Equinox
Chapter 3
Training

---------------------

Keitaro stood calmly in the middle of the training room. He had decided to do some bit of training to clear up his mind for the up and coming mission. He needed to be in peak condition in order to overcome his new enemies.

Keitaro did a few spar moves. Graciously gliding threw the air. His punches and kicks slicing apart the hot air surrounding his form.

His new enemies were no pushovers. The videos he have seen were only clips of various battles between Slytherian, and Cordanian battalions. Lets just say those videos were completely one sided.

Keitaro already made separate strategies on how to take each one down. Slytherians uses brute strength as their primary weapons. That is why they are the front linesmen for the Council. They can absorb more damage and are relentless when it comes for killing. So the only thing Keitaro could do against these beasts would be speed and stealth.

Cordanians on the other hand, or masters of long range, and quite formidable up-close. Their silver transforming right arm, able to morph into any metallic object they wish it o be. In the tapes he saw only two Cordanians take down a whole squadron of elite mercenaries. So Keitaro's plan was brute strength.

Keitaro looked at the knife in his belt.

He pulled it out, and looked at it.

The tip glowing a bright blue. Keitaro narrowed his eyes.

He focused…..focused……and concentrated on the tip.

Like a sudden burst of wind, a huge blue ray of light shot out from the knife. Slowly the huge pillar of light started to shrink smaller and smaller. Until it solidified into a scimitar made out of pure blue light.

Keitaro looked at awe as it lit up the whole room. Shimmering delicately as it laid on his hands. He could feel the sword connected to him. Not physically but spiritually. As if his soul was connected to the rune stone that powered the sword. As long as he has the will and power, the sword will obey his every command.

Keitaro gripped the bright scimitar tight and took small swiped with it. A trail of obsidian light following the scimitars path in the air. Keitaro twirled the sword expertly around himself.

Keitaro strengthened his connection to the sword and the rune.

He poured more of his essence, his being, into the sword. His dedication to equinox, his passion for saving mankind….everything…..

Unknown to him, as he was doing this the sword had an aura of black marble smoke encased the blue scimitars light. The smoke grew thicker by every passing second. A couple of lingering black clouds peeped out form the whirling smoke surrounding the blade but was soon sucked back.

Keitaro closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and prayed.

His eyes flashed a bloody crimson red for a split second.

He then flung his sword down from above him and hit the ground hard with the blade.

During the trip down the swirling smoke that surrounded the sword was ejected from the sword! It shaped itself into a black sharp edged, crescent shaped projectile heading towards the far back wall of the training dome.

It rocketed passed all the training gear scattered randomly inside the room, while sparkling black sparks followed closely behind the projectile at its trail.

-Bam!-

The sharp black object flew until it came crashing into the far wall. Causing a major rattle to ring thru out the room.

Keitaro slowly opened his eyes to the direction he swung his sword at.

His jaws dropped.

There he could see a huge gash on the far wall. As big as his own height and deep enough to see the inner concrete that protected the base.

He stared at his glowing sword.

"This could be nifty….but only if it could be a kind of hammer too"

At that exact moment the light scimitar turned bright red and morphed into a huge war hammer.

Keitaro's jaws dropped once again……

"Niiiiice…." He praised as the light hammer turned once again to a normal pocket knife.

"I think I'll call you Aniblade."

Keitaro smiled till….

"Onii-chaaaann!!" A playful happy voice rang out behind him.

Wide eyed with surprise, he jerked his whole body behind him.

Kanako came slamming into his body and tackled him to the cold hard floor.

Keitaro only laughed and placed a hand on her head.

"Jeez Kanako-chan! You scared the crap out of me!"

Both of them then stood up.

"That was the idea Onii-chan!" Kanako replied while she stuck her tongue out at Keitaro.

Keitaro did to.

"So, Kanako-chan! Where is Shinobu-chan."

Out from behind Kanako-chan stepped out Shinobu.

"Right here Onii-chan." She droned. "Now tell me what were you doing here?!"

