12: Rage
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Cye awaited the ball of crackling energy to finish him off, hoping it wouldn't be too painful when the sound of footfalls approaching him and Sage reached his ears giving him a slight glimmer of hope. Sage turned his head in the direction of the approacher he was only able to make out a slim figure rushing toward them.
His mouth curled into a wicked grin shifting his gaze over to Cye once again ready to launch his blast into the boy's face when a skate board hit him in the face, Sage lost his balance accidentally firing his attack into the lake behind Cye. The brown haired boy opened his eyes in sheer surprise when he discovered he was still alive and breathing.
The only problem was he still ached all over and wanted to do nothing but sleep when two arms slid underneath his arms pulling onto his shaky legs. Mina tried with all her might to drag him to safety but his due to his weight she was only getting across the ground inch-by-inch instead a hasty retreat like she hoped. "Mina... how'd you escape?" Cye muttered looking to the struggling teen.
Mina would have answered but Sage's sudden speedy movement toward them choked her words, his reflexes were far too quick for Mina or Cye to duck out of the way or even dodge. Sage rammed his shoulder into the 16-year-old's stomach knocking the wind out of him, Cye fought to bring the air circulating into his lungs once again as he and Mina went crashing onto the ground. Mina groaned unable to move from under her brown-haired friend, Sage stomped on Cye's stomach causing the Torrent armor to crack in a spider-web like design in the center.
Cye fought to urge to cry out in pain while trying to get Sage's foot off of his stomach before it went through the armor and though him for that matter. Mina's leg's were trapped beneath the 16-year-old's leg's as well leaving her completely immobile at that moment leaving her with the unsatisfied feeling of being unable to help her friend, and it began to eat away at her. A smirk spread across Sage's face as he raised his sword over his head aiming for Cye's heart.
The point of the blade shined like a diamond in the glimmering moonlight that bathed their bodies in its' light shadowing the blonde's face. "Lady Une will be pleased to learn that you have died, Torrent," Sage said smugly thrusting the sword downward. Mina screamed bloody murder awaiting for the worst while Cye prepared to the stop the No-datchi in it's track's when a sound resembling a falling star caught his and the other two's attention.
A spark of light emitted in front of Sage's foot blowing in the unfelt wind as the image of a golden arrow appeared. Sage's eye's narrowed as his smirk vanished from his face, he turned to direction where the arrow had possibly came from and stared blankly at the archer several feet away from him. Mina's head dragged against the ground as she turned it in the direction Sage's gaze and a huge question mark appeared on her head.
Who's this guy? She thought arching her eyebrow. "Ha," Sage chuckled placing his first on his hip cocking his head to the side. "I was wondering when you'd show up Strata. Cye's hardly put up a fight.... I'm hoping you will though." Sage's violet eyes seem to sparkle with an unknown vigor for battle. Strata or rather Rowen lowered his bow glaring, but this didn't at all sound like Sage.... Not one bit. He couldn't even see the wisdom that once shinned in the blonde's eyes like a beckoning call for more knowledge anymore.
"What makes' you think I'll fight you?" Rowen snapped arching an eyebrow. His midnight blue eyes shifted from Sage to Cye and Mina who resided on the ground. The dirty-blonde gave him a cheeky smile while Cye rolled his eyes despite the situation he happened to be in. Sage's cool expression was begging to deteriorate; if Strata thought he could just ignore him then he had another thing coming' to him. Ramming his long sword into the soft soil beneath him Sage raised one hand and formed a ball of energy in the palm of his hand.
Rowen raised his arm bending it backwards. An arrow came out of the pack on his armor placing itself in Rowen's slightly closed hand. Bringing his arm forward he placed the arrow on the side of his bow, pulling on the taught thin string bringing toward him. Light began to form at the tip of the arrow in a swirling motion as Rowen focused his point of attack at Sage instead of aiming to hit something behind him. "Arrow shockwave!" Rowen fired his sure-kill watching it advance on the blonde warrior at an incredible speed.
A full-fledged wicked smile spread across Sage's face as he watched the energized arrow make its' way toward him, he fried his energy blast and destroyed the arrow with ease. Child's play. Sage though removing his foot from Cye's chest. Rowen watched the blast engulf his sure-kill in pure shock; he destroyed it! By that time Rowen was trembling for some unknown reason, as he watched the smoke spread across the area.... when out of the blue, Sage came flying out of the smoke with a blank expression.
