Previously on Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED…
"And it was on that time that I realized something about Hikaru."
"What is it, Alex?"
"She's alone… Hikaru was alone. She might have the Gears as her followers, I mean, her family. But she needed someone to fill the emptiness inside of her heart."
"How did you know?"
"I believe it's what people call feeling. Anyway, I thought that Hikaru was similar to me because when I first joined the Holy Orders, I was alone and had no one to accompany me, yet alone taking care of me. Luckily there was Commander Kliff to take care of me. I was sure that Hikaru needed someone to take care of her."
"What's your thought on the woman you called Hikaru? You sound like you have a weird admiration toward her."
"I can't really say it, Miss Sion, since I'm rather bad at describing people. But there's only one word I can say about her: I loved her."
x-x-x-x-x
Guilty Gear
Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED
Written and conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO
Lone Wolf NEO does not own any of all the games or anime or manga featured in this story, but he owns the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. Lone Wolf would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.
Chronological Note: Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED takes place scarcely half a year after Guilty Gear versus SNK 2: Battle Revolution, and currently runs roughly in parallel with Guilty Gear: The World Within and Without written and owned by Sheo Darren.
Chapter 17
Remembrance: Walk In The Dusk
Part 2
Sion blinked. "You loved her? You mean… you had an affection towards the Gear?" Alex just nodded and continued eating the ice cream. "But that's ridiculous! How can a human fall in love with an inhuman being? I mean, both of you were destined to be enemies, right?"
"Love is blind, Miss Sion. Those who fall in love will no longer care of everything happening around them," he told her and watched at several children who playfully chased each other around a nearby oak tree. "I wish I could return to that time and bring Hikaru back to life… she means everything to me."
x-x
Night time at the village was strangely peaceful. By contrast, hours of darkness outside the area was always filled with wars and confrontations between humans and Gears. It was never going to be a peaceful night, until the war ended with either of the warring sides was defeated. For those who managed to escape the waging wars, they were in their most fortunate to be able to enjoy the silent night.
Alexander gazed at the full moon in awe. It was the first time in his life as a knight he got the chance to enjoy the night without interference from his duty. "Full moon… this is the first time I see one since I joined the Holy Orders. At least, it looks more beautiful here." He was enjoying himself watching at the celestial object when a rustling noise came from behind him. Alex withdrew Black Sabbath and waited, as the noise becomes louder. It was only later that he found that it was Hikaru. "Don't scare me like that, Hikaru."
"I'm sorry to scare you," Hikaru apologized. "But what are you doing in the middle of this time?"
The lone wolf of holy order put back the kodachi into its sheath and turned around, facing the moon for the second time. "Watching the moon, enjoying the gentleness of the night. Nothing much I have done since I joined the Orders, except for sitting under the night sky and admiring its beauty." He noticed Hikaru standing next to him, watching at the moon as well. "What do you think of the moon, Hikaru?"
"The moon… it's really beautiful, isn't it?" she uttered.
"Well, yeah. It is. The moon is beautiful when we watch it at this kind of place." Alex sighed and scratched the back of his head. "I never even get this chance back at the Orders. My day was always full of duties and mission assigned by the generals."
"Then why you didn't request for a day's break?" she asked.
Alex laughed. "No way, Hikaru. I'd be dead if I ignored their order even for a split second. They were always acting rough toward me."
"That sounds pretty hard for you."
Alex nodded and, again, gazed at the moon. "But then, since it was for protecting justice and mankind, I'd do anything for the sake of the Orders. Until I was accused of betrayal…"
"Alex, you… you don't have to say it if you don't want to."
He breathed out and shrugged. "You're right. Well, how are you feeling now? Has everything gotten better already?"
Hikaru smiled at him. "Yes, I am. I must thank you for helping me back there."
"No big deal. I just wanted to ease off your feeling," he spoke, scratching the back of his head. "I'm not really a good helper in the first place, so yeah…"
"Oh, no. You were helping me a lot, I owed you everything. Will you please excuse me for a while? I must return to my house." The woman bowed at him and took a leave, when Alex suddenly seized her hand. "Alex, I must go, please?" Out of the blue, the ex-knight pulled her into his arms and embraced her as close to his body as he can. She was taken by surprise and tried to shrug off, begging him to let her go. "Please, Alex. What will people think when they see us?"
"Hikaru…" he called out her name, embracing her even closer.
