eyes. "What are the chances, in ratio, that we would be able to defeat them?"
"Depending on attack strengths, thirteen (13) out of fourteen thousand (14,000)."
She smirked. "So we have a chance?"
"Yes, albeit a small one." Yukio grimaced as he drew his hand to his right shoulder. "Although, in this
condition I am not sure I will be able to defeat more than three." He groaned painfully. "The poison of
Youhshiro's attack is setting in." Dederi's eyes narrowed at the bloodloss, walking closer to him until
her face was directly in front of his. She lifted his disheveled bangs and inspected his forehead. There
was a deep gash where demon flesh would have been. Black blood seeped through the thin bandage he had placed
and multiple shades of purple had begun to set in.
"This deep gash could not have been set by Youhshiro's disciplinary movements, if by energy." Dederi concluded
thoughtfully. "You received this from stealing the protoplasm, ne?" She felt the edges of his wound, which
had been burned and cut jaggedly. "It is infected. Had you not time to treat it?"
"From the time it took to escape those impudent guards to the time I fell to this courtyard, I was too
focused in keeping the vile from breaking." Yukio groaned. "If the vile touches any form of skin when it is
not mature, it will act as a form of miasma and surround the epidermis. The immature miasma will feel like
acid and dissolve the infected skin. It could penetrate any form of epidermis, eventually infecting major
organs and nerves."
Dederi sighed aggravatedly at the lengths her previous superior had gone to in order for humanity to be
annihilated. She released the burned skin from her gentle touch. "I cannot believe he has gone this far.
Using human resources to destroy. The sailor senshi and pilots will not be able to handle this without
severe injury, nor even I."
"And what of your first friends? The halfling, the magi, the sorceress?"
"They will survive for the time being, but I cannot be certain."
"Why are you," Yukio groaned as Dederi touched his side, which turned out to have a gaping hole, "Why are you
so concerned for the senshi and pilots?" He grit his teeth as the young woman felt around through the torn
and infected skin. His crimson demon skin was burning with the white hot pain of an enemy energy sphere.
Dederi shook her head in uncertainty while she removed his abdomen plate of Demovalran armor, inspecting
the hole with fervent interest. "I do not."
"Then why do you protect them?" Yukio asked solemnly.
"It is because of their involvement. I have enough innocent human blood on my hands. I do not need the blood
of Mercurians, Jovians, Martians, Uranians and the like on mine. They are all proud races of living beings,
those of which cannot be ignored. Despite their stupid and innocent acts, I refuse to let them die. If they
do die, only their blood and spirit will remain. Their blood will only add to the final incantation of
Ten'no Youhshiro."
"Are you certain that that is the only reason for your protective involvement with them? I had half expected
you to be infiltrating the Valkryian base by now." Yukio said wryly, although frowned as he said his next
sentence. "Your emotions..."
"What about them?" Dederi said monotonously.
"They lie with the human...don't they?"
Dederi turned away from his piercing gaze, putting both of her hands on the gaping, bloody hole as she knelt
down in front of him. Her hands were greatly stained and dripping with black demon blood. "Why do you ask?"
"I would like to know who I have lost to."
"Yukio..." Dederi stopped her inspection in shock, her hands frozen in place. The young woman's breath
was caught in her throat. "I suppose no explanation will help you to understand..."
Yukio shook his head, the bloodsoaked hair lifting itself from its sticky hold on his forehead. "I suppose
not. After all, I am a demon, and demons were not meant to have emotions. You said so yourself last night,
that I remember." He moved his left hand from its rest on the stone rim and cupped her cheek, staining it
with more of his own blood. Yukio gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "Your eyes glow with fire still.
I once had that effect on you.." Dederi closed her eyes and stood, the welcoming touch of his hand to her
face ending. "It is unfortunate that I have lost to hi-"
"Yukio, you still do." Dederi whispered into the calloused wind. Yukio stared into her endless orbs of black
and crimson. Despite his body's pained and screaming protests for him to remain still, the demonic mercenary
stood. Yukio looked straight into her eyes, feeling the familiar emotion of love and unrestricted devotion
flooding into his calloused heart. "You still do, but..." He silenced her with a finger to her lips.
Ibaren felt a shock go through him as he sat in the mahogany chair. He narrowed his eyes. [Something is
very wrong.] *~Yasuo, Seito, Hakai. There is a fell voice in the air and the stench of demon blood is blinding
my sense of smell. Do you concur?~* He ran his right hand through his spiked raven locks, the sidebangs
wafting with the sudden movement. *~I feel pain and confusion emitting from the courtyard.~*
Nova's facial expression turned from comical to grim. She sniffed at the air softly, then winced. The halfling
stood from her mahogany seat, sniffing at the air and narrowing her eyes in determination. Her gruff voice
disturbed those around her. "Youkai." Nova's eyes were mere slits of violent anger and tempted malice.