Rowen was totally unprepared for what happened next, the blonde's first came in contact with Rowen's chin and sent him sailing over the trees and Sage fired another blast at the bearer of Strata sending him crashing to the ground a lot quicker than he would have if he just let him fall.
Meanwhile, Cye carried Mina on his back off while Sage was still distracted. Mina held on with her life as Cye jumped over some bushes sliding down a hill, he used his trident to slow down their speed as they neared the bottom where more bushes resided, Mina grimaced at the painful sensation the dirt and gravel were giving her ass, both cheeks felt as if they would burn away any minute if this continued any longer.
After several more minutes they finally made to the bottom of the hill Cye could hear Mina's whining about her hurting-burning behind. He lowered her to the ground completely and turned to meet her weary but angry face. "Are you all right?" He whispered glancing upward for a moment. Mina nodded placing a hand on her butt. "Yeah, but my ass burns," She grumbled miserably before removing her hand from her bottom and lacing her fingers through her dirty blonde hair with a goofy smile.
Cye sighed taking off his helmet shaking the sweat that formed upon his hair off. Mina ducked out of the way as the watched the sweat-dropplets fly into the air sparkling like stars. Cye chuckled placing the helmet onto her head it fell over her eyes causing her temporary blindness, Mina used her right hand to lift it from her eyes her goofy smile still remained.
Cye's expression changed into a serious one. He pointed his finger at the 15-year-old poking her nose. "Now stay here, I'll be back as soon as I can," Cye ordered passing her. Mina nodded causing the helmet to fall over her eyes once again, she reached out blindly for Cye hitting the back of his foot but never caught his attention, the brown-haired boy continued upward. "Be careful Cye-san!" She whispered as loud as she could over her shoulder. Cye didn't respond bu she knew he heard her clearly. Slumping her shoulders, Mina awaited the return of her friend dwelling on earlier when she left Yulie and Mia behind.....
~*~
Mina, Yulie, and Mia fell over onto the unstable ground as it shook beneath them. "What the hey..?!" Mina grumbled when a cloud of smoke and electricity high above the trees and rising higher into the sky caught her attention. Once the rumbling stopped, Mina got up onto her feet in a hurry rushing across the flower-covered grass, knowing for some strange reason Cye was there and he was in trouble.
Mia climbed to her feet just as fast as Mina did with a surprised expression. Where was she heading off to in such a hurry? "M-matte! Mina-san!" She cried extending her hand. Her hair fell over her shoulders.
Mina, stopped dead in her tracks turning her head in Mia's direction with an inquiring look.
"Nani?" She responded. "Mia?"
"Where are you going?" Mia asked as Yulie came to her side, he gripped her hand in his with a weary look.
Mina sighed. "I'm going to find out what that explosion was!" She responded. Yulie's mouth dropped open in surprise. Why would she go over there. "Anata wa honki desu ka!?! (Are you serious?!)" Yulie cried. Mina nodded grumbling under her breath, before running off. "I'll be back. You guys head to the police! They'll know what ta' do! Ja ne!" She cried entering a shadowed part of the park . . .
~*~
Mina sighed inwardly falling backwards onto the dirt hill with a wondering look in her eyes. "I wonder if they're okay?" She muttered before closing her eyes. Despite the situation she was in, Mina let sleep claim her after it beckoned her so many times while she was held captive in the unknown place where the woman drained Ryo, Kento, and another teenage boy of their energy much like she did with her.
Mina was abruptly brought out of her thoughts when the sound of a snapping twig was brought to her attention. She lifted herself in an upright position lifting the helmet from eyes and to her surprise, Ryo and Kento stood before her in their armor with holding their Katana and Bo. The color drained from her face as she began to sense an evil radiating off of them, the wicked grins on their faces didn't help much either. "Shit...," Mina thought before bolting from her spot, and running along the bushes hoping she could get away from them.
Ryo looked to Kento with an inquiring look. "Should we go after her?" Kento asked tapping his Bo against his ankle. Ryo nodded shifting his gaze toward the hill. "Hai, Lady Une would be upset if she found out we let her go," He replied outstretching his arm. He aimed the blade of his Kanata at Mina's back, Kento stepped back giving Ryo more room to work with.