"Well, I was just training for the up and coming mission."

Asuna gazed down to the floor a bit.

Kanako coughed. "Well Onii-chan, the mission has been delayed for now, but you have another mission while you wait."

Keitaro raised an eyebrow.

"And what is that?!"

"Your assigned as the captain of Phoenix squadron for now."

"I see, so now what am I suppose to do…"

"You can just go to rest Onii-chan Shinobu piped out softly…."

Keitaro only laughed.

'Naah! I'm pumped up! I need to do something active while I wait."

Kanako playfully punched Keitaro at the chest.

"You can spar with me! We haven't sparred with each other in a while!"

Keitaro playfully punched back.

"Sure! Shinobu-chan, be referee?!"

Shinobu only nodded and stepped back.

Keitaro silently took his place in one ond of a fighting mat, while kakanko took her spot at the other end.

"Don't underestimate me Onii-chan! I've changed my fighting style since we last fought!"

"Kanako-chan! I don't need to underestimate, because I just own Period….." Keitaro replied.

Both smiled.

Shinobu only shook her head in silent embarrassment, and raised her hand up high in the air.

"Kanako, versus Keitaro!……..FIGHT!" She shouted as she hurled her hand down to the ground signifying the start of the battle.

Kanako sped off running right at Keitaro. Her feet blurring from under her as she locked her eyes at Keitaro's body.

Keitaro stood calmly where he stood. His eyes closed. His arm extended in front of him, his palm pointing at Kanako's running figure.

Kanako gave out a roaring yell and jumped into the air. She twirled her body a full 180 degrees to perform a spinning round house kick. Her right foot fully extended and was about to hit Keitaro in the face, full force.

Keitaro didn't move.

In slow-motion, her extended foot passed Keitaro's extended hand……then the upper arm….then the elbow….but didn't pass his shoulder for..

"!!"

Keitaro opened his eyes. Gritted his teeth, then quickly punched upwards at Kanako's incoming leg right at the heel using his other hand.

"Ecck.!!" Kanako wailed as her whole body was flipped over and launched into the air.

She regained her posture in mid-air and flipped back to her up-right position as she landed on the cold hard floor.

Kanako looked up to see Keitaro blurring at her with tremendous speed.

"!!!!"

She immediately switched to a defensive stance to take Keitaro's assault head on.

And it did…..

Keitaro flung jabs and kicks at Kanako's body. Uppercuts, palm strikes, everything!

Kanako held her ground, using her free arms whenever she could to defend from every attack.

Keitaro tried to find an opening.

She also did her best to seal up all her weak parts.

The fight was now a stalemate.

As Keitaro continued his assault, and Kanako defended from all of it, both of them were moving erratically through out the training dome. Moving back and forth, left and right.

Shinobu just stared at the two.

Keitaro and Kanako both at this point were panting.

But Keitaro smiled.

Kanako gasped.

Keitaro took her by surprise by grasping her frail looking left wrist. Then launched her high into the cold air.

Kanako flipped and became up-right in mid-air. She turned her body to look at Keitaro's form. But it wasn't there.

She was still way up high in the air when….

"!!"

Keitaro blurred behind her mid air form, and clasped his two arms around her waist.

Kanako looked back.

Keitaro had a silly grin on.

Kanako sweat dropped, while her brother tilted the both of them a complete 180 degrees down.

Both of them now were parallel to the wall. Heading head first into the padded training mat below them.

Kanako tried to struggle out of her Keitaro's grasp before she was body slammed to the floor but he had to much of a vice grip on her.

Keitaro only smirked at his sisters futile attempts.

They were mere second until they hit when Kanako improvised.

"UUAAGGH!!"

She yelled furiously and pumped her free hands towards the floor. Both her hands hit the floor, and like a metal spring, her elbows bended to reduce the impact. With everything she had, she launched both of them with only her two arms. Both were now soaring in the air once again, twirling towards the far wall.

