THIRD ARCHIVE: THE THREE SUPERPOWERS
32. Demon Resurfaces
NEXT DAY.
{Damn. Dammit all. Why did this happen to me? What IS this happening to me? I felt as if everything that represents me is falling apart. My pride as a fighter, especially, is shredded... I don't believe this.}
Darrell found himself wondering aimlessly in an empty part of the park next to the stadium. The finals were due to start in two hours, about 7 P.M.. but frankly he didn't care. He didn't care if his team did make it to the final matches or not. All he could think about was his pathetic state that he was in now. He punched a tree full force, putting a dent in it and ignoring the pain that came with his action.
{What happened to all my power plays? My psyches? My counters? Most of all. what happened to me actually enjoying the fight? In almost all my matches. I wanted to hurt someone very badly. This is stupid.}
He punched the tree again, this time letting his fist rest on the tree bark. He stared at it with so much hatred and sorrow that his eyes started to tear up.
"THIS IS SO STUUUPPIIIDDD!!!!" he finally exploded, his aura erupting out his fist and burning the tree until it hit the pavement of the park path and dwindled. He then dropped to his knees, exhausted from all the worrying he was doing. He sighed deeply a few times then fell to his hands and knees, staring at the grass surrounding him. Only one thing was on his mind.
{Why.?}
----- -----
"We were so close, Sakura." Hinata said as the T.V. news broadcast just went off. It was stating the teams that were going to be in the final battles. and their team wan't in the roster. A heavy silence filled the room as all three girls let it sink in. Finally the dark Sakura clenched her fist and swung it into the coffee table in front of her, almost shattering it.
"We were so freaking close!" she repeated Hinata's quote, starting to sob a bit. "All that work. If only we won that match again Kyo's team. We could have taken the loss to Yusuke and still make it."
Sakura K. didn't say a word. Her expression said it all. She sighed and got up, walking towards her bedroom and locking the door. At the same time, Sakura S. warped from the couch and through the door, unable to let Hinata see her cry. Hinata just lay back in the sofa and turned the channel, too depressed to think about the tournament.
---- -----
Darrell found himself getting off the grass. He must have gone to sleep after his outburst and didn't know it. He looked around, found himself once again in solitude and lay back down on his face. He didn't have a will to do anything but rot.
{This is what I get. This is where I belong. I can't show myself to my friends anymore. They probably wouldn't forgive me, anyway.}
He stayed there in quiet for another 10 minutes, his mind a complete blank. He just wanted to die. There was nothing else for him to do.
{I'm sorry. Sakura.}
----- ------
"Sakura? Sakura? Are you here?"
Sakura K. finally found the nerve to open the door to her hotel room. On the other side was Athena, wearing her red Psycho Soldier outfit from last year's tournament and a concerned look on her face.
"Hi, Athena." Sakura K. mouthed out unenthusiastically. "What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see what was happening with you guys. I thought I'd see you at the stadium checking out the finals but..."
Sakura cut her off. "Athena. The finals are the last thing on my mind right now."
Athena's look grew in intensity. "You're a wreck. Let me come in. You can't be feeling well."
Sakura let her other friend in and as Athena went into the kitchen area to get her something to eat, Sakura K. sat down on her sofa. After a while Athena brought her some juice while asking, "What's wrong Sakura? I want to know."
Sakura wouldn't open her mouth. She looked to the side, eyeing nothing in particular. Athena was really worried now.
{This is TOTALLY not like her. Whatever happened she sure isn't acting her normal perky self. It must be serious.}
"Sakura."
Sakura. in a flash, told Athena EVERYTHING: the two sudden losses, the Morrigan incident, Darrell's twisted attitude, her sister's disappearance about 2 hours ago. As she did this, she started crying, almost uncontrollably, and Athena had to stop her.
"Sakura, please! You have to calm down. You're going to have a mental breakdown if you keep thinking about this stuff."
Sakura sniffed a bit and looked up into Athena's eyes. "If Karin saw me like this I bet she wouldn't want to speak to me again. I'm acting way out of my character."
"Don't worry. I'm here. You can talk about anything with me."
"Okay. I'll try."