A moment later the Katana began sending off enormous heat waves warping the appearance of everything in sight, narrowing his eyes and focusing his energy into the Katana, Ryo watched as fire emerged from the sword like water shooting out of a water-hose head toward Mina. Mina could feel the heat spread across her back as the light from the moon seemed to darken and a red orange color came up from behind her slightly illuminating the forest-like area around her. Mina turned in record time catching a glimpse of the oncoming inferno and dodged to the side at the last minute, the fire scathed the side of her torso burning away half her school uniform.
The 15-year-old was left breathless, no scream emitted from her throat, Mina begged for the air to return to her lifeless lungs. Her unnatural blue-green coalbolt eyes rolled into the back of her head and without another action Mina hit the ground hard utterly oblivious to the world around her.
Kento and Ryo winced at the sickening thud Mina's body made before turning to eachother with bewildered faces. "Oi---- ah you overdid it a bit Wildfire," Kento muttered dryly. Ryo blinked and nodded in agreement when Une appeared in front of them with anything but pleased look upon her face. They were both frozen in their place, hoping she wouldn't kill them. Une had been a mood that made Hitler look like the Pillsbury boy.
//I do believe I told you to leave the pleasure of killing Mina Kokjiya to me Wildfire// Une snapped mentally, in no mood to talk verbally. Ryo rolled his eyes pointing behind the woman with a sly smirk on his face, Une cocked an eyebrow at him before hearing the sound of a groan behind her. Une turned around with a surprised yet disappointed expression, Mina Kojiya lived; she remained on the ground kneeling on one knee bruised and burned on her right side, her right arm seemed to be completely useless but the fingers still twitched noting it wasn't that useless.
Une smirked at the girl's situation landing on the ground raising left hand, the scythe appeared and the shorthaired woman clutched it tightly as her lips parted showing off her fangs. Mina felt the stinging in her side caused by the attack Ryo made against her.
Her only question was, why would he turn on her when they were such good friends despite the fact Ryo thought of her as much more? And when did he become a super-villian with inhuman powers? "Damn," She cursed shutting her left eye. There was no possible way she could move fast enough to get away from the villainous trio she ached all over. Aspirin! She thought miserably. Une's eyebrow twitched with delight, raising herself of the ground Une bolted foward raising her scythe.
Mina's head shot upward at the oncoming woman, with a cry of panic and rage of being hurt Mina climbed onto her feet just as Une tossed her scythe toward her. Mina watched as it spun like a boomerang toward her, the blade reflected the light coming from the moon as it neared the dirty-blonde girl. Mina threw her arms up over her face awaiting the worse when two strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist pulling her up from the ground and dashing off just as the scythe hit the ground where she previously resided causing an explosion of epic proportions demolishing half of the park.
Une cursed searching for the dirty-blonde girl and whoever saved her, she didn't see which direction they went that was going to make it hard for her to pinpoint their location. Kento and Ryo were startled out of their trances when Une turned in their direction with a menacing glare, and they knew exactly what she wanted them to do. Without a word spoken between anyone Kento and Ryo took off in the more tree-populated area of the park while Une took to the sky to cover more ground.
* * * * * * *
THWACK!
Cye slid to the ground like a rag-doll after being hit by Sage's slugehammer-like punch in the stomach. He felt like his entire stomach had collapsed and it stuck to the back of his spine, Sage stood only but a little feet away from the English-accented boy unscathed. Energy crackled around him in the form of electricity, Sage glanced to the side finding a little girl sprawled on the ground deathly still beside a tree. Just by looking at her, the blonde began to feel some rousing within him, an ocean of unknown emotions began to stir inside him causing his guard to fall as he turned his attention on the girl several feet away from him.
Cye watched the former warrior of wisdom stalking toward Satsuki's limp form, he struggled to climb to his feet but he was having a hard time trying to breathe correctly while recovering from Sage's mighty blow. He lifted himself higher up on his elbows but crumbled to the ground, he began to cough violently to the extent that blood spewed from his mouth, drizzling down his chin.
Cye fell onto his back knowing he would be unable to help Satsuki from the person she trusted the most. Her own brother. "Sage is a lot more stronger than I originally thought," Cye thought looking through the leaves in and up at the sky. Cye let out a pained sigh closing his eyes awaiting oblivion to claim him so he wouldn't have to be the witness of Satsuki's slaughter, when a familiar warm sensation spread through his entire body. Cye opened his eyes discovering that his armor of Torrent was glowing much like it did when Inferno was being called on.
