So did anyone like the first chapter? Well here comes the second, also there were some minor changes to the first chapter, nothing really important, just spelling Axl Low's name correctly and something regarding May that I discovered from one of the Drama CDs. See previous chapter for disclaimer.
Moving Forward.
"Hey Sol," Axl ask as he trailed behind the burly man, "what are we doing at the Japanese Colony?" It was mere moments after Sol and Axl met up that they were transported to the Colony. In that short time Sol was a pleasant to be around as the Devil himself, his demeanor was even more serious than usual and he looked as if he had not slept in days.
"We need more people," Sol spoke as he walked purposefully, "we're going to meet with Baiken and Anji here and acquire another Jinki."
"I don't remember Baiken being on too friendly terms with you," commented almost offhanded. "and Anji is too far out there in my opinion to really be useful."
"They'll help," Sol stopped to consider something, "yea they'll help, whether they want to or not." There was something in Sol's voice that Axl didn't entirely like.
"Well I suppose she won't mind," Axl spoke aloud to himself, "we're probably going after That Man anyway. Plus Anji's like a puppy and will follow Baiken where ever she goes."
"That's the plan." Sol spoke monotone.
How long had she stood there staring at that moonlit silhouette? It could have been a hundred years for all she knew, it certainly felt as long, maybe even longer. Time did not matter to those such as her.
She took in every detail of that moment, the way he wore his clothes, a plain pair of blue jeans and white shirt, adorned with a golden cross. She memorized every star in the sky that night. As she did so she noticed a single light far away falling from the sky.
Remembering something May had once told her she closed her eyes and silently wished. When she opened them once more he still stood there. Taking in a deep breath her emotions welled up until she could no longer control them.
"I'm sorry," Ky whispered, barely audible, "but please wait a little longer. I promise I'll tell you then, I'll tell you everything soon."
"Ky!" Moving with the speed unique to her kind Dizzy trapped the Knight in a tight embrace. "I was so scared," She spoke into his chest, hoping that he would return her embrace, "I thought that you had really left forever."
"Dizzy," he smiled as he gently broke the embrace, "have you enjoyed you time here with the Jellyfish?"
"Yes," she nodded enthusiastically, smiling as she looked up at him, "everyone has been very nice to me here since you left."
"Is that so?" He looked over to Johnny who had made his way to the deck, "It must be because you are a good girl." he wished Johnny wasn't wearing his sunglasses, at night they just seemed odd. "Have you seen Testament recently?"
"Yes," she nodded again, "I gave him a letter not to long ago."
"I see," even though he smiled, there was something in Ky's eyes that haunted Dizzy. "It must have been on your day off." Her sudden blush confirmed this, "sorry for not telling you sooner."
"I thought," she suddenly blushed and turned her head, "I thought you were dead." She took a step away from him and bowed deeply, "please forgive me for my rudeness earlier." She felt a gently weight on her head, one that seemed somehow nostalgic, like something she had felt long ago. She lifted her head, her face still blushing, to see Ky smile a different smile while he patted her head.
"It was my fault," he whispered to her, "everything was my fault."
"Now now you two," Johnny spoke, not liking the air about them and making his presence known, "Ky, I believe you have something more important to say."
"Yes," his breath seemed to catch in his throat, "Dizzy, I want you to come with me."
"Where are we going?" she now stood her full height, puzzled.
"Some place important." His sad gaze seemed to soften then, the sadness lessened. "I won't force you to go and the Jellyfish won't be able to come along. Moreover it will be a dangerous journey and I can't guarantee much in the way of luxury. However I will promise you, on my honor as a Knight and to God himself, that I will protect you no matter what."
"Ky," now she could see determination in his eyes. Dizzy did not know what to do, in her mind she asked both Necro and Undine for their guidance, yet they were strangely quiet. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried she could not reach them.
"I can't hear them," she gripped her head, feeling light headed, "neither of them." She fell to her knees so suddenly that it startled both Ky and Johnny. "Please," her eyes began to tear up, "don't leave me alone, Necro! Undine!"
"Dizzy?" Ky knelt before her placing a hand on her shoulder.
"No!" As she screamed a blinding light engulfed all that surrounded her.
The forest had been quiet since she left. A lot of things had changed as well. A disconcerting visit from an old nemesis was to blame for that. Still he could no longer say that he hated the man that at one time might have been his brother-in-arms.
He had felt that the only thing to do in the wake of his death was give up his own weapon and try to do what the other so feverishly desired. He wanted to enjoy the peace that was granted to him, but all he could do was regret.
Testament breathed a sigh in his forest as he looked to the night sky. He had recently been host to a rather unbelievable young man and story. A little more than a week ago Ky Kiske had come to his forest, not to do battle but to speak to the gear.
He had told Testament of his unintentional involvement in a Shussen Kanrikyoku plot. He told Testament that no matter what he would protect her. He told him, many an unbelievable tale. In the end Testament agreed that he would not get involved with any plot involving the Shussen Kanrikyoku and remain hidden in this forest.
She however had other plans.
"Nice place you've got here." hearing her voice the gear spun around to meet his intruder, his scythe in hand. "Oh my," her voice seemed to tremble with something that he didn't entirely want to know, "waving around such a big weapon is going to get me excited."
