wow... i hit writers block on this one. be warned everyone, there is a very brief gay moment in this chapter, and i'm talking literally. you'll know what i mean when you come to it. now onto replies!
BOrn-Slippy- Welcome to the group! you only got to chapter 4 by the time you read this you'll probably be as hooked as everyone else... and i'm glad you think i deserve more reviews too!
inuyasha91- Welcome! wow, two new fans! that's awesome. too bad you won't see this for awhile, but i'm glad you like my fic! it seems to come so naturally... once i get past my writers block anyway...
Da Ker MysTeRr- lol, i thought it might be a good thing. and i'm glad it's still on your top ten fav. list! that means so much to me! i guess you'll be happy to know i just downloaded the X-2 script for the sequal then... and if you liked any of my encounters with lusniec before, wait till you see this one...
Sephirothxx- yeah, here it is, so stop harrassing me at lunch!
labrat-seph- sorry? i'm not very good with catagories... and as for the battousi thing, wait till you see me go in this one, hehehe... and our battle with Yu Yevon is rather... expanded, shall i say? i dunno, but it takes up three books so...
lightningwizard- bastard, you're not sorry for not reviewing. way i've heard it, you did it purposely because i couldn't free up anytime to reveiw your story. regardless, it's good to see you get a review in again. i'm not sure the fights in this one are as good as the one yojimbo, but the plot's thickening quickly...
wow... that's all! well, read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 14:Battles on Gagazet
Twenty minutes after the fight with Yojimbo the group found the faith. And they had to give up nearly all of their money just to get Yojimbo to work for them no less. "Apparently the name 'Yojimbo' is for real, and not just some nickname." Ryan muttered as they walked back into the sun.
"Why's that?" Rikku questioned.
"Well, were the three of us come from, 'Yojimbo' means 'Bodyguard'." Ryan explained. "And they're expensive as hell."
"You of all people would know." Matt said jokingly. "I mean, you are the damn-Japanese-assassin wannabe, right?"
"Damn-Japanese-assassin wannabe?" Rikku repeated the words, watching Ryan who just smiled and shook his head. "What's that all about?"
"Just a nickname Matt gave me when we first got to Spira." He told her.
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"Seph, where are we?" Rae questioned as they entered Macalania Woods. "It's beautiful."
"Macalania Woods always were." Seph admitted. "But you weren't born in Bevelle, so you must have come through here once before."
"Yeah, but it was winter then, and I was more worried about finding a nice, warm place to sleep then I was about seeing how beautiful this place is." Rae informed him as he took a seemingly random turn. "And we're headed to Mt. Gagazet, right?" Seph nodded. "Then shouldn't we get some heavier close? I mean, that place has snow all year round, doesn't it?"
Seph stopped for a second and considered the words. "Black won't exactly hide us in the snow either." He admitted reluctantly. "Ok, come on." He said, turning to the left and heading down a path Rae had completely missed. Twenty minutes later they were walking into the Macalania Travel Agency.
"Rao, Seph, ed'c paah yfrema (Hey Seph, it's been awhile)." The woman behind the counter said as he walked in.
"Yeah, maybe a little too long." Seph replied with a grin. "Look, me and my friend are going to Mt. Gagazet, and we need some natural looking, heavy cloaks." He explained as Rae walked in.
"Hydinym muugehk? Drana'c hudrehk ib drana pid chuf (Natural looking? There's nothing up there but snow)." The woman replied with a frown, looking Rae over to take a guess at what size cloak she'd need. "Ryhk uh, mad sa caa fryd E ryja eh dra pylg (Hang on, let me see what I have in the back)."
"Ok." Seph said with a nod, already moving to sit near the fire.
"I didn't know that you understood Al Bhed." Rae said, sitting down next to Seph, despite the fact that he was sitting on an armchair. He looked at her oddly as she practically sat on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I understood it last time I saw you too." Seph told her.
"Cruimt E kad oui dfu y gao (Should I get you two a key)?" The Al Bhed who'd been serving them asked as she came out from the stockroom. She leaned to her left, lifted a key up, and tossed it to Seph who caught it with a raised eyebrow and then threw it back, drawing a slight frown from Rae.
"Sorry, we don't have time. We have to go to Gagazet, remember?" Seph restated for the saleswoman who had just laid two cloaks on the counter, each looking like a small blanket in its own right.
"Nekrd, E zicd druikrd dfu mujanc sekrd fyhd du ahzuo aylr udranc lusbyho eh y hela, fyns nuus. So vyimd ahdenamo. (Right, I just thought two lovers might want to enjoy each others company in a nice, warm room. My fault entirely.)" The saleswoman said with a dramatic sigh. "Rana yna ouin lmuygc. Dryd femm pa 100 Gil. (Here are your cloaks. That will be 100 Gil.)"
"What? That's crazy, a hundred Gil for two cloaks?" Seph's jaw dropped when she nodded her head. With a sigh he motioned for Rae to get up, who grudgingly complied, and walked over and paid the attendant. In a whirl of heavy cloth his new white one replaced his black cloak, though his hands never seemed to move. The he picked up Rae new cloak, stuffed his old cloak into the small backpack he had on, and dropped a hundred Gil on the table. "Rae, catch." He said, throwing the cloak to his friend, who quickly wrapped it around herself. "Thanks, I think."
The attendant nodded as they walked out the door. "That was such a rip-off!" Rae complained once they had shut the door. "I can't believe you actually paid that much Gil for these cloaks."
"I didn't." Rae looked at him and he smiled slightly. "I pick-pocketed a couple of Bevelle's Guards before we left." Rae couldn't help but laugh as Seph pulled out an overflowing money clip.
"I see why you didn't argue now." Rae admitted as they walked on, blissfully unaware of the shadow that followed them, evading even Seph's awareness. It crunched no snow, didn't breath, left no tracks, and did nothing to give away where it was or where it'd come from.
