Forty-two: Blood Stains and Battle Scars
Trowa threw his wait over the lip of the roofs edge "Now to just find Ryu *Cocks his gun* and finish this stupid brawl.
"No hiding this time Trowa, like I said, we finish this."
"Very well Ryu. But this time I won't miss."
"Nether will I."
Ryu sprinted off at Trowa, sword ready. Trowa fired two bullets into Ryu, one hitting him in the shoulder and the other in the chest. Ryu slid to his knees in from of Trowa and blood ran form his mouth.
"I told you I wouldn't miss Ryu."
"And I …said the same." Ryu smiled at Trowa who now had the Dragon Blade going all the way through him.
Ryu stood up with a limp. "Not dead yet? Darn you assassins take a while to kill." Ryu gripped the handle of his sword with two hands. "Ready for a ride Trowa?" Ryu motioned to behind Trowa.
Trowa, still stunned, turned to see his fate, a twelve-foot gap between a four-story drop. "Ryu…don't."
"Too late!" Ryu heaved as he lifted the skewered Trowa off the ground a swung the sword hard.
Trowa slid off the sword and flew through the air and landed with a roll onto the neighboring building.
"Damn, too much power." Ryu's gaze shifted to the floor next to him where Trowa had dropped his gun. "This SHOULD do the trick, if not …I could always decapitate him."
Trowa struggled to his feet. Ryu was standing right behind him and he could tell. "So Ryu … after I die…"
"Yes?"
"Do me a favor."
"Uh sure, I guess."
"No decapitations?"
"Sure, why not?"
Ryu pressed the gun to Trowas back and unloaded the last 8 rounds in the gun on Trowa point-blank. Trowa fumbled forward as Ryu shot him. Right before he fell over the ledge he turned to Ryu and grabbed his arm.
"No you fool!"
"You think I'd go alone?"
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Trowa smashed to the ground and Ryu soon after falling on Trowa.
Both men lay soaking in a pool of blood, unconscious, or possibly even dead.
Anna stalked the streets of Tokyo, searching for any sign of Victor. She'd catch glimpses of him before he'd vanish from sight only to reappear to keep her on track. They were playing cat and mouse, but she could not figure out why he had put himself in the position of the mouse. She turned down one alley to take a shortcut. The young woman frowned as she caught sight of a figure leaning against the wall across the street.
"Quatre?" she asked hesitantly.
He looked up at her, tears streaking down his pale cheeks. "He's dead, Anna. I can feel it."
She glanced around and put a hand on his arm. "Who, Quatre?"
"Trowa. Ryuujin tried to kill me, but Trowa came and stopped him. I thought I should find Chase, but now he's gone," Quatre said, wiping the side of his face with his hand.
"Wait, Ryuujin tried to kill you? Was he insane?" Anna asked aghast. When Ryuujin went crazy, he usually sought Chase or her out before killing random people. Or at least that's how she thought it worked.
Quatre shook his head. "No, that's what I don't understand. He wasn't crazy Anna."
The younger woman felt movement behind her. Her eyes narrowed, but she rubbed Quatre's arm. "Listen, Quat. Did you find Chase?"
He nodded. "We found them, we found their bodies…" he trailed off. "She told me to call Heero."
"Did you call him?"
He nodded. "I just can't go back, Anna. I can't see him, not like that." He murmured.
"Babe, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Go back to the hotel or somewhere safe, okay? I'm sure Chase has it under control."
He nodded again.
She smiled. "Good. Pull it together, Quat, we need your soldier side back. I'll be back."
They moved away from each other, one in search of life and the other in search of death.
Anna slipped into a different alley. This one was a dead end and not very well lit. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," she called.
"I would comply, but then I would be giving up control of the board." Victor's voice rang out at her.
Anna turned around but saw nothing. She cautiously moved further into the alley, gun in hand. "Why are you doing this?"
He sighed. "I'm dying, Ms. Mei. Not mentally, I shall take my wits with me to the grave. Physically however I have been marked by Death himself."
"Oh, you've met my husband?" Anna said dryly.
He smirked. "Your former husband, yes. We had the pleasure of meeting."
"You're still standing, too. Congratulations. Not many people accomplish that."
"You've got some wit yourself, Ms. Mei. Your former husband is not a threat to me. My superiors were not happy with my overall performance. So I'm going out on my own terms, and taking my competitor with me. As a soldier, you should understand that."
*Is* not a threat? Anna thought. The mental question was ripped from her mind as an explosion went off behind her and she was momentarily frozen when a bolt of electric like pain ran through her nerves.
"A gentleman always makes the first move." Victor said.
Anna realized she was in a lot of trouble. She shot down the alley, merging herself into the shadows. She reached up and grabbed the fire ladder and hauled herself up on to it. He could see her, she knew. She had to end this and fast.
His form appeared at the end of the alley. There was madness in his eyes. "Why are you running away? We're both being called on to something different. Can't you feel it?"
Anna waited. He moved closer. He was determined for them both to die.
"You aren't making this any fun, Ms. Mei. Haven't you ever heard of risk?"