"He has returned."
Hakai gave a small nod to Nova and Ibaren stood from his seat. Yasuo looked onward in confusion, as the
rest of the pilots and senshi did. He scratched the back of his platinum blue hair, feeling the soft caress
of the etherial tresses fall through his fingers. "What is going on? I do not understand."
"Is something wrong with Dederi?" Setsuna wondered outloud. There was a definite tinge of concern in her
calm, collected voice.
Heero reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun, the dark metal shining against the kitchen ceiling
lights. The rival for the title of 'Perfect Soldier' held the gun behind his back, expertly loading the
magazine cartridge without a sound. He clicked the safety off, although with the current moment nobody noticed
except the half-youkai.
"Make haste, Perfect Soldier." Nova said in a sharp whisper. "Your chance to avenge your friend's anxiety
is at hand." Heero's usually monotonous eyes widened in shock at her knowledge, then went back to its cold,
steely gaze. He nodded to her slowly. Nova walked calmly to the lattice window near the door.
"What is going on?" Makoto asked worriedly. "What friend? What do you need to avenge, Heero?"
"Yeah, what exactly is going on?" Haruka glared.
Heero looked at her with his prussian blue orbs. "A friend whom you all take for granted. I need to avenge
her pain. For what she has done for me, I will return in favor."
[Her?] Duo scratched his head. "Hee-chan, do you have a girlfriend we don't know of?"
"There is no time for your foolish questions, osage-baka." Wufei growled, unsheathing his katana with
fervor. [If the magi is this worried then that must mean the demon of sensei's past romance has returned to
'talk' with her.]
*~You're certainly a great student, Wufei Chang.~* Hakai told him telepathically. *~Dederi has helped to tone
your skills and perceptiveness very well.~*
Trowa nodded and got up from his seat, leaving his chocolate cake behind on the mahogany table. "Ibaren, I
suppose this little celebration has come to an end?" He said in a sad tone, although no one noticed the
emotion in his voice. Ibaren simply nodded as he joined Nova and Hakai at the window. "I see." He was about
to go for the lattice courtyard door when Ibaren held his left arm out to stop him.
"Stop. We will go when she goes."
"Magi, we need to stop that demon from getting to her again." Wufei walked up to him in an aggravated voice.
"She is returning to the land of past spirits, within her mind, if not body. Her mind is fraying inbetween
her thoughts. Her emotions from the dead are coinciding with the future, although they are not settled
within her mind just yet."
"Then how do we help her?" Ami asked earnestly, ignoring the pang of confusion in her intelligent mind.
Hakai closed her eyes sadly. "We can't. She must choose her own way. We will assist when we can. For now,
we watch until the demon is more vulnerable than he already is. Even with the bloodloss, he is still more
powerful than even that deceased NeoQueen of yours."
Yukio looked into her eyes, losing himself in the darkened pools of oil and blood. His finger remained
to her lips, which were stained with demonic blood. "I have already lost, haven't I?" Dederi couldn't answer
his question/statement with certainty. From the previous night, she realized how much she was in love with
Trowa Barton, the pilot of the Heavyarms Gundam. She would not forsake that gift and miracle that had been
endowed to her, even if it meant forsaking her past. Yukio noticed the contemplating look on her pale, bloodied
features, and sighed softly. "Kuroi." He cupped her chin delicately as he looked straight into her eyes.
"Kuroi, I will never forsake that love that we had before all of this. Even if I am driven to sacrifice my own
spirit for yours to live, I will do so without hesitation. For your happiness."
"Yukio, please." Dederi whispered. "I am not worth being thought over. I am not worth being saved. I am only
worth death and destruction. Demons have no emotions and you should know that."
"Kuroi," Yukio whispered back, "For the last time, you are worth everything to me. Without you, I would be
incarcerated in Ten'no Youhshiro's dungeon. Kuroi, have you not realized that I am-"
[Still in love with her.] Ibaren felt a small trickle of water flow down his right eye. He looked down onto
the floor, his beautiful eyes shadowed. "I cannot allow this to happen again."
"Allow what to happen again, Ibaren?" Quatre interrogated calmly.
"I cannot allow him to..." Ibaren muttered the rest of his sentence. Yasuo caught the rest of the sentence,
seeing as he was standing right next to him. The Jrocker narrowed his eyes angrily.
