:glances around at an empty lot: Mm… Where did everybody go? Hello! Anyone out there::waves: Um…I'm posting now, you can all come out now. :nervous chuckles: I know it's been a while, but hey, I'm all finished now, so…so you can come out now. :sigh: This is what I get for doing something silly like going to school.

So yeah, it's been forever. But don't throw any sticks or stones please, I have an excuse. You see, while some people can balance several aspects of life at once, I can't. I'm just not that good at multitasking. So…I noticed that I last posted really close to the beginning of the fall semester, and well, I had two pretty hefty, busy semesters this time around. Trust me, I haven't been able to get much of anything done. But they're over now, so here I am! Finishing WAISAD is first on my to do list! When I finish stories up, I like to revise them, implementing advice I've received from reviews wherever it's necessary. I have to thoroughly reread the entire thing and that takes time for people as slow as I am. Hopefully, things are clarified and hopefully I've spotted all the mistakes and inconsistencies and hopefully there are still people out there who wanna read it. Okay. On wit da show!

(Recap: Amon and Touko are currently holding Zaizen at gunpoint in a "reserved" hospital room with Michael and Sakaki in the waiting room, and Robin being operated on for some leg wounds she acquired while trying to escape an ambush on her. In other words, motto taihen!)

Disclaimer: Don't own it, don't own it!

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XIV

Amon

"You're a clever man," he said. "More clever than you let on. Touko told me about you, and what you've been up to. I won't let you go through with any more of it."

"Touko," Zaizen boomed. "This is your chance. The doctors here won't treat Robin, I've already arranged…"

"You're wrong," Touko said. "They will. And do you know why? Just like you, I've got friends in high places. Robin will get her deserved treatment." She put pressure on the trigger of the gun. "And so will you."

"Remember what they did to you," Zaizen said. "Remember how they hurt you. There was no remorse."

"Robin…didn't do anything wrong…" Touko said. She sniffed. "I…I was…she was…she didn't do anything, she would never do anything to hurt me!" Amon looked at Touko. "This is why I don't have any friends, father," she said. "This is why I'm so alone. You…you've always been there for me, but in the wrong ways. Why couldn't it ever be me who was wrong? Why did the problems in all of my relationships always fall on the other person's shoulder? Why can't I be the one who was wrong, for once!"

"No daughter of mine," Zaizen began, "should ever have to stoop to the levels of the worthless creatures around her."

"You've made me that worthless creature!" she exclaimed. "This is all my fault. I'm the one who caused the problems in every one of my relationships, be they with lovers or just with acquaintances. I'm so empty inside, and it's all your fault! Damnit! Can't you see what you've done to me?"

"Touko, just put the gun down," Zaizen said. He stepped closer. "Touko…"

"You won't convince me to do anything in your favor anymore," she said. She pointed the gun at him with her arm completely straight. But tears were inching down her cheeks, and within a moment, her hand began to shake.

Amon saw this and moved forward to take over when Zaizen rushed at Touko and knocked the gun from her hands. She cried out and slumped to the floor. Zaizen went to reach for the gun, but Amon came forward and lifted his knee with great force until it came into contact with Zaizen's ribs. Zaizen cringed and collapsed to the floor. Amon stepped in front of him.

"The game," he began, his fists clenching, "is over." He swiftly kicked Zaizen in the face. Zaizen's body shot back. Amon felt the anger within him rising. This was his time. He remembered back to every time Zaizen ever hit him. He remembered back to his conversation with Michael. He remembered Touko's heartache. And he remembered the sight of Robin as she lay on the grass, helpless and near death.

Something within him pulsed at remembering Robin, the pain she endured and the anxiety and fear Amon felt when he drove to rescue her. The uncertainty of whether or not she was alive. Having to hand her over to the doctors and nurses, after having reached her too late to spare her pain. There was another unfamiliar pulse, something coursing through his blood, and he felt for a moment very unlike himself. But he couldn't stop there. He wanted his revenge.

He grabbed Zaizen by the collar and lifted him up, carrying him with one arm to the hospital bed. He laid Zaizen over the edge and straddled him, then began to punch him with both hands, alternating one after the other and quickly and as powerfully as he could.

"Do you realize what you've done?" he asked Zaizen, never easing the force of his hits. Of course he knew all that he did, all the pain he'd caused. After so long of not being allowed to be angry, of holding back all forms of retaliation, of sitting by and watching all of Zaizen's abuses, Amon couldn't stop himself.

He grew tired of punching and moved back, letting Zaizen fall to the floor. He began to kick at his ribs, not stopping even after he heard the satisfying crunch of his bones. Zaizen began to pant and wheezing, and cough blood up onto the floor. Amon reached down and grabbed Zaizen by the collar and made him look at him.

"How does it feel?" he asked. "It feels beautiful, doesn't it?" Amon punched him again and let him fall. He backed away and shook his head.

"Amon…" Touko murmured. Amon perked, not expecting to hear her speak. He'd somehow forgotten his surroundings. She was still on the floor, but she had stopped crying. She looked over to him and went to speak, but didn't say anything. Amon went to step closer to her, but as he moved, he felt his body pulse again. He stopped and looked down at his hands. He was shaking. He tried to walk again, but his legs felt weak. He went slowly over to the bed and leaned on it, putting a hand to his head. He felt lightheaded. Had he…overexerted himself? Amon closed his eyes and tried to calm down. He opened them and looked at Zaizen. He pulsed again.

"Damnit…" he murmured.