----- -----
{Damn.}
It was getting really dark in the park next to the stadium and on one solitary bench Darrell sat by his lonesome, drowning in his own misery. His performance versus Yusuke still haunted him, even worse of that of Morrigan's seducing plan.
"I wasn't even close."
He put a hand on his forehead and hung it low. A full day couldn't rid him of his despair. It was a bad time to be him.
SHING!!!
Darrell's eyes widened in an instant. He sensed it. a large source of Evil Energy very close by. It was also closing in fast. He sat up and looked into the direction of the surge and as soon as he did it disappeared. He didn't let his guard down as the same power appeared in the opposite direction. Darrell stood up and it once again vanished.
{Its close.he thought. I think I know who it is.}
Another signal. from right behind him arouse. Darrell rolled to his right, just as a shadow figure landed, just missing an attack. Darrell faced it. and he knew that his assumption was right.
"Akuma." he said under his breath while getting into a fighting stance. Akuma stared at him for a while. then a small grin crossed his face.
"Yes. It's you; the kid who beat me a month ago. This time. you'll perish."
{That's a lot of talk coming from him} Darrell thought, {but all this energy I'm feeling. He could seriously back that up.}
"I also see that the girl isn't with you," Akuma mentioned, his grin widening. "Without her, you aren't at full strength, am I right?"
Darrell left that unanswered. He really didn't want to think about Sakura or anyone else at the moment. Frankly, he really didn't want to be bothered with Akuma right now. His self-esteem was thrashed. and the last thing he needed was a duel to the death.
"A true warrior's strength should come from the self. Depending on her just shows how weak you are."
That sunk home. Darrell considered all his matches in the past. and he recalled that he had lost much more fights when it wasn't for Sakura's inspiration. He couldn't get himself to fight. for himself.
"Now. it's time to we finished that match from last month. Now. see the true form of the Satsu no Hadou."
A red Satsu aura surrounded him at the end of his sentence. Immediately Darrell knew something was wrong.
{Wait a minute. I just realized that Akuma is in his normal form. If he gets to his true form. and if what Rose said was true. then.}
Akuma's aura erupted into the air, Kanji letters appearing in it. His gi changes to a familiar purple. but his eyes and hair. changes from red to white.
Darrell was in shock.
{Oh. my. Akuma's power. is way too high! I got to stop him, NOW!}
Darrell didn't even bother to charge up and quickly dashed in but the instant he took his first step, Akuma warped. Darrell stopped on a dime and turned around only to get nailed in the face by Akuma's foot in a two- hit axe kick. Darrell's head was sent to his stomach level and Akuma followed with a Tatsumaki Zanku Kyaku, only this one was covered with electricity, shocking his foe. He then followed with a Gou-Shoryuken, fueled by Satsu flames. Darrell hit the ground and the flames extinguished but stayed down, writhing from the pain.
"If this hurts so badly then you don't deserve to live," Akuma mumbled as he jumped into the air then sharply dove down with his food down into Darrell's chest. Luckily Darrell rolled out the way and got up while swinging his leg out for a sweep. Akuma blocked, leaving Darrell's leg out and him very vulnerable.
Darrell hurried to put up a defense but his position was too ackward. Akuma threw his fist into his chest, planting Darrell back to the ground. Akuma then threw a Gou-Hadouken at next-to-point-blank range. Darrell couldn't guard in time and ate the attack. and even if he could, the blast was too big. He fully laid out on the ground, gasping for air.
"Ha! Is this all you have!? I can't believe that you managed to defeat me."
Akuma reached up and picked up the young fighter by the neck and raised him high. He grinned, focusing on adding to his foe's pain.
"This is your end, boy. Prepare yourself."
----- -----
Athena and Sakura were talking for a good fifteen minutes, letting Sakura get all her emotions out in the open. She provided as much comfort as she could muster. but then Sakura came to a different subject. about Darrell.
"Ever since he lost to Yusuke he's been so hard on himself. I haven't seen him ever since our match yesterday. I wonder if he's okay."
"Sakura, I'm pretty sure Darrell's just clearing his head," Athena replied while putting a hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes people can get like that. Kensou is the same way."
"I guess."