"Have you ever heard of Monopoly?" Anna muttered before she could stop herself.
He turned his body in her direction, but he hadn't spotted her yet. He grinned sadistically in the darkness. "There's another popular game. It's called the game of Life. I always thought it was funny to be able to play all of Life in forty minutes or so. I also thought it was ironic there was no cemetery at the end. You either got a little shack or a giant mansion. But that's not what's at the end of Life. Don't you agree?"
He became angry at her lack of response. "Don't you? Answer me! You have to agree! You have to play!" he screamed.
She took a deep breath. He was close enough now. "Yes, I agree. You forget whom you are speaking to. Once upon a time, Death was my life, and I was his angel. Then it caught up to him, Victor. It catches up to everyone. But my game isn't over yet."
Victor fired again, barely missing her shoulder. Anna muttered a curse under her breath and quickly jumped down from her position. She grabbed her fan from her jacket pocket and flicked out the blade, swinging it at him. He came at her, that wild, insane look still in his gold eyes. Something in General Victor had snapped.
Something gold fell out from under his collar stopped only by the chain it was resting on. Anna stared at it.
"What the devil?" she muttered.
He leered at her. "Didn't I tell you? I have your wedding rings. It binds us together to play the game."
Anna felt the rage grow in her and she leapt from her spot, tackling him to the ground. His gun flew off to the side, leaving the enraged ex-Star pilot straddling him. She shoved the barrel of her magnum to his forehead.
"Victor, for crimes against the people of earth and the colonies, and as a threat to peace, you are condemned to die." She growled.
He was too weak to fight her off so he just grinned wickedly at her. "You can't kill me. You aren't strong enough."
"How much you willing to stake on that?"
"You'll be damned forever!" he shrieked wildly.
"I doubt it, but in case you're right, I'll see you in hell!" Anna snarled. She ripped the chain off his neck, and fired. Once, twice, then three times the gun went off.
Anna fell away from the man, clutching the rings in her left palm. She stared at what she had done before stumbling further back into the alley. She backed into the wall and the young woman slid down it. Cautiously she pulled the sides of her jacket back and drew in a sharp breath.
He had done more damage than she had previously thought. The lower half of her white blouse was imbrued, turning it a crimson color. She shut her eyes and a tear fell down her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
The rings fell from her fingers, clanking onto the cold surface. Silence reigned then in the alleys of Tokyo.
***
Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Called him soft names in any a mused rhyme,
To take into the air my quiet breath;
Now more than ever it seems rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain
While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad
In such ecstasy!
Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain
To thy high requiem become a sod.
~Keats
Trowa threw his wait over the lip of the roofs edge "Now to just find Ryu *Cocks his gun* and finish this stupid brawl.
"No hiding this time Trowa, like I said, we finish this."
"Very well Ryu. But this time I won't miss."
"Nether will I."
Ryu sprinted off at Trowa, sword ready. Trowa fired two bullets into Ryu, one hitting him in the shoulder and the other in the chest. Ryu slid to his knees in from of Trowa and blood ran form his mouth.
"I told you I wouldn't miss Ryu."
"And I …said the same." Ryu smiled at Trowa who now had the Dragon Blade going all the way through him.
Ryu stood up with a limp. "Not dead yet? Darn you assassins take a while to kill." Ryu gripped the handle of his sword with two hands. "Ready for a ride Trowa?" Ryu motioned to behind Trowa.
Trowa, still stunned, turned to see his fate, a twelve-foot gap between a four-story drop. "Ryu…don't."
"Too late!" Ryu heaved as he lifted the skewered Trowa off the ground a swung the sword hard.
Trowa slid off the sword and flew through the air and landed with a roll onto the neighboring building.
"Damn, too much power." Ryu's gaze shifted to the floor next to him where Trowa had dropped his gun. "This SHOULD do the trick, if not …I could always decapitate him."
Trowa struggled to his feet. Ryu was standing right behind him and he could tell. "So Ryu … after I die…"
"Yes?"
"Do me a favor."
"Uh sure, I guess."
"No decapitations?"
"Sure, why not?"
Ryu pressed the gun to Trowas back and unloaded the last 8 rounds in the gun on Trowa point-blank. Trowa fumbled forward as Ryu shot him. Right before he fell over the ledge he turned to Ryu and grabbed his arm.
"No you fool!"
"You think I'd go alone?"
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Trowa smashed to the ground and Ryu soon after falling on Trowa.
Both men lay soaking in a pool of blood, unconscious, or possibly even dead.
Anna stalked the streets of Tokyo, searching for any sign of Victor. She'd catch glimpses of him before he'd vanish from sight only to reappear to keep her on track. They were playing cat and mouse, but she could not figure out why he had put himself in the position of the mouse. She turned down one alley to take a shortcut. The young woman frowned as she caught sight of a figure leaning against the wall across the street.
"Quatre?" she asked hesitantly.
He looked up at her, tears streaking down his pale cheeks. "He's dead, Anna. I can feel it."
She glanced around and put a hand on his arm. "Who, Quatre?"
