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 14
There was nothing left of the human woman under Toshin's grasp - instead, a dull brown monster, ten times bigger with the most hideous, malformed features stood in her place. It shook its fur covered head and let out another satisfied roar, bringing up it's clawed hand and serpent arm to look at this new magnificence of power that had taken form.
The others however only saw through horrified eyes a malicious beast, ready to destroy everything in its path.
Anna and Forest were still positioned on each side of the rental car, pressed to look through the windows of the acting barriers of the doors. Neither could speak - they were still trying to comprehend this change. Anna more then her companion was more effected with emotions unearthed from deep down.
She'd tried and failed. Lost for a solution, she bowed her head in despair.
Xiaoyu was still on the grass to one side of this new monster, cradling the lifeless body of Jin. Her eyes were red and puffy from the constant tears that escaped in sorrow for her friend - no, her family - the only one who'd ever truly showed her compassion. And she couldn't save his life…
The young Chinese girl looked down about the pale face resting back on her lap, his expression so empty that it left her insides burning, wishing that he would awake from this unwanted slumber and smile at her, like he used to. But now he was set to sleep forever.
Anna looked aside to Forest, who was just shaking his head, hands gripped to the door. He met her gaze when noticed her looking his way, and he just let out a sigh.
"What now?" He asked her. "Is there hope?"
Anna didn't reply, instead looking back towards Toshin, whom was finally done with it's revelling within the new-found power. Instead, it was focusing on them now, quietly.
It was then that they all heard the echoing laugh, which seemed to tingle in the air with a ring. No longer having lips to speak; Toshin was speaking with its mind, addressing the group.
Isn't it wonderful? It taunted sardonically. This power… so puissant. It's beyond anything you mere mortals could comprehend. Though… it was well attained within that pathetic body… At this point, it's large, dark eyes cast a brief glance at Jin's body before looking back hard at Anna, it's face set to something that could be described as a leer. So, how does it feel to lose, Anna Williams? Does it hurt to know that you're facing your death before you? Take one more sweet breath… because it will be your last…
"You… You bastard…" Anna shook, her words barely above a whisper.
Toshin just laughed, the mixture of a roar and a hiss of its mind voice reverberating into the clear night.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" A voice screeched to the side of the monster.
Anna's eyes widened; barely realising a scream was strung from her throat, directed at Xiaoyu as the girl was leaping up towards the monster, having completely snapped.
"She's crazy!" Forest yelled.
The girl jumped into a kick, hoping to strike the creature in the face. She wanted some retribution - to know that she'd hurt it somehow.
Foolish girl! Toshin roared and batted her away with it's tree trunk-like limb.
Xiaoyu's scream seemed trapped in shock when it struck her away without even blinking. Her small body was tossed aside like an unwanted rag doll, making a gut wrenching slapping sound as skin met the concrete of a garden path. A few pathetic groans escaped her lips before the young girl seemed to curl up quietly on herself, moving very little.
Anna was disgusted. "Bastard! You can't just throw us around like toys! You have no right!"
You'll be toys to me if I wish… mere play things that I can take and break at will… A growl escaped Toshin's lips and it arched, the sound of tearing fill the night at that toughened skin on the monster's back ruptured and two large, leathery wings unfolded. It lifted itself to a hover above the ground, gathering its power. Lets see what this power can really do!
An orange glow filled the widening mouth of the beast, the air around it flickering with the scorching heat picking up as it began to power up an attack.
Anna's internal alarm was going nuts and she could feel what was coming next, almost envision it in her mind.
"GET OUT THE WAY!" She screamed to Forest and staggered from behind the car, running as fast as she could. Forest followed suit, barely escaping in time as just seconds later, Toshin spat raging fire from its mouth in a great burst, the white-hot flames enveloping the car. The vehicle exploded, sending smouldering parts flying.
Anna threw herself down, covering her head as metal pieces skidded past her.
'That was close!' She shook her head, rubbing a grazed cheek with a wince of discomfort. She got to her feet precariously; standing her ground even as the large, dangerous beast turned full on to her and started hovering her way, coming to land before her, a growl hissing through it's steaming chops.
Afraid, Anna Williams? I can feel it! Now, you've seen only a mere taster of my power; are you regretting ever challenging me? It asked arrogantly.
"You're strong, but that's not always what counts," she muttered, hands clenching into fists against her chest.
A roar that sounded like laughter met her reponse. So stupid. So very, very stupid. You won't even accept your defeat. Give up now, and your death will be a little less… excruciating.
"I don't die for scum," she just said softly, face staying ever firm.
Toshin huffed. So be it… The large beast roared and slashed as her with the intent on taking her head off her shoulders. If she'd been any slower to duck backwards, that Toshin may have done just that.
The force behind the attack was tremendous; the air moving harsh behind it whipped sharply like a gale to her face.
Toshin instantly rose its arm up overhead, crashing it down over her like a pounding mace. But like an annoying fly, Anna dodged much to the monster's anger. It had the power, but she wasn't exactly benign - having faced a whole horde of different demons over the years. Some of those experiences paid off.
She'd leapt aside, trying to stumble back to her feet in chance of escape, but suddenly found herself halted when she was caught with that serpent arm encircling her waist.
She yelled, kicking as her feet left the ground. The serpent slithered around her body, it's face hissing a cold breath against her face, tongue poking out and flickering at her cheek. Anna was left gagging quietly, leaving it back in the depths of her throat, bucking up the courage to plunge her thumbs into the creature's eyes before it knotted down her arms. It spat, head lurching backwards, it's body loosening against her enough so she could slip through, doing so quick enough to avoid Toshin grabbing at her with his other claw.
She scrambled out of reach, backing into a defensive position. Her hands wrapped instinctively around the cross at her neck. Even with her losing her other one a night or so ago, she kept a few spare just in case. Toshin was frozen on the spot, not going to advance as she began to spill holy prayer into the night.
Toshin just lowly growled, hesitant. Again you wait upon your God to save you. When you break you bind with your words... when you run out of words to preserve your sermon, then all those invisible barriers will come crashing down.
