Megaman Battle Network - New Generation
Book 3 - Lost Child
By Zelloss
Author's Note: Well, this is it, the grand Finale... Bloodlines, this chapter is called... It's time for loose ends to be tied, dreams realized, and the end to come to pass. Without further ado, without a moment's delay, no siree, without stopping you for another second, we... Ah, nevermind. We bring you the end of Book 3.
WARNING: Do I need to repeat myself? I SAID THESE BOOKS WERE BAD FOR VIOLENCE!
Chapter 6 - Bloodlines
I gulped down hard and looked at the three children, over Hayato's dead body.
"H... Hayato..." I whispered.
One of the two young boys turned to face me. "You... You..."
The girl turned to him, and saw the boy advancing towards me. "Kisato, don't!"
Kisato lunged at me. I didn't bother to fight back, I just moved my arm a fraction of an inch to absorb the blow.
Kisato pulled back and tried to land another shot. I blocked it easy.
"Kisato..." I whispered. "I'm sorry..."
"I'm sure you are!" Kisato screamed, going for a kick at my gut.
I raised my leg up, letting my upper leg absorb the force. "Kisato, stop it... You don't understand... I had to..."
The other boy ran up behind Kisato and grabbed him, restraining him.
"Please don't hurt him..." the other boy gulped.
"Lesteo, lemmego! I'll get him!" Kisato shouted.
"Stop it, Kisato!" Lesteo shouted. "Hasara, get out of here..."
"There's no need to go anywhere..." I whispered. "The real threat is gone..."
Hasara, the young girl, walked over to me, seemingly curious. "What are you saying?"
"Hayato... He wasn't himself... If I didn't kill him, the Mother Computer would have detonated... We'd all be dead..."
Hasara paused, as if considering. Even Kisato stopped fighting against his brother.
"You... You have to be kidding..." Hasara whispered.
"I know when my own brother is unlike himself..."
Hasara slowly walked up to me. She was rather petit, but she was still young, I reminded myself.
"U... Uncle...?"
I nodded, as I knelt down. Hasara came over to me, and embraced me in a good hug. Something I hadn't felt for a long time.
"Zann Grausherra!" I could sense Atashi's presence behind me. "You're under arrest for the murder of Morpheus Yobuu and Hayato Grausherra!"
I laughed a bit, as I rose up. I turned to face Atashi. "Oh really...?"
Atashi gulped. "There's no getting away this time, Grausherra. Your brother isn't here to save you now..."
I laughed a bit, at what Enker's voice was passing on to me. "That's pathetic, Atashi. Really pathetic. Do you think I need my brother, really?"
"That's the only reason I didn't kill you on sight, scumbag..." Atashi's voice was menacing. I smirked.
"Gimme your best shot, then" I made a rather rude signal with my right hand.
Atashi charged towards me, taking a couple quick strides, before coming at me with a forcefull punch. I raised my arm, caught his punch in my palm, twisted beside him, and chopped him in the back, sending him sprawling, all in one move.
"Atashi, you're power crazed..." I said. "I bet your father is ashamed of what you've become..."
"Don't mention my father!" Atashi rose, spinning around and trying to land a roundhouse kick.
That didn't take much. I ducked quickly under it, and in the same motion, brought up my leg to connect with his moving one, tearing away his balance and making him fall again.
"I should hope these three children aren't stuck with somebody like you for a caretaker, Atashi..." I turned and jumped, high, grabbing onto a balcony ledge. I pulled myself up and over, then walked into a door.
"Damn him..." Enker passed on Atashi's words as I left.
I escaped into the night, leaving behind the ONBA HQ and everything else. I moved through the city, which was on high-alert, with surprising ease.
Then I remembered something. I turned to face the direction of the main part of Akihara City.
"Kayeli..." I whispered to myself, and took off in that direction.
* * * * *
I arrived at the old building only a little while later. I had nearly forgotten about this place.
The AC building.
I went up to the main door, and looked around. The place was still in shambles, but there were fresh footprints just outside, meaning that it was still inhabited.
"Hello?" I shouted out.
I heard a scuffling on the inside.