"Alex…?" She looked up, staring him in puzzlement. At that time, he bent down and reached her lips, softly kissing her. The Gear woman was too surprised to react or reject the kiss, and was unable to prevent the kiss from deepened.
"I'm sorry to surprise you with this…" he apologized after breaking off the kiss, "but since I met you at the battlefield, I can't stop thinking of you. Every second, every hour, you and your warm smiles keep appearing inside my mind, and it has long bothered me. I'm even captivated by the golden eyes, and I wish to admire those eyes everyday. In fact, I must tell you this right now, or I will be tortured by my own feeling."
"What… what are you trying to tell me, Alex?"
"I love you, Hikaru."
Hikaru was taken by the sudden confession and had her face burning in bright rose colour. She tried to say something to him, before another kiss seized her lips. Again, she was in complete surprise and was unable to do anything, before slowly submitting herself to the kiss. A drop of tear slowly flowed out of her eye and dampened her flushed cheek.
x-x
"That was the most foolish thing I had ever done in my whole life. I mean, how can I ever fall in love with a Gear? Love between two different beings are against the law of nature." Alex said and silently laughed.
"I don't want to say this, but you're twisted."
"But then, I couldn't help it. I loved her, even before I knew how true my feeling toward her was." He, then, frowned and clenched the now-empty ice cream cup.
"Alex, what's wrong?" Sion asked.
"…at that time, I wanted Hikaru and I to stay together. I wanted to be with her so bad, that I could throw away everything I had and chose her instead. But… it was deniable." He growled in anger and tore the plastic cup he was holding. "Damn those soldiers… attacking the village and mercilessly killed everyone there…"
x-x
The day at the village was passing as usual. The villagers were seen doing their daily routines, unaffected by the events happening outside their home. Alexander was seen playing with several children near the hall, while Hikaru watched at their playfulness in wonder. It seemed that the village would forever be in peace, until a Gear ran toward them in distress.
"We're under attack!" The villager was struck on his head before Alex could demand for explanation. The lone wolf watched around him and spotted a salvo of arrows shot from nowhere and raining the village. The people were frantically running for cover, yet most of them were unfortunate to meet the end of their life in the arrow attack. The children were crying in horror and hid behind Alex.
"Hikaru! Take the kids to the hall!" he told her.
"But what about you?" the woman asked.
"Don't mind me! Just take them! Quick!"
Hikaru hesitantly called the children to follow her back to a nearby hall. Alex watched at them before faced forward and withdraws Black Dagger, ordering the remaining people to return to their houses. A moment later, a loud cry of battle echoes in the air and looked at the source of the battle cry. "For God's sake… it's them!" A band of Holy Knights were raiding down the village, slaying ever Gear standing in their way. Some of the soldiers were firing fire-tipped arrows at the houses and several other structures, burning everything in sight. The lone wolf screamed in anger and attacks the raiders, yet the knights are too many for him to handle alone. He was forced to retreat to the hall.
"Alex, what happened out there?" Hikaru asked when he entered the hall.
"Hikaru, take those kids to any hiding place. The soldiers are approaching this hall."
The woman gasped. "The humans? They are attacking us?"
"Just do it! GO!"
The hall was already stormed by the soldiers before any of them could do anything. The children cried in horror and stood behind Hikaru in fear.
"Gears! We have come to put an end to your life! Prepare to face the punishment of the Heaven!" the commander spoke as the Holy Knights surrounded them. He saw Alexander jumped in front of the Gears, ordering the soldiers to leave them unharmed. "Traitor! How could you betray us and choose to stand by the Gears side? Back off, Alexander. We're doing this as ordered."
"TO HELL WITH THAT! Don't you ever realize that these Gears can't even fight!? Leave them alone!" Alex demanded.
"We don't care whether they cannot fight or not. Gears are Gears, and they're destined as a threat to our existence," the commander insisted. "We will put their life to their end in the name of God."
"Then I shall stop you!" Alex withdrew Black Sabbath and attacked the knights. He was badly outnumbered and was forced to back off. The Commander laughed at the futile effort and commanded his subordinates to carry out the "cleansing". Several knights approached Hikaru and the children, by now caught in fear and cry for help. Alex screamed in lust and pounced toward the knights, slaying them with the kodachi. In an instant, the knights were slain into 18 cleanly cut pieces. He pointed the Black Sabbath to the remaining soldiers. "I've sworn to Black Sabbath and myself to protect these people from all threat, no matter who they are or what they are."