"You can not destroy divinity. Hell can not break the holy protection on one who believes. I don't even have to speak the words of God. It's what you know and accept that counts." Her fingers were going white as they held vice like on top the cross.
Belief… It drawled unimpressed. A shot rang in the air and Toshin groaned, agitated. The bullet that was imbedded in it's shoulder was nothing more then a little fly bite and it turned angry eyes on the man behind him, who was trying not to quiver behind his gun.
"Forest, you idiot," Anna muttered under her breath.
Forest kept up his weapon, eyes wide that the bullet had not even affected it, though he'd guessed before hand that something so minute wouldn't have been worth the bother. Even more shocking was the fact that Toshin's body bubbled into reaction and drew the bullet from the wound, the little piece of metal tinkering to the ground. The small hole was now a healing blemish on the monster.
Toshin was now focused on Forest, but still addressed Anna. How far does your pathetic belief go?
Before she could answer, its large claw had snapped out around Forest's neck, picking him up high in the air.
"Forest!"
Toshin laughed. This one doesn't believe, does he? So afraid, only thinking over the eternal darkness that is death itself…
Anna gritted her teeth, watching almost helplessly as Toshin held a choking Forest before he, enjoying watching her fearful reaction to its squirming prey.
Do you want to watch him die, Anna Williams? Someone you want to protect with your pathetic belief? It questioned uncaring. If you don't give up now, I'll make you watch the dismemberment of your friend. Do you want to be responsible for his blood?
"You'll kill him anyway, whatever I decide to do…" She said, words strained with her internal conflict. Honestly, what could she do?
Everyone dies. It's just a matter of when and how. I will make it less painful on both of you if you just accept defeat and bow down to my power.
Anna was hesitant. Could this really be the end? Could she be the tough one and say no and watch her partner be mauled to death? Could she relent and fail to get retribution for the people who'd died in vain?
'Should I give up? Is belief not enough anymore?' She thought hopelessly. 'But I've relied on it so much over the years. It's been my power…'
So, have you decided your fates?
'My power?'
Speak, fool! Why prolong this anymore?
'Power…'
Toshin just stared rather annoyed at the perplexed woman, who let out a slow sigh, seeming to come to some sort of conclusion. She began to walk towards him, giving Toshin some self-satisfaction.
Ah, so you've accepted your end…
"Anna… don't…" Forest wheezed, prompting Toshin to squeeze harder.
She said nothing continuing to walk towards the large beast. It wanted to welcome her death with open arms, coaxing her in, and she continued to walk in towards it, drawing very near. Toshin was becoming rather unsure by her wavering expression. It wasn't so placid anymore - somewhere between an angry snarl and a cruel smile. She was suddenly reaching out to the large form of Toshin; cool fingers pressing to it's toughened skin.
"Belief is power, you son of a bitch," she seethed, fingers going rigid as she closed her eyes. She dug down deep inside herself like she'd done so many times before, calling for that piece of herself that could always survive, that always could feel every demonic presence around her, and that could call a strength that separated her away from everyone else she'd ever met. She'd been always granted a protective barrier from her trust in God, and now, with all her strength, she wanted to push that outward, to cast away such an unholy creature.
A shimmering white flickered for a second visibly around her and was pushed into her palm like an exploding flash bulb of pure energy. Toshin seized up as the energy cast into it's being, paralysing it for just a second before sending electric jolts through its nerves. It hissed, an uncontrollable twitch forcing it to release Forest, whom dropped none too pleasantly to the ground. Anna had backed away from the thrashing creature as it backed off in pain, instead helping Forest up and getting them a distance away.
Toshin hissed, regaining some control of itself body twitchy slightly from the reaction to the energy. It looked down at the point in which Anna touched, shocked to see a charred hand print - as if she'd burnt him. The wound stung still as if acid was poured into it and it favoured the spot, waiting for it's healing powers to compose its body.
Anna had collapsed with Forest to the ground some distance away, her body almost spent from such an energy discharge. It might not have looked much, but it had certainly pulled a lot from her internal energy storage. Forest was hacking and wheezing beside her, free to do so now they'd bought some time for themselves.
"Holy shit, I thought I was done for," Forest managed out between the hard coughing.
"Your lucky I always have a back up plan…" Anna said tiredly, looking down at her reddened, tingling hand. "Boy, I won't be doing that again for a while."
Toshin's dark eyes wavered on the pair. You… You… How did you…? Impossible! You'll die for such incompetence!
"Did you drop your gun?" Anna suddenly asked.
"Hell no! Are you crazy?" Forest presented his weapon at hand. "Even if it didn't do much good, I at least want some form of protection."
"Then lock and load. I think popping a few bullets in it will give us more thinking time and make me feel a whole lot better!"
Forest was about to protest, but Anna had already whipped out her gun and was firing like a mad woman. Though he thought it was pointless, he was soon joining her in the barrage of gunfire. Strangely enough, Toshin was buckling slightly against the incoming bullets.
"I don't get it?" Forest shouted over the loud shots. "How come he's faltering now and not before?"
"Could be the fact it's still trying to heal my little present from before," Anna suggested.
Forest snorted. "Sounds like it's all talk on the tough scale."
"Don't get cocky," Anna warned. "We don't know the truth. It could be faking it."
Toshin heaved over, stepping back. It growled in a mixture of anger and pain, gathering power and letting another fire attack rip from its mouth towards them.
"NOT AGAIN!" Forest clamoured, both he and Anna shimmying backwards as fast as they could, dropping back just out of the way of the flames cracking overhead. The heat lashing out close to the skin was scolding.
"Close call. I don't think it'll miss the next time around," Anna expected, sitting up ready to fire again. Only, an empty click paid homage to her. And she had no more rounds to spare.
"Damn it!" She angrily threw the gun to the ground, turning to Forest whom had the same result.
"I'm out too."
"Now what?" Anna growled in frustration.
"I was hoping you'd tell me?" Forest said to her, getting nothing but an agitated expression in response. He cringed doubtfully. "If all else fails, we could always throw the guns at it."
"If all else fails…" She just sighed and both turned slowly towards the monster, whom had healed enough to come charging right at them.
