Author's note: Thanks for reviewing Vivi239 and Oni-Kaiser, you know you do bring up a point… I'll try to get back to the serious stuff, thanks for pointing that out. I'm rather proud of this chapter, can anyone guess who the person is at the end?

Paths of the Heart

Chapter XIV: Death

"…This is getting very… stupid, I thought we were supposed to be getting back to our world, now chasing some 13 year old for our clothes." Ryu said sighing.

"That boy was weird, he challenged me to a game of strip poker." Nina said distractedly. Ryu's eyes widened considerably.

"WHAT!" Ryu bellowed. "You… didn't take up his offer… did you?" He said left eye twitching.

Nina giggled, "Of course not." Ryu's face deflated from its purple shade.

"…C'mon let's get outta here before that idiot-" Ryu pointed to Michael who was inside his house eating a pie "Tries to steal our stuff again."

"Good point, we have to get out of here. How do you think Deis and the others are getting on?"

X

"Now… Will you help us get them back, or do you want to go though that again?" Fou-Lu wasn't stupid; he knew what Deis meant.

"Very well, I will'st help thou." Deis smiled seductively.

"Good… Now do it! Bring them back!"

"… I can'st not…"

"But you said you would!" Deis shouted, seeming to double in size as she towered over Fou-Lu and leered at him.

"I am'st tired!" Fou-Lu said shrinking seemingly.

"Grrrrr….."

X

Nina sat down on the side of the road, putting her head in her hands, Ryu followed her movement. "Do you think Deis managed to get Fou-Lu to help us?" She asked, Ryu looked up.

"Well she must have, I don't think anyone could survive the torture Deis was planning on putting Fou-Lu through. I even kind of feel sorry for him, but not really. He is the evil-bad guy after all."

Nina suddenly went quiet.

"Nina, you okay?"

"Ryu… there's something I need… to tell you…" Nina said quietly, her hair obstructing the view from her face.

Ryu turned to her. "Yes?" he asked slowly, not knowing what she was about to say.

"Well… the thing is… I think… I'm in l-"

Crunch

The noise interrupted Nina's sentence.

Crunch

The noise became louder.

Crunch

The person's footsteps became louder.

Crunch

The person stopped.

"Dawn!" Nina and Ryu exclaimed together.

And indeed Dawn was back, though this time her hair was sizzled and a large bleeding scar graced her once beautiful face.

"…" Dawn just stared, just stared into Ryu's eyes, her own burning with hatred and destruction.

"Ya killed him…" She choked out, her voice raspy and hoarse.

"What is she talking about?" Nina whispered to Ryu.

"Her partner… I think… Bolt…" Ryu replied quietly.

"Ya killed him!" Dawn shouted, balling her fists, madness dancing in her eyes.

"YA KILLED HIM!" If looks could kill Ryu would have fallen down a cliff into shark infested water strapped to a nuclear bomb.

"…I think we are in trouble Ryu…" Nina whispered clinging on to his arm.

"Nina…I agree…"

"How could ya! I loved 'im!" Dawn shouted furiously.

Nina blinked. "You… loved him…"

Dawn nodded, "Yes I loved 'im. But 'dat thing," She pointed to Ryu, "Killed him, he's a monster!"

"Ryu isn't a monster! He's the gentlest person I know!" Nina defended as Ryu looked down to the concrete pavement, slightly annoyed, he didn't enjoy being called a monster.

Dawn stomped over to Nina and practically lifted her up by the front of her dress. "Do YOU know what it is like to lose someone you love!" She screamed.

Nina shook her head quickly "I-I've never b-been in love…" Dawn raised an eyebrow then smirked.

"What bout 'im?" She asked nodding her head in Ryu's direction.

"I… uh…I-I…" Nina stuttered her face slowly turning as red as a tomato.

"I thunk as much." She smirked. "Now lil' missy, I'll show YOU what it's like ta loose someone you love!"

Nina's eyes widened. "No!" she shouted as Dawn threw her against the wall.

Dawn turned to face Ryu. "Let's dance pretty boy."

Nina lifted herself slowly off the ground, only to fall back down again clutching arm, where a large gash from where she hit the wall was.

She looked up "Don't… let her… win… Ryu…" and she fainted.

Ryu's eyes widened "Nina!" he called.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" laughed Dawn. "Now it's your turn!" She said.

"Not likely." Ryu drew his new sword and lifted it into the air, placing his palm in front of him.

"Magic ball!" he shouted watching a swirling black ball materialize and crash into Dawn who didn't have enough time to dodge it.

"Argh!" Dawn screamed, glaring at Ryu.

Ryu smiled lowering his sword, but that was his mistake as in that two seconds Dawn rushed up and stabbed him in the chest.

Ryu almost toppled over but managed to steady himself and cast another spell.

"Flame pillar!" Ryu bellowed as a giant pillar of flames rose up, but

unfortunately missing Dawn. "Grrr…" growled Ryu.

Dawn sped forward towards Ryu, but just as she had reached him he jumped into the air grabbing onto a pole hanging from a street lamp, swung round and landed kicking Dawn in the back, she growled attempting to punch him but he just caught her fist in his hand.

Ryu lifted his sword again intending to finish her with one last spell.

"Eddy!" he called as a sudden blast of wind blasted her into the sky, but alas as she came down, she grabbed the same pole Ryu did. She drew her knife and jumped down stabbing Ryu again in the chest again. He doubled over feeling weak, his vision was blurring, he felt like he could throw up.

Dawn was approaching "Time to die." Her voice echoed it seemed for eternity. He almost couldn't stand the ringing in his ears, this was it. This was the end.

Dawn started to blur as she came nearer and nearer, his body started to numb, then suddenly Dawn fell over as somebody, Ryu couldn't make whom. Tackled her and knocked her out.

The person came closer and closer and closer; it was no good though, Ryu could bear no more, the person looked now more like a blob than a person. Ryu blinked attempting to clear his vision, struggling to open his eyes. He saw that the person was kneeling down face to face with him.

He stared into their blue eyes, hearing a voice.

"Ryu…?" It played again and again in his mind, slowly becoming fainter and fainter until…

He heard no more.