Scarlet Lady: The Toshin Quest
By Indigo Siren
Disclaimer: Tekken is © to Namco, and that all characters mentioned from under this label are only used in this fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. No money is being made from this story; it is just for fun. I do however own the basic concept and characters of my own creation.
Chapter 10
"How could this have happened?"
Anna stood staring at the TV set. She was trying to hide the dismay in her face as she watched the live news report, relaying her the news of Julia's murder. The pictures feeding through sneakily caught some rather choppy shots of the murder scene, thankfully covered up, but the police were pushing away the camera crew. Still, they kept rolling, now trying to focus in on Naoko Miyazaki, who was going on with the coverage while being pushed back away from the Mishima High School site.
Anna slumped down on her bed, still staring at the television, her emotions somewhere between anger and upset. She hadn't liked Julia, but hell, she could have been close to saving her life, if she'd just stuck close to her a little longer.
With a heavy sigh, she rose up again, feeling so restless, that with the fact she'd had little sleep. Aching and feeling the bruising from the night prior, she slung on her crimson, velvet dressing gown and marched out of her room to Forest's, which was just next door. She knocked, and was surprised that he answered the door quite late. He wasn't a morning person after all. He was half dressed and looking rather a tatter. Anna could distinctly hear the TV in the background of his room.
"You watching the news report too?" She asked, stepping by him.
"It's the only thing keeping me awake," he said with a snort, shutting the door behind her and following Anna back into the room. "Wasn't that the girl you were with last night?"
"Yes," Anna said lowly. "I can't believe that Toshin got hold of her. I have a feeling that it was worried she was starting to stick her nose in. No way in hell would Toshin believe she had 'The Red Eye'."
"Who knows truly," Forest said, searching out a shirt from his suitcase laid on the bed. "And you know, the governors are not going to feed well off this. Eddy is going to have a much harder time in convincing them. Governor Mishima is the investor of the school and he is sure as hell going to go out of his way to make a big argument to chuck IPD off the case."
"I think so…" Anna groaned into her hands as she ran them over her face. She didn't need this at all. More pressure, more problems, and definitely more things to answer for. "Lei is going to love every minute of this."
"The sarcasm is ripe today," Forest picked at her, though, he wished he hadn't as she pretty much walked up to him, pushing her body to his, forcing him back a few steps. The look on her face could have made the most gruesome murderer in the world cower in fear.
"Don't piss me off, Forest, I'm warning you. I've had little sleep. I had to write a report of our findings in the early hours of this morning and now I've got to write something up on this. I'm aching and I'm fed up. Do you hear me? FED UP!"
Forest backed off again with her raised voice. His hands went up in defence. "I would ask you to calm down but I think that you're too far gone now even for that!"
"Damn straight," she confirmed. "Right, get dressed properly. I'll be back after a shower." She stomped out, still talking. "There is much to go over. I think it's time to take some serious action."
"Action?" Forest grimaced. "Oh boy…"
About twenty minutes later, Anna returned again, showered and dressed in a satin blouse and pressed trousers, with her suit jacket hanging over one shoulder. She was revealing her tan leather gun holster, with gun in tow. She had a serious look on her face.
"Anna," Forest tried to calm, seeing the obvious anger in her face. "I know you're pissed, but you really need to think before you do anything. You're going to do something drastic and get yourself hurt or killed."
"I'm tired of beating around the bush. I just want to go out there and sort this out once and for all," she said firmly.
Forest's mouth dropped out wide. "You're crazy!"
"Crazy I maybe, but I'd be more crazy just to take this so easily. It's getting to a point where I'm starting to crack and I've decided that I'm gonna put myself forward before I totally lose my cool."
"You get worse then this?"
"Forest!" She snapped, agitated.
"Sorry, sorry…" He cleared his throat. "But seriously, stop and think. We have to fill Lei in on the proceedings…"
"I'll let you do that call," she said, turning on her heel, heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" He asked, worry sneaking into his voice.
She stopped and peered over her shoulder. "I'm going to look for Toshin myself."
"You can't do it alone. It's like a kamikaze attack by yourself! We need to meet up with Eddy and IPD Japan; sort some stuff out rationally and all."
"You know, you can call Eddy…" She turned and walked again. "… And tell him to give me back up. Tell him to send out his squad on patrol. I'll be combing the suburbs of Tokyo."
"But An-" The door slammed on him before he could finish shouting after her. He smashed his hand down on the bedside table. She was putting herself in all kinds of danger, and landing him in all kinds of shit with the authoritative side. In some ways, her position was the better deal.