Sakura looked at the carpet for a few more seconds before looking her friend in the eyes.
"You know, Athena. these feelings for him are sort of weird. I never think that way about anyone else. You think that he's that special to me?"
"Why are you even asking that question? You already know the answer."
This wasn't Athena responding. It was Hinata, who just came in through the hotel room door. Sakura kept her eyes on her as she sat down on the last available spot on the sofa.
"Listen, Sakura. You and Darrell are in love with each other. There isn't just boyfriend and girlfriend by the way I look at it. It's normal to feel that way about him. You share a bond. That's your link to him. You can tell how he's feeling right now. As a matter of fact, try it now."
Sakura gave Hinata a look. "Right. now? I don't know. I have no idea where he is right now."
"Just try it, she insisted. "You'll find him."
Sakura sighed and focused her energy. Her normal blue aura appeared around her as she searched a sea of auras all around the building. Either they were all blue or white, not a match at all. Sakura expanded her reach, looking into the next space near the building besides the stadium: the park. After about a second, she stopped. There was a faint orange aura. right next to a huge red one. and it seemed to be slipping.
Sakura's eyes shot open and she stood up in a flash.
"Sakura! What's wrong?" Athena asked. Instantly Sakura bolted towards the door. Just before she left, she answered Athena's question.
"It's Darrell. I found him. but it seems as if Akuma found him first."
"WHAT!?" both Athena and Hinata belted. Sakura was about to run right out the door but a hand grabbed her shoulder in the hallway and spun her around. Sakura came face to face with her Satsu twin.
"I heard everything you just said," Sakura S. said quickly. "Hold on. I'll warp you there."
------ -----
"You are a true disgrace, boy. I think it's about time you perished."
Darrell was a wreck on the dark grass. The new and improved Shin Akuma was way too powerful and fast for him to even scratch. Blood flowed freely from his open wounds. He was surprised he was still alive.
Darrell coughed numerous times before saying, "Why. don't you just. kill me now.?"
Akuma paused a tiny bit. This kid was the first not to beg for his life before he killed.
"I see you want the death of a warrior. You don't deserve it. but I will give it to you."
Darrell looked on to see Akuma get into a special stance, one knee up to his wasit and a fist on the knee, the other arm across his chest.
{No. way. That's the. Shungoku. satsu.!}
Akuma close in and Darrell couldn't do anything but brace himself.
So this is how it ends.
"Shinku."
"Shinku."
Just as Akuma made the grab, both heard twin voices in stereo from the left and right. Akuma stopped and looked to his left.
"HADOUKEN!!!"
"HADOUKEN!!!"
.and got blasted by huge energy attacks from both sides, making him drop Darrell. Darrell gasped loudly on the ground, hyperventilating from the fact that he almost died, just as a figure stepped over him.
"Darrell! Are you okay? Answer me!"
He breathed deeply and looked up, catching sight of his girlfriend's worried expression. He tried to speak but Sakura stopped him by putting a hand over his mouth.
"Try not to speak. I've got to heal you and I don't think it'll work on a dead guy."
She focused herself and let her energy refuel her almost most dead boyfriend. Slowly, Darrell's wounds started to close slightly and after 10 seconds, even though he still looked like he went through a meat grinder, his energy was back to speed. Sakura backed away as he sat up then fully stood up.
"You okay?" she asked. Darrell didn't make eye-contact; he just stared to his side. He sighed and closed his eyes briefly before looking into her eyes.
"G. gomen na sai, Sakura." he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. Sakura gave a slightly shocked expression.
"Darrell. You never said anything so fluidly in Japanese before. and why are you saying you're sorry? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I guess. I just needed to. say that. Honestly, I don't know what to say to you. I just feel. sort of stupid right now. making you worry so much."
Sakura stared at him for a little while longer and closed her own eyes.
"Darrell?"
"Yes?"
"Forgive me. for what I'm about to do next."
POW!!!
Sakura decked Darrell right in the face with a strong punch, making his head jolt back. He brought it back and held his mouth, wide-eyed.
"Listen. I want you to do this one favor for me. Please don't let me hear you say that negative stuff. I don't want you to worry about yourself, me, or anything else. You'll wind up dead if you keep up like this."
