Last time…
Chris, Yuna, Nina, and Kelli joined forces with a local high school football player, Awari, and a nomadic biker, Mel, inside the small city of Queensberg. There, they met Hattori, who somehow changed Chris into a demon. Now, their friend is changing, and is ready to attack.
With this new development, can Yuna cope with the loss? Will she be able to fight her lover? Even more, will Nina be able to fight with Hattori?
(One Piece – Pirates)
Chapter 18: Loss
Chris stood. He now had long, sharp claws, purple markings on his arms and back, silver hair, and black wings. He lunged at Yuna. She sidestepped, shaking. This couldn't be Chris. Yuna sensed his mind. She heard Yuber's voice, dictating messages to the boy.
"Relar is your name. I am your brother, Yuber. You've been my brother this whole time… You've just been dormant. Attack those humans, and wipe them out! Especially that blonde girl in white!" Yuna shivered as he said the last sentence. The blonde girl in white was her. She barely had time to comprehend what was going on before Chris lunged at her again, this time nicking her jacket, and leaving a huge scrape on her arm, which began to burn. Chris, who I will refer to as Relar, turned around.
"How do you like my acidic claws?" Yuna casted Esuna on her arm, and took out her ball.
"Forty Beats!" She began to bounce the ball a good forty times off of Relar's chest. On the fortieth time, he grabbed the ball, and stuck his claws into it, effectively popping it. Yuna scoffed, and her heart skipped a beat. Even more so when she heard footsteps from the tight road on her right side.
"Yuna!" Drew appeared in the corridor beside her. "Catch! I knew something like this would come in handy!" He through a larger ball at her, this one having spikes protruding from the outside of it.
"Drew, I thought Yuber had you under his control!" Yuna yelled. Drew shook his head.
"He let me out… I don't know why, but he did."
It was at this point that Relar heard another command from Yuber. "This is all part of my plan! Kill him!" Relar lunged towards Drew, who, taken by surprise, could barely take out his gun before….
All was silent. The sound of blood splashing the wet pavement permeated the area.
Relar had his claw through Drew's chest. The boy coughed up blood, and was thrown across the street, where he was barely caught by Awari. Awari laid him down.
Back at the castle, Yuber smiled. All was going according to his plan. He would have Chris kill Drew, and in cold blood, Yuna would kill him. Then, Hattori could kill all the major players in the resistance off.
Kelli cupped her hands to her mouth in horror. Nina looked away in disgust. Awari bowed his head, and Mel stared at the dying kid. Yuna shook her head, and turned to Relar. Hattori stood, smiling.
"You BASTARD!" She charged at him, and swiftly punched him in the face. She then held out her hands.
"Stopga!" She froze him in place, and ran over to Drew. She bent over his body. "Drew…" He smiled, and coughed again, letting a slight trickle of blood drip out of his mouth.
"Yuna… I'm going to die... This is finally it…" He looked over at Awari. "Hey… come here…" Awari walked over. "You… I need you to do a dying man a final wish… I can sense it… You were born under the same star as me… I need you to replace me… This is sudden, and I'll understand if you can't-" Awari shook his head, stopping Drew.
"I'll do it… You don't need to tell anything more. You seem like a great guy… I'll be honored to do this for you."
Drew's Tentai Star was transferred to Awari
Awari joined the 108 Stars of Destiny!
"Before I go.. I want one more thing… Kelli?" She walked over.
"Yeah…?" Tears forming in her eyes.
(Cowboy Bebop – Call Me Call me)
"I want you to sing a song for me. You had the prettiest voice… The voice and the singer were things I always loved… These times with you, and Nina… and Chris and Yuna… have been the best…"
Kelli sang a silent tune to Drew. He smiled, and took a final breath. He died, smiling. Tears were running out of Kelli's eyes, and Yuna was close to it. Nina's eyes were trickling, and Mel had a tissue to dry up the tears. Awari was also crying, and was not afraid to show it. A laugh broke the moment.
"This is brilliant! A perfect prelude to all of your deaths!" Hattori laughed. Nina shook her head, and stepped up.
(One Piece – Gold and Oden)
"You think this is funny?! Someone just died, and you're laughing. Unforgivable!" Nina pulled out her Tanto. Hattori began to pull his axe out, until it was batted away by Awari's katana. Awari was standing behind him, face filled with rage. Hattori glanced over at his axe, which was over on the ground about ten feet away.
"You're the lowest scum of the earth." Awari bluntly stated. He held his katana in front of him. "Hell is not good enough for you!" He stabbed Hattori in the arm. The thief panicked, and began to run towards his axe. That is, until Mel shot him in the leg with her pistol.
She stood up, and walked towards Hattori. "You take please in another's pain. How does it feel to be on the flip side?" She shot him in the arm, and he began to run again, this time being hit in his right arm by Kelli's Naginata.
"Do you KNOW how it feels to have someone tell you they loved you, right as they were dying!? I've been told that three times! Once by each of my parents, and now by a friend… I don't want anybody else going through that type of pain, and with you around, people will still go through it!" She stabbed him in the torso. He ran again, and was confronted by Yuna, who swiftly punched him in the chest.
"You know… I've met people like you… Nasty people, who let out chuckles at death scenes. I've learned to shake it off. But now… you've caused my two best friends to fight each other… One has died. You're the one person I cannot forgive!!" She took a dagger from her belt.
She got ready to stab him, until she heard Drew's voice from a few years back.
Violence won't solve anything…
She stopped, and looked at the thief.
"Get out of here."
Without a second thought, Hattori ran, and Relar followed. Yuna would get Chris back someday… For now…
"We have to tend to the body… There's a small graveyard on the edge of town…" Awari said. As he picked up Drew, he wondered, Will I one day end up like this…?
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As the rest of the group buried their fallen comrade, Yuna carved out a tombstone from a large rock they found nearby. When the warrior was buried… The tombstone was placed.
Drew Dawson
14 Years Old
"Violence Is Never the Answer"
Yuna was the last to leave the graveyard. As she walked away, she turned around.
"Goodbye… Drew."
To Be Continued…
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Yuna: Chris and Drew are gone. It's up to me to lead the group.
Emily: I'll help you all I ca- Who the hell is that…? …!!!!! Gary!
Gary: This is where the monkey house has moved to… Denigridst Castle, eh?
Tracy: Ye- HEY!
Gary: Ha ha ha.
Tracy: Arrogant bastard…
Mel: While he's here for a visit, we're attacked by the Dragoon Fleet, led by Capricorn! Gary comes to battle with us. He's very powerful…
Gary: Damn right.
Mel: ….But will his power be enough to hold off a 20,000-strong army?
Awari: Next Episode:
Falling Heart! Emily and Gary versus Capricorn!
Emily: This time, it's personal.