***
Running on mostly adrenaline, Anna drove the rent car through the streets, eyes picking out every detail around her. The quite noisy streets indicated everything of everyday life. Young children played on their front lawns under the careful watch of mothers and babysitters. Mixed groups of people walking to work filled up the gaps between school children running off to get in on time. She did notice a few Mishima High School uniformed children, obviously going home as the school was now shut while the murder investigation went on.
Her knuckles were turning white while gripped so vice like to the steering wheel, though, she didn't noticed while her mind was occupied on every little stress that wished to be noticed. Never before had she felt so determined.
Anna had contemplated going to see Jin, but she felt that getting him more involved would cause more trouble and with him being Heihachi Mishima's grandson, it could cause quite a stir with the older man if he were to find out.
"Up shit creek without a paddle… just the way I feel," she murmured, fiddling around with the radio to try and fill the silence with some music. But what would it help? She didn't want to really distract herself too much now, if she wasn't enough already.
***
"You've got to be kidding me," Lei's voice came stressfully after hearing about Anna's sudden take off into the situation.
"I'm sorry, sir, I would have stopped her, but seriously, she's not someone you want to cross when she's in THAT mood," Forest told his boss over his phone.
"Eddy and IPD Japan have been informed of her sudden one woman army strategy?" The Chinese man asked.
"Yes, sir, they have. They are going to try and catch up with her while on the look out themselves for sightings of Toshin."
Lei growled. "She really is going to botch this up with this stupid plan of hers." He sighed to follow. "I think you should fill me in on everything that has happened."
"Anna was suppose to, but she left it up to me. Are we on a secure line?"
"Yes," Lei confirmed without hesitation.
"Well, this is what we've got…"
***
Nothing; not even a single hint had come up. While she'd driven around, all that she found out was that looking around so much really did hurt the neck. Tired, hungry and angry, she drove on, refusing to give up. The day was rapidly fading, but she was willing to ignore everything around her. Especially her phone on the dashboard, which had been ringing on and off all day. Forest had tried a few times, then Lei and then Eddy. She'd answered the phone to Eddy and he informed her that the Governors had decided to give them another week, much to Heihachi's protest. He tried to call her off the hunt, but she told him that it was the only thing she could do now, and hung up on him.
Finally, she gave up on driving, as her eyes were starting to hurt her as she was straining to see in the now darkening area. She instead, took to going around on foot, following her senses. She could sense demons about, but nothing powerful or in the distinct nature of Toshin.
She was in the suburbs, going in the places that were mainly hinted of Toshin's murders. She was out in the open, easy prey but not one to easily fall down to a single punch.
Running down through the middle of an empty road, she followed any trail she could, sensing out demons that she would consider a threat. Bitter and cold, she was beginning to lose faith in her abilities.
'The bastard can't be that hard to find. A big, powerful demon can't hide for long without being found out…' Her mind boggled on this notion, trying to consider all the possibilities.
She was considering things, that was, until she was struck from behind by a heavy elbow. She fell awkwardly on the gritty tarmac, feeling the whole of her left side go numb as she cracked against the floor. Of course, being the resilient fighter she was, she rolled onto her back and put a foot up just in time to hold away the man who was about to leap on her in another attack.
His eyes glowed - Toshin's symbol of control.
"Bastard," she hissed and pushed him away.
He stumbled but was caught by a fellow friend, who righted him and the two began to slowly advance on her.
Anna clambered up to her feet, making a slight groan as she felt her left side began to react to any sudden movements. Feeling she needed to catch her breath, she stepped backwards on the defensive.
The scuffing sound of boots made her turn to see three more people advancing out behind her, forming a tight circle. No, there was four there, one only barely came into her sights off to her right.
She turned about within this forming circle, cringing slightly at being cornered. She'd been taken off guard because she was trying to focus on other demonic power threats. Couldn't it have been plainly obvious then even the low powered ones could be a danger too?
She checked out the competition, to see whom she was up against.
The two men in front of her were Japanese, both dressed in black, punk style attire; it was noticeable that the one that attacked her was very small. Between the group of four behind her, there was two girls, both Japanese and with long hair, one with blonde streaks, the other dyed hers a fiery orange, and the two were dressed quite darkly, but not really in punk style. The last two guys were mixed faces, one was Chinese and the other looked Mexican, both co-ordinating with the flowing theme. They were all teens.
'An easy influence,' was Anna's guess.
"Our lord Toshin knows of your search," the one that attacked her said.
"And let me guess, you're hear to put a stop to it?" Anna sarcastically asked the obvious.
The two men ahead of her grinned, the larger one giving the nod for the advance.
Anna held her breath as she could hear the group coming towards her, heavy footed and all so ready to pound her into the ground. She seethed, cursing herself for this predicament.