"Damnit." Yasuo cursed. "It's him, isn't it?"
"Hai." Wufei answered patiently as he leaned on the right side of the lattice door, away from the window.
"I am not completely aware of your pasts, Hirotoshi-kun, but I do realize by now that the demon you are all
so heavily concerned about is not liked and that you are angered every time he nears Dederi-sensei."
"Yukio..." Yasuo growled hoarsely. "Why is he here?"
Nova sighed. "Yasuo, please have patience. I know that-"
"Why is he here?!" Yasuo interrupted aggravatedly.
Hakai mumbled, "He still does..."
Yasuo bared his teeth, showing his small fangs with anger as he growled. He slammed his black plastic fork
onto the mahogany table, leaving a permanent scratch on the well-polished surface. "DAMNIT. Why, of all
people, does *he* have to come back?!"
"He never died." Ibaren said solemnly, although his eyes held unbidden anger towards the bleeding youkai of
Ten'no Youhshiro. It was always him that resurfaced all of Dederi's confusion and past insecurities, leaving
her in a state of indecision. [A tragic flaw. It is unfortunate that Kuroi has to go through all of this once
again. Despite all that we have gone through, he still manages to return and attempt to gain Kuroi's affections
with fervent interest. Alas, we still do not know whether or not he is merely toying with her emotions to
'help' her to lose her humanity.]
"You seem to be in a state of pondering, Iba-kun." Ami commented amidst the nervous silence of the mahogany
kitchen.
Ibaren had the smile at the petite young woman's intelligence and perceptiveness. He did not turn to face her,
for he continued to watch as Yukio held his comrad's chin in his bloody hand. "I am afraid so."
"Well why can't we just go out there and stop that demon from doing any more damage?" Rei asked. "I mean,
even if we all know Dederi can hold her own against demons, wouldn't it be better if we assisted her in some
way rather than just standing around in the kitchen?" [Why the hell am I worried?] Rei pondered. [Don't I
hate Dederi?]
Nova shook her head, her light brown/blonde tresses wafting around her. "We cannot do anything until Kuroi
makes her own decision."
"What do you mean?" Trowa interrogated.
Heero and Wufei seemed to be contemplating the exact same thing as they looked straight at Nova with expectant
eyes.
"The stripe on her face." Nova used her right index finger to outline her left cheek from her eye to her
lips and chin. "It is derived from her demon blood. The stripe did not mean anything the night before because
of the fact that the dragon had just been awakened. But now that the Dark Dragon has been revived and now
consciously coincides with Kuroi's spirit and body, the stripe bears a striking relevance to the vein of
the Gauntlet of Chiosu."
"The 'vein'?" Setsuna wondered outloud.
"How is the 'vein' relevant to her decision?" Ami asked.
"It is a nickname for the protruding blade on the wrist of the Gauntlet. The blade is connected to the
weilder's blood and major veins. It is mostly used to transfer blood to the pedestals in Youhko's fortress.
The blood of demons are used as passcodes. If one demon should not have enough blood, the demon is sucked
dry of its remaining blood. He or she then proceeds to either disintigrate or be used as introphenostene
for new, cultured demons. It is relevant to her decision because if she chooses a path that will lead to
inevitable destruction, the vein of Chiosu will then signify her turn against light into darkness. It shall
turn black, showing that she has chosen to lose her humanity forever."
"Why would they do such a thing to their own kin?" Makoto asked angrily. "Even if demons are merciless, I
have seen those who care for their own kind."
"They do care for their own kind." Nova answered sadly. "Although, despite their bonds, the weak perish.
It is the way of Tsurideragon, and it shall always be."
"You make your dimension seem savage." Michiru commented quietly, playing with a strand of her hair as she
contemplated about the 'vein'.
"It is not savage." Hakai growled softly. "It is merely the way we go about our lives. Although the ancient
Tsurideragon temple still tends to those who are weak and decrepit, we of the Temple still go against the
demons with no compassion. They must be destroyed, even if humans are to be sacrificed."
"You...you cannot." Dederi breathed out. Her hot, moist breath warming Yukio's bloodied hand. "You cannot have
such feelings for me. Youhko...no, Youhshiro will have your head and your demonic blood...He has reprimanded you
for your actions before, you cannot take such a risk upon your own life-"
"I do what I wish with my own life, koishii." Yukio interrupted. He drew her forehead to his slowly and tenderly,
like a child's hands upon a delicate china doll. "I cannot simply deny my emotions."
"It is a demon's trait to deny emotion, Yukio."