'That's right kid. Lead me right to him. Lead me right to Lusniec, so I can finally have my revenge.' It thought, a wicked smile finding its way onto the shadow's lips.
888
"I'm must admit to being more then a little curious as to why someone as powerful as you would wish to travel to Mt. Gagazet with me." Lusniec smirked at Seymour, who had been trying to find out why he was on Spira since he'd decided to tag along to Gagazet.
"I have my reasons." Lusniec told him easily. "Mostly, there's a certain boy there that I hate. So I'm going to kill him."
"I see."
"Don't worry. You can have the others. I just want him." Lusniec told Seymour, his hold on the sword he'd gotten tightening.
"Might I ask why you hate Ryan so much?" Lusniec whirled around to face, his sword flying out of its sheath, a purple trail in the air marking where exactly it'd passed through the air. Seymour was holding his hands up in a gesture of peace, truly having meant no offense by the question, and seemingly un-phased by the demonic blade that was touching his throat ever so slightly.
"How'd you know it was Ryan?"
"I am a Maester of Yevon, as was my father before me." Seymour told Lusniec, who glared impatiently. "I've always had access to what little text is available on you and your fellow gods."
"So how does that explain knowing it was Ryan?"
"When I fought Lady Yuna's group on the High Bridge he used your very own Wind Cutter against me." Seymour told him, visibly cringing at the memory. "And that is an attack that only you can teach."
"I see." Lusniec said as he sheathed the giant sword. "You're certainly the brightest Maester in years, Seymour. I'll admit to that much." Seymour nodded his appreciation of the words. "If you survive this, and your religion survives, I have a feeling that you'll be the next Grand Maester of Yevon."
"Truly?" Seymour asked, more then a little surprised. Lusniec nodded and grinned evilly.
"Yeah, and then I'll be your assassin." He added, a blissful look coming to his eyes with the words.
"Indeed, I would have much use of a good assassin." Seymour admitted.
"Then it's agreed. Once we kill this group, I'll make sure you become Grand Maester, and stick around to kill any that challenge your title." Seymour nodded his gratitude.
888
"So this is mount Gagazet." Ryan muttered to himself as he wrapped his arms around himself in a vain attempt to drive off the ceaseless wind. "Why didn't we buy warmer clothing exactly?"
"Auron said we didn't have time." Tidus said when he could keep his lips from chattering.
They weren't the only ones that were cold either. Matt was shivering visibly, and couldn't hold Lightning Edge for too long because it absorbed the cold, so it was also strapped across his back. Andy had a ball of fire floating in each hand, but he constantly had to check on them because of the danger that the driving wind could blow them out at any moment. Lulu had a ball of fire floating in her free hand, but it was doing little to warm her body. Wakka's blitz-ball looked like a giant snowball, and his throwing arm had gone numb a long time ago. Auron, who didn't seem bothered in the least bit by the wind, had given Yuna his jacket, which was far too big, and sometimes blew up when a powerful wind hit her head on. Rikku was clinging to Ryan's arm, trying to warm up despite the fact that she had his sweatshirt on. And Kimahri, he seemed completely fine, his fur apparently having been designed for such cold climates.
"Ronso tribe nearby." Kimahri told them as they walked up a trail lined by pillars. Sure enough, a few seconds after he had said it, two Ronso became visible at the end of the path. They glared at Kimahri as he passed, but said nothing.
Before they'd even stopped they heard the familiar voice of the former Maester of Yevon, Kelk Ronso. "Summoner Yuna and Guardians, leave here at once! Gagazet is Ronso Land, sacred mountain of Yevon. The mountain will not bear the footsteps of infidels! Enemy of Yevon is enemy of Ronso! Leave, traitors!" Kelk Ronso roared, many of the other Ronso joining in whole-heartedly.
"I have cast aside Yevon! I follow the temple no more!" Yuna admitted, a fire sparking in her eyes as she stepped forward.
"Then you will die by those words!" Kelk Ronso roared again, several Ronso preparing to launch themselves at Yuna. Suddenly Ryan appeared behind her, much to Rikku's annoyance since he'd accidentally sprayed her with snow in his rush to reach Yuna's side.
"So be it." Yuna said calmly. "Yevon has warped the teachings and betrayed us all!"
"Nothing but a bunch of low-down tricksters, eh?" Wakka added, also jogging forward to Yuna's side.
"I agree. They preach one thing, then go against their own teachings in the temple that's the seat of their power." Matt said as he stepped forward, shaking his head in mock-sadness. "It's disgusting."
"Yeah! Yeah!" Tidus and Rikku agreed, running up to join their friends.
"We have no regrets." Yuna stated as Lulu, Kimahri, and Auron stepped forward.
"Blasphemers!" A powerful looking Ronso accused as he stepped forward. Kimahri looked like he was ready to attack the Ronso then and there, but he managed to restrain himself, though he was ready to spring wherever he was needed at a moment's notice.
"A Summoner and her guardians…" Kelk Ronso said to himself quietly.
"Lord Kelk Ronso, if I may?" Lulu asked, stepping forward. Kelk Ronso looked at her for a moment and nodded for her to continue. "Have you not also turned your back on Bevelle?"
"But still you guard Gagazet, as a Ronso, not a Maester." Auron added. "Yuna is much the same."
"Elder Kelk! Let Biran render them asunder!" Another powerfully built Ronso practically begged as he stepped forward next to the other one that Kimahri had been ready to attack.
"No escape! Not one!" The one standing next to Biran yelled.
"No, we will not flee. We will fight, and continue on." Yuna stated in a determined voice, the knuckles on her hand's turning whit as she gripped hers staff.
"You have been branded a traitor, but still you would fight Sin?" Kelk Ronso asked. "Lost to the temple, hated by the people, yet still you continue your pilgrimage. Everything lost! What do you fight for?"
Yuna thought about the question for a second before giving her answer, "I fight for Spira. The people long for the calm. I can give it to them. It's all I can give. Defeating Sin, ending pain… this I can do."