'Right, if I'm going to die, at least I'll die fighting,' she told herself, suddenly out striking at the smaller man in front of her with a sharp, harsh elbow attack. His head went backwards and the grizzly crack of his nose was enough to turn her stomach. Within the outward spray of blood, he made a gargled sound, eyes rolling back as he fell against his companion, pushing him backwards.
The taller man had to push him aside quickly to put up a black for Anna's knife like chop. He staggered, recovered and gave her a left hook to the cheek, trying to follow with a right uppercut, but she caught his arm and flipped him straight over. He rolled aside from her stomp and came up to attack her again.
Anna noticed the Chinese boy from behind was coming in for a charge at her too and she quickly reversed the Japanese boy's punch by taking his incoming arm in a hook and locked him in front of her. The Chinese boy had been coming in with a heavy striking kick and instead took out his friend. His neck made a heavy crack and Anna instantly let him go, stepping away from him. She gave her new attacker a punch to the gut and a roundhouse kick to the face for good measure.
He fell down at the feet of the Mexican, who gave a feral cry and leapt at her in a fury of punches. There was so many, she could block them all and she ended up faltering down to one knee. Taking the opportunity, he grabbed her hair, pulling her head back, ready to strike a punch straight into the centre of her face.
He'd left himself open for a low blow, as Anna struck her fist straight into his groin. His release on her hair lifted as he doubled over, howling in pain. She came up with a swift uppercut, sending him backward onto the floor.
She was now left standing face to face with the two girls, whom had gone back to back with each other as they awaited the Irish woman to move.
"Come and get me," Anna taunted, giving a very mocking wink to them.
Showing amazing speed, the ginger-headed one was suddenly in front of her, striking her face with such a vicious slap. Anna back-stepped in shock, but gave a snort.
"Nice." She swiftly slapped her foe back, with as much force as she could, sending the girl crashing downwards.
The other girl was now somersaulting up and over Anna, planting her feet on the IPD officer's back and sent her down forcefully. She landed gracefully a few steps away while Anna was kissing the concrete heavily.
'Bitch…' She thought. She felt the hands of the ginger-headed girl grasp the back of her hair, and with a horrendous shriek she began to try and slam Anna's head against the concrete repeatedly. But Anna had her hands pressing rigidly in the way, so the girl couldn't quite manage it.
Ignoring the awful pain of the girl nearly ripping her hair off her hair, she quickly rolled onto her back, her legs coming up to strike a heavy blow at her opponent's head.
The girl's actions ceased and she instantly released Anna, collapsing back onto the tarmac.
The blonde streaked girl came at her with a high kick, yelling some obscenities in her native tongue. Anna went low and took out her other leg, rising in time to take that kicking leg and twist it sharply, hearing a satisfying pop at the hip. The girl screamed in agony, but despite, she tried to rise again.
Anna helped her, though she did end up swinging her around and nearly beheading her against a road sign. The girl fell back and lay still.
"Anymore!" Anna shouted determinedly. Nobody else came out to fight, her cry echoing emptily in the air.
There had to be more, that couldn't have been it. So easy to deal with…
She was shocked however to see a green glow moments later move across the top of the road and disappear again. Nina's face had distinctly caught her eye.
"Toshin…" Anna's voice was nearly a whisper. She'd finally caught up with her sister.
Now powered by her fury, she left the string of bodies and took off after Toshin.
Her body was sore, the muscles wanting to shut down on her but she refused to listen to her inner cries of pain. Taking a pounding twice within a twenty-four hour period was pretty stupid. It wasn't good for her health, though, when was it ever?
Anna followed the ever-moving green light, always a step ahead of her. She knew that it could be dangerous to go alone in the pursuit of Toshin, but it was her only chance now to stop it before it killed again. And when they chance is there, it had to be taken.
She suddenly found herself on a long empty stretch, each side of the road lined with closed shops, not a person in sight.
"It feels so dead…" She whispered to herself, turning about on the spot, searching for the green light again.
She couldn't have lost Toshin so soon, not after such a long chase. It all felt so strange, so deliberate that she was there. It could have been one of Toshin's games… or even a trap.
"Anna Williams, you've become such a pest to me…"
Toshin appeared from the side of one of the buildings, startling the auburn haired woman.
Anna felt sorry for her sister, to see her in this controlled state.
Nina's hair was lackey down around her face, instead of in its usual trademark ponytail. Her skin was pallid, almost white; a green hue making parts of her almost translucent. A thin layer of green material covered her chest and low extremities, such a thin film but enough to keep the dignity of the woman. Nina's glowing greenish yellow eyes ran over Anna, a dark smile forming on that beautiful face.