"If you have a great plan, now would be the time to tell me," Forest stammered.
"Nope."
"Then we're going to die!"
"Dying is not an option!" She almost yelled, feeling her whole body tense up in anticipation of Toshin's attack.
The monster roared, ready to just run right over the pair, until it jolted with a new shot from out of nowhere; a portion of it's shoulder torn into.
Toshin took a misstep in shock and fell, prompting Anna and Forest to dive apart as the large beast crashed onto the spot where they'd been sat. It growled, claw scratching into the ground in agony of the wound.
Anna was kissing grass, sitting up, blinking with a surreal feeling.
'I'm wishing enough miracles tonight…' Her mind mumbled in aspiration. 'What the hell did that?'
"Hey, Anna!" A voice she recognised called from a distance. "It wasn't very nice to start the party without me!"
"Oh… great…" She mumbled almost silently, looking over her shoulder at a man, clad in familiar chaps and dark vest. Over the top of that was a long sleeved jacket, prepped with many straps and hooks, holding up the array of weaponry pinned to him.
Hwoarang smirked, cocking his shotgun against his shoulder. "Glad to see me?"
"You wish," she said, shaking her head, rising carefully.
Forest had come round to join her side, looking about as worse for wear as she was. "Whose the walking gun shop?"
"I'll formally introduce you later. Right now, we've got Toshin to contend with," she said, gripping on his arm and dragging him almost weakly in Hwoarang's direction.
Toshin had finally risen; not looking too chirpy as it stared at the tattered wound on its shoulder. It willed itself to heal what should have been such a simple wound… but nothing. The painful, clumping mess remained open and bleeding.
Hwoarang offered both Forest and Anna two of his smaller gun variety, pulling them seemingly from nowhere. "Here. Never leave home without them."
"Armed to the teeth I see…" Anna said checking the magazin of the gun.
"You better believe it," he said boldly. His face shifted from a playful one to his serious, professional face that read nothing but what it was meant to. "Now, are you seeing things my way. Are you going to stand in the way?"
Anna just scowled, burying her emotions for now. It seemed a waste of time now for her own personal dilemma. Lives were at stake. "If I have to kill… then so be it."
A smirk finally came back. "Right on, babe. The dead way is the best way!"
"Don't call me babe."
WHY! WHY WON'T IT HEAL!
All eyes were on the livid monster, staring horrified at it's own wound.
"Weird…" Forest said with a raised brow.
"What the hell kind of bullets are you using?" Anna asked intrigued by the situation.
Hwoarang looked smug. "Some of my amazing concoctions. After tonight you'll never take the piss out of my blessed and holy water bullets again."
"Wow… I didn't realise they could do that…" Anna murmured, trying not to sound too impressed.
"Enough of these things will put the big bastard down!" Hwoarang proudly pumped the shotgun with his reload.
"What are we waiting for?" Forest asked, clicking off the safety of his own weapon.
Toshin was once again under the reign on the devastating bullets, body patterned with oozing, bloody wounds. It roared in anguish, edging backwards.
"See, it's done for!" Hwoarang yelled, letting out a whoop of satisfaction. Anna had gone quiet beside him, continuing to fire with a guilty conscience.
'Nina…' Her mind reeled. Her sister could soon be well and truly dead.
Though it was taking in the gunfire, body folding in on itself, Toshin managed to call up a little power blast that knocked backwards the three shooters, stunning them for enough time to begin calling power into itself, building up with what it had left.
"Crap, what's it doing now?" Hwoarang seethed, sitting back up, reloading again.
FOOLS! Keep on firing if you want, but it will come to nothing in the end! Toshin roared, the voice that came to their minds sounding rather shaky. I truly see that I must ascend to a further level then this - to reform this body to one that can be born into some less physical, that can adapt and avoid such falter again. But to be able to build upon my advancing powers, I will have to die… but in reality, I won't be truly dead. For my power will indeed succeed in some preservation of my rebirth... after my power erupts, obliterating all life as you know it!
"It can get even stronger!" Forest exclaimed. "I thought this was his true form?"
"The power is so intense… so unstable, you can't tell if it is it's true form," Anna said uncertain.
The blue, electric hue rose and in reponse to the rising power, reverberations of the energy caused the ground to start shaking.
"Woah!" Forest fell back again, able to stable himself on one hand, looking towards Anna. "What do we do? Just keep blasting?"
"Impossible…" Anna mumbled.
"It may amount to something if we can blast through its power!" Hwoarang said, taking aim. He blanched when Anna was suddenly stood, positioned in his line of fire. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
She didn't look back to him and really didn't care if she was in the way of a deadly weapon; she just continued to stare at Toshin as it gathering energy, only wavering slightly to the tremors. "I have one more plan and I want to try it… maybe, just maybe there is someway that Toshin can be stopped without our own physical attacks."
"What are you talking about? Get out of the way!" Hwoarang shouted.
"If I fail, then you can shoot, even if I'm in the way. You can blast it with everything you've got, attack it by any means…" She turned to look at Forest at this point, a small smile on her face. "… Even throw the guns at it if needs be."
Forest looked questioningly into her eyes. "Anna?"
"Wish me luck," she whispered and ran from the pair, towards the creature.
Forest kneeled up, eyes despairing. "ANNA, NO!"
Hwoarang almost slammed the gun down. "The crazy bitch!"
Toshin watched Anna stop dead ahead of it's hovering form, the blue electric-like field keeping a barrier between them.
A growling chuckle echoed between them from its link to her mind. Come to beg for your lives? Want to negotiate with me?
"No… I didn't come to talk to you…" She snapped, watching the creature's face falter to confusion. She cleared her throat. "Nina… it was your body to begin with and Toshin has created this creature on your basis. I know that somewhere deep down in that horrible monster, that she exist, trapped and unable to stop this mess. I know you can hear me!"
FOOLISH! She can't…
"Nina!" Anna continued, ignoring Toshin. "You're a strong woman and you tried before the change to escape this terrible fate! I know you don't want this to happen! He's going to destroy you and kill everything! Innocent people will die and I can no longer do any to save them, and I know you are the only one who can stop him! Please here me! We weren't ever the best sisters, and I really wish we could get another chance! And we won't, and like us, nobody else will get another chance to do the right thing if Toshin kills everything! You're strong and I know you can help us!"
