Soul Caliber: No Future

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Soul Caliber 2, its characters, or any other part that is involved with the Soul Caliber Series created by Namco.

Chapter 2

"The moon is not out tonight. I guess that's because this is the night I slaughtered my family," said Nightmare to himself. He stared at the starry but moonless night sky. It was totally clear, and the ebony darkness allowed great sight at all the constellations, "This makes no sense. I don't remember my family. Then again who should care?"

Yes Nightmare, who needs people who are only a burden to you?

"I don't know who I am anymore."

You're Nightmare, the greatest fear this world has ever seen.

"Yes...." But Nightmare did not think entirely so. Subconsciously, he did feel something. Something different from what he felt a long time before.

The morning rolled around and the larks sang in the trees for the new day. Soul Edge was restless. The Eye was moving everywhere, wanting more souls, more death, and more blood. It had grown to its half way point; the Soul Edge Growth, and nothing would stop it now. It was a little harder to carry, and every time he used it the hatred grew in him.

The Evergreens stopped appearing so frequently and more rolling ills and plain fields were visible. Athens drew nearer and to another fateful soul who has yet to make her destiny. The town was so pleasing to Soul Edge that its Eye opened up wide to gaze on the next city of death.

Go my servant! Destroy the town and make me stronger!

"You?" said Nightmare driving Soul Edge into the ground, "I thought it was us."

I said destroy the town and make US stronger. Are you not listening? Nightmare was totally oblivious to Soul Edge's true plan.

"But the town is just sitting there."

Yes Nightmare. They're just waiting for you to make us stronger. Just thinking about it makes me hungry for more souls.

"Yes, but I think that if we continue looking for Kilik and Xainghua their powerful souls will give you such a boost, that we wouldn't need as many shards," Nightmare only said this so he could spare the town, and then he thought about all the victims and terror he could bring. Why did he propose that option?

Hmm...good idea. We will go in disguise. Nightmare concealed himself by a cloak and hid Soul Edge underneath it as well on his back.

He approached the town and the desire to kill rose. The people he could fight, the blood he could spill, the sight was hard to resist. He made it to a harbor.

And old seadog met him at the pier, "Aye! What ye be wantin' landlubber!?" His gruesome hook gleamed in the sun. He wore a black long coat and he stroked his white beard with his other hand.

"To the next town," said Nightmare, hiding his eyes behind his cloak hood.

"Hmph! Best be on yer watch fer that Nightmare fella. Allright, all aboard!" The boat rang its bell and he was off.

A few days later he arrived in the next town. The urge to destroy was too strong, and in an instant, he satisfied Soul Edge's thirst for death. As he approached the edge of town, Nightmare had an awful head ache. He held his head in pain.

"Damn woman! Her words are still in my head. It hurts."

I told you, you fool! She's toying with your brain. Don't let her womanly tricks take over you for a second time!

"Yes master!"

In the meantime, Cassandra was in a bar, having a nice glass of red wine, when three hoodlums came up and sat in front of her. She got angry and let out a sigh. One was bearded and middle-aged, one was younger than her and one was just plain ugly.

"Hey baby! Wanna go out for the night? We're a bunch of party animals!" said the young one.

"YEAH!" said the ugly one, putting his hand on the table, "We always go to this place. It's like really cool and fun."

"Now pretty lady," said the old one, "Why would you want to be here all alone?"

"EWW!" she said standing up, "You're all DEFINITELY not my type."

The ugly one went up to her and held her by the cheeks with his fingers and got in her face, "We can't have a tongue like that. Give us a kiss!" He puckered up and leaned over to Cassandra. She got so pissed off that she spat a nice big amount right in his face. Disgusted, he wiped it off.

"Let's get her boys!" yelled the old one.

He lunged at her with a right fist, at which Cassandra grabbed it, placed it behind his back and broke his arm. The blood leaked from the bone puncture.

"Bitch!" He yelled as he fell down screaming in pain.

The young one came out with kicks and punches. She blocked them all and hooked him behind the ear with her finger. He yelped in pain as he went slowly down to the ground. Once on the ground, she hit him behind the head, knocking him out.

"Wench! You're gonna die!" Said the last.

The bar was now full of screaming men and cheering women. The ugly man got a long knife out and tried to slash, thrust, whatever he could do to kill her. She put her hand behind her back and dodged them all. Getting angry, the man tried to slash out her legs. She back flip-somersaulted over the attack and kicked him in the jaw. The force turned his neck around. The sound of breaking neck bines were so loud that it sounded lick someone was stepping on glass. He fell to the floor. The bar was full of cheers, and then Cassandra got kicked out.

"Fine who needs you!" she said getting up off of the ground and wiped the dirt off of her skirt.

The night rolled around and Nightmare came to the bar just after Cassandra left. He saw the damage done to the three men he asked who had done it, and it wasn't long before he was stalking Cassandra. He found a young woman sitting near a fountain. The problem was that she looked exactly like Sophitia.