"Oh Anna, you never give up do you. So courageous and noble to your cause. But why face against death? Why not join it?"
"I'm not corrupt… I'd never help you," Anna hissed.
Toshin tilted Nina's head, giving her a curious look. "Why?"
"Shut up," Anna insisted, drawing her weapon sharply.
"You won't answer because you know that you can't give me one. You don't know the true meaning of wrong. It can't be described truly, can it?" Toshin advanced with a steady hover. "What is wrong, what is right? Do you really know, besides the rules they tell you?"
"Wrong is all evil and whatever disturbs the peace of the people," Anna finally said.
"There is no true evil. Because even good is evil sometimes…" Toshin lingered on the words and chuckled deeply. "Whichever way you look, nothing truly makes sense."
Anna gulped and shook her head. "I'm not going to listen to you."
"Please, Anna," Toshin said in a mock begging voice. "You don't want to hurt me do you? Not your own sister."
"You're not my sister!" Anna snapped.
"Yes, I am, don't you see me standing in front of you?" The beautiful hands of the blonde femme fatale reached out, gently moving up Anna's arms. "You want to help me, I know you do…"
Anna couldn't speak; the tingling sensation that ran over her skin was overwhelming. She couldn't pull away from her sister as she advanced to press so close.
"Then help me, Anna," came that feminine voice of her sister, lapping over the echo of Toshin. Her hands came up to touch Anna's cheeks, rubbing soft circles into the peachy skin.
Anna's mind was clouding slightly. Something was happening, but she couldn't fight it.
"Nina, I know you're in there…" She tried to call softly.
"I'm here, little sister," Nina's voice came in gentle, caressing reply that tickled across the younger William's skin.
Unknowing to her own senses, she let herself being enveloped by Nina's arms, bringing her to rest warmly against her body. Anna subconsciously brought her arms around her sister's back, tears streaming from her eyes. The feeling of being lost and alone had started to kick in. She needed the warmth of a mother to keep her safe, but the arms of a loving sister were just as good.
Nina smiled, her hand delicately stroking the young woman's back. "My sweet little Anna. Stay with me. Nothing will hurt you while you're with me…"
"Nina…" Anna whispered.
Nina leaned her back slightly, making her look up at her. The soft smile that graced the blonde woman's face seemed to melt her in her shoes.
"No more worries," Nina whispered, leaning in to grace her lips against Anna's carefully, lingering to them with a sense of warmth.
It was then all the alarm bells inside Anna triggered and the cloudiness beginning to shatter. Her spirit was starting to shake, her soul screaming to break away, and finally, she was listening to her body. Toshin was trying to control her long enough to get to her soul, but she now put up her shields, cutting off the magic and she pushed away from her sister and gave her a swift slap to the face, gun back up in front of her now.
"You con! Trying to buy into my soul with phoney love! How dare you use my sister like this," she said with a screaming fury.
"So close to an eternal safety, little Anna," Toshin's voice took back over Nina's.
A roar filled the night, ripping from Toshin's lips; the calling for a power that Anna had never felt before. A coarse green lightning crackled around Anna's body. It was a tight and choking feeling and she could barely register herself leaving the ground as she was flung in the air by the force of the power.
When Anna struck the ground, she screamed, her body wracked with pain. She could hear her gun skittering away from her, now meaning she was totally defenceless.
Toshin was suddenly over the IPD officer. It's hand swooped down, tearing the collar of Anna's top and ripping her cross necklace straight off.
"Where is your God now?" Toshin tormented, laughing viciously.
Toshin created a shimmering green light within its palms, ready to finish off the helpless woman. But then, a shot, deafening with the echo of the empty air, rung out.
Toshin quivered, the light dissipating. It gave a mighty yell as blood sprayed from the shoulder, marring Nina's beautiful skin. It sunk back, fearing interruption.
"Live another day, Anna, but live in fear," Toshin spat, and then leapt into the sky, screeching. "I'M CLOSE TO MY PRIZE!"
The green glow faded away into the dark, now only the stars painting the black. Anna stared up, shivering, her vision painted with dots as she was on the verge of passing out.
She heard a clang of a gun drop down beside her and form loomed in to block her vision of the stars.
"Anna?"
She frowned at that voice, and then felt a hand brush aside a few hairs from her face.
"Hwoarang?" She whispered, beginning to fade into the unconscious world. Her heart was thankful to know the shot from his gun wasn't directed at her. The blackness comforted her fleeting thoughts.
*********************************************************************************
A/N: The battle with Toshin is far from over. Anna is going to need some serious help to defeat the monster and save her sister. Look out for the next chapter coming soon...