Darrell just stared at her.
{She. really must care for me to say that.}
"Promise me."
"Okay. I promise, Sakura."
"Guys!! I could use some HELP here!!"
Both looked at Sakura's dark twin, who just was stalling Shin Akuma long enough for Darrell to heal. The demon threw a Gou-Hadouken at her that she teleported away from. Sakura S. came out her Ashura Senka and gasped as Akuma reappeared right in her face.
"Shou!"
His fist lit up into Satsu flames, indicating a Gou-Shoryuken, but Sakura managed to grab his fist and countered.
"Shouoken!"
Six hits later, Akuma was sent into the air but he air recovered and threw two Hadoukens downward.
{Zanku Hadouken.} she thought as she backed away again as they hit the earth, leaving twin craters.
"You are annoying me." Akuma's voice rang out as Sakura saw him disappear. Her eye twitched, wondering what was next.
"IDIOT!!!"
She looked up. and gasped. Instantly Akuma came down, covered with yellow energy, and slammed his arm down, creating a huge shockwave through the ground. The other two shield thin eyes for a second and let the wave pass. When they did look again, Sakura S. was florred but no sign of Akuma.
"You're next, boy." Akuma's voice rang out again, but Darrell didn't notice.
"Sakura!!" he yelled. He was about to run but Sakura K. held him back.
"Wait. He wants us to go over there."
"But she."
"My sister is fine," she reassured. She paused suddenly, looked up, then yelled "GET DOWN!!!"
Sakura shoved Darrell away and quickly threw a Hadouken straight upwards. It traveled for a second before hitting its target, namely Akuma. He fell to the ground but quickly regained his footing. He warped towards Sakura and she braced herself.
"Darrell! Move out the way and focus on getting your strength back. I'll take on Akuma."
"But."
Sakura no longer listened as she blocked Akuma's attack and countered. Darrell stared at her for a while. then shook his head.
{Come on, Darrell! You have a job to do. The stronger you are, the stronger Sakura gets.}
As he concentrated to regain his vigor, Akuma struck Sakura K. with a strike to the body. She backed away, noticing how strong his attacks were, and delivered a roundhouse kick. Akuma grabbed her sneaker right in mid- performance and raised his hand up, getting ready to smash her leg. He brought it down but Sakura managed to move herself so that the blow didn't break her leg. She fell to the ground, getting back from Akuma to recuperate but he wasn't going to let that happen.
"Messatsu. Gou-Hadou!!!"
Skuma threw up an insanely large blast of energy about his own height and it sped towards his victim. Sakura gasped and tried to defend.
"Shakunetsu Shinku. HADOUKEN!!!"
Within an instant Akuma's blast was gone, totaled by a flaming orange-red Hadouken.
"Arg. I knew that I should have taken him out while I had the chance," he mumbled as he looked up to the side. Darrell was up, his red-orange aura surrounding him instead of the golden one.
"Akuma." he started, "there is no way I'm going to let you hurt my friends. I don't care if I'm not 100%. I'll make sure I defeat you once and for all."
"Such bold words coming from such a pathetic fighter." Akuma sneered. "You aren't even at 60% strength. You're finished."
"Oh, really?"
Darrell focused him energy once again. His aura pulsed, flashing between flaming red to golden yellow. After a while, it changed back to gold fully but his energy didn't increase that well.
"Heh, just as I expected from a young fool like you." Akuma continued.
"You didn't let me finish."
Suddenly Sakura K's aura shone at the same gold tint as Darrell's.
"Hey!" she gasped. "I didn't do that."
"Now Akuma," Darrell continued, "this is our bond that we share. No power alive can match it, let alone beat it. As long as we have each other. then we won't lose."
"Bah! You're even a bigger fool than I-"
Akuma never finished. Darrell dashed in and punched his mouth so fast that the demon fell backwards, more from the pain than the surprise. He quickly regained his balance and looked at Darrell, who was eyeing him with intensity.
"You don't stand a chance." the kid declared.
{Impossible. How could he regain so much vigor in such a little period? Maybe the fool's bond is for real. No matter. He has no idea what he's messing with.}
End of Chapter 32
32. Demon Resurfaces
NEXT DAY.