"Your mind has been corrupted by the Gears. Very well, we'll kill you as well." The commander signalled the soldiers to aim crossbows at him. "Fire." Alex didn't budge from his standing place, vowing himself to put his life on the line for the sake of the people he promised to protect. The arrows were fired, yet the lone wolf did not even move. To die for those he loved was more important to live and serve the orders when his heart was in great despair and loss of faith.
"ALEX!" Hikaru jumped in front of Alex, promptly blocking the oncoming arrow with her body. Alex was in complete shock to see the daring act and snatched the arrow-riddled body before it reached the floor.
"Hikaru! Hikaru! What on earth are you doing!? Hikaru!" he demanded, shaking her weakened body.
"Alex, I'm sorry…" she apologized in the weakest voice he could hear, "for doing this… I'm so sorry…"
Alex was furiously crossed by the act. "Damn it! Why are you doing this, Hikaru? Why?!"
The woman stared at him and smiled weakly. "I believe… it's the thing humans call "love"… I remember everything you taught about your people… I still remember the day you taught me of crazy things people would do for their beloved ones… I guess I'm among those people…"
"But not like this! Hikaru! Please, don't leave me!"
Hikaru slowly reached his face and pulled it down towards her face. She was hesitant for a while before pressed her trembling lips against his, in a kiss which was her first and last. The lone wolf could do nothing but to respond to the kiss, kissing her as deep as he could. She broke off the kiss and cupped his riddled face. "Alex, I love you…"
"Hikaru…"
"…and thank you… for loving me… sayonara…"
Hikaru's hand dropped to the floor. Alex helplessly shook her body in effort to wake her up before he broke into his heart-torn whimper. "Hikaru… don't leave me…" he whispered, embracing the lifeless body. The children were, too, crying over the death of their beloved guardian.
Silent as he was, Alex rested Hikaru on the floor and reached an iron cross hung over his neck, holding it very tightly while praying of something. Then, he placed his hand on her palms and frowned in his last respect, before he stood up and faced the knights. In a broken heart and anguish anger toward the invaders, the lone wolf of Holy Orders put Black Sabbath in the slaying position.
"Kisama… OMAE WO KOROSU!!!!"
x-x
"All the people at the village, including Hikaru, were killed by the soldiers. Well, only the children survived, but…" Alex was frowning both in pain and anger, clenching both his fist very tightly. Sion was staring at him in sympathy. "I've lost her… I've lost the only woman I loved…" he spoke in trembled voice. "And because of the soldiers, I also lost my family and everything I had… I killed the attacking troopers to avenge her death, but it was not enough for me. Thus I returned to the headquarters and paid everything the orders had done against my family."
x-x
The lightning struck again and flashed the interior of the cathedral, silhouetting everything inside the building. A dead silence lurked soon after, with nothing but breaths audible to the ear. A foul stench of flesh and blood began to lurk inside the hall, irritating every sense of smell that happened to take a sniff of the aroma.
The man from earlier was standing erect at the center of the hall, surrounded by countless of cut and slain bodies scattering everywhere. Blood was staining every inch of his uniform and body, as if he had been soaked in the pool of blood. Silent as he was, he later frowned and reached the cross and clenched it very tightly.
"God… this is the best I can do for them… the people who had fallen before my eyes… please, forgive me…"
He kissed the cross and put it inside his outfit and headed toward the door, stepping a slain body outside the hall. He, then, walked in the rain and disappeared from sight.
x-x
"But that meant you had betrayed humankind," Sion insisted.
"I don't care about that, Miss Sion. I just don't care of anything that happens to me. I've lost everything, and that's the only thing I know." He grumbled and ruffled his hands through her hair. "Damn it… when I thought I had avenged their death… he appeared and accused me of everything…! Why can't he understand the truth I have to face?"
"Kiske…" Sion pronounced the name.
"Miss Sion, I know you're confused when you heard what Ky said about me, but…"
"No, I'm not," Sion quickly denied. "I was just… sad to hear what had happened to you. I'm so sorry."
"Thanks for your concern, Miss Sion. I'd really appreciate it." Alex breathed out, threw the empty cup to the nearest dustbin, and stood up. "Anyway, it's getting late already. Why don't we go back to the motel before night arrives?"