Keitaro's eyes widen in surprise. He didn't have enough time to react until.

-SMASH!-

Both of them went smack dab into the wall.

But Kanako was un harmed due to Keitaro's body acting as a cushion to break the crash.

Keitaro's back was completely engraved unto the concrete wall.

His grip loosened and Kanako freely jumped down to the ground.

She turned around and saw her brother's form slowly and painfully detach from the wall.

His body fell face first with a huge thump, and along with other small loose pebbles in the crack in the walls.

Kanako only had a worried look in her face. Worried that she did a little to much.

She stepped forward, and reached out a helping hand.

Kanako was about to touch her brother's shoulder when…

He jolted out of the floor.

Kanako's hand instantly contracting while Keitaro stood up.

With blurring hands he grasped her retreating hand.

With both his hands tightly grasped unto her right arm, he flung Kanako clear across the floor.

Kanako's body went sailing thru the air until she roughly landed unto the floor. Her body continually rolled until it skidded to a painful stop.

Wincing in pain she shakily stood up.

But was only greeted with a fist to the stomach.

Her whole body jerked in pain. Her breath left her. Another punch greeted her stomach.

She closed her eyes as her world became a swirl. And she prepared for more….

But no more came. Instead she felt a gentle hand on top if her head.

She slowly opened her closed eyes to see a fairly beaten up Keitaro gently patting her head.

"I think that's about enough for today? Huh Kanako-chan?" He heaved.

Kanako only nodded while regaining her lost breath.

Keitaro only smiled and helped her stand. Slinging her right arm over his shoulders.

Kanako shook her head.

"I'm fine Onii-chan! Just need to catch my breath…"

With that Kanako was released from his grasp and she shook her head to regain composure.

"Hehe, don't be so hard on your self, Kanako-chan."

With that Keitaro left towards the exit.

It was only Kanako and Shinobu left in the metal training dome.

Shinobu crept towards a panting Kanako. A foot away from her. Their bodies facing each other.

"You okay.." She droned. Her arms folded. Serious.

Kanako nodded. "Yes Shinobu-chan. So don't worry…"

"……"

An awkward silence..

"Why…?"

Kanako raised an eyebrow.

"Why…… what Shinobu-chan??"

Shinobu slightly looked down unto the floor. The trim of her short blue hair blocked her eyes with a shadow.

"Why do you encourage him…"

Kanako's lips parted.

"What do you mean??"

"What I mean is….Why do you have to encourage him to battle….you know he is going to just get killed out there…Like Papa and Mama…."

Kanako looked down at the floor. It got colder in the dome room for some odd reason.

"Well, Shinobu -chan It can't be help. He signed up nd he knows death is what may come of him in this war.."

Shinobu looked at Kanako with fury in her eyes.

"I don't care!! I don't care if he signed up or if he knows he may die! I don't want him to die PERIOD!. I don't want to loose another family member to those BASTERDS and bottle all my emotions inside me again! Every time I hear Onii-chan's name in a mission's list I get panicky! I always worry for him! And how about you Kanako-chan! Do even give a damn!?!"

Kanako bit her lip and averted her gaze away from the young girl.

"Huh Kanako!? Do you even care that Onii-chan may die a horrible death in the hand of these alien!! That we may never see him ever again and never listen to his cocky and crude remarks!! Huh?!"

Kanako summoned enough courage to look at Shinobu square in the eye and frown.

"Of course I do Shinobu-chan! Of course I worry for him! I'm not a heartless bitch who only cares about her self. I love Onii-chan! I love him with every once of my heart……But there is nothing we can do! You know how hard headed Onii-chan is?! He won't quit even if we tie him up and electrocute him!"

Shinobu only shivered and hugged herself. Her eyes becoming moist. She closed her eyes to stop the tears from escaping but then--

A pair of warm gentle hands embraced the shaking girl. Calming her down significantly.

With partially moist eyes, she opened them and tilted her head up a bit.