By Indigo Siren
Disclaimer: Tekken is © to Namco, and that all characters mentioned from under this label are only used in this fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. No money is being made from this story; it is just for fun. I do however own the basic concept and characters of my own creation.
Chapter 10
"How could this have happened?"
Anna stood staring at the TV set. She was trying to hide the dismay in her face as she watched the live news report, relaying her the news of Julia's murder. The pictures feeding through sneakily caught some rather choppy shots of the murder scene, thankfully covered up, but the police were pushing away the camera crew. Still, they kept rolling, now trying to focus in on Naoko Miyazaki, who was going on with the coverage while being pushed back away from the Mishima High School site.
Anna slumped down on her bed, still staring at the television, her emotions somewhere between anger and upset. She hadn't liked Julia, but hell, she could have been close to saving her life, if she'd just stuck close to her a little longer.
With a heavy sigh, she rose up again, feeling so restless, that with the fact she'd had little sleep. Aching and feeling the bruising from the night prior, she slung on her crimson, velvet dressing gown and marched out of her room to Forest's, which was just next door. She knocked, and was surprised that he answered the door quite late. He wasn't a morning person after all. He was half dressed and looking rather a tatter. Anna could distinctly hear the TV in the background of his room.
"You watching the news report too?" She asked, stepping by him.
"It's the only thing keeping me awake," he said with a snort, shutting the door behind her and following Anna back into the room. "Wasn't that the girl you were with last night?"
"Yes," Anna said lowly. "I can't believe that Toshin got hold of her. I have a feeling that it was worried she was starting to stick her nose in. No way in hell would Toshin believe she had 'The Red Eye'."
"Who knows truly," Forest said, searching out a shirt from his suitcase laid on the bed. "And you know, the governors are not going to feed well off this. Eddy is going to have a much harder time in convincing them. Governor Mishima is the investor of the school and he is sure as hell going to go out of his way to make a big argument to chuck IPD off the case."
"I think so…" Anna groaned into her hands as she ran them over her face. She didn't need this at all. More pressure, more problems, and definitely more things to answer for. "Lei is going to love every minute of this."
"The sarcasm is ripe today," Forest picked at her, though, he wished he hadn't as she pretty much walked up to him, pushing her body to his, forcing him back a few steps. The look on her face could have made the most gruesome murderer in the world cower in fear.
"Don't piss me off, Forest, I'm warning you. I've had little sleep. I had to write a report of our findings in the early hours of this morning and now I've got to write something up on this. I'm aching and I'm fed up. Do you hear me? FED UP!"
Forest backed off again with her raised voice. His hands went up in defence. "I would ask you to calm down but I think that you're too far gone now even for that!"
"Damn straight," she confirmed. "Right, get dressed properly. I'll be back after a shower." She stomped out, still talking. "There is much to go over. I think it's time to take some serious action."
"Action?" Forest grimaced. "Oh boy…"
About twenty minutes later, Anna returned again, showered and dressed in a satin blouse and pressed trousers, with her suit jacket hanging over one shoulder. She was revealing her tan leather gun holster, with gun in tow. She had a serious look on her face.
"Anna," Forest tried to calm, seeing the obvious anger in her face. "I know you're pissed, but you really need to think before you do anything. You're going to do something drastic and get yourself hurt or killed."
"I'm tired of beating around the bush. I just want to go out there and sort this out once and for all," she said firmly.
Forest's mouth dropped out wide. "You're crazy!"
"Crazy I maybe, but I'd be more crazy just to take this so easily. It's getting to a point where I'm starting to crack and I've decided that I'm gonna put myself forward before I totally lose my cool."
"You get worse then this?"
"Forest!" She snapped, agitated.
"Sorry, sorry…" He cleared his throat. "But seriously, stop and think. We have to fill Lei in on the proceedings…"
"I'll let you do that call," she said, turning on her heel, heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" He asked, worry sneaking into his voice.
She stopped and peered over her shoulder. "I'm going to look for Toshin myself."
"You can't do it alone. It's like a kamikaze attack by yourself! We need to meet up with Eddy and IPD Japan; sort some stuff out rationally and all."
"You know, you can call Eddy…" She turned and walked again. "… And tell him to give me back up. Tell him to send out his squad on patrol. I'll be combing the suburbs of Tokyo."
"But An-" The door slammed on him before he could finish shouting after her. He smashed his hand down on the bedside table. She was putting herself in all kinds of danger, and landing him in all kinds of shit with the authoritative side. In some ways, her position was the better deal.