"Whaddya wa..." a feminine voice called out, and the door opened. There was a woman of about my age standing there, with dark blonde hair and a cheerful look in her blue eyes. "Who are you...?"
I saw the faces of a child behind her. It was a young boy, scared- looking, but there was something familiar about him. I didn't pay attention, though.
"K... Kayeli?" I asked, returning my gaze to the woman who stood there.
"Y-yes..." she responded.
"It's me, Zann"
"Zann...? Zann!" Kayeli jumped onto me, hugging me tight, I returned the embrace happily.
"It's been ages, come inside!" Kayeli laughed. "I run this place now, make yourself at home... Well, I guess this was once your home, so you know..."
I laughed a bit, coming inside. The interior looked a bit better, although it wasn't a nice little abode yet. That could change, I reminded myself.
I turned to look around. A couple young faces watched me.
I caught the face of the other kid. The familiar one. I couldn't quite place it, but I thought I knew who that kid was.
The kid looked at me, and grinned. An evil grin.
I shuddered a bit, then turned away.
"There's so much to tell you, Zann, and I've heard so many stories about you... You have to tell them to me!" Kayeli came back in, walking up to me, blabbering her mouth off. "Oh, god, I've missed you so..."
I found the one way to shut her up.
I kissed her.
* * * * *
Needless to say, things went incredibly quick. The next thing I knew, I was married. To a childhood sweetheart and now my wife and lover.
When I remembered, I found out the name of the child. His name was... Tochisuru Hiryuu. Yeah. That was it. Tochisuru. Tochi in short. I think, in Netopian, it means 'governer' or something like that.
As the AC became better, it seemed to become less crowded. Eventually, me and Kayeli had kindof taken up Tochi as our 'adopted son'. He didn't seem to like that idea for some reason.
Yet through it all, I still couldn't place who he reminded me of.
The kid and I became good friends, really. He seemed bothered whenever I mentioned my old days, as a killer. I couldn't blame him.
There was also something creepy about him. I wasn't sure what it was, a secret motive, or something. He never let me touch him.
So I never knew just what was going on in his head.
* * * * *
Time began to pass slowly. Until one day, when one strange kid arrived.
I walked to the door and opened it. I looked down, and stopped dead.
"Hello..." the kid said. It was a small boy, with dark hair and a face that reminded me of someone else. I took a moment, and it began to hit me.
"What's your name...?" I asked.
"I should ask yours first..."
"Zann Grausherra..."
"Oh, so I am in the right place. My name is Enkou Yobuu. I've come to see Tochisuru."
I gulped hard. Yobuu. That was Morpheus' last name! I never knew he had a son. Mabye it was just a nephew or something.
I led Enkou inside, and called out Tochisuru. Tochisuru seemed particularly happy to see Enkou.
"Who is that kid...?" Kayeli surprised me, I hadn't felt her presence.
"That's Enkou Yobuu. He was here to talk to Tochisuru for some reason..." I said.
"Oh really...?" Kayeli asked.
I shushed her for a moment. Something was strangely quiet.
"Enkou...? Tochi...?" I called out.
I didn't get a response. I forced myself to think hard, trying to sense them out.
No signs of them at all.
"Enkou! Tochi!" I shouted, running in the direction I had last seen them, Kayeli following me.
We ran into the first floor hall. I stopped her, and concentrated again.
Was that...? I could sense just the slightest bit of movement, the slightest bit of life, in one of the rooms. The warehouse/mess hall, where the only weapons in the building were stored - a small crate of explosives.
I turned to it and opened up the door.
Instantly, I was forced to dive sideways and seek cover behind some of the boxes. Kayeli twisted, hiding back on the other side of the door.
Somebody had tried to shoot at us!
I waited for the ringing to end in my ears, then lifted up my arm. The silver vest had become stained red, a tear along the side. The bullet had gone along the side of my arm, but it had done damage.
"What's going on?" I demanded, then tried to focus.
I could pick up Enkou and Tochi's presences. Enker suddenly started to pass on words.
"Zann, it's time you really payed for what you did..." I could sense it was Enkou talking.