"Well, I am not of the ordinary demon, now am I, Kuroi?" Yukio retorted, his voice getting more shallow and
breathless with every word.
Dederi's eyes glittered with worry for the mercenary. "Yukio, onegai. Do not waste your breath. Your breath is
shallow and your heart distempered. Rest-"
"I do not have time to rest...!" Yukio interrupted once more. "I may not be able to live for more than a few hours,
let alone days. Let me say what I must."
"You surely cannot take human lives!" Ami exclaimed distressfully.
"Oh, but we will and always will, if the need arise. We protect the weak, and the weak are the humans; but
the weak must be annihilated so that the strong may be destroyed." Hakai countered. "You are a human, Mercury-
hime, and as a human you do not understand our beliefs. Even if we believe in protecting the weak, if the
weak get in our way we will destroy them. Humans without our powers are weak, and being so makes them
obstacles. We do not kill needlessly, although you should understand what we are saying at this moment."
Another tear fell from Ibaren's cheek, and this time it did not go unnoticed by Yasuo.
"You still..." The young Jrocker began.
Ibaren did not turn. He remained at the lattice window, holding the light velvet curtain for support. No one
else knew that he was resisting the urge to have an emotional breakdown. For reasons unknown, he continued
to watch as Yukio held his close friend within his tender grasp. "Yes."
Yasuo nodded slowly. He moved his right hand to cover his eyes, contemplating what he should do.
"He still what?" Minako asked cautiously, her curiosity getting the better of her once again.
The young Jrocker shook his head. "That story is for a later time. It is not relevant to the situation at
hand."
"Wait...didn't you say you weren't a warrior, Yasuo?" Haruka asked suddenly.
"Why, yes I did."
"Then how do you know of Tsurideragon and of the demon Yukio?"
Yasuo grinned, making himself seem wolfish, but a trace of sadness was still left in his stoic eyes. "I am
not a warrior. I am only a human. I merely know of these things because I feel whatever happens in my
dimension I should help in some way or another. I believe that whatever my friends must go through, I must
support them with every ounce of my will."
"Simple enough." Haruka commented gruffily. [I still feel uneasiness about him...] "I can understand where
you are coming from."
Hakai nodded in agreement. "So you see, then, that despite our 'savage' beliefs we still believe in unity
with our friends and loyalty in our connections. But pertaining to this task at hand, of which includes that
monstrosity of a demon, we will spare no forgiveness for him. He must be destroyed and will be...or else
Kuroi will be sucked back into the darkness. We cannot allow that to happen, for fear that the end of all
dimensions will commence."
*~Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement, dear sorceress of Dragonn Temple.~* A peculiar female
voice said within Hakai's distempered mind.
"Na..nani yo?!" Hakai growled a little bit too loudly.
"What is it?" Quatre asked slowly.
"It's..."
"Arashi." Ibaren stated the colonel's name with distain. "She's here for revenge."
"The colonel from the Valkyrie base?" Heero asked gruffily as he loaded his second handgun.
"Hai. She is to avenge the death of her sister-"
"Inabikari." Makoto finished grimly. "So this whole thing deals with family ties?"
"In a way, yes, but none of us at Dragonn are of family. This whole fiasco revolves around chaos and an intricate
web of conflicts and evil that you will never be able to comprehend."
"Who are you to judge our intelligence?" Rei narrowed her raven eyes. "We've been through so much more than you'll
ever be able to-"
Hakai barked back before Rei could finish her prideful banter. "You have never seen the deaths of millions!" She
growled ferociously at the priestess. The growl enough was to silence even the male Perfect Soldier. "This whole
thing revolves around the emotions of the Dark Incarnate, of which our actions will coincide with until the end of
the universe! One single despondent emotion could tip the scale and chaos would ensue! Do you think *you*, a Martian,
could carry that weight upon your shoulders!? You have not seen the first battle of this unending war..." She
said with a hoarse voice, the familiar lilac aura wafting around her. "The first battle included so much chaos and
despair that the mere thought would result in tears. Your battles would not even compare. You think so proudly of
your 'daring' feats of saving your world from monsters and flowers. I must disappoint you, Martian priestess, the
things you are up against are far worse than monsters. Demons of the ancient world, demons of blackened hell and
ill-reverenced will. Demons that would destroy and consume their own kin to gain more power. If you find yourself
against one of them and manage to kill without regurgitating from the awful sight, another will take
its place. They do not follow the concept of family honor, even if they will take revenge for their fallen kin. The
only reason that they will destroy their family's killer is that without that creature's death, their own honor is
tainted."
"Not to mention that their bloodlust controls most of their concience if they are not of royalty and free will."