{Damn. Dammit all. Why did this happen to me? What IS this happening to me? I felt as if everything that represents me is falling apart. My pride as a fighter, especially, is shredded... I don't believe this.}
Darrell found himself wondering aimlessly in an empty part of the park next to the stadium. The finals were due to start in two hours, about 7 P.M.. but frankly he didn't care. He didn't care if his team did make it to the final matches or not. All he could think about was his pathetic state that he was in now. He punched a tree full force, putting a dent in it and ignoring the pain that came with his action.
{What happened to all my power plays? My psyches? My counters? Most of all. what happened to me actually enjoying the fight? In almost all my matches. I wanted to hurt someone very badly. This is stupid.}
He punched the tree again, this time letting his fist rest on the tree bark. He stared at it with so much hatred and sorrow that his eyes started to tear up.
"THIS IS SO STUUUPPIIIDDD!!!!" he finally exploded, his aura erupting out his fist and burning the tree until it hit the pavement of the park path and dwindled. He then dropped to his knees, exhausted from all the worrying he was doing. He sighed deeply a few times then fell to his hands and knees, staring at the grass surrounding him. Only one thing was on his mind.
{Why.?}
----- -----
"We were so close, Sakura." Hinata said as the T.V. news broadcast just went off. It was stating the teams that were going to be in the final battles. and their team wan't in the roster. A heavy silence filled the room as all three girls let it sink in. Finally the dark Sakura clenched her fist and swung it into the coffee table in front of her, almost shattering it.
"We were so freaking close!" she repeated Hinata's quote, starting to sob a bit. "All that work. If only we won that match again Kyo's team. We could have taken the loss to Yusuke and still make it."
Sakura K. didn't say a word. Her expression said it all. She sighed and got up, walking towards her bedroom and locking the door. At the same time, Sakura S. warped from the couch and through the door, unable to let Hinata see her cry. Hinata just lay back in the sofa and turned the channel, too depressed to think about the tournament.
---- -----
Darrell found himself getting off the grass. He must have gone to sleep after his outburst and didn't know it. He looked around, found himself once again in solitude and lay back down on his face. He didn't have a will to do anything but rot.
{This is what I get. This is where I belong. I can't show myself to my friends anymore. They probably wouldn't forgive me, anyway.}
He stayed there in quiet for another 10 minutes, his mind a complete blank. He just wanted to die. There was nothing else for him to do.
{I'm sorry. Sakura.}
----- ------
"Sakura? Sakura? Are you here?"
Sakura K. finally found the nerve to open the door to her hotel room. On the other side was Athena, wearing her red Psycho Soldier outfit from last year's tournament and a concerned look on her face.
"Hi, Athena." Sakura K. mouthed out unenthusiastically. "What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see what was happening with you guys. I thought I'd see you at the stadium checking out the finals but..."
Sakura cut her off. "Athena. The finals are the last thing on my mind right now."
Athena's look grew in intensity. "You're a wreck. Let me come in. You can't be feeling well."
Sakura let her other friend in and as Athena went into the kitchen area to get her something to eat, Sakura K. sat down on her sofa. After a while Athena brought her some juice while asking, "What's wrong Sakura? I want to know."
Sakura wouldn't open her mouth. She looked to the side, eyeing nothing in particular. Athena was really worried now.
{This is TOTALLY not like her. Whatever happened she sure isn't acting her normal perky self. It must be serious.}
"Sakura."
Sakura. in a flash, told Athena EVERYTHING: the two sudden losses, the Morrigan incident, Darrell's twisted attitude, her sister's disappearance about 2 hours ago. As she did this, she started crying, almost uncontrollably, and Athena had to stop her.
"Sakura, please! You have to calm down. You're going to have a mental breakdown if you keep thinking about this stuff."
Sakura sniffed a bit and looked up into Athena's eyes. "If Karin saw me like this I bet she wouldn't want to speak to me again. I'm acting way out of my character."
"Don't worry. I'm here. You can talk about anything with me."
"Okay. I'll try."