"For killing our fathers..." Tochisuru added.
I gulped. "Father...s?"
"Morpheus and Andy, you idiot!" Tochisuru shouted.
I stopped cold. I remembered it suddenly. Enkou must be Morpheus' son, and Tochisuru must be Andy's son. That explained the last name. Andy's last name was Hiryuu as well.
I reached for a sheath on my back, instinctively, then remembered I no longer carried it around.
I pushed myself up against the box.
Two shots rang out, forcing me to dive down. Wood splintered in the top box. I had to move.
"Get out of here, Kayeli!" I shouted, grabbing at anything I might be able to use. There was nothing.
I sensed Kayeli's presence leaving.
"Even better, now there's nobody to help you..." Enkou laughed. "Let's get him, Tochisuru..."
I saw shadows lengthen on both sides of the wooden boxes. They were coming around.
I jumped up, and hoisted myself over the top box, as the two rounded the corner, to a point where they would have been able to see me.
I stood up instantly, as if on reflex, and dashed for more shelter, pulling myself over a box to hide on the other side, as Enkou and Tochi came closer.
"Comeon, let's get him!" Enkou laughed.
This time, they came quicker. I did an eeny-meenie-miney-moe, and spun towards on of the shadows.
Tochi rounded the corner, and I caught him before he had the chance to fire. I spun around, grabbing him hard, and putting him in a lock.
The gun fell out of his hands. I held Tochi in a shield position.
Enkou spun, ready to fire, and paused.
"You wouldn't..." Enkou bared his teeth.
"I would..." I bared my own right back at him.
Enkou paused, then thought for a moment. "You wouldn't, Zann. You're not a Dark Blood, you don't have it in you!"
I paused.
Enkou's voice...
In my head?
How could that have been? Nobody without Grausherra Blood could carry Blackfang, so how could he have talked to me like that.
"Enkou, how...?"
"Didn't my father ever tell you that...?" Enkou asked me. "Zelloss saved his life by giving my father blood. Grausherra Blood. The only time he ever did give blood. With me, I was lucky enough to become a pure- blooded Grausherra, a Dark Blood."
I still held Tochi tight. "Yet that's impossible..."
"Your father and mine were very good friends... While they were alive..." Enkou seemed to be getting very, very mad. "Then one died, and the other followed, by the hand of the other's son. Perhaps it's time to even out the score..."
"No..." I stood my ground. "Enkou, there is no time for this... Stop it right now!"
"Not a chance..." Enkou's hair suddenly flared up.
His pupils turned black. I realized he really did have Blackfang in him.
I gave Tochi a stunning blow to the side of his head, leaving him unconcious, and twisted quickly to get behind a box.
A few shots rang out, quickly. I wondered what kind of weapon exactly Enkou was toting.
Then another few, a stich of shots tore through the box. I dove for cover as it nearly split in two.
I dashed around, ran into the previous pile of boxes, and realized I was at a dead end.
Enkou came around the corner.
"Die, fool..." Enkou laughed, raising his weapon. A machine gun. No wonder.
Enkou pulled back the trigger.
Nothing happened. I wondered what had happened.
"I... I can't..." Enkou swore something awful. "I can't do it, despite that being just what I want to do..."
I paused, then thought. "Why...?" I asked myself.
It's because of Blackfang, I realised suddenly. Blackfang would never kill somebody already infected with it. So Enkou wouldn't be able to kill me with Blackfang in both of us.
"Damnit..." Enkou swore. "There's still one of you, though. I can kill Kayeli... Then what will you be left with? I'll make your life a living hell..."
"Don't you DARE!" I shouted harshly, dashing at Enkou.
Enkou was only a child, I knew. But I had to fight him.
I forced myself forward towards him, coming at him with a strong punch.
Enkou leaned back with surprising ability, and brought up a good knee, then a fist of his own, sending me stumbling back a bit.
I dashed forward again, and something fell into my hand. The Grausherra Symbol, split in two, now appearing to be two crescent moons, one over the other. I grabbed it.
I dashed towards Enkou in a mad rush. Enkou brought the gun up and fired.