There she could clearly see that Kanako was hugging her. Her own head snuggly resting on the older girl's bosom. Comfortable like a pillow. Kanako's chin resting on top of her ruffled blue hair.

"But don't worry Shinobu-chan…He will most certainly live…but right now you need some reassurance…."

Shinobu just kept silent as she returned the warm hug.

"Because I always thought you were mature….you know…..You have always been silent and always talking so adult-like…But I forgot one major point…and today I remembered that major point..and that is that you are still a child….A child who lost her parents and is living in a time where war is ravaging everywhere, everyone dieing…A child that has bottled her emotions up and A child that just wants to….cry…."

At that last moment Shinobu broke down into an uncontrollable sob. Her head dug into Kanako's bosom and both of their hugs became more warm as each of them lightened their grips.

Kanako only cooed and rocked the sobbing girl's form.

After a few good minutes Shinobu composed her self. She was now the quiet, non-emotional girl everyone was used to.

"Th-thank you……….Onee-chan.."

Kanako smiled.

"Your welcome, now hurry or we are going to miss dinner.."

Shinobu nodded silently and left for the cafeteria a couple of halls away. With a happy Kanako following suite.

But as they walked past the entrance/exit of the training dome, they didn't notice an invisible figure leaning on the wall Its arms folded.. Its translucent figure completely out of anyone's sight.

His eye's blinked, and sparks flew as a click of a button could be heard…if anyone was there.

Suddenly Keitaro got out of his cloaked hiding place. His eyes just staring at the distant figures oh his two little sisters.

He sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"Jeez….."

-------------------------------------

In a distant Tokyo…

Four Equinox soldiers were cautiously walking in abandoned streets of Tokyo. Their guns pointing randomly everywhere as all of them scanned the surrounding area.

Tokyo was suppose to be sprawling with people. People going to their work in their cars, bike or just walking. But there was nothing in these streets.

Totally abandoned and ghost-like.

Huge pot holes were scattered everywhere in the sidewalks and streets. All smelling burnt and the smell of decomposing flesh filled the lone cold air. The buildings all looking like crap. Windows cracked. Wall facings chipped and/or completely gone. Giving a clear view all of the rooms inside.

The sky above them were filled with smoke. Coming from the fires that were still lit and scorching. All caused by a previous battle between humans and aliens.

The four were patrolling the city limits and observing any particular movements.

One man pulled out a communicator from his armor.

"This is Captain of Bravo Team 12 . We patrolled the city limits of Tokyo. It still looks like hell but nothing out of the particular." He said in the communicator.

Another man put his face closer to the Captain's communicator.

"Yea, so can we like get the hell out of here. Or at least get a six pack of beer here?!"

A feminine voice escaped the communicator's speakers.

"Negative on the beer boys. But coming back home is a go."

All four men chuckled and started to walked the other way when something caught the captains eyes.

The captain turned around. Positioned his gun in front of him.

"FREEZE!!"

The other three jerked the same way and aimed their guns at….

A young women.

The captain remained steady and didn't lift a finger off his gun.

There stood in front of the three. Right smack dab in the street was a gorgeous women. In silk attire all through her body. She had brown luscious short hair which covered her ears slightly. And breasts that practically big like melons.

"What are you doing here!!" The captain shouted.

The other three stood still. Aiming their machine guns right at the women's head.

One of the soldiers whispered to the captain.

"I think she is just lost sir."

The captain shook his head.

"No…Something feels wrong."

The woman took a step closer.

" I SAID FREEZE!!" The captain shouted again.

The woman didn't stop.

"Captain?!? What are your orders!!"

"I don't know…"

Right at that exact moment the women shifted her head a bit. And soon the company could see her gorgeous face.

Brown eyes.

Red hot lips.

Perfect shaped face.

And last of all… sharp pointy ears.

Sharp pointy ears?…CRAP!!

"Its an Elven, men! FIRE AT WILL!!"

The whole team's eyes widen with fear as all four of them unloaded a whole magazine of hot lead.