This distracted Sage for only but a moment because his armor was glowing as well, doing his best to ignore it the blonde kneeled in front of the unconscious girl that he felt he should know but nothing came up in his mind when he tried to remember where he had seen her. Has he seen anything besides the dark walls of his master's domain? Une had told him she had found him in the forest where he slept near a river against a rock.
Of course there was this doubt in his mind that wasn't at all true. He placed his armored hand on the girl's dirty cheek before positioning it behind her head, Sage lifted her in an upright position examining her face while his mind continued to nag him about many forgotten things. However killing Cye mouri was not one of them.
He shifted his violet-eyed gaze toward Cye who had completely stopped moving, Sage shrugged turning his attention back to the blonde girl in front of him when he noticed whatever injuries she suffered from had vanished from her body! "N-nani?" He stuttered cocking an eyebrow as the girl began to stir. Acting quickly, Sage laid her on the ground again hoping she wouldn't open her eyes before he had enough time to move away from her.
As Sage backed away he was met with an unexpected blow to the back of his neck, he felt as if his power was drained from his body, the sound of his helmet cracking filled his ears as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, before he noticed the bearer Torrent wasn't in the spot he remembered him being in, Halo's helmet shattered into a million shining pieces when he hit the ground face-first.
Cye stood over the blonde's unconscious body with his trident in hand. Too close for comfort. The brown haired boy though listening to his heart pounding in his ears, he lowered his defenses sighing deeply before hysterical laughter from the seemingly unconscious Sage caused Cye's body to tense immensely, the 16-year-old backed away unable to calm his nerves.
Sage rolled onto his back still laughing like a madman, his eyes still remained in rolled in the back of his head showing nothing but the white of his eyeballs. Cye was unable to keep from trembling as he watched Sage raise up to his feet trying to stifle his laughter with his hand over his mouth. "What---- Sage?" Cye sputtered feeling his legs go weak. Sages' laughter ceased abruptly, his would-be cheerful expression transformed into a scowl. Cye began to feel a dark aura surrounding Sage's being devouring soul as his Kanji of wisdom appeared on his forehead discolored and lifeless.
The brown-haired boy soon realized all Sage had done to him and Rowen up until this point--- he wasn't doing of his own free-will. Swallowing his fear, Cye spoke. "What have you done with Sage Demon!?" He shouted raising his trident. Sage sneered/smirked at the 16-year-old revealing his once violet eyes turned onyx. "Sage--? I do not know this Sage you speak of, but I'll be more than kind to tell him I saw you," The demon joked placing his hand behind his neck cracking the aching bones.
"My name is lord Taku and I commend you Ronin---- you were able to last this long despite all the damage I've inflicted upon your frail body." Cye scoffed at the demon's comment watching the blonde's hair rise from his left eye as it became spiked slightly. He was beginning to wish Rowen would show up right about now. He could use the blue-haired boy's help at the moment. "Shall we continue our fight?" The blonde asked cocking an eyebrow at Cye. The brown haired boy didn't answer him. His attention was averted away from him and directed upward at the sky.
The possessed Sage's mouth formed into a thin line showing his disappointment, he didn't like being ignored by his opponent--- then again it was how he destroyed them so easily, their lack of sense to pay attention to him. Cye brought himself out of his thoughts shifting his heated gaze right through the processed teenager before him gripping his trident tighter. He didn't want to fight Sage, but he really didn't have choice in the matter. "No," Cye uttered loud enough for Sage to hear. The blonde's onyx eyes widened in surprise the second those words left Cye's mouth, Sage/Taku watched the brown-haired boy step back dropping his trident.
"Disappointing," Taku sneered glaring at the 16-year-old. Cye said nothing his face remained straight though his fear of being beaten down was strong and begging him to run, he ignored it naturally. Sage/Taku cocked his head to the side with a semi-victorious smirk, he folded his arms across his chest. Cye was begging to wonder just what this demon's agenda was.
"I won't fight you," Cye said. "I know that's what you want me to do. I won't harm Sage anymore than I already have." Taku sighed kicking a bebble across the ground with a lazy expression, his gaze shifted downward at the ground curiously studying the armor's design for the foot. "Hai, it is indeed disappointing that you shan't fight me.. *pause*... Lady Une will be sadden by this news." His onyx eyes shifted toward Cye with an wicked look about them. The brown-haired boy was taken by surprise when Sage rammed his foot into his stomach sending Cye reeling into a world of pain, he fell over but the blonde stopped him in mid-fall with his index finger chuckling.