"Even sacrificing yourself?" Kelk Ronso questioned, a surprised look coming to his face. He thought about her words for a while before turning to his fellow Ronso. "Ronso, let them pass!" He declared, the Ronso instantly moving in compliance as their elder turned back towards Yuna. "Summoner Yuna, your will is stronger then steel. Tempered steel, that even the mightiest Ronso could not hope to bend. Yuna, we bow to your will! Now go! The sacred heights of Mt. Gagazet welcomes you."
"We thank you." Yuna said, bowing awkwardly in Auron's jacket. They started up the sacred mountain, but didn't get very far before two familiar Ronso appeared.
"Halt!" Biran yelled.
"Haven't you bothered us enough?" Tidus demanded.
"Summoner may pass. Guardians may pass. Kimahri not pass!" Biran roared. "Kimahri shame Ronso brothers. Kimahri forget his birth!"
"Forget his people, forget his mountain. Little Ronso! Weakling Ronso!" Yenke taunted.
"Mountain hate the weak, hate the small. If you will climb--"
"I must prove my strength!" Kimahri finished Biran's sentence for him.
"Think you will win? You not forget who took your horn! Never forget!" Biran taunted.
"Kimahri never beat brother Biran! Never win!" Yenke added.
"This time I win. I will win!" Kimahri declared firmly, brandishing his spear with frightful skill.
"Why you…?" Tidus started to question Kimahri, but stopped when Kimahri nodded towards him. "This kind of Ronso thing?"
"Kimahri problem." Kimahri declared as he brought his spear into a ready position and waited for his two foes.
"You sure you don't want any help, Kimahri?" Ryan questioned, not like the idea of the two Ronso attacking Kimahri at the same time, and there was no doubt in his mind that they would if need be.
"Kimahri problem." Was all Kimahri would give him.
"Biran rend you asunder!" Biran taunted.
"Hornless! Hornless!" Yenke added as Biran rushed Kimahri. He batted Kimahri's first thrust away from his face with a fur covered hand, then spun away from the spear and threw a kick at Kimahri. Kimahri ducked, kicked Biran's legs out from under him, and slammed the butt of his spear into the powerful Ronso's stomach. Yenke watched, wide-eyed by Kimahri's battle prowess.
"Wow." Ryan muttered as he watched Kimahri back away from Biran, allowing him to stand back up.
"Kimahri grow stronger. But still little Kimahri!" Biran roared as he charged Kimahri again, throwing all caution to the wind. The rolled under a thrust, and barely flinched as Kimahri's knee slammed into his face in mid-roll. Growling the Ronso bit deep into Kimahri's knee, drawing a roar of pain for his efforts, something he quickly regretted. Kimahri slammed him repeatedly in the head with the butt of his spear until he released the offended knee. Rolling away he came up facing a wave of fire that quickly overtook him, singeing most of his fur.
"Wow, Kimahri's really letting'em have it…" Andy pointed out as the smaller Ronso's spear shaft slammed down on Biran's face, dropping the mighty Ronso warrior almost instantly.
"And that's the end of it folks." Ryan said in a fake-announcer voice. "In an amazing upset victory, the champion, Biran, has been taken down by the small, quiet Kimahri. What do you think Matt?" He asked, holding an imaginary microphone to Matt who smiled and pretend to take it, much to the enjoyment of Rikku, Tidus, and Wakka.
"Well, my unworthy partner, I'd say that was one of the most impressive, intense battles I've seen, and I've seen quite a few of them. It all comes down to who underestimates their opponent more, and in this case Kimahri appears to have overestimated his opponent by more then a little. How will Yenke handle the situation I wonder?"
"Let's wait and see, my holier-then-thou counterpart." Ryan said with enough sarcasm to drown a whale, pointing to Yenke who was charging Kimahri even faster then Biran had. There was a loud crack when Kimahri's spear shaft caught the enraged warrior in the side of the head. Yenke collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolling back into their sockets and a small river of drool sliding out of his mouth. "Well, my monkey-looking partner," Ryan said, drawing even more laughs from the group, "I'd say that about wraps it up. What do you think?"
Matt grabbed the fake microphone and said, "He took a shot to the temple, what more do you want, my biology failing friend."
"Ouch. That hurt." Andy muttered as Ryan rolled his eyes.
"All his fault." Ryan replied.
"Whose fault?" Rikku asked.
Ryan, Andy, and Matt all made distasteful faces. "Mr. Rille." They said at the same time.
"Didn't like him I take it?" Tidus guessed. They shook their heads so quickly that they cracked their necks. "I see…"
"Anyway, I think its time we started going. Looks like Biran's done with… well… whatever it was he was doing. Something about Mt. Gagazet accepting Kimahri." Matt informed them as Kimahri started up the sacred mountain.
"Summoner!" Biran called out to Yuna in his deep, gruff voice. "We Ronso will stop pursuers from temple."
"Truly?" Yuna asked, her surprise and hope both rather evident in her voice.
Biran nodded. "Penance for breaking Kimahri's horn long ago." He informed her.
"We crush enemies following behind." Yenke said, having gotten up during the exchange between Biran and Yuna.
"Kimahri crush enemies standing before."
"You are most fortunate Summoner." Biran told Yuna.
"I thank you." Yuna bowed as the words left her mouth, and Ryan shook his head with mock-sadness on his face.
"I'll never get her to stop doing that." He muttered sarcastically.
"Nope, that's how Yunie is." Rikku agreed with him.
"Ronso will shine your statue brightest." Biran told Yuna, who blushed slightly at the comment.
"Thank you, but I fear no one will make a statue for a traitor such as I am." Yuna said to him sadly.
"Then Ronso will make!" Biran told her.
"With grand horn on head!" Yenke added. Yuna smiled at the compliment.
"That would be wonderful." She said happily, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes that even the happiest smile couldn't hide.
'Poor Yuna.' Ryan thought as they started up the path, only to find themselves surrounded by Ronso, standing on the small cliff ledges. "What now?"