Toshin bellowed with laughter of her attempt. She can't here you! She's mine! And your time is nearly over, pitiful woman!
Soft tears escaped Anna's eyes and she clasped her hands to her chest, trying to contain her emotion to speak clearly, though her voice was straining. "Please, Nina… please."
Toshin laughed louder. It's over! You've failed! This power will… G'AH! The blue electric power falter, phasing, buzzing loudly as it was failing to maintain its build up. W-What! WHAT IS THIS? It hunched over, crying out, trying to get come control back over it's power.
Anna blinked surprised. "Nina?"
Toshin's voice screeching inside her ear was crackling as another voice was breaking through.
'Anna?'
Her ocean-coloured eyes widened. "Nina? Nina, is that you?"
'Anna! Help me!'
WHAT! NO! YOU CAN'T- GRRAAAGGHHH!
'Anna… it's so dark… I can't… I feel so weak…'
"Nina! You can't give up!" Anna implored. "It's your body he used, you can take it back!"
'I don't think I can do it…'
I WON'T… LET… HER…
"You can if you believe you can." She paused, hating what she was going to say next. "Father always wanted you to have faith… to be strong. You can't lose hope."
There was silence and Anna was losing hope, dreading to think that maybe Toshin could suppress Nina for good.
Hwoarang and Forest watched on in confusion.
"Something's working," Forest commented.
"Yeah, but just in case…" Hwoarang put up his gun. "Aim for a head shot at Toshin."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Anna could finally hear Nina screaming, and Anna found herself screaming too, inwardly wanting her sister to hang on.
Toshin roared, power billowing around it. THIS IS THE END OF ALL OF YOU!
Blue filled out into the air, lighting up the air around them in white and blue, bright enough to be blinding. Anna covered her face, ready to scream again, but no noise came out.
In fact, there was no noise at all, the blue and white was all of existence besides Toshin centralised like a statue of power. Anna looked between her fingers, waiting for life to just end, but it was like a still frame - or in a much more explanative view, things running so slow that it was barely moving.
Nina's image appeared before her, only for an instant.
"Get down," she whispered.
Anna gave a very brief nod and let her legs buckle beneath her, falling towards the ground, still looking up at Toshin. Squinting, she could see a pin prick of a red light forming on the chest of Toshin, growing bigger and bigger. She didn't let herself think to what it is; just hoping it was a ray of light.
Red light flashed suddenly and everything was back into real time. Toshin's roar was even louder then before, a cry of sheer pain. The right light, from wherever, had shot straight through Toshin's chest. The tremors suddenly stopped.
"WOAH!" Hwoarang pushed down Forest's head as they both avoided the red beam of light.
Anna was suddenly sat up, shifting backwards as Toshin was staggering out of control, roaring, its body twisting and contorting in pain.
NooOOOoo… It… CAN'T… Toshin's mind voice strained, it's real mouth gargling and spilling blood.
The large wound smouldered a red colour, still pricking on the energy blasted through it. The huge mass was shrivelling in reponse, forcing the once great monster down onto its bulky knees. It's head arched back, crying out, arms scrambling to reach to something supportive in the air, needing a lifeline of survival.
The power… how could it… it was mine… It snivelled.
Anna listened in confusion, her hand weakly reaching out. "Nina…"
The main frame of Toshin, bubbled. Small holes began to leak vital fluids as the body began to break down, unable to save itself with so much power dissipated. The body squeezed and heaved into a wrinkling, malformed shape, a large bubble forming on its back. Arching, it roared as the bubble cracked then exploded in a matter of bloody, muscle and unnameable fluids. And also from it came a body, falling to the ground just a few feet from Anna.
The IPD official's mouth hung wide. The body was in fact Nina's - reformed into it's true human self, broken away from the dying Toshin hulk. Separated from possession.
'So… she found the power to escape…' Anna was scrambling to her sister's side, placing her fingers to the cool skin of her sister's neck. She quivered, relieved to feel a pulse.
With one final, agonised roar, Toshin arched back, beams of light ripping out through its body and in a flash, it exploded, masses of meat and blood ripped away. Anna threw herself on top her sister, covering her up as bits clumps of flesh and unsightly body parts painted the concrete, flickers of warm fluid raining onto her back.
"Anna…" A weak response seeped from Nina's lips; her eyelids were barely able to open.
"It's okay, it's over now," she said softly, brushing the strands of blonde matted hair from her face.
Nina sighed in response, somewhat sounding in relief as she fell back into unconsciousness.
Hwoarang and Forest were suddenly at Anna's side.
"Holy shit, what the hell did you do?" Hwoarang asked, looking very impressed by the outcome.
"I managed to reach my sister, but anything else…" Anna shrugged in response, cradling her sister carefully to her.
"Well, whatever happened, Toshin is now butcher's meat!" Hwoarang said with a laugh.
Forest whistled at their surroundings. The ground was cracked and disproportionate, fire burning across the concrete, especially the mess of their car.
"You managed to save your sister too," Hwoarang said, his voice quite soft and exalted. Anna looked to him and faintly smiled. Yeah, even when she thought she couldn't…
"Umm… guys," Forest broke the two from thought, still staring out across the roadway, to just where the burning remains of the car were. Hwoarang and Anna turned to see what he was looking at.
From the smoke rising, a figure emerged, the black form turning to colour. Shock seized the three in place, staring into the burning red eyes of this new being. But… it wasn't a new being at all and Anna found herself breathing in the surprise.
Large black feathered wings flexed behind this half human, half demon creature, staring at them with an unknown intent.
Anna remembered Toshin screaming that it had been it's power, and was soon frozen in realisation, her mouth opening, finally working against the shock. "Jin…" She murmured, seeing what the true, untouchable power of the 'Red Eye' within the real form of the boy.
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A/N: So... it's not over yet. What's going to happen now? What has happened to Jin? All will be explained within the next gruelling (I hope) chapter. Very close to finishing now!