***
Running on mostly adrenaline, Anna drove the rent car through the streets, eyes picking out every detail around her. The quite noisy streets indicated everything of everyday life. Young children played on their front lawns under the careful watch of mothers and babysitters. Mixed groups of people walking to work filled up the gaps between school children running off to get in on time. She did notice a few Mishima High School uniformed children, obviously going home as the school was now shut while the murder investigation went on.
Her knuckles were turning white while gripped so vice like to the steering wheel, though, she didn't noticed while her mind was occupied on every little stress that wished to be noticed. Never before had she felt so determined.
Anna had contemplated going to see Jin, but she felt that getting him more involved would cause more trouble and with him being Heihachi Mishima's grandson, it could cause quite a stir with the older man if he were to find out.
"Up shit creek without a paddle… just the way I feel," she murmured, fiddling around with the radio to try and fill the silence with some music. But what would it help? She didn't want to really distract herself too much now, if she wasn't enough already.
***
"You've got to be kidding me," Lei's voice came stressfully after hearing about Anna's sudden take off into the situation.
"I'm sorry, sir, I would have stopped her, but seriously, she's not someone you want to cross when she's in THAT mood," Forest told his boss over his phone.
"Eddy and IPD Japan have been informed of her sudden one woman army strategy?" The Chinese man asked.
"Yes, sir, they have. They are going to try and catch up with her while on the look out themselves for sightings of Toshin."
Lei growled. "She really is going to botch this up with this stupid plan of hers." He sighed to follow. "I think you should fill me in on everything that has happened."
"Anna was suppose to, but she left it up to me. Are we on a secure line?"
"Yes," Lei confirmed without hesitation.
"Well, this is what we've got…"
***
Nothing; not even a single hint had come up. While she'd driven around, all that she found out was that looking around so much really did hurt the neck. Tired, hungry and angry, she drove on, refusing to give up. The day was rapidly fading, but she was willing to ignore everything around her. Especially her phone on the dashboard, which had been ringing on and off all day. Forest had tried a few times, then Lei and then Eddy. She'd answered the phone to Eddy and he informed her that the Governors had decided to give them another week, much to Heihachi's protest. He tried to call her off the hunt, but she told him that it was the only thing she could do now, and hung up on him.
Finally, she gave up on driving, as her eyes were starting to hurt her as she was straining to see in the now darkening area. She instead, took to going around on foot, following her senses. She could sense demons about, but nothing powerful or in the distinct nature of Toshin.
She was in the suburbs, going in the places that were mainly hinted of Toshin's murders. She was out in the open, easy prey but not one to easily fall down to a single punch.
Running down through the middle of an empty road, she followed any trail she could, sensing out demons that she would consider a threat. Bitter and cold, she was beginning to lose faith in her abilities.
'The bastard can't be that hard to find. A big, powerful demon can't hide for long without being found out…' Her mind boggled on this notion, trying to consider all the possibilities.
She was considering things, that was, until she was struck from behind by a heavy elbow. She fell awkwardly on the gritty tarmac, feeling the whole of her left side go numb as she cracked against the floor. Of course, being the resilient fighter she was, she rolled onto her back and put a foot up just in time to hold away the man who was about to leap on her in another attack.
His eyes glowed - Toshin's symbol of control.
"Bastard," she hissed and pushed him away.
He stumbled but was caught by a fellow friend, who righted him and the two began to slowly advance on her.
Anna clambered up to her feet, making a slight groan as she felt her left side began to react to any sudden movements. Feeling she needed to catch her breath, she stepped backwards on the defensive.
The scuffing sound of boots made her turn to see three more people advancing out behind her, forming a tight circle. No, there was four there, one only barely came into her sights off to her right.
She turned about within this forming circle, cringing slightly at being cornered. She'd been taken off guard because she was trying to focus on other demonic power threats. Couldn't it have been plainly obvious then even the low powered ones could be a danger too?
She checked out the competition, to see whom she was up against.
The two men in front of her were Japanese, both dressed in black, punk style attire; it was noticeable that the one that attacked her was very small. Between the group of four behind her, there was two girls, both Japanese and with long hair, one with blonde streaks, the other dyed hers a fiery orange, and the two were dressed quite darkly, but not really in punk style. The last two guys were mixed faces, one was Chinese and the other looked Mexican, both co-ordinating with the flowing theme. They were all teens.
'An easy influence,' was Anna's guess.
"Our lord Toshin knows of your search," the one that attacked her said.
"And let me guess, you're hear to put a stop to it?" Anna sarcastically asked the obvious.
The two men ahead of her grinned, the larger one giving the nod for the advance.
Anna held her breath as she could hear the group coming towards her, heavy footed and all so ready to pound her into the ground. She seethed, cursing herself for this predicament.
