Android Kikaider

Until The Dawn

Written by: Spike (Gee, I wonder what I should put in these little parantheses now...)

A/N: Before I forget! This story is only the first step in Jiro's journey. I'll be making part two, Waiting For Dusk, after I finish with this. Trust me, you'll love me forever...! *Wink*

Chapter: Him and Beyond

::Falling... falling down... again...::

Kikaider flew through the air, awaiting his landing. But he was not stopping, nor was he slowing down. He was just... there. Existing in a never-ending circle of pain and suffering... and relief. In his line of vision, he spotted Gil, looking very scared. Soon, that passed away, replaced by...

"Mits...uko? Is that Mitsuko? Is it her? Mitsuko!" Kikaider cried out to her, but she could not hear... yet she was screaming his name. "Jiro...! Jiiroo!!!!"

"I'm coming, Mitsuko! Hold on!!" But she faded... and Kikaider landed, right back near the fireplace. The only major difference was that Kikaider was now holding an urn. Looking inside (de-transforming as he did), Jiro saw the remains of Charo, along with a note.

~Kikaider:

I know you are reading this.

I know you are alive.

I will hunt you down with every ounce of my strength.

I will not let you win.

Die... little android of hell!!

-Gil~

Jiro crumpled the letter in his hand, tears falling down his face and splashing his hand lightly. Finally, he stared into the fires, spotting his reflection, and cracked.

"Gil... you bastard. You have gone too far this time. I will not die... YOU WILL DIE! NO MATTER WHAT I DO, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE YOU LIVE ON! I CAN'T LET THIS GO ON... I CAN'T!!" Transforming again, Kikaider immediatly felt immense pain, coming from the left side of his body.

::The evil heart... it is responding...!::

It is a shadow... a menacing smile... one second later, Gil had come to the fireplace from within the forests, blowing a mysterious whistle and playing a strange tune. Kikaider tried to tune it out, but his evil heart was fighting back. After much struggling (::DAMN!!! DAMN!!! DON'T DO IT!!!! CHARO....!!!!!!!!::), Kikaider finally calmed down, becoming strangely monotonic. "I am here to serve Gil."

He laughed. "Foolish Kikaider. I knew that as long as that submissions circuit was inside your body, you'd react to the whistle at some point. Now..." He grinned an evil sort of grin. "Your orders are to kill Mitsuko and Misaro!"

"No."

The laughter stopped. Beads of sweat appeared on Gil's head as he awaited an explanation. ::Why would this robot still be under GEMINI control?::

"You are the real fool here, Gil. You've forgotten that I still have a GEMINI. You will fail again..." Kikaider's monotonic voice droned onward as Kikaider began walking towards Gil. "I told you before... the good and evil in my heart will fight forever... but you... you only live once. Now, let me end that life."

Gil tried to run... tried to run through the forest, but he too was stuck in Jiro's nightmare. There was nowhere for him to run. Finally, he thought of something.

"If you don't kill Mitsuko and Misaro, then I will! Then, you will learn what TRUE eternal suffering is! DISPERSE!"

He was gone, and Jiro was fading... fading away...

===The Real World===

"Jiro, please! Don't do that!!"

Jiro's body was jolting at a rapid pace. Mitsuko had no idea how to stop it - all she knew was that he was facing something terrible... something she did not want to know. As a last resort, she pulled him into a hug.

"Please... don't do this... you probably can't hear me, Jiro... but I love you... no matter what you do, or what you are! Now please... don't thrash about like this."

The strangest thing of all - Jiro stopped jolting. He was finally relaxed. Mitsuko, however, did not let go. She would never let go until he was awake.

But that can never happen... as long as Gil exists in the nightmare.

He was fading...

-Spike (Bright, shining hearts forever more - endlessly smile, for you are alive.)