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 14
There was nothing left of the human woman under Toshin's grasp - instead, a dull brown monster, ten times bigger with the most hideous, malformed features stood in her place. It shook its fur covered head and let out another satisfied roar, bringing up it's clawed hand and serpent arm to look at this new magnificence of power that had taken form.
The others however only saw through horrified eyes a malicious beast, ready to destroy everything in its path.
Anna and Forest were still positioned on each side of the rental car, pressed to look through the windows of the acting barriers of the doors. Neither could speak - they were still trying to comprehend this change. Anna more then her companion was more effected with emotions unearthed from deep down.
She'd tried and failed. Lost for a solution, she bowed her head in despair.
Xiaoyu was still on the grass to one side of this new monster, cradling the lifeless body of Jin. Her eyes were red and puffy from the constant tears that escaped in sorrow for her friend - no, her family - the only one who'd ever truly showed her compassion. And she couldn't save his life…
The young Chinese girl looked down about the pale face resting back on her lap, his expression so empty that it left her insides burning, wishing that he would awake from this unwanted slumber and smile at her, like he used to. But now he was set to sleep forever.
Anna looked aside to Forest, who was just shaking his head, hands gripped to the door. He met her gaze when noticed her looking his way, and he just let out a sigh.
"What now?" He asked her. "Is there hope?"
Anna didn't reply, instead looking back towards Toshin, whom was finally done with it's revelling within the new-found power. Instead, it was focusing on them now, quietly.
It was then that they all heard the echoing laugh, which seemed to tingle in the air with a ring. No longer having lips to speak; Toshin was speaking with its mind, addressing the group.
Isn't it wonderful? It taunted sardonically. This power… so puissant. It's beyond anything you mere mortals could comprehend. Though… it was well attained within that pathetic body… At this point, it's large, dark eyes cast a brief glance at Jin's body before looking back hard at Anna, it's face set to something that could be described as a leer. So, how does it feel to lose, Anna Williams? Does it hurt to know that you're facing your death before you? Take one more sweet breath… because it will be your last…
"You… You bastard…" Anna shook, her words barely above a whisper.
Toshin just laughed, the mixture of a roar and a hiss of its mind voice reverberating into the clear night.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" A voice screeched to the side of the monster.
Anna's eyes widened; barely realising a scream was strung from her throat, directed at Xiaoyu as the girl was leaping up towards the monster, having completely snapped.
"She's crazy!" Forest yelled.
The girl jumped into a kick, hoping to strike the creature in the face. She wanted some retribution - to know that she'd hurt it somehow.
Foolish girl! Toshin roared and batted her away with it's tree trunk-like limb.
Xiaoyu's scream seemed trapped in shock when it struck her away without even blinking. Her small body was tossed aside like an unwanted rag doll, making a gut wrenching slapping sound as skin met the concrete of a garden path. A few pathetic groans escaped her lips before the young girl seemed to curl up quietly on herself, moving very little.
Anna was disgusted. "Bastard! You can't just throw us around like toys! You have no right!"
You'll be toys to me if I wish… mere play things that I can take and break at will… A growl escaped Toshin's lips and it arched, the sound of tearing fill the night at that toughened skin on the monster's back ruptured and two large, leathery wings unfolded. It lifted itself to a hover above the ground, gathering its power. Lets see what this power can really do!
An orange glow filled the widening mouth of the beast, the air around it flickering with the scorching heat picking up as it began to power up an attack.
Anna's internal alarm was going nuts and she could feel what was coming next, almost envision it in her mind.
"GET OUT THE WAY!" She screamed to Forest and staggered from behind the car, running as fast as she could. Forest followed suit, barely escaping in time as just seconds later, Toshin spat raging fire from its mouth in a great burst, the white-hot flames enveloping the car. The vehicle exploded, sending smouldering parts flying.
Anna threw herself down, covering her head as metal pieces skidded past her.
'That was close!' She shook her head, rubbing a grazed cheek with a wince of discomfort. She got to her feet precariously; standing her ground even as the large, dangerous beast turned full on to her and started hovering her way, coming to land before her, a growl hissing through it's steaming chops.
Afraid, Anna Williams? I can feel it! Now, you've seen only a mere taster of my power; are you regretting ever challenging me? It asked arrogantly.
"You're strong, but that's not always what counts," she muttered, hands clenching into fists against her chest.
A roar that sounded like laughter met her reponse. So stupid. So very, very stupid. You won't even accept your defeat. Give up now, and your death will be a little less… excruciating.
"I don't die for scum," she just said softly, face staying ever firm.
Toshin huffed. So be it… The large beast roared and slashed as her with the intent on taking her head off her shoulders. If she'd been any slower to duck backwards, that Toshin may have done just that.
The force behind the attack was tremendous; the air moving harsh behind it whipped sharply like a gale to her face.
Toshin instantly rose its arm up overhead, crashing it down over her like a pounding mace. But like an annoying fly, Anna dodged much to the monster's anger. It had the power, but she wasn't exactly benign - having faced a whole horde of different demons over the years. Some of those experiences paid off.
She'd leapt aside, trying to stumble back to her feet in chance of escape, but suddenly found herself halted when she was caught with that serpent arm encircling her waist.
She yelled, kicking as her feet left the ground. The serpent slithered around her body, it's face hissing a cold breath against her face, tongue poking out and flickering at her cheek. Anna was left gagging quietly, leaving it back in the depths of her throat, bucking up the courage to plunge her thumbs into the creature's eyes before it knotted down her arms. It spat, head lurching backwards, it's body loosening against her enough so she could slip through, doing so quick enough to avoid Toshin grabbing at her with his other claw.
She scrambled out of reach, backing into a defensive position. Her hands wrapped instinctively around the cross at her neck. Even with her losing her other one a night or so ago, she kept a few spare just in case. Toshin was frozen on the spot, not going to advance as she began to spill holy prayer into the night.
Toshin just lowly growled, hesitant. Again you wait upon your God to save you. When you break you bind with your words... when you run out of words to preserve your sermon, then all those invisible barriers will come crashing down.
