Previously on Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED…

Lone Wolf chuckled and approached her. "So you think you don't want to train because I'm not present? Ne?" he asked, running a hand through her silky smooth hair. Hibiki blushed in response and turned around, not wanting him to see her reaction. "Aw, come on. I'm not that kind of guy who would chase another girl while you're absent."

"Lone Wolf-san hidoi," Hibiki said and pouted. "Lone Wolf-san always likes to tease when everyone's here. Mou, I don't like it."

The author laughed and pulled the woman into his arms, hugging her in the closest embrace he could. "Ahou. Why you think I'm doing it? It's because I have you," he said and softly placed his lips on her scalp, "and besides, nobody can replace you in my heart. Honestly, I am."

"That… that was so sweet of you, Lone Wolf-san," she said and rested her body upon his firm figure. "Ne."

"What is it, Hibiki?" he asked.

"About what you said earlier," she spoke and took a hold of his hand, "were you planning to have a flower watching?"

"Umm…" he replied and kissed her scalp. "Hope it will be the most memorable flower watching before the war takes place."

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. The author would really appreciate 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. Featured music in this chapter is Holy Orders (Be Just Or Be Dead) from Guilty Gear X Heavy Rock Tracks.

Chapter 25
The One Arc Part 5
Black and White: Be Just or Be Dead… Again?

The city park was full of life, as the casts of Guilty Gear, Tsukihime/Melty Blood/TYPE MOON, Chrno Crusade, Tokyo Underground and Rurouni Kenshin gathered for the first flower sighting. It was planned by Lone Wolf NEO as to ease the tension rising among the people, especially those who were to involve in the upcoming war. Already excited by the gathering, all the female warriors and assistants and so on immediately had their own flower sighting, ignoring the males who could not help themselves at the situation.

"Eh? Then what happened? Ne? Ne?" the Jellyfish Pirates asked Azmaria in expectations.

"Well… the robots almost got us, but then Chrno and Rosette saved us from them," Azmaria spoke and giggled. "It was really fun to see the two of them fighting the robots. You should see their annoyed face back there."

"Eh… but since Azmaria-chan and everybody else are here," January spoke, "why don't we take this chance to introduce ourselves?"

"Yeah, yeah! That'd be a great idea," February replied. "What about you, Azmaria-chan?"

"Haii, yorokonde," she replied, smiling.

"Yatta!!!" the girls were startled by the excited shriek of Arcueid, as she lifted the sake bottle she was holding to the air, singing a silly song all the way. "We're having flower sighting! We're having flower sighting! Yatta ze!"

"Arcueid, stop acting like a drunken child and…" The True Ancestor already seized Ciel and put the bottleneck into her mouth, forcibly draining the sake into her throat. "Arcueid! Stop it! I said stop it!"

"Aw, come on Ciel-senpai!" the drunken Arcueid insisted and poured more sake into her mouth. "Just drink and enjoy! HORA!!!" Ciel tried to resist the forced drinking before she fell drunk and hiccupped. Roughly she took the bottle and drunk every drop of the sake, much to Arcueid's dismay.

"YOSSHA!!!" the Vatican agent cried out and swung her drunken fist in the air, "let's get the party started!! MINNA!!" The rest of the people watched in amusement, as Ciel and her archrival began talking random and started dancing around. Please insert French words or whatsoever language to quote the two mortal enemies while they were drunken. Yes, they're out of character this time.

"Oh, well," Lone Wolf uttered and took a sip of the Oolong tea, "at least everybody is here for the flower watching. Ne, Hibiki?"

"Umm," the iaijitsu woman replied and sipped the same beverage from the ceramic glass. "It's been a while since we last gathered together like this, ne Lone Wolf-san?"

Nodding in agreement, the author took a quick glance at the people who were already occupied with themselves. "It already is," he spoke and sipped the tea for the second time. "Hisui-chan, another glass of tea please."

"Haii," the housemaid spoke and poured tea into the cup.

"Arigatou, Hisui-chan," the author thanked.

"WAAAIIII!" The three of them were startled by the loud shriek of Arcueid and Ciel, as they were singing some silly songs while drinking sake and swinging themselves around. "Lone Wolf!! Come on, let's sing together!!" Ciel said and hiccupped.

"Uhh… I'll just pass, senpai," Lone Wolf declined.