There was a sting on my arm, as Enker's PET went flying, shattered apart.
I would no longer hear.
I brought that same arm shooting forward, crashing into Enkou's arm, and stunning him. I took the moment to kick around from the side.
Enkou raised his PET arm, and my kick collided, shattering his PET.
Enkou ducked down and rose up, a small, dark-handled knife rising from his sleeve somehow. He brought it towards me, slicing into the front of my chest and leaving a slash.
Enkou then proceeded to give me a good punch, right in the gash. Blood spurted out of my mouth.
I knew I had to fight. I brought my arm towards Enkou, pinning him against the box. The gun fell down to my side.
I could sense Tochisuru rising up.
I swung a blow to Enkou's head, knocking him sideways, but not unconcious.
"Don't think about it, Grausherra..." Enkou taunted, and I realized I had knocked him to where the machine gun was.
Enkou grabbed it and pulled it up.
Something fell, tossed from the other side, between the two of us. A small, red box.
Enkou pulled the trigger hard.
I realized what was in the box.
The explosives.
The blast sent me crashing into the wall, shards of shraphnel stuck in my eyes.
I would no longer see.
I struggled to stand up. Metal and wood stuck into my body, piercing me all over.
"No..." I heard Blackfang in my head, seeming to be screaming. He had lost, his victims were gone.
Some blood dribbled out of my mouth. I thought to myself, no, to Blackfang. "You've lost, finally... You've lost..."
I felt my body slowly relax.
I would no longer live.
* * * * *
Date: Several years in the future
Somewhere, a lonely figured walked the net.
Clothed in near-human leather breeches, and an unbuttoned black vest revealing his chest and abdomen, strongly muscled, a scar across his chest.
With light blue hair that was mixed with dirt and data, a black headband underneth.
A human look, strongly muscled, like the warrior he was designed to be. His skin looked and felt real to the touch.
A large sheath attached to his belt, five symbols written on the very end.
A scar over the left eye.
Twin, deep, dark purple eyes.
The scar of Blackfang on his left arm.
One purpose on his mind.
"I must find him... The next..."
Author's Note: Well, this is it, the grand Finale... Bloodlines, this chapter is called... It's time for loose ends to be tied, dreams realized, and the end to come to pass. Without further ado, without a moment's delay, no siree, without stopping you for another second, we... Ah, nevermind. We bring you the end of Book 3.
WARNING: Do I need to repeat myself? I SAID THESE BOOKS WERE BAD FOR VIOLENCE!
Chapter 6 - Bloodlines
I gulped down hard and looked at the three children, over Hayato's dead body.
"H... Hayato..." I whispered.
One of the two young boys turned to face me. "You... You..."
The girl turned to him, and saw the boy advancing towards me. "Kisato, don't!"
Kisato lunged at me. I didn't bother to fight back, I just moved my arm a fraction of an inch to absorb the blow.
Kisato pulled back and tried to land another shot. I blocked it easy.
"Kisato..." I whispered. "I'm sorry..."
"I'm sure you are!" Kisato screamed, going for a kick at my gut.
I raised my leg up, letting my upper leg absorb the force. "Kisato, stop it... You don't understand... I had to..."
The other boy ran up behind Kisato and grabbed him, restraining him.
"Please don't hurt him..." the other boy gulped.
"Lesteo, lemmego! I'll get him!" Kisato shouted.
"Stop it, Kisato!" Lesteo shouted. "Hasara, get out of here..."
"There's no need to go anywhere..." I whispered. "The real threat is gone..."
Hasara, the young girl, walked over to me, seemingly curious. "What are you saying?"
"Hayato... He wasn't himself... If I didn't kill him, the Mother Computer would have detonated... We'd all be dead..."
Hasara paused, as if considering. Even Kisato stopped fighting against his brother.
"You... You have to be kidding..." Hasara whispered.
"I know when my own brother is unlike himself..."
Hasara slowly walked up to me. She was rather petit, but she was still young, I reminded myself.
"U... Uncle...?"
I nodded, as I knelt down. Hasara came over to me, and embraced me in a good hug. Something I hadn't felt for a long time.