Cye cried tears of pain as Sage pushed into an upright position before grabbing his right arm, the 16-year-old feared the worst when the warrior of Halo brought his arm up over his head, his fingers were close together while his thumb rested on his palm and he brought his hand down onto the English-accented boy's arm, a broken piece of bone sliced through his skin resting against his subarmor.
Cye cried out in pure anguish when Sage released his arm letting him fall to the ground in trembling heap. The pocessed blonde sent a kick to Cye's side causing the younger teen to fall onto his side. He whimpered, regretting the decision not to fight Sage, but at the same time he was glade he didn't. "You're pathetic Torrent. Why Une put so much trust in you, I'll never know," Taku hissed kicking him again, when out of nowhere a staff appeared between him and Cye.
"Nani?!" Sage/Taku examined the object carefully; several gold rings the size of hoop earrings resided on two phoenix like wings that were attached to an orb and the rest (minus the bottom-half) reminded him detailed column. Lord Taku was taken by surprise when the orb began to glow the very moment the rings began to clank against eachother. Beams of light surrounded the two warriors, it sent the possessed Sage flying off his feet and into a tree.
Sage felt all feeling return to him knowing whatever had taken him over had left his body. His onyx eyes deteriorated, returning to their unnatural violet color, the weary teen watched a foggy figure take flight into the sky before his shoulders sagged followed by him losing consciousness. Cye groaned staring up at the long metal object before him. "The ancient's staff!" He rasped. "Kayura?!"
No sooner than those words left Cye's mouth the light vanished bit by bit, and revealed the blue-haired woman and the three former warlords of Talpa and Rowen who looked a bit worn out. Dais cradled Satsuki in his arms while Cale held Mina who had obviously fainted, in front of him in a piggy-back-ish way. Kayura gave the bearer of Torrent a serene smile and nodded taking hold of her staff. "It's me Cye," She replied. "I have broken the spell that Une has over your friends... their free of her grasp." The brown-haired boy felt some kind of relief wash over him before he lost consciousness as well.
~*~
Kento and Ryo rushed through the forest growing tired of searching for the dirty blonde girl, when an intense pain shot through their heads and Ryo's calf. Kento managed to rest himself up against a tree trying to ease the pain running amuck through his head, while Ryo fell to the ground not knowing what part of his body to hold onto. The raven-haired boy wished he could pass out at that very moment.
Kento's eyes widened in sheer delight despite the pain in his head. "I remember----!" He cried out in joy. "My memories are back! Hot-doggin----! Ow!" Kento returned to clutching his head. Ryo overheard what Kento had said when he shut his eyes, the back of his leg hurt like hell. "Oh Joy," He groaned knowing his memories had returned as well. Now all he wanted to do was get some major payback on one particular deamon babe.
~*~
Une was completely outraged. That accursed last of the ancient's brat Kayura had broken her mental hold on the three Ronin's she captured! At that very moment all her sense of reason and control had flown out the window, she balled her hands into a fist as her blood began to boil. Veins appeared on her arms, her neck, and across her face her pupils dilated and her anger became more and more violent as she struggled not to let it out. Her eyebrows knitted together. Une couldn't hold it back any longer: She let out a roaring fit of rage into the sky causing the clear nightsky to become clouded and the sound of thunder echoed in the distance.
The water in the Hong-Kong harbor began to swirl in a whirlpool motion only this time it didn't skin inward the water bolted upward crashing into the clouds forming a liquid tornado. Lightening flashed in the clouds before coming down and striking several buildings in the crowded downtown area. Her scream continued, the water came swirling down from the clouds washing over her, the lightening entwined itself with the water as she began her transformation.
Despite him being unconscious, Sage had a bad feeling about the far off negative energy he was sensing from Une.
Author's note: *shrinks away nervously* Calm down AnimegirlH^ ^; I only write cliffies so it give me something to continue on form. Yikes I didn't think you'd get that angry! Yeesh! Thanks for reviewing my all my chapters, you're great! As are you Bunch-o-nuts, if you're still reading. Don't forget to review! If there are anymore errors staring from the after this sentence:
"The blonde's onyx eyes widened in surprise the second those words left Cye's mouth, Sage/Taku watched the brown-haired boy step back dropping his trident." Then lemmie know! Ja ne! Sakura123~