----- -----
{Damn.}
It was getting really dark in the park next to the stadium and on one solitary bench Darrell sat by his lonesome, drowning in his own misery. His performance versus Yusuke still haunted him, even worse of that of Morrigan's seducing plan.
"I wasn't even close."
He put a hand on his forehead and hung it low. A full day couldn't rid him of his despair. It was a bad time to be him.
SHING!!!
Darrell's eyes widened in an instant. He sensed it. a large source of Evil Energy very close by. It was also closing in fast. He sat up and looked into the direction of the surge and as soon as he did it disappeared. He didn't let his guard down as the same power appeared in the opposite direction. Darrell stood up and it once again vanished.
{Its close.he thought. I think I know who it is.}
Another signal. from right behind him arouse. Darrell rolled to his right, just as a shadow figure landed, just missing an attack. Darrell faced it. and he knew that his assumption was right.
"Akuma." he said under his breath while getting into a fighting stance. Akuma stared at him for a while. then a small grin crossed his face.
"Yes. It's you; the kid who beat me a month ago. This time. you'll perish."
{That's a lot of talk coming from him} Darrell thought, {but all this energy I'm feeling. He could seriously back that up.}
"I also see that the girl isn't with you," Akuma mentioned, his grin widening. "Without her, you aren't at full strength, am I right?"
Darrell left that unanswered. He really didn't want to think about Sakura or anyone else at the moment. Frankly, he really didn't want to be bothered with Akuma right now. His self-esteem was thrashed. and the last thing he needed was a duel to the death.
"A true warrior's strength should come from the self. Depending on her just shows how weak you are."
That sunk home. Darrell considered all his matches in the past. and he recalled that he had lost much more fights when it wasn't for Sakura's inspiration. He couldn't get himself to fight. for himself.
"Now. it's time to we finished that match from last month. Now. see the true form of the Satsu no Hadou."
A red Satsu aura surrounded him at the end of his sentence. Immediately Darrell knew something was wrong.
{Wait a minute. I just realized that Akuma is in his normal form. If he gets to his true form. and if what Rose said was true. then.}
Akuma's aura erupted into the air, Kanji letters appearing in it. His gi changes to a familiar purple. but his eyes and hair. changes from red to white.
Darrell was in shock.
{Oh. my. Akuma's power. is way too high! I got to stop him, NOW!}
Darrell didn't even bother to charge up and quickly dashed in but the instant he took his first step, Akuma warped. Darrell stopped on a dime and turned around only to get nailed in the face by Akuma's foot in a two- hit axe kick. Darrell's head was sent to his stomach level and Akuma followed with a Tatsumaki Zanku Kyaku, only this one was covered with electricity, shocking his foe. He then followed with a Gou-Shoryuken, fueled by Satsu flames. Darrell hit the ground and the flames extinguished but stayed down, writhing from the pain.
"If this hurts so badly then you don't deserve to live," Akuma mumbled as he jumped into the air then sharply dove down with his food down into Darrell's chest. Luckily Darrell rolled out the way and got up while swinging his leg out for a sweep. Akuma blocked, leaving Darrell's leg out and him very vulnerable.
Darrell hurried to put up a defense but his position was too ackward. Akuma threw his fist into his chest, planting Darrell back to the ground. Akuma then threw a Gou-Hadouken at next-to-point-blank range. Darrell couldn't guard in time and ate the attack. and even if he could, the blast was too big. He fully laid out on the ground, gasping for air.
"Ha! Is this all you have!? I can't believe that you managed to defeat me."
Akuma reached up and picked up the young fighter by the neck and raised him high. He grinned, focusing on adding to his foe's pain.
"This is your end, boy. Prepare yourself."
----- -----
Athena and Sakura were talking for a good fifteen minutes, letting Sakura get all her emotions out in the open. She provided as much comfort as she could muster. but then Sakura came to a different subject. about Darrell.
"Ever since he lost to Yusuke he's been so hard on himself. I haven't seen him ever since our match yesterday. I wonder if he's okay."
"Sakura, I'm pretty sure Darrell's just clearing his head," Athena replied while putting a hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes people can get like that. Kensou is the same way."
"I guess."
Sakura looked at the carpet for a few more seconds before looking her friend in the eyes.