Nova added, nodding slightly at Hakai's angry speech. She spoke to the sorceress in a calming tone soon after,
in the same etherial language that all of them had heard the night before. Hakai sighed and nodded, muttering softly
to herself. Ibaren seemed to remain indifferent, relentlessly staring at outside the window, where Dederi and Yukio
still stood.
Hakai crossed her arms and lowered her head. "I apologize, Mars-hime, this war has taken most of my calm judgement.
Our patience grows very thin with every passing day and I did not mean to snap with such insolence. I am not
necessarily sure if what I have said before is of any revelance, but I apologize again. I only wish I had not said
what I did before..."
Rei stood, completely confused. [One moment she's raving mad with anger..the next moment she's calm again..] "Umm..."
The Martian priestess set her plastic fork down next to her plate on the counter. "It's all right...I guess...maybe
I shouldn't have underestimated your strengths either.."
*~I laugh at your futile attempts to join forces between others, dear sorceress..~* Arashi's voice cut into her
mind again.
*~Damn you, Arashi. Come out and fight.~* Hakai narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth. "Or are you a coward..."
"I AM NOT A COWARD!" Rei growled. "I merely apolog-"
"Not you!" Hakai cut her off again. "You insolent fool...I speak to Arashi not you."
"Insolent-!" Rei gasped in aggravation.
"Damare, konorayo." Ibaren harshly reprimanded the prideful princess of Mars. "Silence is your best option at this
moment if you do not want to be killed so soon in this war."
Rei narrowed her eyes at the magi, but kept silent. Even she knew when it was time to be quiet.
"She will appear soon." Ibaren stated.
"Yukio, onegai." Dederi pleaded once more as Yukio was closing his eyes in pain. His wounds were opening once more
and the blackened blood from his veins spilt on the cold ground. A pool of this sustaining liquid remained at their
feet. Both of their armors were completely stained in blood. "Stop your distempered breath...rest...onegai...you
need not speak of this..."
"There is no use to coax him, my fellow demon." A devilish voice interrupted the dramatic moment. Dederi, who now
had her arms supporting Yukio, looked up at the mansion rooftop. A dark silouette stood firm at the edge of the
terra cotta shingles. It shifted slightly, then disappeared from mortal sight. Dederi narrowed her eyes, recognizing
a familiar aura. A pair of arms shot out, one encircling Dederi's waist and the other around her neck. Yukio
stumbled backwards, away from Dederi. After gathering what remaining strength he possessed, he crookedly stood
in front of the silouette and the Dark Incarnate.
"Arashi..." Dederi groaned as the arm tightened its hold around her neck. The female colonel grinned, baring her
elongated fangs. Colonel Arashi was dressed in thigh-length black combat boots with Demovalran buckles, dark brown
leather pants, and a long-sleeved, black-ribbed turtleneck. "What do you intend to do..."
"With you?" Arashi grinned mercilessly. "Why, I will kill you, of course. It's not like it matters if you die or
not, it's just that I like the taste of your imperfect demon blood.." A small black blade shot out from Arashi's
right wrist, cutting Dederi's neck like a coarse wind. Dederi did not wince as the first of her black and red
blood spilled onto Arashi's vein blade. The merciless, cynical demoness licked Dederi's blood off of the tip of
her blade with her pink tongue. "With you dead, brother dearest will take control of the universe and your
presence will no longer be a bother to me. Inabikari was a fool to attack you with imperfect energy."
"There is a difference in what you and I think about 'imperfection'." Dederi grit her teeth as the blade cut
deeper into her pale flesh. Yukio was hunched over in front of her, looking on in anguish and pain. Despite
the loss of blood that would have sent any other demon through the Gates of Hell, Yukio panted heavily and
unsheathed his bloodied chinese schmitar. A heavy coat of dried black blood remained on the blade, some of the
caked blood falling onto the ground. Dederi groaned at his action. "Yukio you are not fit to battle Arashi.
Take shelter in the mansion. I can deal with this."
"There is no way I am leaving you here alone." Yukio stated as he swiftly began to sprint towards Arashi, his blade
held low near the ground. "There is no way..."
Ibaren grimaced as Arashi's arm tightened around his friend's neck, the blade cutting deeper and deeper into her
pale skin. Heero caught the grimace and walked towards him, placing the handgun at his side. "What happened?" He
asked gruffily. Ibaren shook his head and nudged his head towards the window.
"A battle has begun."
========
AN: GYAAAH! Sorry I took so long...damn proofreading... aaargh..anyway...yea...
Email: injusticepilot05@hotmail.com