"Trowa. Ryuujin tried to kill me, but Trowa came and stopped him. I thought I should find Chase, but now he's gone," Quatre said, wiping the side of his face with his hand.
"Wait, Ryuujin tried to kill you? Was he insane?" Anna asked aghast. When Ryuujin went crazy, he usually sought Chase or her out before killing random people. Or at least that's how she thought it worked.
Quatre shook his head. "No, that's what I don't understand. He wasn't crazy Anna."
The younger woman felt movement behind her. Her eyes narrowed, but she rubbed Quatre's arm. "Listen, Quat. Did you find Chase?"
He nodded. "We found them, we found their bodies…" he trailed off. "She told me to call Heero."
"Did you call him?"
He nodded. "I just can't go back, Anna. I can't see him, not like that." He murmured.
"Babe, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Go back to the hotel or somewhere safe, okay? I'm sure Chase has it under control."
He nodded again.
She smiled. "Good. Pull it together, Quat, we need your soldier side back. I'll be back."
They moved away from each other, one in search of life and the other in search of death.
Anna slipped into a different alley. This one was a dead end and not very well lit. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," she called.
"I would comply, but then I would be giving up control of the board." Victor's voice rang out at her.
Anna turned around but saw nothing. She cautiously moved further into the alley, gun in hand. "Why are you doing this?"
He sighed. "I'm dying, Ms. Mei. Not mentally, I shall take my wits with me to the grave. Physically however I have been marked by Death himself."
"Oh, you've met my husband?" Anna said dryly.
He smirked. "Your former husband, yes. We had the pleasure of meeting."
"You're still standing, too. Congratulations. Not many people accomplish that."
"You've got some wit yourself, Ms. Mei. Your former husband is not a threat to me. My superiors were not happy with my overall performance. So I'm going out on my own terms, and taking my competitor with me. As a soldier, you should understand that."
*Is* not a threat? Anna thought. The mental question was ripped from her mind as an explosion went off behind her and she was momentarily frozen when a bolt of electric like pain ran through her nerves.
"A gentleman always makes the first move." Victor said.
Anna realized she was in a lot of trouble. She shot down the alley, merging herself into the shadows. She reached up and grabbed the fire ladder and hauled herself up on to it. He could see her, she knew. She had to end this and fast.
His form appeared at the end of the alley. There was madness in his eyes. "Why are you running away? We're both being called on to something different. Can't you feel it?"
Anna waited. He moved closer. He was determined for them both to die.
"You aren't making this any fun, Ms. Mei. Haven't you ever heard of risk?"
"Have you ever heard of Monopoly?" Anna muttered before she could stop herself.
He turned his body in her direction, but he hadn't spotted her yet. He grinned sadistically in the darkness. "There's another popular game. It's called the game of Life. I always thought it was funny to be able to play all of Life in forty minutes or so. I also thought it was ironic there was no cemetery at the end. You either got a little shack or a giant mansion. But that's not what's at the end of Life. Don't you agree?"
He became angry at her lack of response. "Don't you? Answer me! You have to agree! You have to play!" he screamed.
She took a deep breath. He was close enough now. "Yes, I agree. You forget whom you are speaking to. Once upon a time, Death was my life, and I was his angel. Then it caught up to him, Victor. It catches up to everyone. But my game isn't over yet."
Victor fired again, barely missing her shoulder. Anna muttered a curse under her breath and quickly jumped down from her position. She grabbed her fan from her jacket pocket and flicked out the blade, swinging it at him. He came at her, that wild, insane look still in his gold eyes. Something in General Victor had snapped.
Something gold fell out from under his collar stopped only by the chain it was resting on. Anna stared at it.
"What the devil?" she muttered.
He leered at her. "Didn't I tell you? I have your wedding rings. It binds us together to play the game."
Anna felt the rage grow in her and she leapt from her spot, tackling him to the ground. His gun flew off to the side, leaving the enraged ex-Star pilot straddling him. She shoved the barrel of her magnum to his forehead.
"Victor, for crimes against the people of earth and the colonies, and as a threat to peace, you are condemned to die." She growled.
He was too weak to fight her off so he just grinned wickedly at her. "You can't kill me. You aren't strong enough."
"How much you willing to stake on that?"
"You'll be damned forever!" he shrieked wildly.
"I doubt it, but in case you're right, I'll see you in hell!" Anna snarled. She ripped the chain off his neck, and fired. Once, twice, then three times the gun went off.
Anna fell away from the man, clutching the rings in her left palm. She stared at what she had done before stumbling further back into the alley. She backed into the wall and the young woman slid down it. Cautiously she pulled the sides of her jacket back and drew in a sharp breath.
He had done more damage than she had previously thought. The lower half of her white blouse was imbrued, turning it a crimson color. She shut her eyes and a tear fell down her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
The rings fell from her fingers, clanking onto the cold surface. Silence reigned then in the alleys of Tokyo.
***
Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Called him soft names in any a mused rhyme,
To take into the air my quiet breath;
Now more than ever it seems rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain
While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad
In such ecstasy!
Still wouldst thou sing, and I have ears in vain
To thy high requiem become a sod.
~Keats