"You know, Athena. these feelings for him are sort of weird. I never think that way about anyone else. You think that he's that special to me?"
"Why are you even asking that question? You already know the answer."
This wasn't Athena responding. It was Hinata, who just came in through the hotel room door. Sakura kept her eyes on her as she sat down on the last available spot on the sofa.
"Listen, Sakura. You and Darrell are in love with each other. There isn't just boyfriend and girlfriend by the way I look at it. It's normal to feel that way about him. You share a bond. That's your link to him. You can tell how he's feeling right now. As a matter of fact, try it now."
Sakura gave Hinata a look. "Right. now? I don't know. I have no idea where he is right now."
"Just try it, she insisted. "You'll find him."
Sakura sighed and focused her energy. Her normal blue aura appeared around her as she searched a sea of auras all around the building. Either they were all blue or white, not a match at all. Sakura expanded her reach, looking into the next space near the building besides the stadium: the park. After about a second, she stopped. There was a faint orange aura. right next to a huge red one. and it seemed to be slipping.
Sakura's eyes shot open and she stood up in a flash.
"Sakura! What's wrong?" Athena asked. Instantly Sakura bolted towards the door. Just before she left, she answered Athena's question.
"It's Darrell. I found him. but it seems as if Akuma found him first."
"WHAT!?" both Athena and Hinata belted. Sakura was about to run right out the door but a hand grabbed her shoulder in the hallway and spun her around. Sakura came face to face with her Satsu twin.
"I heard everything you just said," Sakura S. said quickly. "Hold on. I'll warp you there."
------ -----
"You are a true disgrace, boy. I think it's about time you perished."
Darrell was a wreck on the dark grass. The new and improved Shin Akuma was way too powerful and fast for him to even scratch. Blood flowed freely from his open wounds. He was surprised he was still alive.
Darrell coughed numerous times before saying, "Why. don't you just. kill me now.?"
Akuma paused a tiny bit. This kid was the first not to beg for his life before he killed.
"I see you want the death of a warrior. You don't deserve it. but I will give it to you."
Darrell looked on to see Akuma get into a special stance, one knee up to his wasit and a fist on the knee, the other arm across his chest.
{No. way. That's the. Shungoku. satsu.!}
Akuma close in and Darrell couldn't do anything but brace himself.
So this is how it ends.
"Shinku."
"Shinku."
Just as Akuma made the grab, both heard twin voices in stereo from the left and right. Akuma stopped and looked to his left.
"HADOUKEN!!!"
"HADOUKEN!!!"
.and got blasted by huge energy attacks from both sides, making him drop Darrell. Darrell gasped loudly on the ground, hyperventilating from the fact that he almost died, just as a figure stepped over him.
"Darrell! Are you okay? Answer me!"
He breathed deeply and looked up, catching sight of his girlfriend's worried expression. He tried to speak but Sakura stopped him by putting a hand over his mouth.
"Try not to speak. I've got to heal you and I don't think it'll work on a dead guy."
She focused herself and let her energy refuel her almost most dead boyfriend. Slowly, Darrell's wounds started to close slightly and after 10 seconds, even though he still looked like he went through a meat grinder, his energy was back to speed. Sakura backed away as he sat up then fully stood up.
"You okay?" she asked. Darrell didn't make eye-contact; he just stared to his side. He sighed and closed his eyes briefly before looking into her eyes.
"G. gomen na sai, Sakura." he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. Sakura gave a slightly shocked expression.
"Darrell. You never said anything so fluidly in Japanese before. and why are you saying you're sorry? You didn't do anything wrong."
"I guess. I just needed to. say that. Honestly, I don't know what to say to you. I just feel. sort of stupid right now. making you worry so much."
Sakura stared at him for a little while longer and closed her own eyes.
"Darrell?"
"Yes?"
"Forgive me. for what I'm about to do next."
POW!!!
Sakura decked Darrell right in the face with a strong punch, making his head jolt back. He brought it back and held his mouth, wide-eyed.
"Listen. I want you to do this one favor for me. Please don't let me hear you say that negative stuff. I don't want you to worry about yourself, me, or anything else. You'll wind up dead if you keep up like this."