"Who the Hell are you?" As he spoke Testament moved his body into a defensive position. He didn't now why but there was something about this woman in red that he found familiar.
"I'm I-no," she said stringing her guitar. At the moment the woman was perched on a fallen tree that had moments ago still been standing. "More importantly I have something I need to talk about with you."
"Why the Hell should I listen to someone like you?" He felt afraid, he couldn't understand why but there was something about this woman that terrified even him.
"You're master sent me." Seeing his startled look she smiled. "I'm hear to give you the final task that Justice left for you," She held her hand out to him, still sitting on the tree, "don't you want to know what it was? Come on now, I won't bite, unless you want me to."
"Get away from me you little-" his eyes could not tell him when she moved, all that registered was the ominous aura and her sent as she stood mere inches from him. "When did you-?"
"Now now," she seemed to speak condescendingly, "such language won't do now." She whispered every edged word into his very ears. "Now come," her breath sent a chill down his spine, "if not for your master's sake then for her's."
"What?" He did nothing to hide his shock now, if she could so easily come upon him then she stood no chance. "Leave her out of whatever you have planned."
"That all depends on you really," her voice now seemed carefree, like the outcome didn't matter to her at all. He knew that this woman, this I-no could very well destroy Dizzy and the entire Jellyfish crew if she wanted too and be unfazed by it. "Now, will you honor your master's last wish?"
"When do we leave?" Testament felt sad that he could not honor the human's last request of him, but now as always, Dizzy came before all others.
Getting into the magically sealed Japanese Colony had been a rather large nuisance for both Sol Badguy and Axl Low. However they were successful and it wasn't long until they had found their aim.
"Explain it clearly or you'll find it hard to breath with no wind pipe." The scarred, one armed, pink haired woman said to Axl. "I really don't want to have to clean this thing two times in the same day." Axl was smiling nervously as Sol and Japanese male looked on. The Japanese looked about as flustered as he did at the moment, but without a sword pointed at his throat.
"Hey Sol," Axl looked to his left to see the even faced American, "please explain it to the nice lady clearly." His voice held a nervous edge to them while his eyes seemed to say "Give me a Break!"
"I'm going to kill That Man." Hearing that name both the Japanese looked over to Sol shocked. "Baiken, Anji," he looked over the woman and man respectively, "I need your powers in order to do so."
"Now you've got my interest," the woman named Baiken sheathed her sword, "but I don't really think I need your involvement or power in order to do it."
"That maybe so," Sol looked dead into her hardened eye, never wavering, never flinching, "but you will need his," he motioned to Axl standing next to him, "and his as well." He then motioned to Mito Anji, standing away from the rest of them, his hands held out as a measure of protection.
"What is he talking about Anji?" Her single eye gleamed malice, "You mean? You've been keeping something from me haven't you?"
"Well not really, not anything big anyway," though he seemed afraid, to the two onlookers it seemed that he could hold his own against the swordswoman very well, "I found out only a little while ago, but yes I have a general idea on where That Man and his servants are."
"And when did you plan on telling me?" Her sword was now drawn on the bare chest man, "I should cut you a new throat."
"That won't be necessary," Sol informed them, "because we are going to collect the Outrage, then we collect him." He turned to leave speaking over his shoulder to his companion, "You coming Axl?"
"Huh?" he looked over to Sol's diminishing form. "Hey wait!" Axl rushed over to Sol's side. "Is this really such a good idea?" He whispered to the American when he was in earshot.
"Stop right there!" Baiken screamed to the two of them, "We're coming too." She dragged the pleading Anji by the scruff of his neck, then when they had caught up to Sol and Axl she threw him to the ground and proceeded to stomp Anji with her foot all the while saying "I'm going to make you pay for this you stupid kid."
"C'mon sis," Anji made a show of Baiken's foot pushing him by the rear, "I was going to tell you soon so please give me a break."
"You're sure this is a good idea Sol?" Axl said as he felt a rush of heat and an embarrassed sweat cover his face.
"Y-yea" was all the equally embarrassed man could say, "I think."
"Dizzy!" Johnny screamed as the light diminished, "Are you alright? Answer me!" Even with his shades Johnny was blinded by the light that surrounded him, it was all he could do to shield his eyes with his arm.
"It's alright." The seemingly unfazed Ky said as he held her unconscious form in her hands. "She is alive, but I fear the power that she just expended left her exhausted."
"Hey," Johnny spoke in open disbelief as Dizzy appeared to him, "what happened? Where are her wings and tail?" Upon further inspection it was easy to see that those appendages were indeed no longer visible on Dizzy's body.
"She," Ky stared at the unconscious form, "she doesn't have the power to call upon them anymore."
"What?"
"I'm sorry," Ky looked beyond the glasses and made eye contact with the Air Pirate, "but I'll be taking her with me now."
"Right," was all Johnny could manage to say, "but, what does this mean Kiske?"
"It's begun."
-to be continued...
You like? I'm really beginning to enjoy writing this one, ideas seen to jump out at me in all directions. Well anyway, please review. I should have the next chapter up soon too.