'Right, if I'm going to die, at least I'll die fighting,' she told herself, suddenly out striking at the smaller man in front of her with a sharp, harsh elbow attack. His head went backwards and the grizzly crack of his nose was enough to turn her stomach. Within the outward spray of blood, he made a gargled sound, eyes rolling back as he fell against his companion, pushing him backwards.
The taller man had to push him aside quickly to put up a black for Anna's knife like chop. He staggered, recovered and gave her a left hook to the cheek, trying to follow with a right uppercut, but she caught his arm and flipped him straight over. He rolled aside from her stomp and came up to attack her again.
Anna noticed the Chinese boy from behind was coming in for a charge at her too and she quickly reversed the Japanese boy's punch by taking his incoming arm in a hook and locked him in front of her. The Chinese boy had been coming in with a heavy striking kick and instead took out his friend. His neck made a heavy crack and Anna instantly let him go, stepping away from him. She gave her new attacker a punch to the gut and a roundhouse kick to the face for good measure.
He fell down at the feet of the Mexican, who gave a feral cry and leapt at her in a fury of punches. There was so many, she could block them all and she ended up faltering down to one knee. Taking the opportunity, he grabbed her hair, pulling her head back, ready to strike a punch straight into the centre of her face.
He'd left himself open for a low blow, as Anna struck her fist straight into his groin. His release on her hair lifted as he doubled over, howling in pain. She came up with a swift uppercut, sending him backward onto the floor.
She was now left standing face to face with the two girls, whom had gone back to back with each other as they awaited the Irish woman to move.
"Come and get me," Anna taunted, giving a very mocking wink to them.
Showing amazing speed, the ginger-headed one was suddenly in front of her, striking her face with such a vicious slap. Anna back-stepped in shock, but gave a snort.
"Nice." She swiftly slapped her foe back, with as much force as she could, sending the girl crashing downwards.
The other girl was now somersaulting up and over Anna, planting her feet on the IPD officer's back and sent her down forcefully. She landed gracefully a few steps away while Anna was kissing the concrete heavily.
'Bitch…' She thought. She felt the hands of the ginger-headed girl grasp the back of her hair, and with a horrendous shriek she began to try and slam Anna's head against the concrete repeatedly. But Anna had her hands pressing rigidly in the way, so the girl couldn't quite manage it.
Ignoring the awful pain of the girl nearly ripping her hair off her hair, she quickly rolled onto her back, her legs coming up to strike a heavy blow at her opponent's head.
The girl's actions ceased and she instantly released Anna, collapsing back onto the tarmac.
The blonde streaked girl came at her with a high kick, yelling some obscenities in her native tongue. Anna went low and took out her other leg, rising in time to take that kicking leg and twist it sharply, hearing a satisfying pop at the hip. The girl screamed in agony, but despite, she tried to rise again.
Anna helped her, though she did end up swinging her around and nearly beheading her against a road sign. The girl fell back and lay still.
"Anymore!" Anna shouted determinedly. Nobody else came out to fight, her cry echoing emptily in the air.
There had to be more, that couldn't have been it. So easy to deal with…
She was shocked however to see a green glow moments later move across the top of the road and disappear again. Nina's face had distinctly caught her eye.
"Toshin…" Anna's voice was nearly a whisper. She'd finally caught up with her sister.
Now powered by her fury, she left the string of bodies and took off after Toshin.
Her body was sore, the muscles wanting to shut down on her but she refused to listen to her inner cries of pain. Taking a pounding twice within a twenty-four hour period was pretty stupid. It wasn't good for her health, though, when was it ever?
Anna followed the ever-moving green light, always a step ahead of her. She knew that it could be dangerous to go alone in the pursuit of Toshin, but it was her only chance now to stop it before it killed again. And when they chance is there, it had to be taken.
She suddenly found herself on a long empty stretch, each side of the road lined with closed shops, not a person in sight.
"It feels so dead…" She whispered to herself, turning about on the spot, searching for the green light again.
She couldn't have lost Toshin so soon, not after such a long chase. It all felt so strange, so deliberate that she was there. It could have been one of Toshin's games… or even a trap.
"Anna Williams, you've become such a pest to me…"
Toshin appeared from the side of one of the buildings, startling the auburn haired woman.
Anna felt sorry for her sister, to see her in this controlled state.
Nina's hair was lackey down around her face, instead of in its usual trademark ponytail. Her skin was pallid, almost white; a green hue making parts of her almost translucent. A thin layer of green material covered her chest and low extremities, such a thin film but enough to keep the dignity of the woman. Nina's glowing greenish yellow eyes ran over Anna, a dark smile forming on that beautiful face.
