Defend

It was about noon, a week after the DVD incident and Taki was still not at the shop. However, D was calm as usual. He knew Taki could take care of herself. The next thing D knew there was a pounding on his door. Just by the harshness of the knock, D could tell it was Leon. He walked over to the door knowing he was in for another one of Leon's attempts to drive him away from Taki.

"Hello detective. Taki isn't in, but please do come in" he said calmly.

"She isn't, huh? Well, listen up anyway. I did a little more research on her yesterday and guess what. She takes part in illegal sword fights. I knew it was around this time so I decided to see if Ms. Suspicious was in it. Sure enough, I caught that little trouble maker before she even participated" Leon said proudly. He looked around only to find D pouring the tea, as if ignoring him. "Were you listening!?!" shouted Leon as he sat down.

"Yes detective. My, my, sword-fighting you say? It's all very interesting" D answered.

"Interesting? Well, maybe. But it's illegal!" Leon said forcefully.

"That's quite enough, detective. Now, have some tea. I'm sorry Chris isn't here as well. He's playing with Katherine (the girl with the Lhasa Apso)" said D

"That's alright, I have to get back to work soon and if Chris is coming back late enough, you can come with me" Leon said anxiously.

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Meanwhile, at Taki's house, Taki was getting ready to head out for the pet shop. She eyed her sword. It had been so long since she used it. She knew today was the fight, the fight that was known as "New Moon." She gazed at the blade. The streak of light cutting diagonally across the blade made it look as if it were made of diamonds. Just then, the sounds of footsteps were heard. Taki slowly walked over to the door and opened it. It slightly creaked. Then, to Taki's surprise, there was a woman there about ready to pass out. Blood was staining the concrete on the front porch.

"Bloody Rose" Taki whispered. The woman looked up. She was wearing a tight red leather dominatrix outfit. There were two belt-like straps around the waist with shining gold buckles. Her outfit was a top built into a mini skirt. Two triangular cuts were made into the side of the skirt part and the reached up to almost the highest point of her thigh. Her red gloves that reached just above her elbow had blood running down the sides. Her weapon, a whip, was clenched tight in Bloody Rose's hands. It was black with three iron nails going down from the tip, those were to strike the opponent to make the wound burn and bleed....

"New Moon needs you" said Bloody Rose. "Zeus has sent a despicable fighter to take his place this year. Please, it's terrible" she finished.

"I...I'll be there in a minute" said Taki. She reached for her sword. It had been the first time in about a year she grasped its hilt. A surge of power flowed through her. Though she knew when a weapon made you feel powerful it wasn't good, Taki had to go for the sake of everyone in the tournament.

When Taki had arrived at the tournament it was just about to start. She looked at Rose curiously. "How did...how did the beast fight you when the tournament hasn't even started?" Taki asked.

"Zeus is trying to eliminate the competition. He got rid of me first because I'm supposedly on the 'top fighter' list" she explained pushing her short black hair out of her face. Taki nodded to show she understood. She walked over to a man holding papers. She registered for the fight. She knew she shouldn't because of how easy it was to get blood lust and how easy it was to get in trouble.

Little did Taki know D and Leon were watching from overhead. The fights took place in an outdoor area. It was basically abandoned apartment buildings with a big outdoor hallway above and a giant outdoor area below. There was silence, and then an announcer walked into the center of the "ring."

"Welcome to New Moon! First fight, Taki and James!" said the announcer. Taki cringed at the name of the man she was about to fight. James walked into the fighting area. He was elegantly dressed in white with a blue vest lined with gold stitch. The man smiled and pulled out a thin rapier.

"Taki, it's been years" said James with a smile.

"I never liked you. Not then, not now" Taki answered. The announcer gave the signal for the two to start, James grabbed Taki violently. He pulled her close as if about ready to give her a kiss. Taki fought furiously.

"These fights are absolutely vicious" commented D.

"Yeah, there are no rules. So really everything that guy is doing is a perfectly legal maneuver" Leon said. He looked over and saw D make beginning to make his way over the guardrail. "What are you doing!?!" Leon shouted pulling D back.

"Detective, this has gone on long enough. I'm sure what that man is doing is harassment" D answered still not losing his cool however.