"Summoner Yuna!" Biran yelled, stepping forward so he was visible.
"What is it this time?" Tidus demanded. In reply the Ronso started to sing the hymn of the Fayth, and in their deep, rough voices it sounded surprisingly good. When they were done singing the Ronso disappeared, like silhouettes against the snow.
As they moved on Rikku slowed down, dragging Ryan with her. Tidus noticed them lagging and stopped to see what was wrong. "Zanarkand is on the other side, you know?" She told them in a small voice.
"Yeah." Ryan said quietly, understanding already where this was headed.
"Yunie's gonna get the final Aeon, you know?"
"We know." Tidus said quietly.
"I still haven't thought of anything." Rikku whispered, her voice barely loud enough for Tidus and Ryan to hear her.
"Me neither." Tidus admitted.
"What are we gonna do?" Rikku questioned.
"We'll do something!" Tidus replied instantly. "We just don't know enough yet. Until we do, we really can't help Yuna. Let's go to Zanarkand. We'll find something there. It'll all come together, I know it!"
"Jeez, confident are we?" Ryan asked sarcastically.
"Hey… just now, he sounded kind of like a leader, you know?" Rikku pointed out, and Ryan nodded his head.
"Star player of the Zanarkand Abes! Didn't anyone tell you?" Ryan and Rikku laughed a little, and gave him joking bows. When they came back up Rikku gasped. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Seymour!" She cried out in a voice mixed with horror and surprise. Ryan and Tidus drew their swords and prepared to face the unsent Maester again.
"Ah, the song of Jecht." Seymour greeted Tidus. "And the light of hope as well. This is indeed my lucky day."
"Rikku, run and tell Auron." Tidus ordered.
"I'm not leaving you guys to fight him alone!" Rikku told them, rolling her sleeve up to reveal her weapon as another figure appeared.
Ryan's heart dropped when he saw the long silver hair, and snow-white kimono. "Rikku, go, now! We'll be ok till you get back." He whispered as Lusniec's eyes fell on him. He heard Rikku running off and saw Lusniec's smile grow as he produced a sword that was only two inches shorter then he was.
"It's been awhile, Ryan." He said politely.
"You know that guy?" Tidus questioned.
"Yeah. That's Lusniec." Ryan whispered. Tidus's eyes bulged and he risked a glance over at Ryan who was sweating profusely.
"Well Ryan, I've got some time to kill. What do you say we get this over with, hmm?" Lusniec questioned as he drew his long, black bladed sword. Everywhere it went it left a dark line in the air for a few seconds, and it gave off an overwhelmingly evil feeling.
"So whoever that was really was serious." Ryan muttered, hoping to stall until Rikku got back with help.
Lusniec raised an eyebrow. "What are you mumbling about over there? Who warned you that I was coming to kill you?"
Ryan shrugged. "Couldn't tell you. He stayed in the shadows the whole time. At least I think it was a he. Regardless, he said that he'd been your boyfriend… and that you'd killed him."
Lusniec's eyes widened till it looked like they'd fall out of his head. "It can't be…"
"So Lusniec," Ryan started, a knowing grin slipping into place on his face, "anything you'd like to share? Like who this boyfriend of yours is?"
"Not particularly. I have no interest in educating the dead." Lusniec said with a sneer.
'Great.' Ryan thought as Lusniec started walking towards him, his right hand leaning his massive sword on his shoulder, his left hand right above the belt on his kimono. He seemed to look a lot like Auron, minus the heavy sword, giant coat, sunglasses, and sake bottle.
"I've been watching you for awhile Ryan." Lusniec said in a tone that sent shivers down the back of everyone else present. "And I hate you. Hate you for everything you could have, and everything that you do have. Everything you have that I was denied."
"Sorry, not interested in your sob story Lusniec." Ryan replied calmly.
Lusniec shook his head, now less then two feet away from Ryan. "You know what they say about murderer and victim?"
"That it's the most intimate bond you can have, why?" Lusniec flashed him a mischievous grin. Before Ryan or Tidus could down anything he leaned in and pressed his lips against Ryan's, who jumped back more then ten feet out of pure horror.
"What the fuck are you doing, you fucking queer!" He screamed, rubbing snow on his lips. "God damn it, you ever try that again and I'll cut you the hell in two!"
Lusniec frowned and let out a defeated sigh. "You don't leave me with any other choice then, Ryan." He said. "You didn't accept my gift, the one shot you had at living, so now you must die. Sorry."
"Now is your time to die. Prepare yourself, son of Jecht." Seymour said as Ryan and Tidus brought their swords up in defensive stances.
"Sorry, we aren't going anywhere." Ryan stated defiantly.
"Not if I can help it." Tidus added.
"Save some for Kimahri!" Kimahri roared as he appeared on the scene, barely a few steps ahead of the rest of their group.
Seymour smiled at Yuna and said, "Lady Yuna, it is a pleasure."
Lulu stepped up between Seymour and the Summoner. "Yuna!" she said. Instantly Yuna stepped forward, rod held ready to send the dead Maester.
"A sending, so soon?" Seymour asked calmly, and with mock innocence. "Allow me to say something to the last Ronso before I leave." Everyone's eyes widened at the comment as Seymour continued, "Yours was… truly a gallant race. They threw themselves at us to bar our path."
"I'll say." Lusniec muttered. "One, after another, after another, after another. I was so boring. You'd think so many enemies would mean some kind of cha…" Lusniec's voice trailed off as his gaze met Auron's. "Well if it isn't Auron. It's been awhile." Auron starred at Lusniec. "Ahhhh, still not very talkative I see. Oh well, you'll be dead soon enough."
"Auron, you know Lusniec?" Ryan questioned without looking away from the powerful angel.
"We met, once. A long time ago." Auron admitted.