"Oh Anna, you never give up do you. So courageous and noble to your cause. But why face against death? Why not join it?"
"I'm not corrupt… I'd never help you," Anna hissed.
Toshin tilted Nina's head, giving her a curious look. "Why?"
"Shut up," Anna insisted, drawing her weapon sharply.
"You won't answer because you know that you can't give me one. You don't know the true meaning of wrong. It can't be described truly, can it?" Toshin advanced with a steady hover. "What is wrong, what is right? Do you really know, besides the rules they tell you?"
"Wrong is all evil and whatever disturbs the peace of the people," Anna finally said.
"There is no true evil. Because even good is evil sometimes…" Toshin lingered on the words and chuckled deeply. "Whichever way you look, nothing truly makes sense."
Anna gulped and shook her head. "I'm not going to listen to you."
"Please, Anna," Toshin said in a mock begging voice. "You don't want to hurt me do you? Not your own sister."
"You're not my sister!" Anna snapped.
"Yes, I am, don't you see me standing in front of you?" The beautiful hands of the blonde femme fatale reached out, gently moving up Anna's arms. "You want to help me, I know you do…"
Anna couldn't speak; the tingling sensation that ran over her skin was overwhelming. She couldn't pull away from her sister as she advanced to press so close.
"Then help me, Anna," came that feminine voice of her sister, lapping over the echo of Toshin. Her hands came up to touch Anna's cheeks, rubbing soft circles into the peachy skin.
Anna's mind was clouding slightly. Something was happening, but she couldn't fight it.
"Nina, I know you're in there…" She tried to call softly.
"I'm here, little sister," Nina's voice came in gentle, caressing reply that tickled across the younger William's skin.
Unknowing to her own senses, she let herself being enveloped by Nina's arms, bringing her to rest warmly against her body. Anna subconsciously brought her arms around her sister's back, tears streaming from her eyes. The feeling of being lost and alone had started to kick in. She needed the warmth of a mother to keep her safe, but the arms of a loving sister were just as good.
Nina smiled, her hand delicately stroking the young woman's back. "My sweet little Anna. Stay with me. Nothing will hurt you while you're with me…"
"Nina…" Anna whispered.
Nina leaned her back slightly, making her look up at her. The soft smile that graced the blonde woman's face seemed to melt her in her shoes.
"No more worries," Nina whispered, leaning in to grace her lips against Anna's carefully, lingering to them with a sense of warmth.
It was then all the alarm bells inside Anna triggered and the cloudiness beginning to shatter. Her spirit was starting to shake, her soul screaming to break away, and finally, she was listening to her body. Toshin was trying to control her long enough to get to her soul, but she now put up her shields, cutting off the magic and she pushed away from her sister and gave her a swift slap to the face, gun back up in front of her now.
"You con! Trying to buy into my soul with phoney love! How dare you use my sister like this," she said with a screaming fury.
"So close to an eternal safety, little Anna," Toshin's voice took back over Nina's.
A roar filled the night, ripping from Toshin's lips; the calling for a power that Anna had never felt before. A coarse green lightning crackled around Anna's body. It was a tight and choking feeling and she could barely register herself leaving the ground as she was flung in the air by the force of the power.
When Anna struck the ground, she screamed, her body wracked with pain. She could hear her gun skittering away from her, now meaning she was totally defenceless.
Toshin was suddenly over the IPD officer. It's hand swooped down, tearing the collar of Anna's top and ripping her cross necklace straight off.
"Where is your God now?" Toshin tormented, laughing viciously.
Toshin created a shimmering green light within its palms, ready to finish off the helpless woman. But then, a shot, deafening with the echo of the empty air, rung out.
Toshin quivered, the light dissipating. It gave a mighty yell as blood sprayed from the shoulder, marring Nina's beautiful skin. It sunk back, fearing interruption.
"Live another day, Anna, but live in fear," Toshin spat, and then leapt into the sky, screeching. "I'M CLOSE TO MY PRIZE!"
The green glow faded away into the dark, now only the stars painting the black. Anna stared up, shivering, her vision painted with dots as she was on the verge of passing out.
She heard a clang of a gun drop down beside her and form loomed in to block her vision of the stars.
"Anna?"
She frowned at that voice, and then felt a hand brush aside a few hairs from her face.
"Hwoarang?" She whispered, beginning to fade into the unconscious world. Her heart was thankful to know the shot from his gun wasn't directed at her. The blackness comforted her fleeting thoughts.
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A/N: The battle with Toshin is far from over. Anna is going to need some serious help to defeat the monster and save her sister. Look out for the next chapter coming soon...