"Are you afraid of us, Kiba-chan!?" Arcueid asked, swinging her fist in the air. "Come on! The Lone Wolf NEO we know isn't afraid of anything! Come on! Come on! Show us what you've got!"

"Now you're quoting me, Missy," Terry spoke and sweatdropped.

"Are you okay?! BUSTER WOLF!!!" the drunken vampire quoted the lone wolf and danced around, whilst Ciel began singing in her native French tongue. The people shrugged in amazement to see the most popular enemies in TYPE-MOON temporarily putting their rivalry aside and enjoying the day together in the most unexpected way possible. Lone Wolf just shook his head and looked at the other direction. He saw the sight of Dizzy and Hotaru sitting under a blossom tree, chattering with each other while Rock idly leaning against the other side of the tree, sleeping. At another side of the park, Sol and Kagura were seen loitering around, with the latter cutely clinging on his arms while the Guilty Gear grumbled and tried to shake her off his arm. The sight of Robo-Ky unit RB5001 having monologue on the bridge was also visible, increasing the people's level of curiosity on the PWAB unit by one point.

"I think we missed something," Lone Wolf uttered.

"Oh, I'm sure you're not missing something, aren't you Lone Wolf-san?" Aoshi uttered.

"Err… yeah, sort of," he spoke and scratched the back of his head. "Whatever. It's not that we missed something. Maybe we're too busy enjoying this day to think of something."

"Sou, ne…" Hibiki answered.

Sion looked around her, noticing Alex and Ky's absence at the place. "Where are they going at time like this, those two?" she whispered.

x-x-x-x-x

The air was inert. Neither Ky nor Alex was saying a word, as they were idly staring at each other for prolonged time. The oak leaves were falling down the trees, dramatically creating peaceful scenery at the section of the city park.

"Alright, Alexander Hahn," Ky spoke and pointed the Thunderseal at his face, "I couldn't defeat or outwit you in the last duel because of Slayer's interference. However this time, there will be no escape. Not for you, not for me."

"What? Already expecting this duel to be bloody?" Alex insisted and opened his battle stance.

"Shut up!" Ky demanded and opened his pose. "I will give you everything I've got as a holy knight in punishing a traitor like you."

Alex grinned and withdrew Black Sabbath. "Right, I was about to finish the duel we had last time. Bring it on, Ky."

The cue music of Holy Orders (Be Just Or Be Dead) echoed from nowhere, and it intensified as the two knights of holy orders took their steps. Slowly, they tried not to attack first and kept on glaring at each other, keeping their weapons as close to their body as possible.

"Why aren't you attacking?" Alex asked, still in his battle stance.

"Heh, you'd expect me to make the first move, Alexander?" Ky asked and grinned.

"Very well. TAKE THIS!!!" With that declared, Alex jumped toward Ky, trying to land a Shadow Trigger Overhead on the Holy Knight. Ky counterattacked with a Vapor Thrust, knocking the dark paladin off his attacking range. The white knight, then, opened his steps and fired a Stun Edge at Alex, almost hitting his head by an inch.

"That isn't going to work!" Alex shouted and dashed toward him, evading another Stun Edge fired at him. Frantically Ky tried to counteract with Greed Saber, only to find himself seized at the collar. "Shadow Trigger: SNATCH!" The white knight got slammed to the floor and bounced off to the open air.

"Never underestimate a holy knight, Alexander Hahn!" Ky shouted after air-recovered and opened the overdrive stance, charging toward Alex in Ride The Lightning.

"Am I going to underestimate you, Ky Kiske?" Alex replied and opened a reversal. The stance made contact with the overdrive, and the dark paladin immediately seized Ky's neck with his legs. "Melody of…"

ONE!

The white knight was brought to the air and slammed on the floor for the second time.

TWO!

Alex made a handstand and brought Ky back to the air, and suddenly made a violent body twist.

THREE!

Ky was slammed back on the ground, and got stomped.

FOUR!

Alex made a somersault, seizing Ky's head with a claw attack and tossed him to the open air.

FIVE!

"OBLIVION!!" The overdrive ended with an uppercut kick, sending Ky high to the air. Alex landed and watched at his opponent who crashed not far from him. "How was it, Ky Kiske? Was that enough for you?" he taunted.

"That was not enough!!" Ky roared as he stood back.

"Not enough?" Alex replied, sarcastically grinning at the knight's reaction. "Then allow me to show what the disciple of the Oniwabanshu group has to offer…"

"You've got to be kidding," Ky spoke.