"What's happening…?" Touko asked. Amon lifted his head and looked around. His body continued to pulse as he saw the lights around the room blinking on and off.

"I…I don't know," Amon said. But he knew what was happening. And he had no idea how to avoid it. "Touko…" he said. "Touko…get out…and…go join Michael and Sa…" He choked on his words. Touko stood up slowly.

"Amon, I don't want to leave you alone," she said. Amon's body hunched as if he was about to throw up. Touko took a step back. "Amon…?" she asked, panic tearing through her voice.

"Please…I….I don't know what's going to happen to me!" Touko nodded and fled from the room. Amon stood up and tried to stand on firm legs. He felt hot again, but even more so now. He took off his jacket as he went over to the window. He opened it and leaned out, trying to catch his breath. The cool air calmed him, and the pulsing ceased. He breathed out sharply, perking when he heard a noise behind him. He turned around.

Zaizen was on the floor, crawling closer to the gun. He looked over and saw that Amon saw him and lunged towards the gun quickly. Amon came away from the window and reached for the gun. Zaizen's hand grabbed it, and Amon's hand wrapped around his. He hooked his arm around Zaizen's neck and pulled back. He could feel Zaizen's grip on the gun increase. He fired a stray round.

"Stop it!" Amon growled. "Your target is me!" His body pulsed again and his grip on Zaizen loosened. Zaizen, however, was still too weak to harm Amon with any of his movements. Amon grabbed a hold of the wrist of the hand that held the gun, not wanting to make Zaizen fire another shot by grabbing his hand. He pulled him back and tried to subdue him, but Zaizen was stubborn. Amon tightened his grip around Zaizen's neck and Zaizen began to choke. Amon continued this, hoping to knock him unconscious. Before he could accomplish this however, he heard an achingly whinny cackled voice below him.

"Your…slut's…going…to die…" Amon's eyes widened and through his body he felt an inexplicable jarring of his insides. He heaved again, and almost let go of Zaizen. But then he heard Zaizen chuckling, and his entire body flexed with anger. His insides flared with a terrible burning and he felt like he was on fire.

Amon let Zaizen go, and Zaizen hit the floor harshly. The gun fell from his hand and he immediately reached for it again. Amon felt so dizzy, and so far away. He was frightened the complete lack of self he experienced. His hand reached down towards Zaizen's neck, and without making contact, the back of Zaizen's neck compressed. Amon spread his fingers and stared down at Zaizen, watching as he choked. His neck began to dent in places and he reached up and clawed at it, struggling to breathe.

Amon held his palm flat out to Zaizen and his eyes burned with an angry hatred towards him. Zaizen's entire body began to shake, and dent and deflate before completely sinking into itself in a loose heap. Amon let his hand relax, and fell backwards, his weight resting against the bed. His entire body felt numb and feverish. His breathing became labored and as he tried to move, his body shut down on him.

Sakaki

"Are you serious?" Michael asked. "His powers…"

"Are awakening?" Sakaki asked, with just as much interest as Michael. Touko nodded. Michael stood up quickly. "Hell…" Sakaki murmured.

"Will he be alright?" Michael asked. "You said he looked like he was in bad shape…"

"I don't know…" she said, her eyes large with bewilderment and her hands still moving in circles as she rambled on thoughtlessly. "Well, I mean…he beat the crap out of my dad, but then…he told me to leave."

"Why didn't he come back?" Sakaki asked.

"He's probably in trouble," Michael said. Sakaki stood up with him.

"Wait—" Touko tried to said, but the two boys were already at the hall.

"What do you think his power is?" Sakaki asked.

"No running in the hospital!" a nurse behind them scolded, but they kept on towards the room with Michael leading the way.

"I don't know," Michael said. "I bet it's something awesome."

"Let's hope it's not fire," Sakaki said. "He'd probably be worse than Robin with his aim and burn the hospital down." Michael shook his head at Sakaki, but didn't complain. It was definitely a change from his blank stare and expression earlier.

"There's no running in the—" Michael and Sakaki turned down the hall and out of the site of the nurse's station. Michael led Sakaki to the door, which was slightly ajar. There were no noises coming from the room. Michael and Sakaki exchanged glances.

"I'll go first…" Michael said. He pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside. He paled and pulled away and Sakaki took a look for himself. His face lost its color as well and they looked at each other again. "I guess we know what he can do now, huh?" Michael asked. A nurse was hurrying up to them.

"Just where do you two think you are, a race track?" she asked. "Now what on earth is going on that you had to run like banshees through my hall?" Sakaki pointed at the door of the room and Michael smacked his arm.

"Haruto!" he whispered sharply.

"What, they're going to find out sooner or later." The nurse looked between them, then clicked her tongue and opened the door.

"Oh, my God!" she said and she ran inside. She pushed the call light for the room and then picked up the phone. Michael looked inside and saw Amon and perked.

"Oh, crap, Amon," he said, as if he'd forgotten about him. He went inside. Sakaki hadn't remembered seeing him, so he followed Michael in and watched as he stepped over Zaizen and kneeled at Amon's side. He shook his shoulder.

"Hey Amon…?"

"Don't move him," the nurse said. "I'm going to have to ask both of you to leave." Michael stood up and looked at Sakaki, who was still at the door. Sakaki nodded and moved back when Michael came out.

"He's breathing, but he's unconscious." Michael said. Then he shook his head a little.

"What a night, huh?" Sakaki asked.

"Come on, let's go get something to eat…"

"How can you eat at a time like this?" Sakaki asked. Michael gave him a blank look.

"I think you'd be more worried if I couldn't."

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