Rata-tata-tata-tata-tata-tata-

All the bullets streamed into the air and catapulted towards the women's figure but as the bullets closed in the women just stood still as the bullets--

Veered in other directions.

The men's jaws dropped as they saw their river of bullets didn't even get near the Elven's body. Instead veering away and hitting the building sides, leaving small holes into the concrete.

The bullets stopped.

Their guns smoked.

They all panting and heaving.

Everything was silent.

The Elven smiled, and the silent air turned into a crackling laugh.

"Pathetic humans! You can never go against me! You have seen my face...and now you all must DIE!"

The crackling laugh crackled even more.

One of the men stepped back.

"Captain?!"

"Way ahead of you ..... RUN!!"

At that moment the four men sprinted the other way. Their equipment going up and down as they ran desperately.

The men turned the corner but soon all of them skidded to a stop.

There stood the same Elven. Not even panting nor sweating.

As if she just appeared over there.

"Where are you going men….HAHAHAHH!" She roared.

Behind her a car was floating mysteriously. Hovering over her head with a pink aura surrounding the wrecked car.

"Here…CATCH!!"

She flicked her right wrist at the soldiers.

The car instantly went flying at the group of men.

Three of the men jumped away from its destructive path. The other stood, scared stiif and didn't make a single move.

The captain went landing from his jump and turned around. He saw his friend.

"John! Get the hell out of there!!"

The man's eyes widen. He wasn't able to. He looked down and saw his whole leg engulfed in a pink smoke or aura.

"I..I can't. I CA-"

-SMASH-

His scream was cut short as the barreling car impacted his stiff body and hit the building behind him.

"John!!"

One of the other soldiers stood up with a new found courage. And a new found rage.

"You freakin bitch!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs as he charged at the Elven.

The Elven turned and smiled.

"Foolish…"

The man took out a small knife and lunged at the Elven.

"Kuraga. No!!" The captain said as he saw his teammate lunge at the elven.

But it was to late.

Out of no where a lead pipe came from the side and instantly pierced Kuraga's throat.

A fountain of crimson blood sprouted into the air.

The pipe was engulfed in pink, but soon the pink faded away. Leaving the Kuraga to fall down into the ground. Gargling blood out of his neck. But soon laid limp on the ground.

On his own pool of cold blood.

The two remaining men quickly regrouped.

"Captain?!" the remaining soldier said

The captain had nothing to say.

He turned to the soldier.

Eyes pink.

But he did have something to do.

-Bang-

Blood scattered into the air and a limp body fell to the floor.

The soldier's body…

There the captain had in his hand was a Desert Eagle. A smoking one.

There in the floor the limp body laid. Without a head.

The captain faced at the now very close Elven.

His eyes completely covered with a light pink color.

"Thank you…Captain..Hehehehe"

The Elven started to seductively hug the captain and whispered into his ear.

"Thanks for being such a helpful human….."

The Captain just looked at the Elven. Hypnotic. Dazed. Controlled. Seduced…..

"Any thing for my master Kitsune…."

Kitsunegiggled.

"Is there anything else master.." The captain droned on.

Kitsune cupped the man's face.

"There is one thing I want you to do…I want……your life…."

Kitsune's hand started to turn hot red. Fire started to form at the palm of her hands.

And soon…

-BLAM!!-

The captain's head exploded in a bloody explosions.Red liquidsplurged in every direction.

Kitsune crackled as it rained blood.

The captains body fell dead onto the cold hard ground.

The communicator rung and the same female voice rang out of it.

"Bravo Team 12! Report! Brave Team 12! Report! What is your situation! What is your situation! What is yo--"

The communicator turned into ashes as it instantly caught into fire and stopped the communication dead flat.

Kitsune retracted her fiery hand and crackled a seductive laugh.

Soon she disappeared in a puff of marble smoke.

Leaving four dead cold bodies lying stone still on the concrete ground in her wake.

The wind blew in from the south and death was taken with it.

----End of Chapter 3------