"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Ryan demanded, spinning on Auron so quickly that he shot up a wave of snow. That was all the opening Lusniec needed. His sword flashed down on a diagonal slant, cutting the back of Ryan's shirt open and leaving a thin red line along his back, which quickly turned purple. Ryan screamed out in pain as the tainted sword bit into his flesh.
Lusniec smirked as Ryan dropped to the ground, his body shaking visibly. "Well that was easier then normal."
"Lusniec!" Tidus yelled as he charged Lusniec, his sword flashing straight down toward Lusniec's back. There was a chuckle from the angel as he dodged to the side, pinned Tidus's sword to the ground with his foot and slammed the pummel of his own sword into Tidus's chest.
"Pitiful. This is the group that you couldn't beat, Seymour?" Lusniec asked in disbelief. The dead Maester nodded, slightly embarrassed. Lusniec shook his head, "What's this world coming to?"
"Shut up." Andy muttered, stepping forward to face Lusniec.
"Ah, Vena's little wanna-be, eh?" Lusniec questioned as soon as he saw Andy's fist-blades. "If you want to live, kill Seymour again. I'm only here for Ryan."
"Tough luck pal." Andy replied with a grin. "You want him, you're going through me to get there." Lusniec's eyes narrowed as he looked Andy over.
"You're an idiot." Lusniec declared. "You've got no idea what you're getting yourself into."
"Only one way for me to find out, isn't there?" Andy brought his fist up to a ready position. "Don't keep me waiting too long now."
Lusniec shook his head out of annoyance. "Not my fault, Vena. You chose an idiot this time." He said to the sky as the winds started to pick up. A trickle of fear ran down Andy's spine as Lusniec started to walk towards him. "Ready to die, kid?"
"After you." Andy punched out with his left fist, but Lusniec dodged easily. He countered the attack with a thrust, which Andy managed to dodge the worst of, but still took a deep cut in the shoulder anyway. Andy spun around, hoping to impale Lusniec on the blade of his weapon, but Lusniec simply ducked under the attack, slamming the butt of his sword into Andy's chin as he came back up.
"That it?" Lusniec taunted as Andy rubbed his chin. "I was hoping for… well, something."
"Shut up!" Andy yelled, snapping his fingers until half a dozen balls of fire surrounded him.
"Heh, still relying on Suzaku to do all your work for you? Pitiful." Lusniec cut his thumb on his sword and rubbed the blood completely along the blade. "I'll show you something amazing then, not that you deserve to see it."
"Suzaku!" Even as Andy yelled it the fireballs were forming into the giant phoenix god of fire. As it charged Lusniec the angel swung his sword straight down once, long before the god ever reached him. There was a flash of dark light, followed by a black blade that tore through Suzaku and nailed Andy, sending him to the ground in agony.
"What the hell was that?" Matt asked, wide-eyed.
"That? That was the true Wind Cutter." Lusniec grinned. "And believe me, it's a hell of a lot more powerful then your friend's is."
"Really?" Ryan asked, getting to his feet shakily.
"Yeah, it is." Lusniec rubbed a streak of blood along his glowing sword. "Want Demon Edge and me to show you?"
'If his really is stronger then mine, whoever's behind me is gonna get hit too.' Ryan glanced back and saw everyone but Andy and Tidus standing there. 'That's not gonna work.'
"Hmmmm… decided not to put your pals in the line of fire, eh Ryan?" Lusniec asked as Ryan moved so that he was in front of the edge of the cliff rather then his friends. "You're too kind. It makes me sick now that I think about it."
"Crid ib (shut up)." Wind Cutter started to glow. "I'm here to kick your ass, not listen to you babble on."
"In a rush to die?" Lusniec raised Demon Edge. "Then let me speed you along your way!"
"Wind Cutter!" The two yelled at the same time, Wind Cutter and Demon Edge launching blades of pure energy at each other.
The powers clashed in mid-air, battling like two giants. 'Yes, you've begun to understand that, haven't you? You lie to yourself by telling yourself that you don't like killing, but it's just a lie. You're starting to enjoy it, the spray of blood washing over you.' The words rang out in Ryan's head, distracting him for a split second. By the time that it had gone through his head once he knew that he was in trouble. Already he could see small streams of purple through his own silver Wind Cutter. 'Oh shit.' Was all he had time to think before Lusniec's attack cut through his own. The attack slammed into him like it was a boulder, wrapped itself around him and sent him flying through the air.
"Ryan!" Rikku and Tidus cried out in unison. Ryan looked at them oddly, wondering why they looked so worried. As he continued to fly through the air he saw the edge of the cliff, more then a dozen feet away from him.
'Oh shit! I'm gonna die!' Ryan struggled vainly against the panic that was rising within him. Memories of everything he'd seen and done from the time that bastard at the Cumberland Farms had killed them until now, flashed through his mind like a whirlwind. 'It was all for nothing?' That lone, horrifying thought was what he came up with every time he tried to think of something he could do.
"So you're givin' up already kid?" The gravely voice caused Ryan to whip his head around. A man with long, dusty looking hair, a red bandana, no shirt, and a giant black sword with a few flame designs on it was looking at Ryan like he'd just seen a dog throw up. His bare chest was covered in scars, and so were his legs. He had a firm jaw, a beard, and an annoyed look in his eyes.
"Who the hell are you?"
"That's not important." The man reached out a punched Ryan in the jaw. Ryan looked at him like he was insane. "Listen kid, are you gonna let the fagot up there kill your friends?" Ryan opened his mouth to reply but a glare from the man silenced him. "You've got something better then all the power he's got kid. You just gotta wake up and see it for yourself." Ryan looked away as Lusniec's words from the Via Purifico came back to him. "Look, you aren't a killer kid. Everyone else can see it, and I can see it, and Lusniec can see it. Why the hell can't you wake up and see it for yourself?" Another glare silenced Ryan before he could reply. "You've got all the power you need to kick his ass right here." The man pointed to his own heart. "And if you don't believe me, get your ass up there and try fighting with that instead of your head."