"Oh, I'm not." With that declared, Alex suddenly disappeared from sight. Frantically Ky looked around him, trying to locate the dark paladin's position. All he could see was blurred visions of people running around him in a speed impossible to believe.

"WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?" Ky looked upward and saw Alex diving toward him, kodachi first. He managed to jump aside before the overhead attack collided, trying to counterattack with Stun Dipper. "THAT ATTACK IS FUTILE! TEMPORARY HIATUS!" For the second time, Ky's attempt to land an attack was foiled by the reversal and got eaten by the follow-up Melody of Oblivion overdrive.

The overdrive ended, and Alex jumped far from Ky, waiting for him to stand up. "Stand up and finish this battle quickly, Ky! I still have that important thing to do after this," he spoke, slinging the kodachi on his shoulder.

"What so important is that, Alexander!?" Ky shouted, panting breathlessly for air after standing up.

Alex glowered at the holy knight. "Just as I thought; you and your untainted belief on the holy orders don't understand everything."

"It's you who don't understand!" Ky replied.

Alex closed his eyes. "So be it."

x-x-x-x-x

"By the way," Lone Wolf spoke, "Azmaria-chan and company has arrived here, right?"

"Haii," Azmaria answered.

"That reminds me of something," Lone Wolf said, scratching his chin, "what exactly are you guys going to do in the war anyway?"

Slightly Azmaria coughed and corrected her seated position. "We had been asked by Yuuki-san to assist you in humanitarian act during the war. To put in simpler terms, we're medics."

"Eh, you guys are medics, huh?" Terry asked. "I never thought to have young girls becoming medics. That's really surprising."

"Yes, we are, Terry-sama," Ruri answered.

"And why would you call me with the –sama suffix, Missy?" Terry asked, smiling in slight discomfort. Ruri just answered the question with a generous smile carved upon her face.

"Why can't I, Terry-sama?" Ruri asked. Terry couldn't help but to grin at the response the girl gave.

"And speaking of guests, Lone Wolf-san," Aoshi uttered, "here comes another newcomers."

Lone Wolf watched at the direction of Akiha's pointing, and saw two women in distinctive characteristics and outfits walking toward them. Both of them were blonde, albeit one of them had a couple of ponytails tied up from her hair. Lone Wolf stared at the other woman and breathed out in amazement. He stood up and approached the two women, smiling at them as to greet their arrival. "The one born from the pain of knowing the truth… the kind murderer…" he spoke as he offered a handshake at the one with the long blonde hair.

"I'm very sure we didn't arrive here late, did we, Lone Wolf?" the latter woman asked, shaking his hand in return.

"Well, yes, you didn't," the author spoke, smiling. The woman chuckled and followed Lone Wolf back to the gathering, as the young girl slowly walked behind them.

"Lone Wolf-san, who are these two?" Hibiki asked, concernedly staring at the women.

Lone Wolf grinned, as he invited the guests to take seat on the picnic mat. "My friends, meet Margaret Burton and… Madlax."

Silence. All of them were staring at the two newcomers in disbelief and surprise. Some of them were even whispering among themselves regarding their presence in Guilty Gear universe.

The girl named Margaret Burton bowed. "My name is Margaret Burton, pleased to meet you," she spoke.

The older woman just smiled. "Madlax."

"Ne, Madlax-san-tachi…" Hibiki called them, "what's your relationship with Lone Wolf-san? How did you get to know each other?"

Madlax stared at the iaijitsu warrior and smiled. "We're comrades, of course," she spoke, giving out her sweet-yet-alluring smile.

"What kind of comrades are you?" Hibiki asked.

Madlax chuckled. "From the intonation of your voice, please don't tell me that you're jealous at Lone Wolf for having comrades," she reminded.

"I'm not jealous!" the scion of Takane clan cried, deeply embarrassed. "Well… yes, I'm jealous, but that's because Lone Wolf-san already got a girlfriend!! Why are you asking such… embarrassing question, Madlax-san?"

The woman giggled. "Iie. Nande mo nai."

"And that reminds me of something," Akiha spoke and took a sip of tea. "Doesn't this mean Lone Wolf-san will establish a harem? I remembered his acclamation back at the mansion that he never wants to have a harem in the first place."