"Zann Grausherra!" I could sense Atashi's presence behind me. "You're under arrest for the murder of Morpheus Yobuu and Hayato Grausherra!"
I laughed a bit, as I rose up. I turned to face Atashi. "Oh really...?"
Atashi gulped. "There's no getting away this time, Grausherra. Your brother isn't here to save you now..."
I laughed a bit, at what Enker's voice was passing on to me. "That's pathetic, Atashi. Really pathetic. Do you think I need my brother, really?"
"That's the only reason I didn't kill you on sight, scumbag..." Atashi's voice was menacing. I smirked.
"Gimme your best shot, then" I made a rather rude signal with my right hand.
Atashi charged towards me, taking a couple quick strides, before coming at me with a forcefull punch. I raised my arm, caught his punch in my palm, twisted beside him, and chopped him in the back, sending him sprawling, all in one move.
"Atashi, you're power crazed..." I said. "I bet your father is ashamed of what you've become..."
"Don't mention my father!" Atashi rose, spinning around and trying to land a roundhouse kick.
That didn't take much. I ducked quickly under it, and in the same motion, brought up my leg to connect with his moving one, tearing away his balance and making him fall again.
"I should hope these three children aren't stuck with somebody like you for a caretaker, Atashi..." I turned and jumped, high, grabbing onto a balcony ledge. I pulled myself up and over, then walked into a door.
"Damn him..." Enker passed on Atashi's words as I left.
I escaped into the night, leaving behind the ONBA HQ and everything else. I moved through the city, which was on high-alert, with surprising ease.
Then I remembered something. I turned to face the direction of the main part of Akihara City.
"Kayeli..." I whispered to myself, and took off in that direction.
* * * * *
I arrived at the old building only a little while later. I had nearly forgotten about this place.
The AC building.
I went up to the main door, and looked around. The place was still in shambles, but there were fresh footprints just outside, meaning that it was still inhabited.
"Hello?" I shouted out.
I heard a scuffling on the inside.
"Whaddya wa..." a feminine voice called out, and the door opened. There was a woman of about my age standing there, with dark blonde hair and a cheerful look in her blue eyes. "Who are you...?"
I saw the faces of a child behind her. It was a young boy, scared- looking, but there was something familiar about him. I didn't pay attention, though.
"K... Kayeli?" I asked, returning my gaze to the woman who stood there.
"Y-yes..." she responded.
"It's me, Zann"
"Zann...? Zann!" Kayeli jumped onto me, hugging me tight, I returned the embrace happily.
"It's been ages, come inside!" Kayeli laughed. "I run this place now, make yourself at home... Well, I guess this was once your home, so you know..."
I laughed a bit, coming inside. The interior looked a bit better, although it wasn't a nice little abode yet. That could change, I reminded myself.
I turned to look around. A couple young faces watched me.
I caught the face of the other kid. The familiar one. I couldn't quite place it, but I thought I knew who that kid was.
The kid looked at me, and grinned. An evil grin.
I shuddered a bit, then turned away.
"There's so much to tell you, Zann, and I've heard so many stories about you... You have to tell them to me!" Kayeli came back in, walking up to me, blabbering her mouth off. "Oh, god, I've missed you so..."
I found the one way to shut her up.
I kissed her.
* * * * *
Needless to say, things went incredibly quick. The next thing I knew, I was married. To a childhood sweetheart and now my wife and lover.
When I remembered, I found out the name of the child. His name was... Tochisuru Hiryuu. Yeah. That was it. Tochisuru. Tochi in short. I think, in Netopian, it means 'governer' or something like that.
As the AC became better, it seemed to become less crowded. Eventually, me and Kayeli had kindof taken up Tochi as our 'adopted son'. He didn't seem to like that idea for some reason.
Yet through it all, I still couldn't place who he reminded me of.
The kid and I became good friends, really. He seemed bothered whenever I mentioned my old days, as a killer. I couldn't blame him.
There was also something creepy about him. I wasn't sure what it was, a secret motive, or something. He never let me touch him.
So I never knew just what was going on in his head.