"You can not destroy divinity. Hell can not break the holy protection on one who believes. I don't even have to speak the words of God. It's what you know and accept that counts." Her fingers were going white as they held vice like on top the cross.
Belief… It drawled unimpressed. A shot rang in the air and Toshin groaned, agitated. The bullet that was imbedded in it's shoulder was nothing more then a little fly bite and it turned angry eyes on the man behind him, who was trying not to quiver behind his gun.
"Forest, you idiot," Anna muttered under her breath.
Forest kept up his weapon, eyes wide that the bullet had not even affected it, though he'd guessed before hand that something so minute wouldn't have been worth the bother. Even more shocking was the fact that Toshin's body bubbled into reaction and drew the bullet from the wound, the little piece of metal tinkering to the ground. The small hole was now a healing blemish on the monster.
Toshin was now focused on Forest, but still addressed Anna. How far does your pathetic belief go?
Before she could answer, its large claw had snapped out around Forest's neck, picking him up high in the air.
"Forest!"
Toshin laughed. This one doesn't believe, does he? So afraid, only thinking over the eternal darkness that is death itself…
Anna gritted her teeth, watching almost helplessly as Toshin held a choking Forest before he, enjoying watching her fearful reaction to its squirming prey.
Do you want to watch him die, Anna Williams? Someone you want to protect with your pathetic belief? It questioned uncaring. If you don't give up now, I'll make you watch the dismemberment of your friend. Do you want to be responsible for his blood?
"You'll kill him anyway, whatever I decide to do…" She said, words strained with her internal conflict. Honestly, what could she do?
Everyone dies. It's just a matter of when and how. I will make it less painful on both of you if you just accept defeat and bow down to my power.
Anna was hesitant. Could this really be the end? Could she be the tough one and say no and watch her partner be mauled to death? Could she relent and fail to get retribution for the people who'd died in vain?
'Should I give up? Is belief not enough anymore?' She thought hopelessly. 'But I've relied on it so much over the years. It's been my power…'
So, have you decided your fates?
'My power?'
Speak, fool! Why prolong this anymore?
'Power…'
Toshin just stared rather annoyed at the perplexed woman, who let out a slow sigh, seeming to come to some sort of conclusion. She began to walk towards him, giving Toshin some self-satisfaction.
Ah, so you've accepted your end…
"Anna… don't…" Forest wheezed, prompting Toshin to squeeze harder.
She said nothing continuing to walk towards the large beast. It wanted to welcome her death with open arms, coaxing her in, and she continued to walk in towards it, drawing very near. Toshin was becoming rather unsure by her wavering expression. It wasn't so placid anymore - somewhere between an angry snarl and a cruel smile. She was suddenly reaching out to the large form of Toshin; cool fingers pressing to it's toughened skin.
"Belief is power, you son of a bitch," she seethed, fingers going rigid as she closed her eyes. She dug down deep inside herself like she'd done so many times before, calling for that piece of herself that could always survive, that always could feel every demonic presence around her, and that could call a strength that separated her away from everyone else she'd ever met. She'd been always granted a protective barrier from her trust in God, and now, with all her strength, she wanted to push that outward, to cast away such an unholy creature.
A shimmering white flickered for a second visibly around her and was pushed into her palm like an exploding flash bulb of pure energy. Toshin seized up as the energy cast into it's being, paralysing it for just a second before sending electric jolts through its nerves. It hissed, an uncontrollable twitch forcing it to release Forest, whom dropped none too pleasantly to the ground. Anna had backed away from the thrashing creature as it backed off in pain, instead helping Forest up and getting them a distance away.
Toshin hissed, regaining some control of itself body twitchy slightly from the reaction to the energy. It looked down at the point in which Anna touched, shocked to see a charred hand print - as if she'd burnt him. The wound stung still as if acid was poured into it and it favoured the spot, waiting for it's healing powers to compose its body.
Anna had collapsed with Forest to the ground some distance away, her body almost spent from such an energy discharge. It might not have looked much, but it had certainly pulled a lot from her internal energy storage. Forest was hacking and wheezing beside her, free to do so now they'd bought some time for themselves.
"Holy shit, I thought I was done for," Forest managed out between the hard coughing.
"Your lucky I always have a back up plan…" Anna said tiredly, looking down at her reddened, tingling hand. "Boy, I won't be doing that again for a while."
Toshin's dark eyes wavered on the pair. You… You… How did you…? Impossible! You'll die for such incompetence!
"Did you drop your gun?" Anna suddenly asked.
"Hell no! Are you crazy?" Forest presented his weapon at hand. "Even if it didn't do much good, I at least want some form of protection."
"Then lock and load. I think popping a few bullets in it will give us more thinking time and make me feel a whole lot better!"
Forest was about to protest, but Anna had already whipped out her gun and was firing like a mad woman. Though he thought it was pointless, he was soon joining her in the barrage of gunfire. Strangely enough, Toshin was buckling slightly against the incoming bullets.
"I don't get it?" Forest shouted over the loud shots. "How come he's faltering now and not before?"
"Could be the fact it's still trying to heal my little present from before," Anna suggested.
Forest snorted. "Sounds like it's all talk on the tough scale."
"Don't get cocky," Anna warned. "We don't know the truth. It could be faking it."
Toshin heaved over, stepping back. It growled in a mixture of anger and pain, gathering power and letting another fire attack rip from its mouth towards them.
"NOT AGAIN!" Forest clamoured, both he and Anna shimmying backwards as fast as they could, dropping back just out of the way of the flames cracking overhead. The heat lashing out close to the skin was scolding.
"Close call. I don't think it'll miss the next time around," Anna expected, sitting up ready to fire again. Only, an empty click paid homage to her. And she had no more rounds to spare.
"Damn it!" She angrily threw the gun to the ground, turning to Forest whom had the same result.
"I'm out too."
"Now what?" Anna growled in frustration.
"I was hoping you'd tell me?" Forest said to her, getting nothing but an agitated expression in response. He cringed doubtfully. "If all else fails, we could always throw the guns at it."
"If all else fails…" She just sighed and both turned slowly towards the monster, whom had healed enough to come charging right at them.