"You think I don't wanna try again? Who the hell are you to tell me what I can and can't do?" Ryan demanded, ignoring the glare the man was giving him. "I died once already, I don't wanna die again. I finally found more friends that like me for who I am, and then I get knocked off this goddamn mountain! I get kissed by some fucked-up angel that wants to kill me because of my friends, and I'm falling to my death."
The man smiled. "So what are you gonna do about it? Sit here and die?"
"Fuck you!" Ryan reached forward and tried to grab the man, only to have his hand pass through the man. "I'll help them! Just watch, I'll get back there and help them!" This time Ryan's hand didn't pass through them man, much to his surprise. "I'll keep on living! I won't die here!"
The man's smile widened. "That's it!" He practically shouted, silencing Ryan instantly with his joy. "That's the power that Lusniec doesn't have!" Ryan raised an eyebrow in confusion. "He's alone kid, he fights only to kill, loves only blood, the normal psychopathic killer profile. But you, you're different kid. You've got a heart bigger then most people, and Lusniec thinks that's your weakness. But that's your strength kid. He's faster, smarter, stronger, and more experienced then you, but you got somethin' to protect." Something in the back Ryan's mind clicked as the man continued, "Now I'm not the kind of guy that would normally give this kind of speech, but I've got a… personal stake in this one. So get back up there and kick Lusniec's ass, eh?"
"And how am I supposed to get back up there?" Ryan demanded.
"That? Oh, that's an easy one ya dumb ass." The man said. "Awaken." Ryan looked at him oddly. "I said awaken. Wake up and use the real source of your power, the power you get from your desire to protect you friends." The man rolled his eyes, apparently disgusted that he was giving a speech of this kind.
As the man rolled his eyes a warmth shot through Ryan's legs and up into his back and spread to his shoulder blades. The muscles in his back twitched slightly, and jolts of pain shot through Ryan's entire body. He screamed, nearly dropping Wind Cutter as a wave of pain rolled through his back.
"That's it kid. It hurts, but you gotta deal with it. It's the only way you'll help your friends!" The man said, watching Ryan with an impartial face.
Ryan could barely hear him over his own screams. The pain was starting to disappear, slowly at first but it was quickly leaving. He realized that his eyes were shut and wet with tears of pain. When he opened them he saw the man smiling and slowly fading away, a few feathers floating in the air around him.
"That's it kid. Now you've got your wings, go kick Lusniec's ass." The man said just before disappearing completely.
'Wings?' Ryan wondered. Slowly the realization that he had something sprouting out of his back dawned on him. He thought about them curling in, and much to his surprise two massive, snow-white wings folded around him. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw them. He heard the man laughing at him, but the voice was distant and faded. Ryan smiled and tested the wings out, slowly beating them. They felt as natural as his hands and legs, and Ryan's heart sword. He started beating them in unison. The slow, powerful wing beats slowed him down, and stopped him. Picking up the speed of his wings he started rising through the air towards Gagazet, the whirling winds barely affecting his flight. 'Here I come Lusniec!'
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"He's gone…" Tidus muttered, peering over the edge of the cliff for any sign of Ryan. "You killed him, you bastard!" He whirled around and found Lusniec watching the edge of the cliff intently. With a scream of rage Tidus charged the angel. He slashed out with his sword horizontally, which Lusniec hopped back from. Tidus tried to use his Slice-and-Dice attack, but Lusniec blocked all the attacks like they were nothing.
"You're starting to annoy me kid." Lusniec growled when Tidus jumped back. "Give it up, you'll never hit me. Besides, I only came to take care of Ryan, Seymour's here for the rest of you."
"I don't care who Seymour's here for, you're going to die." Matt said, slamming Lightning Edge into the ground. A ring of lightning appeared around him, jumping into his right hand before he even started to do the three seals for the attack. "Go to hell!"
Lusniec flipped his sword around as Matt charged, spun around Matt's thrust and slammed the sword into the back of the god's neck. "Hiten Mitsurugi Style Ryu Kan Sen." He said. Everyone gasped, recognizing the attack as one from the same style that Ryan used. "What's wrong? Did you think that someone who has lived for thousands of years wouldn't be able to copy Ryan's style?"
"You've copied Ryan's entire style?" Matt asked, his heart dropping.
"Even it's most powerful attack. The Kuzu Ryu Sen." Lusniec said. "The most powerful attack ever created."
Matt could barely contain his smile. 'At least he doesn't know about the true succession technique.' He thought, more then a little comforted by the thought.
"Well Seymour, you're up." Lusniec said, sheathing his sword and sitting down on a nearby rock.
Everyone looked over toward the chuckling Maester, who was floating in mid air. "You've got to be shitting me…" Matt muttered as Seymour started to change again. This time Seymour was white, with two massive forearms sticking out of the cage like thing he was sitting in, each bigger then he was, plus his own. He also sported a massive lance at least three times the size of Lusniec, along with two massive swords.
"What the hell are you?" Andy stood up. "I'd call you a fiend… but that'd be too much of an insult to them. Same thing goes for a demon, and an unsent… oh well. You'll just have to die."
"You think so? Too bad that your hope ends here, boy. And your meaningless existence with it." He turned his head to look at Yuna. "Tell me Lady Yuna, do you not want to end Spira's sorrow? Let death carry you off into a peaceful slumber."
"You can't run from you fate!" Yuna raised her staff, Valefor already dive bombing Seymour. It barely missed, and only managed to get off a single Energy Blast before Seymour banished it with a wave of his hand.
"You have angered Kimahri! The spirits of the Ronso will guide Kimahri's spear!" Kimahri launched himself at Seymour, driving his spear into one of Seymour's massive forearms. The master replied by running the Ronso guardian through with his own spear, an inky blackness leaking out of it and into Kimahri before anyone could stop it.
"And now I say good-bye to the final Ronso!" Seymour said as he raised his hand to cast a spell.