* * * * *
Time began to pass slowly. Until one day, when one strange kid arrived.
I walked to the door and opened it. I looked down, and stopped dead.
"Hello..." the kid said. It was a small boy, with dark hair and a face that reminded me of someone else. I took a moment, and it began to hit me.
"What's your name...?" I asked.
"I should ask yours first..."
"Zann Grausherra..."
"Oh, so I am in the right place. My name is Enkou Yobuu. I've come to see Tochisuru."
I gulped hard. Yobuu. That was Morpheus' last name! I never knew he had a son. Mabye it was just a nephew or something.
I led Enkou inside, and called out Tochisuru. Tochisuru seemed particularly happy to see Enkou.
"Who is that kid...?" Kayeli surprised me, I hadn't felt her presence.
"That's Enkou Yobuu. He was here to talk to Tochisuru for some reason..." I said.
"Oh really...?" Kayeli asked.
I shushed her for a moment. Something was strangely quiet.
"Enkou...? Tochi...?" I called out.
I didn't get a response. I forced myself to think hard, trying to sense them out.
No signs of them at all.
"Enkou! Tochi!" I shouted, running in the direction I had last seen them, Kayeli following me.
We ran into the first floor hall. I stopped her, and concentrated again.
Was that...? I could sense just the slightest bit of movement, the slightest bit of life, in one of the rooms. The warehouse/mess hall, where the only weapons in the building were stored - a small crate of explosives.
I turned to it and opened up the door.
Instantly, I was forced to dive sideways and seek cover behind some of the boxes. Kayeli twisted, hiding back on the other side of the door.
Somebody had tried to shoot at us!
I waited for the ringing to end in my ears, then lifted up my arm. The silver vest had become stained red, a tear along the side. The bullet had gone along the side of my arm, but it had done damage.
"What's going on?" I demanded, then tried to focus.
I could pick up Enkou and Tochi's presences. Enker suddenly started to pass on words.
"Zann, it's time you really payed for what you did..." I could sense it was Enkou talking.
"For killing our fathers..." Tochisuru added.
I gulped. "Father...s?"
"Morpheus and Andy, you idiot!" Tochisuru shouted.
I stopped cold. I remembered it suddenly. Enkou must be Morpheus' son, and Tochisuru must be Andy's son. That explained the last name. Andy's last name was Hiryuu as well.
I reached for a sheath on my back, instinctively, then remembered I no longer carried it around.
I pushed myself up against the box.
Two shots rang out, forcing me to dive down. Wood splintered in the top box. I had to move.
"Get out of here, Kayeli!" I shouted, grabbing at anything I might be able to use. There was nothing.
I sensed Kayeli's presence leaving.
"Even better, now there's nobody to help you..." Enkou laughed. "Let's get him, Tochisuru..."
I saw shadows lengthen on both sides of the wooden boxes. They were coming around.
I jumped up, and hoisted myself over the top box, as the two rounded the corner, to a point where they would have been able to see me.
I stood up instantly, as if on reflex, and dashed for more shelter, pulling myself over a box to hide on the other side, as Enkou and Tochi came closer.
"Comeon, let's get him!" Enkou laughed.
This time, they came quicker. I did an eeny-meenie-miney-moe, and spun towards on of the shadows.
Tochi rounded the corner, and I caught him before he had the chance to fire. I spun around, grabbing him hard, and putting him in a lock.
The gun fell out of his hands. I held Tochi in a shield position.
Enkou spun, ready to fire, and paused.
"You wouldn't..." Enkou bared his teeth.
"I would..." I bared my own right back at him.
Enkou paused, then thought for a moment. "You wouldn't, Zann. You're not a Dark Blood, you don't have it in you!"
I paused.
Enkou's voice...
In my head?
How could that have been? Nobody without Grausherra Blood could carry Blackfang, so how could he have talked to me like that.
"Enkou, how...?"
"Didn't my father ever tell you that...?" Enkou asked me. "Zelloss saved his life by giving my father blood. Grausherra Blood. The only time he ever did give blood. With me, I was lucky enough to become a pure- blooded Grausherra, a Dark Blood."