"If you have a great plan, now would be the time to tell me," Forest stammered.
"Nope."
"Then we're going to die!"
"Dying is not an option!" She almost yelled, feeling her whole body tense up in anticipation of Toshin's attack.
The monster roared, ready to just run right over the pair, until it jolted with a new shot from out of nowhere; a portion of it's shoulder torn into.
Toshin took a misstep in shock and fell, prompting Anna and Forest to dive apart as the large beast crashed onto the spot where they'd been sat. It growled, claw scratching into the ground in agony of the wound.
Anna was kissing grass, sitting up, blinking with a surreal feeling.
'I'm wishing enough miracles tonight…' Her mind mumbled in aspiration. 'What the hell did that?'
"Hey, Anna!" A voice she recognised called from a distance. "It wasn't very nice to start the party without me!"
"Oh… great…" She mumbled almost silently, looking over her shoulder at a man, clad in familiar chaps and dark vest. Over the top of that was a long sleeved jacket, prepped with many straps and hooks, holding up the array of weaponry pinned to him.
Hwoarang smirked, cocking his shotgun against his shoulder. "Glad to see me?"
"You wish," she said, shaking her head, rising carefully.
Forest had come round to join her side, looking about as worse for wear as she was. "Whose the walking gun shop?"
"I'll formally introduce you later. Right now, we've got Toshin to contend with," she said, gripping on his arm and dragging him almost weakly in Hwoarang's direction.
Toshin had finally risen; not looking too chirpy as it stared at the tattered wound on its shoulder. It willed itself to heal what should have been such a simple wound… but nothing. The painful, clumping mess remained open and bleeding.
Hwoarang offered both Forest and Anna two of his smaller gun variety, pulling them seemingly from nowhere. "Here. Never leave home without them."
"Armed to the teeth I see…" Anna said checking the magazin of the gun.
"You better believe it," he said boldly. His face shifted from a playful one to his serious, professional face that read nothing but what it was meant to. "Now, are you seeing things my way. Are you going to stand in the way?"
Anna just scowled, burying her emotions for now. It seemed a waste of time now for her own personal dilemma. Lives were at stake. "If I have to kill… then so be it."
A smirk finally came back. "Right on, babe. The dead way is the best way!"
"Don't call me babe."
WHY! WHY WON'T IT HEAL!
All eyes were on the livid monster, staring horrified at it's own wound.
"Weird…" Forest said with a raised brow.
"What the hell kind of bullets are you using?" Anna asked intrigued by the situation.
Hwoarang looked smug. "Some of my amazing concoctions. After tonight you'll never take the piss out of my blessed and holy water bullets again."
"Wow… I didn't realise they could do that…" Anna murmured, trying not to sound too impressed.
"Enough of these things will put the big bastard down!" Hwoarang proudly pumped the shotgun with his reload.
"What are we waiting for?" Forest asked, clicking off the safety of his own weapon.
Toshin was once again under the reign on the devastating bullets, body patterned with oozing, bloody wounds. It roared in anguish, edging backwards.
"See, it's done for!" Hwoarang yelled, letting out a whoop of satisfaction. Anna had gone quiet beside him, continuing to fire with a guilty conscience.
'Nina…' Her mind reeled. Her sister could soon be well and truly dead.
Though it was taking in the gunfire, body folding in on itself, Toshin managed to call up a little power blast that knocked backwards the three shooters, stunning them for enough time to begin calling power into itself, building up with what it had left.
"Crap, what's it doing now?" Hwoarang seethed, sitting back up, reloading again.
FOOLS! Keep on firing if you want, but it will come to nothing in the end! Toshin roared, the voice that came to their minds sounding rather shaky. I truly see that I must ascend to a further level then this - to reform this body to one that can be born into some less physical, that can adapt and avoid such falter again. But to be able to build upon my advancing powers, I will have to die… but in reality, I won't be truly dead. For my power will indeed succeed in some preservation of my rebirth... after my power erupts, obliterating all life as you know it!
"It can get even stronger!" Forest exclaimed. "I thought this was his true form?"
"The power is so intense… so unstable, you can't tell if it is it's true form," Anna said uncertain.
The blue, electric hue rose and in reponse to the rising power, reverberations of the energy caused the ground to start shaking.
"Woah!" Forest fell back again, able to stable himself on one hand, looking towards Anna. "What do we do? Just keep blasting?"
"Impossible…" Anna mumbled.
"It may amount to something if we can blast through its power!" Hwoarang said, taking aim. He blanched when Anna was suddenly stood, positioned in his line of fire. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
She didn't look back to him and really didn't care if she was in the way of a deadly weapon; she just continued to stare at Toshin as it gathering energy, only wavering slightly to the tremors. "I have one more plan and I want to try it… maybe, just maybe there is someway that Toshin can be stopped without our own physical attacks."
"What are you talking about? Get out of the way!" Hwoarang shouted.
"If I fail, then you can shoot, even if I'm in the way. You can blast it with everything you've got, attack it by any means…" She turned to look at Forest at this point, a small smile on her face. "… Even throw the guns at it if needs be."
Forest looked questioningly into her eyes. "Anna?"
"Wish me luck," she whispered and ran from the pair, towards the creature.
Forest kneeled up, eyes despairing. "ANNA, NO!"
Hwoarang almost slammed the gun down. "The crazy bitch!"
Toshin watched Anna stop dead ahead of it's hovering form, the blue electric-like field keeping a barrier between them.
A growling chuckle echoed between them from its link to her mind. Come to beg for your lives? Want to negotiate with me?
"No… I didn't come to talk to you…" She snapped, watching the creature's face falter to confusion. She cleared her throat. "Nina… it was your body to begin with and Toshin has created this creature on your basis. I know that somewhere deep down in that horrible monster, that she exist, trapped and unable to stop this mess. I know you can hear me!"
FOOLISH! She can't…
"Nina!" Anna continued, ignoring Toshin. "You're a strong woman and you tried before the change to escape this terrible fate! I know you don't want this to happen! He's going to destroy you and kill everything! Innocent people will die and I can no longer do any to save them, and I know you are the only one who can stop him! Please here me! We weren't ever the best sisters, and I really wish we could get another chance! And we won't, and like us, nobody else will get another chance to do the right thing if Toshin kills everything! You're strong and I know you can help us!"