"Well, you can't jump down out of nowhere. People are going to look up and see me and get freaked out because I'm a police officer, then we'll never catch these guys" said Leon. D sighed and bore in mind that Taki could fend for herself. The best thing he could do now was just let the fight progress. As soon as he looked down to watch again Taki had plunged her sword into James's shoulder. The fight was over and Taki was the victor.

About an hour or so later, it was the final battle and Taki's turn to fight Zeus's beast. A creature walked out. It has the body of a man but claws longer than anything Taki had ever seen. Ginger sat in the crowd growling. It had a black blindfold over its eyes. It was still underdeveloped. The blindfold was to protect its weak eyes. However, its sense of hearing was astounding. Taki moved forward but got cut in the sides. That was the only thing the horrid mutant needed to repeatedly slash her with its claws. It got about ten to fifteen hits in and Taki was beginning to stumble. She managed to slice it across the chest. It cut her a few more times and she plunged the sword in him a few more times. The battle ensued for about five minutes and both fighters were weak. Taki could barely see and she had lost tons of blood. Then in about as quick of a movement Taki could do at the moment she plunged her sword into its chest and the mutant convulsed in pain on the floor. After the long cheer Leon came out of "hiding" and revealed himself to the fighters.

"You're all under arrest!" he said. With that, everyone left the area as fast as greased lightening. "Damn!" said Leon furiously. D walked out behind him.

"Taki's' gone" he said. "We must find her, she's too weak to wander around alone"

"Alright D. But I can still say I told you so" Leon said.

D ventured into an alley and saw Taki staring down Zeus. He carried a sort of pickax and was about ready to take Taki out. He swung the pickax. Taki being too slow to move was. Again she was struck. This brutal assault didn't go on for too long however; the damage being inflicted on her was heavy. Taki made her final movement quick. She defeated him the same was she defeated his creature. The muscular Zeus fell to his knees and slowly slunk away. To this day, Taki still doesn't know what happened to that horrible man. She fell forward in pain and D ran over to her.

"D...you came" said Taki softly. She knew he was there even though she had her back turned.

"Yes, of course I came" D said. He kneeled down to her height and let her lean her upper body on him.

"D, I think you're going to have to take her to a hospital or something because she's bleeding badly" Leon said.

"Of course, detective. But you must get back to work. Don't worry, I'll take her" said D with the same confidence he always had in his voice.

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I'm back! Sorry, I didn't update. My friend who moved to Washington came to visit so I went all over the place with her. Now to my reviewers:

ERH: I'm glad you liked my chapter. Hope you liked this one too. By the way, thanks for the spacing tip. Hope it works!

Magical Girl: A lot of people seem to liking how I think these days. COOL! And also, you are quite right about ERH and I's' quick popularity. Glad I made your week!

Heaven sent me: You don't get praised a lot? I don't see why you wouldn't, you're really cool. I hope you liked this chapter too. You'll have to wait and see what Taki is though.

WITCHCHICK 3.0: I did get inspired. I can't wait for you to read the chapter I got inspired to write in Mexico.

Erik's Rose: I did have fun in Mexico. Thank you for reviewing. I'm hoping you love this chapter. As I said before, I got really inspired in Mexico, I'm so glad I went to see my family. :D

Saya fujimiya: Yet another update. Hope you liked it. Adios

Sweet 'n' SASSY: Yes, non- slash is good. My story isn't that good, is it? Is it really like heaven and stuff? COOL!

Nobody-Special: I have fulfilled your wish for an update. Hope you enjoyed. Why do you call yourself nobody special? You seem cool enough to be called special to me.

Just a random reader: Yes, God loves everyone. That's why he will always try to grant your wishes. Now, I suppose I'll play God and grant your wish for an update.

Apocalypse Cow: You obviously didn't understand my story. If you want me to email you the answers to all your questions please indicate in a review. I know I'm better than what you say, however.

AlOoPiEnEwBiE: I'm so glad you like it. I really did get inspired too. What you said in your review was exactly what I was going for. Cool, now I know my writing makes sense.

I will surprise you with my Mexico inspired chapter about three chapters from now. Until then you'll have to wait. Sorry. Oh, and also sorry for the cliff-hanger. I hope you enjoyed.