"Eh? Didn't you remember?" Sion asked, staring at him in surprise. "I promised to take you to the restaurant I said earlier this morning for dinner, didn't I?"
"But the people will think that…"
Sion grumbled and took his hand. "Oh, just forget about what they'll think about us. Consider it as to celebrate our newly formed friendship. Okay?" she insisted and walked with him toward the main gate.
x-x-x-x-x
"Target has been located."
"PROCEED WITH THE TASK. HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR SYSTEM WITH THE FILES I UPLOADED TO YOUR DATABASE?"
"Yes, Fuhrer. We have."
"THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THIS TASK DEPENDS ON HOW WELL YOU COPE WITH THE DATABASE. NOW GO."
x-x-x-x-x
"And I must say," Alex spoke as the two of them were having dinner at the first-class restaurant not far from the railway station, "you have a very good sense of finding a good restaurant for dinner. Maybe I should learn a bit from you."
Sion shyly giggled. "Oh, no. I just wanted to celebrate our friendship, and I couldn't think of anything else than to take you for dinner."
"Well, whatever it is," Alex spoke and took a bite of the ordered steak, "this steak tastes great. I must thank you for treating me with this."
"And I must thank you for treating me with ice cream too," Sion spoke, "though I'm now worried of my body weight. I wonder whether it has passed the 50-kg scale or not." Alex just watched, as the young woman worriedly examined her figure, and silently chuckled. "Hey, what's that laugh for?" she demanded, embarrassed by the response he gave.
"Why are you so worried of your body weight?" he asked before he remembered something. "Aha. It must be because of woman's phobia of the 50kg-scale. Right?" Sion blushed furiously and demanded him to stop mentioning the issue. "Oh, come on, Miss Sion. There's nothing to be afraid of. Every woman I meet is afraid of the weight scale and tries their best to keep their body under the number."
"You sound awfully like a psychiatrist or beauty expert," Sion commented and pouted. "Why don't you become a cosmetic advisor instead?"
Alex just laughed. "I'm afraid every woman I counsel will be attracted to me because of my look and not because of the advices I share with them," he insisted.
"May I have the attention of Mister Alexander Hahn?" a waitress announced. Alex looked at the staff and waved his hand at her. "Mister Hahn, there is a group of people waiting for you outside the restaurant. They want to meet you immediately," she informed after approaching him.
"That's strange. I never think of having a sudden meeting with anybody," Alex said.
"It must be a trick," Sion told him.
"I better check it out. Miss Sion, you stay here. Don't go anywhere without letting me know." Alex left the table and walked outside, meeting a group of people wearing black robe across the road. Sion watched in doubt, as he discussed with the people. It was not long before she spotted a huge blade prodding out of one of the people's robe.
"It's them!" She quickly ran outside and dashed toward Alex and the group. "Alex, those people are after you! Don't talk to them!"
"What?" Subsequent to that, a loud mechanical noise broke the silence and caught the townspeople's attention. Alex immediately backed off, watching at the people who removed their robes and revealed their identity. "You again?"
"Subject: Alexander Hahn, serving the Holy Orders as one of the Sacred Knights before expelled from the organization on treason. Subject later turned his back toward the Gears and fought against the Holy Orders in the act which would label him as the humankind's worst enemy. Assigned risk rating on subject is S due to his controversial relationship with the Gears." The Robo-Ky Mark II's eyes shone brightly as the robots opened their battle stance. "Surrender, Fallen Soldier! We have got you surrounded."
"You're not like the last bunch of robots we fought at Cairo," Alex uttered.
"You are right," one of the Robo-Kys spoke. "The units dispatched to Cairo were defunct when they were assembled back at the factory. We, on, the other hand, receive direct order and instruction from Fuhrer."
Alex's eyebrow arched. "Fuhrer?"
"Our leader, by the name of Mark 2," another Robo-Ky told him. "He was the one who defeated Geese Howard at South Town and gained the title The Strongest Robotic Warrior To Roam This Planet. Fear him, and you must fear us as well."
"What the hell does that suppose to mean?" Alex demanded. "A robot is a robot. We humans shall not be afraid of your kind."
"But we are different!" the Mark II units exclaimed and simultaneously fired Reppukens at the lone wolf. Alex was surprised by the attack and had to jump over the projectiles, landing beside Sion who already opened her fighting stance.