Toshin bellowed with laughter of her attempt. She can't here you! She's mine! And your time is nearly over, pitiful woman!
Soft tears escaped Anna's eyes and she clasped her hands to her chest, trying to contain her emotion to speak clearly, though her voice was straining. "Please, Nina… please."
Toshin laughed louder. It's over! You've failed! This power will… G'AH! The blue electric power falter, phasing, buzzing loudly as it was failing to maintain its build up. W-What! WHAT IS THIS? It hunched over, crying out, trying to get come control back over it's power.
Anna blinked surprised. "Nina?"
Toshin's voice screeching inside her ear was crackling as another voice was breaking through.
'Anna?'
Her ocean-coloured eyes widened. "Nina? Nina, is that you?"
'Anna! Help me!'
WHAT! NO! YOU CAN'T- GRRAAAGGHHH!
'Anna… it's so dark… I can't… I feel so weak…'
"Nina! You can't give up!" Anna implored. "It's your body he used, you can take it back!"
'I don't think I can do it…'
I WON'T… LET… HER…
"You can if you believe you can." She paused, hating what she was going to say next. "Father always wanted you to have faith… to be strong. You can't lose hope."
There was silence and Anna was losing hope, dreading to think that maybe Toshin could suppress Nina for good.
Hwoarang and Forest watched on in confusion.
"Something's working," Forest commented.
"Yeah, but just in case…" Hwoarang put up his gun. "Aim for a head shot at Toshin."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Anna could finally hear Nina screaming, and Anna found herself screaming too, inwardly wanting her sister to hang on.
Toshin roared, power billowing around it. THIS IS THE END OF ALL OF YOU!
Blue filled out into the air, lighting up the air around them in white and blue, bright enough to be blinding. Anna covered her face, ready to scream again, but no noise came out.
In fact, there was no noise at all, the blue and white was all of existence besides Toshin centralised like a statue of power. Anna looked between her fingers, waiting for life to just end, but it was like a still frame - or in a much more explanative view, things running so slow that it was barely moving.
Nina's image appeared before her, only for an instant.
"Get down," she whispered.
Anna gave a very brief nod and let her legs buckle beneath her, falling towards the ground, still looking up at Toshin. Squinting, she could see a pin prick of a red light forming on the chest of Toshin, growing bigger and bigger. She didn't let herself think to what it is; just hoping it was a ray of light.
Red light flashed suddenly and everything was back into real time. Toshin's roar was even louder then before, a cry of sheer pain. The right light, from wherever, had shot straight through Toshin's chest. The tremors suddenly stopped.
"WOAH!" Hwoarang pushed down Forest's head as they both avoided the red beam of light.
Anna was suddenly sat up, shifting backwards as Toshin was staggering out of control, roaring, its body twisting and contorting in pain.
NooOOOoo… It… CAN'T… Toshin's mind voice strained, it's real mouth gargling and spilling blood.
The large wound smouldered a red colour, still pricking on the energy blasted through it. The huge mass was shrivelling in reponse, forcing the once great monster down onto its bulky knees. It's head arched back, crying out, arms scrambling to reach to something supportive in the air, needing a lifeline of survival.
The power… how could it… it was mine… It snivelled.
Anna listened in confusion, her hand weakly reaching out. "Nina…"
The main frame of Toshin, bubbled. Small holes began to leak vital fluids as the body began to break down, unable to save itself with so much power dissipated. The body squeezed and heaved into a wrinkling, malformed shape, a large bubble forming on its back. Arching, it roared as the bubble cracked then exploded in a matter of bloody, muscle and unnameable fluids. And also from it came a body, falling to the ground just a few feet from Anna.
The IPD official's mouth hung wide. The body was in fact Nina's - reformed into it's true human self, broken away from the dying Toshin hulk. Separated from possession.
'So… she found the power to escape…' Anna was scrambling to her sister's side, placing her fingers to the cool skin of her sister's neck. She quivered, relieved to feel a pulse.
With one final, agonised roar, Toshin arched back, beams of light ripping out through its body and in a flash, it exploded, masses of meat and blood ripped away. Anna threw herself on top her sister, covering her up as bits clumps of flesh and unsightly body parts painted the concrete, flickers of warm fluid raining onto her back.
"Anna…" A weak response seeped from Nina's lips; her eyelids were barely able to open.
"It's okay, it's over now," she said softly, brushing the strands of blonde matted hair from her face.
Nina sighed in response, somewhat sounding in relief as she fell back into unconsciousness.
Hwoarang and Forest were suddenly at Anna's side.
"Holy shit, what the hell did you do?" Hwoarang asked, looking very impressed by the outcome.
"I managed to reach my sister, but anything else…" Anna shrugged in response, cradling her sister carefully to her.
"Well, whatever happened, Toshin is now butcher's meat!" Hwoarang said with a laugh.
Forest whistled at their surroundings. The ground was cracked and disproportionate, fire burning across the concrete, especially the mess of their car.
"You managed to save your sister too," Hwoarang said, his voice quite soft and exalted. Anna looked to him and faintly smiled. Yeah, even when she thought she couldn't…
"Umm… guys," Forest broke the two from thought, still staring out across the roadway, to just where the burning remains of the car were. Hwoarang and Anna turned to see what he was looking at.
From the smoke rising, a figure emerged, the black form turning to colour. Shock seized the three in place, staring into the burning red eyes of this new being. But… it wasn't a new being at all and Anna found herself breathing in the surprise.
Large black feathered wings flexed behind this half human, half demon creature, staring at them with an unknown intent.
Anna remembered Toshin screaming that it had been it's power, and was soon frozen in realisation, her mouth opening, finally working against the shock. "Jin…" She murmured, seeing what the true, untouchable power of the 'Red Eye' within the real form of the boy.
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A/N: So... it's not over yet. What's going to happen now? What has happened to Jin? All will be explained within the next gruelling (I hope) chapter. Very close to finishing now!