"Reflect!" Yuna cried, pointing her staff at Kimahri. Seymour's spell bounced back and slammed into him and he smiled as the hole in his arm healed.
"My thanks Lady Yuna. That wound was rather painful." He said with a polite bow of the head.
'He tried to hit Kimahri with a healing spell? Then that spear must inflict zombie!' Yuna reached into Wakka's pocket, much to his surprise, and pulled out a holy water. "Kimahri! Here!" She threw the bottle to Kimahri, who caught it and poured it onto his wound without hesitation. He growled in pain for a few seconds as it ran down the open wound.
Seymour watched, proud of Yuna's quick thinking. 'More and more perfect to be my wife every time I see her.' He thought to himself as she healed Kimahri's puncture wound.
"Everyone, watch out for his spear! It has the zombie property on it!" Yuna warned the group. Andy and Matt raised an eyebrow.
"If you get hit and we try to heal you, it will hurt you instead." Lulu explained.
"Wonderful." Matt said sarcastically.
"So, who shall I save first?" Seymour questioned. Auron and Tidus stepped forward. "Ah yes. The son of Jecht, and Jecht's best friend."
"Shut up!" Tidus yelled, charging in blindly. Seymour grinned and both his massive forearms reached back and whipped out swords as big as Seymour's spear.
"Tidus, look out!" Wakka yelled a second too late. Seymour's blades came at the young blitz star in a cross pattern, cutting deep into his flesh. Tidus cried out in pain and Matt and Auron charged in, heavy weapons slamming down on Seymour's sword-wielding arms. Seymour cried out in pain, despite the fact that the weapons didn't go in all that deeply.
Andy ran in, pulling Tidus's limp body away from the fight as he ran towards Yuna. "No… Tidus, no!" Yuna started casting healing spells on his before Andy had stopped pulling him.
Lulu spun on Seymour, death in her eyes. "Firaga Fury!" She yelled, hitting the Maester with twelve Firaga spells in rapid succession. When the smoke cleared Seymour was glaring at her, hatred in his eyes, his body burnt all over.. Her body jerked in pain, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened in a scream that would never come out. "Much better." Seymour said with a joyous smile as he pulled his spear out of the dead mage's shoulder.
"That hurt." He thrust his spear at the mage. Lulu stepped to the side and dodged most of it, but Seymour's spear still ran through her shoulder, causing her to drop her doll and scream out in pain. "Now die!" He yelled as his spell slammed into Lulu. Her body jerked in pain, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened in a scream that would never come out. "Much better." Seymour said with a joyous smile as he pulled his spear out of the dead mage's shoulder.
"Lulu!" Matt whispered in frantic disbelief. When the mage didn't reply his eyes widened in horror. He whirled around to face Seymour, but someone was holding him back by the shoulder before he could do anything. Glancing back he saw Auron standing there, emotionless as ever, sword on his shoulder, his one good eye sizing up Seymour's new powers.
"Yuna, help Lulu." He stepped passed Matt and motioned for him to follow. "Matt, Andy, Tidus, you're with me. Kimahri, Wakka, Rikku, protect Lulu and Yuna."
"Ah, the legendary Sir Auron. It's an honor to be the one to kill you." Seymour said as the four stepped forward. "So who will you send to his death this time, Sir Auron?"
"You're really annoying me." The clouds started to darken as a storm started to roll in.
"Am I now?" Seymour asked with an exaggerated facial expression. "I'm ever so sorry, please do allow me to rectify that." He raised one massive arm so that his giant, curved sword was held straight up. "Don't worry, it won't hurt at all!"
"Sure it will, just not for me!" Matt yelled, throwing a bolt of lightning up into the air over Seymour's sword.
"Man, you really must need glasses, that was way off." Tidus informed Matt as the bolt raced upward.
"No, it went exactly where it was supposed to go." Matt told him. Tidus turned to ask what he meant, but the crash of thunder and Seymour's screams drowned out his words. "See? Exactly what I wanted to happen."
"You planned that?" Rikku whinned as she moved her hands away from her ears. "Please, don't try to do that if you don't have to! I don't like lightning."
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"Seph, what the hell was that?" Rae whispered in awe as she watched Matt's attack unfold. Seymour's screams and the thunder crash nearly deafened her as she watched the battle more then thirty feet below. "Well?"
"What the hell did it look like?" Seph replied quietly. "He hit Seymour with a bolt of lightning, nothing special."
"Are you kidding me? He just used an actual lightning bolt to hit someone Seph! An actual, natural lightning bolt!"
"Shut up, the fight's starting back up again." Rae looked down and watched in disbelief as Seymour stood to his feet. 'This isn't right. Seymour shouldn't have been able to get back up from that.'
"Seph, what's with that shadow?" Rae asked. Seph looked at her oddly and she pointed towards Seymour. "See, that shadow on his back. But the light is coming from that direction, so shouldn't his shadow be the other way?"
"Yeah, you're right." Seph agreed. Seymour's shadow had moved in the bright flash of the lightning bolt, and hadn't gone back to where it had been before. 'So someone's protecting him using his own shadow. That explains why he survived that attack. Now the question is who's the one using the shadow.'
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"Damn you! All of you shall die!" Seymour yelled as he floated farther away from the edge of the cliff, knocking blitzballs aside and attempting to dodge the lightning bolts Matt was constantly calling down from the sky. Crying in rage he rushed the group, both swords flashing and spear jabbing through the air randomly. Just before he got within striking distance a wall of solid fire roared into life in front of him. Without enough time to stop himself Seymour's arms, all four of them, instinctively shot up to cover his face. The second he was through the wall of fire he felt white hot pain erupt throughout his larger right arm as Auron, Matt, and Tidus cut into it, tearing it nearly to pieces before Seymour could retreat. He looked at the useless arm and smiling. "Very clever my boy, very clever." He admitted as a wave of healing magic washed through the arm, restoring it to its original usefulness. "But you'll pay for that. I'll make sure of it."