"Damn, these robots have ruined the dinner we are having," Alex insisted and reached the Black Sabbath kodachi. "Miss Sion, do you not mind if we have to show them the price for interrupting a blinddate?"
"You're right," she spoke and pulled out an invisible string from her bracelets.
"Error! Blue Screen of Death!" One of the Mark II's jumped toward them and fired barrages of guided missiles at both Alex and Sion. They jumped out of the projectile's aiming range, forcing the robot to choose its target. Alex immediately executed Dust to Dust overdrive and instantly slain the robot into pieces. Sion seized another Robo-Ky's legs and pulled it toward her, before finishing it off with Black Moon Lasso overdrive. The rest of the robots screamed in anger and pounced toward them.
"Baccuss Sigh."
A mysterious mist appeared from nowhere and blinded the robots' vision, causing them to miss the duo and crashed on the wall. They quickly got back on their feet and pounced at them, trying to attack them. Then, in a sudden, a flash of light passed through them and froze them on the spot. All the robots were stunned and had no idea of what was attacking them.
"Hasshou Suru Shinki Nari."
The Mark II variation of Robo-Kys were slashed on their midsection and fell on the ground motionless. Dumbfounded by the unexpected reinforcement, Alex and Sion looked around them and saw two swordsmen standing in their respective kamae stance.
"It's very fortunate for us to arrive on time," one of the swordsmen spoke, "don't you think so, John-san?"
"I must agree with you, Elde," the other swordsman answered and looked at the bedazzled duo. "Are you two alright?"
"Thanks for helping us," Alex told them. "I thought it was just another stranger walking by this area. Thank goodness it's you two."
"Hey, we were asked by Lone Wolf to investigate the outbreak of the Mark II units," John said and approached the cut remains of the Robo-Ky units, already malfunctioning and severed. He picked one of the robots' head and peeked at its eyes. "You're one different Robo-Ky. Now tell us who sent you to attack them."
"We… shall… BZZZT! prevail…!" the head motonously spoke in a shivering voice. "Fuhrer… will… BZZZT! lead us… to victory… BZZZT! Damage beyond repair! Unit selfdestructs in 3, 2, 1…" The head burst in smokes as it self-destructed. John shrugged and tossed the burnt object to the air, cutting it in half with Mist Finer.
"Annoying PWAB's created character."
"We better meet Lone Wolf-san to discuss about this matter," Elde suggested. The three of them nodded and followed the Wanderer back to the mansion. As they were leaving the street, Elde and Alex halted. "Alexander-san, I already know you were not a bad guy. You're just misguided and need someone to help you getting over it."
"Then you suggest me to do what?" Alex insisted. "And you could've helped me while the author questioned me back there. Why you left us?"
"My apology for startling you, Alexander-san, but I cannot tell you the reason," the swordsman spoke. "However I can assure you that I will not treat you like a criminal or a person who has commited treason against humanity. I guarantee you with that."
"Show me your proof," Alex said. "Otherwise I will regard everything you said to me as a futile attempt to intimidate my standpoint."
"A Wanderer does not need to prove everything he speaks, Alexander-san," Elde uttered.
"Alright, then. I will consider your acceptance toward me as the proof for me to believe in you," the lone wolf of Holy Order spoke.
x-x-x-x-x
Mark 2 snarled in anger. His first step of Robo-Ky Mark II's uprising was foiled by the swordsmen's intervention, and the units he had been trusted to lead did not even fully implement the acquired database obtained from his 'travel' at South Town. He was sure that the attack carried out at Kiev failed because the units had underestimated the target they were assigned to.
He grinned. "HEH. FAILED OR NOT, THEY HAD SHOWED THE TARGET THAT WE MARK II ARE NOT JUST A REGULAR ROBOT TO BE FROWNED UPON." He clenched his fist and released a dark gale from it. He stared at the newly acquired elemet for a while before set it off. "AND THEY HAD FOREWARNED THE TARGET OF MY EXISTENCE AS THE STRONGEST ROBOTIC WARRIOR TO ROAM THIS PLANET. VERY WELL, FAILURE IS ALWAYS THE BEST LESSON IN ONE'S EXPERIENCE OF LIFE. I WILL LEARN FROM THIS MISTAKE AND CARRY OUT THE NEXT PLAN FLAWLESSLY."