"Maybe Lone Wolf-san wants to rival Sheo-san in harem matters, I suppose," Hisui added.

"You guys… anyway, everyone," Lone Wolf called, "we're still in the middle of the flower sighting right? So HIT IT!" With that declared, party music appeared from nowhere and echoed inside the city park as the people were caught in the frenzy of party.

x-x-x-x-x

"VAPOR THRUST!"

"Shadow Trigger: OVERHEAD!"

COLLISION! ROMAN CANCEL!

"RIDE THE LIGHTNING!"

COUNTER!

Alex was knocked off his attacking range by the uppercut and was tossed straight to the open air. Ky screamed a battle cry and aimed Sacred Edge at the dark paladin. The light swords hit, bringing Alex further midair. Ky didn't stop there and immediately chased Alex, giving out his best aerial combo.

"Psych Burst COUNTER!" Ky's aerial combo was cancelled by the blue Psych Burst, and was sent crashing on the ground. Alex screamed and air-dashed toward Ky, attacking him with rapid slashes and hacks before sending him again to the open air.

"Ryuusui no Oguki adapted technique: Shadow Trigger."

Alex's body split into several shadowy images and jumped toward Ky, surrounding him. Already knocked unconscious, Ky did not see the oncoming attacks and got hit by the follow-up Direct. Again, he was sent toward the ground and got attacked by another Shadow Trigger: Direct. Alex stopped attacking him and landed on the ground, bringing the kodachi into the backhand position.

"What the hell is going on here?"

The dark paladin turned around and saw Sol and Kagura walking toward the battle spot. Ignoring the white knight who crashed, he glowered at the former and snarled. "Just when I was going to finish this duel… what do you want, Sol Badguy?"

Sol could only shake his head. "If it isn't the dark paladin himself," he spoke and breathed out lazily. "Just what the hell are you doing with Ky? I thought you guys are supposed to be at the party with the people, Alex."

"That's none of your concern, Sol Badguy," Alex answered.

Sol just shook his head and switched his sight at Ky. "And I thought you were putting all your effort in beating the ex-soldier, holy boy," he spoke. "Lame."

"Sol! Are you on his side?!" Ky shouted as soon as he got back on his feet.

"Since when I'm on his side, Ky? I don't want to have anything with this duel you two are having? Sheesh, you knights are confusing as hell," the Immoral Flame uttered.

"I resent that, Sol. The Holy Knights are sometimes confusing," Alex added. "Anyway, I was winning this duel, so please excuse me while I finish this for good."

"I SHALL NOT LOSE TO THE LIKE OF YOU!!" Ky shouted and opened his instant kill pose.

"Ky…" Sol called him. "I don't want to tell you this, but you already got served."

Ky glanced at him with the shocked expression on his face. "WHAT!?"

Alex beamed. "In the name of God, all impure souls who deny their Creator shall be purified and banished into eternal damnation. Amen." He leaped toward Ky and, in the impossible-to-believe speed, dashed through the holy knight and reappeared behind him. Ky was stunned and could not move his body, resulting from an invisible wind enveloping him. He managed to peek behind him and saw Alex kneeling, holding the kodachi in backhand position.

"Shimatta!!"

"Dust to dust."

Seventeen light streaks appeared from nowhere, surrounded Ky and instantly slashed his body. The holy knight screamed in pain as the light blades cut his body and collapsed on the ground. Both Sol and Kagura gasped in surprise to see the entire scene; the latter hid behind the Guilty Gear in fear as the black feather stood up and slowly retreated Black Sabbath into its scabbard.

"Don't worry about him, Sol Badguy. He is just unconscious, though he may not look like it." Alex, then, turned around and walked away from the battle scene, leaving the two Guilty Gear protagonists in intrigue, with the flame warrior clenching his fists in unknown rage.

"Sol-kun, what is it?" Kagura asked, sensing his anger overwhelming inside of him.

Sol stepped forward, glowering at the dark paladin. "ALEXANDER!!"

The lone wolf of holy orders halted and glanced at him. "What?"

"Next time," Sol spoke, "don't expect our next encounter to be as peaceful as this. I'm going to have your ass kicked and burned. You hear that!?"

Alex grinned. "Let us deal with the war first, then we'll decide how the duel is going to be. Ja." He turned around and walked toward the party far from the scene, leaving Sol in total anger and dismay.

"Annoying piece of crap. I'm so gonna get you…"