Chapter 23:

Operation: Annihilation Target: Diablo

The claw slashed through clothes, ripping them nearly off. Denise squinted her eyes and braced herself for pain, but it didn't come. She opened her eyes slowly but they popped open almost immediately at the sight of Hwoarang's back and him falling to the ground in front of her.

"HWOARANG!" Denise screamed in surprise and horror, before dropping to her knees, catching him as he fell. Blood spilled to the darkened ground, glittering in the magnificently evil flames of the beast. It roared and reared its head, screaming into the sky. The flames grew black and flew up higher, seemingly singing the midnight sky with its heat. Diablo seemed in the least bit surprised. Denise turned Hwoarang to his back and helped him sit up. He coughed and more crimson water spewed and dripped from his mouth and chest. "Hwoarang.... Hwoarang can ya hear me?! Hwoarang stay awake, please!" She pleaded. Jin frowned and his dark eyes narrowed at the vile fiend.

"Diablo..... Demon of the flames," He whispered harshly, identifying the demon now that he could see it out in the open. 'You will pay for your cruel ways and for my love and my best friend, her brother.' He thought. Bright lights sprang from nowhere and shined down on them intensely. Jin winced and shut his eyes. Denise closed hers and held unto Hwoarang. Diablo was drowned out for just a moment by the sound of a helicopter. Jin cracked his eyes open and saw Kazuya run to him. Kazuya stopped next to Jin and looked at Kazi before pointing to the helicopter. Jin nodded and pointed to Denise who held Hwoarang. Diablo roared at Kazuya glanced at the beast before nodding quickly and pushing Jin towards the helicopter. The huge demon screeched louder and slashed madly at them. Medics jumped from the transporters and pulled Hwoarang and Denise into the helicopter, before Diablo could get to them first. Jin ran, holding the mangled and bloody transformed Kazi, tightly as if he'd never let go. Baek jumped from the helicopter helped Jin into it as fast as possible.

"GO! KAZUYA WISHES TO DESTROY IT! YOU NEED TO HELP HIM! GO!" Baek yelled loudly over the horrific screams and howls of Diablo. Jin glanced at Kazi, who had lost a lot of blood. Then looked back at Baek before jumping from the copter and running back into the fray.

The helicopters roared and took off into the sky, leaving a father and his son to face the hideous demon. The skies parted, darkness falling from every corner of the damned battlefield. Black flames emitted very little light but so much at the same time, scarring the land. Kazuya's crimson eye began to glow brighter and a small smirk came to his face. Jin's face grew determined, and he ran towards Kazuya,

"Let's get 'em." Kazuya's smirk grew wider at his son's words and remarked,

"The exact attitude I was looking for."

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The shining darkness within the binds of a small red crystal can only be destroyed when the red crystal itself is obliterated. The sky is only blue if the soul sees it blue. The sea and the rivers flow only blue... as cause of a reflection of the sky. A tainted heart sees only a darkened shade of blue twisted within every way, a deep gray. When sorrow reigns... it pours.....

Blurred visions within stirred. The cool darkness of the room lit up every now and then. The sky thrashed.

"Koi-Ka...." Jin whispered. The gentle body lay motionless. Thunder clapped and the room lit up once more. A tear fell, soaking the bed fabric just a little. The pain in Jin's heart gripped onto the darkness. He threw his bloody arms around her, holding her. Jin buried his face into her neck, his hair plastered to his face and neck. He kissed the soft skin, nuzzling it and every once in a while looking back into her face for some sign. But none came. The door opened slowly and Kazuya stepped through. His clothes were torn, as was Jin's. His hand gripped Jin's shoulder. Jin looked up, his eyes bloodshot red from crying. Kazuya nodded and shifted his head towards the door. Jin sniffled, and placed one last kiss on her soft lips before getting up and leaving the room. Kazuya followed.

Denise sat reading a book a loud to the unconscious Hwoarang. It had been two days already, but the twins showed no sign except for breathing that would halt every once in a while for thirty seconds and begin again. Baek was positively confused and frustrated, and couldn't seem to train. He could barely help Jun around the house, although he helped as much as he could. Jin would sit by Kazi's bed and talk to her, telling her memories of his days of a kid, the news, and sometimes the weather. Denise cried every so often. They had finally found love in the strangest of all places, yet it was tarnished so fast. Hwoarang had risked his life for hers. That was the only thing that kept their relationship from being torn by others. Time and time again Jin and Denise would talk to Hwoarang and Kazi, but would not get an answer back. Kazuya comforted the two to his best ability, surprising a lot of people, but simply stating,

"I know how it feels." At that time they all realized how thick love paints pain upon the walls of their hearts. Kazuya held Jun closer than ever before, careful not to snap her in two. Baek watched the twins from afar, fearing the pain might be worse if he dared to see them up close.

Kazuya and Jin had barely defeated Diablo. Their cooperation grew, and their will to fight grew even stronger. They vanquished Diablo...... or did they?