Darrell just stared at her.
{She. really must care for me to say that.}
"Promise me."
"Okay. I promise, Sakura."
"Guys!! I could use some HELP here!!"
Both looked at Sakura's dark twin, who just was stalling Shin Akuma long enough for Darrell to heal. The demon threw a Gou-Hadouken at her that she teleported away from. Sakura S. came out her Ashura Senka and gasped as Akuma reappeared right in her face.
"Shou!"
His fist lit up into Satsu flames, indicating a Gou-Shoryuken, but Sakura managed to grab his fist and countered.
"Shouoken!"
Six hits later, Akuma was sent into the air but he air recovered and threw two Hadoukens downward.
{Zanku Hadouken.} she thought as she backed away again as they hit the earth, leaving twin craters.
"You are annoying me." Akuma's voice rang out as Sakura saw him disappear. Her eye twitched, wondering what was next.
"IDIOT!!!"
She looked up. and gasped. Instantly Akuma came down, covered with yellow energy, and slammed his arm down, creating a huge shockwave through the ground. The other two shield thin eyes for a second and let the wave pass. When they did look again, Sakura S. was florred but no sign of Akuma.
"You're next, boy." Akuma's voice rang out again, but Darrell didn't notice.
"Sakura!!" he yelled. He was about to run but Sakura K. held him back.
"Wait. He wants us to go over there."
"But she."
"My sister is fine," she reassured. She paused suddenly, looked up, then yelled "GET DOWN!!!"
Sakura shoved Darrell away and quickly threw a Hadouken straight upwards. It traveled for a second before hitting its target, namely Akuma. He fell to the ground but quickly regained his footing. He warped towards Sakura and she braced herself.
"Darrell! Move out the way and focus on getting your strength back. I'll take on Akuma."
"But."
Sakura no longer listened as she blocked Akuma's attack and countered. Darrell stared at her for a while. then shook his head.
{Come on, Darrell! You have a job to do. The stronger you are, the stronger Sakura gets.}
As he concentrated to regain his vigor, Akuma struck Sakura K. with a strike to the body. She backed away, noticing how strong his attacks were, and delivered a roundhouse kick. Akuma grabbed her sneaker right in mid- performance and raised his hand up, getting ready to smash her leg. He brought it down but Sakura managed to move herself so that the blow didn't break her leg. She fell to the ground, getting back from Akuma to recuperate but he wasn't going to let that happen.
"Messatsu. Gou-Hadou!!!"
Skuma threw up an insanely large blast of energy about his own height and it sped towards his victim. Sakura gasped and tried to defend.
"Shakunetsu Shinku. HADOUKEN!!!"
Within an instant Akuma's blast was gone, totaled by a flaming orange-red Hadouken.
"Arg. I knew that I should have taken him out while I had the chance," he mumbled as he looked up to the side. Darrell was up, his red-orange aura surrounding him instead of the golden one.
"Akuma." he started, "there is no way I'm going to let you hurt my friends. I don't care if I'm not 100%. I'll make sure I defeat you once and for all."
"Such bold words coming from such a pathetic fighter." Akuma sneered. "You aren't even at 60% strength. You're finished."
"Oh, really?"
Darrell focused him energy once again. His aura pulsed, flashing between flaming red to golden yellow. After a while, it changed back to gold fully but his energy didn't increase that well.
"Heh, just as I expected from a young fool like you." Akuma continued.
"You didn't let me finish."
Suddenly Sakura K's aura shone at the same gold tint as Darrell's.
"Hey!" she gasped. "I didn't do that."
"Now Akuma," Darrell continued, "this is our bond that we share. No power alive can match it, let alone beat it. As long as we have each other. then we won't lose."
"Bah! You're even a bigger fool than I-"
Akuma never finished. Darrell dashed in and punched his mouth so fast that the demon fell backwards, more from the pain than the surprise. He quickly regained his balance and looked at Darrell, who was eyeing him with intensity.
"You don't stand a chance." the kid declared.
{Impossible. How could he regain so much vigor in such a little period? Maybe the fool's bond is for real. No matter. He has no idea what he's messing with.}
End of Chapter 32