I still held Tochi tight. "Yet that's impossible..."
"Your father and mine were very good friends... While they were alive..." Enkou seemed to be getting very, very mad. "Then one died, and the other followed, by the hand of the other's son. Perhaps it's time to even out the score..."
"No..." I stood my ground. "Enkou, there is no time for this... Stop it right now!"
"Not a chance..." Enkou's hair suddenly flared up.
His pupils turned black. I realized he really did have Blackfang in him.
I gave Tochi a stunning blow to the side of his head, leaving him unconcious, and twisted quickly to get behind a box.
A few shots rang out, quickly. I wondered what kind of weapon exactly Enkou was toting.
Then another few, a stich of shots tore through the box. I dove for cover as it nearly split in two.
I dashed around, ran into the previous pile of boxes, and realized I was at a dead end.
Enkou came around the corner.
"Die, fool..." Enkou laughed, raising his weapon. A machine gun. No wonder.
Enkou pulled back the trigger.
Nothing happened. I wondered what had happened.
"I... I can't..." Enkou swore something awful. "I can't do it, despite that being just what I want to do..."
I paused, then thought. "Why...?" I asked myself.
It's because of Blackfang, I realised suddenly. Blackfang would never kill somebody already infected with it. So Enkou wouldn't be able to kill me with Blackfang in both of us.
"Damnit..." Enkou swore. "There's still one of you, though. I can kill Kayeli... Then what will you be left with? I'll make your life a living hell..."
"Don't you DARE!" I shouted harshly, dashing at Enkou.
Enkou was only a child, I knew. But I had to fight him.
I forced myself forward towards him, coming at him with a strong punch.
Enkou leaned back with surprising ability, and brought up a good knee, then a fist of his own, sending me stumbling back a bit.
I dashed forward again, and something fell into my hand. The Grausherra Symbol, split in two, now appearing to be two crescent moons, one over the other. I grabbed it.
I dashed towards Enkou in a mad rush. Enkou brought the gun up and fired.
There was a sting on my arm, as Enker's PET went flying, shattered apart.
I would no longer hear.
I brought that same arm shooting forward, crashing into Enkou's arm, and stunning him. I took the moment to kick around from the side.
Enkou raised his PET arm, and my kick collided, shattering his PET.
Enkou ducked down and rose up, a small, dark-handled knife rising from his sleeve somehow. He brought it towards me, slicing into the front of my chest and leaving a slash.
Enkou then proceeded to give me a good punch, right in the gash. Blood spurted out of my mouth.
I knew I had to fight. I brought my arm towards Enkou, pinning him against the box. The gun fell down to my side.
I could sense Tochisuru rising up.
I swung a blow to Enkou's head, knocking him sideways, but not unconcious.
"Don't think about it, Grausherra..." Enkou taunted, and I realized I had knocked him to where the machine gun was.
Enkou grabbed it and pulled it up.
Something fell, tossed from the other side, between the two of us. A small, red box.
Enkou pulled the trigger hard.
I realized what was in the box.
The explosives.
The blast sent me crashing into the wall, shards of shraphnel stuck in my eyes.
I would no longer see.
I struggled to stand up. Metal and wood stuck into my body, piercing me all over.
"No..." I heard Blackfang in my head, seeming to be screaming. He had lost, his victims were gone.
Some blood dribbled out of my mouth. I thought to myself, no, to Blackfang. "You've lost, finally... You've lost..."
I felt my body slowly relax.
I would no longer live.
* * * * *
Date: Several years in the future
Somewhere, a lonely figured walked the net.
Clothed in near-human leather breeches, and an unbuttoned black vest revealing his chest and abdomen, strongly muscled, a scar across his chest.
With light blue hair that was mixed with dirt and data, a black headband underneth.
A human look, strongly muscled, like the warrior he was designed to be. His skin looked and felt real to the touch.
A large sheath attached to his belt, five symbols written on the very end.
A scar over the left eye.
Twin, deep, dark purple eyes.
The scar of Blackfang on his left arm.
One purpose on his mind.
"I must find him... The next..."