"What! She went to this town? No, this must be that warrior woman from the bar. Soul Edge, time for souls." Nightmare said to himself.

He walked up to Cassandra in disguise. She asked him, looming over her, "What do you want?"

"Your SOUL!" Nightmare yelled, taking off his cloak and removing Soul Edge from his back. Screams came out of every direction and the name Nightmare was constantly being said.

"Nightmare! You must be him," she said taking out her shield and sword preparing for battle, "You'll pay for what you did to Sophitia!" Before she could attack, she took a long look at Nightmare. He reminded her of someone she held dear, but had suppressed from memory.

She swung at Nightmare using two horizontal slashes and coming down with a flip kick. The move was vaguely similar to Sophitia's, and then those words came into his head: It's Siegfried. His head throbbed and the first slash was dodged and the kick landed him directly on the collar bone, but did not break it. The blood trickled from his bare chest down to his pelvis. It was a horrible wound, but he fought on. Retracting his demon arm, he grabbed Cassandra and threw her at a stone wall. The stones cracked at the force done. Cassandra was not broken, but hurt badly. She had to kneel for a moment and when she stood up, her back hurt. Her hatred grew, and the shard in her pocket pulsed. She had a new strength and her back didn't hurt as much anymore. She dashed at Nightmare and thrust at him. It struck true and the blood spilled onto the dirt road. Nightmare groaned in pain and dashed away holding his side. He glared at her before he left that said "This isn't over".

"Cheers for the person who drove Nightmare away!" cried a villager. The cheers came out but she was distracted. She took out the shard, saw it glow, and then smiled the smallest smiles ever made.

What were you doing! You got injured!

"I don't know. I was distracted," Nightmare argues with Soul Edge, which wasn't pleased with Nightmare.

That's the second time that a woman has fooled you! Let your wound burn!

Nightmare screamed in pain, and then he fell on hand and knees for breath. He knew that if this happened again that it would be much worse. He grasped Soul Edge and left for the woods to re-cooperate from the wounds done.

Hmm...That woman was attractive. But I must be vigilant. Even with that slender body, luscious blond hair and bright eyes.

A thought came over his mind and he smiled a bit. It was a thought of Cassandra.

The road was long and harsh. Kilik was acting stranger everyday, and the road to Athens was longer. Kilik usually cringed with pain, unknown to Xainghua that that was a vision of Soul Edge afflicting Kilik over and over.

Xainghua, climbing rocks and walking in forests, was remembering the last night when they were sparring.

"Come on! Try with all your might!" said an enraged Kilik. He swung at her and she blocked, but he turned around and swept out her legs. She hit the ground with a thud and she could see a rod falling into her face. She flinched and the rod stopped right before it hit her face, "You're no challenge anymore. Get better or go home." Kilik left.

Xainghua regaining her breath sat up and cried. Kilik never talked to her like that.

Xainghua looked at the Kilik present ahead of her. He was not tiring but she was. He walked right past a sign and didn't stop to read it. She however did and it read: Watch out for venomous snakes.

"Oh no! Kilik!" exclaimed and apprehensive Xainghua.

"Quite woman, I'm trying to get out of here."

"WOMAN!?! I have a name Kilik and you better start treating me right or else."

And at that moment, a black snake came out of the brush, looking at Kilik and feeling threatened. The trees made it much too dark to see and it leapt out with a poisonous bite. Kilik howled in pain and immediately collapsed. The sweat poured from his face and he had a fever. Xainghua ran over to him and started to suck out the venom that was pumped into Kilik. The snake hissed.

"You bastard! You hurt my friend!" she took out the No Name and loped off the snakes head. She then returned to sucking out the venom from the ankle.

That night, Xainghua looked at Kilik, whom was still asleep. The fire crackled and she was depressed. She left Kilik's side with a fresh cold cloth on his forehead and started to perform a sword kata. Kilik opened his eyes and gazed upon the most beautiful site ever seen for him: A woman, fighting her hardest with perfect from and technique. Her kicks, slashes thrusts, turns, movements, everything was flawless.

"Xainghua," Kilik said hoarsely, "I've never seen you fight like that."

"Well if you weren't such a jerk I wouldn't have been doing this. Now leave me alone!" She went off to the hot springs.

What's wrong? Kilik thought. She was never like this. He went up to find Xainghua, but caught her in the hot springs. He saw nothing but she screamed and made him leave.

The next morning, Xainghua was not impressed.

"Xainghua, I..."

"Didn't mean to be a pervert and try o look at me in the hot springs?!?!?!" She looked at him with a angry face. She was so mad that steam was almost coming out of her ears.

"No, for being so mean to you. I don't know what was wrong with me."

"Really?" she looked at him, "Well I guess you're forgiven." She kissed him on the cheek and that made Kilik blush.

Don't you see Kilik!? She's going to try to make herself look good! Don't let her little tricks fool you! He looked at Xainghua, now ahead of him and went passed her with a clod look on his face.

Something's wrong. I know it is. Xainghua thought to herself then she walked on.