"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it." Andy taunted the Maester. "Come on, I dare you to charge again."
Seymour shook his head and charged in, a magical barrier in place around his body. Only Andy didn't raise a wall of fire this time. Instead he created two copies of Seymour's swords, only they were made of pure fire instead of steel. Seymour's face paled as he slowed to a halt just outside of striking distance. "You rotten bastard."
"Sorry, that's your job!" Andy yelled as the blades, much to Seymour's horror, extended another two feet. He swung them down and cut one of Seymour's large arms off cleanly, the intense heat from the blades categorizing the wound instantly.
Seymour screamed in anger and pain, putting all of the pain rushing through his body into one might sword stroke. Andy managed to roll out of the way, but lost his swords in the process. When he glanced back to where he'd been standing his face paled. There was a six-foot deep crevice stretching all the way to the wall of rock less then five feet away from Lusniec, who looked mildly impressed. "God or not, you will die!" Seymour yelled as he brought his sword up for another powerful blow.
Lusniec stood up so suddenly that everyone forgot about the death match for a second. "Can you hear them, Seymour?" He asked, an amused grin on his face. Seymour looked at him oddly, "The wings of death," Lusniec explained, "are coming for you."
"What are you talking about, Lord Lusniec?" Seymour questioned. "You are the wings of death."
Lusniec shook his head and chuckled to himself. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"What are you talking about you gay ass fagot?" Matt demanded.
"Why would I lower myself to working with the likes of Seymour?" Lusniec asked him. Matt shrugged. "It's simple really. Working with Seymour gave me the chance to fight Ryan. But Ryan refused to wake the hell up earlier, he was too weak to be any fun."
"And you killed him." Rikku yelled accusingly.
"Didn't I though?" Lusniec asked. "He should feel honored to have died by my hands rather then Seymour's."
"Shut up!" Matt yelled.
"You're the one yelling." Lusniec pointed out as he reached down and picked up his sword. "Listen now, and don't say anything." Everyone fell silent, and sure enough they could make out the faint beating of wings. "Yes, now you hear it. The wings of death."
"Traitor!" Seymour yelled, slashing down at Lusniec who smiled and simply stepped to the side, letting the Maester's sword burry itself in the ground. He pulled it out and raised it over his head for another strike, but lurched forward, coughing up blood instead.
"What the hell?" Andy wondered, starring at Seymour oddly as he started to fall forward. Matt, Auron, and Rikku erupted into motion. Auron ran over to Seymour's arm that had fallen to the ground, and with a single swing of his giant sword cut in off. Seymour tried to scream but found himself coughing up blood instead, the eerie sound echoing on the mountain.
"Go to hell!" Matt yelled as he ran up behind Tidus, jumped onto the blitzer's back and pushed off, shoving Tidus to the ground and launching himself at Seymour. With a face of stone he brought Lightning Edge down, splitting Seymour's head in two.
Rikku wasn't so lucky. When Seymour had drawn everyone's attention she'd charged Lusniec, determined to get revenge for Ryan. She'd thought that he hadn't noticed her, but at the last second he'd spun around, kicking her into the rock wall and breaking several ribs. Now she was starring up at a pissed swordsman with a murderous look in his eyes. She whimpered and closed her eyes, not wanting to see her own death coming. After a few seconds she felt something warm dripping onto her forehead, but knew for a fact that she wasn't hurt, other then her broken ribs.
"No way…" Tidus's voice sounded amazed.
"What the fuck?" Andy sounded annoyed.
"What the hell kept you?" Matt sounded even more annoyed then Andy.
"You have wings?" Yuna and Wakka asked in unison, sounding more amazed then Tidus.
"Yeah, I was wondering how long we were going to have to look at that eyesore of a man." Lusniec added in a rather excited voice. "So, the defeated dog barks for more. Fine by me." Rikku's curiosity got the better of her and she opened one eye and found herself starring at a fist, which appeared to be the only thing keeping Lusniec's blade from cutting her in two. She glanced up at the owner and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Ryan standing there, smiling like nothing was wrong.
"Ryan?" She asked in disbelief, wondering whether she'd actually been cut in two and was now in heaven.
"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting." Ryan said jokingly as Lusniec pulled his sword away. Ryan turned and leaned down next to Rikku, placing a hand on her ribcage. Instantly she felt the broken ribs snapping back into place and winced, but was too happy to complain. As soon as the magic ended she leaned forward and wrapped her arms his neck and pulled him close enough to lean on.
"You jerk." She whispered. "Why'd you have to go and get yourself knocked off the mountain? I.… we all thought you were…" Ryan felt her tears through his shirt and wrapped his arms around Rikku's shoulders.
"Yeah, sorry about that too." He said quietly. "I'm back, but now I have to take care of this gay angel wanna-be over here." Rikku nodded but didn't let go. "Hey, don't' worry. I'll be ok. If anyone needs your help right now, I'd say it's Lu." Ryan pointed out. Rikku let go of him reluctantly.
"Just don't die, ok?" She asked. Ryan smiled.
"Hey, it's me. I don't die; I just come really close, and then bounce back at the last minute. Ask Matt, I do it to him in card games all the time."
"Isn't that the damn truth." Matt agreed instantly.
"See? I'll be fine. I've still got one more trick to show everyone, one I haven't pulled yet."
"Really? What's that?" Matt asked, smiles forming on his and Andy's faces.
"The dragon's flight of the Heavens of course." Ryan said as if it should have been obvious to them.
"Listen, I know that everyone's glad your back, and you don't wanna die, but you're going to and we both know it." Lusniec lifted his sword into a ready position. "At least try to amuse me this time. Come at me to kill me."
"Oh, I plan to." Ryan said, his face going from happy to serious so quickly it sent chills down Rikku's spine. "And believe me, you're going to have your hands full."
"Then by all means, do show me." Lusniec taunted.
"You're the one who came to kill me."
"Fine, if you're afraid to lead, then I will." Lusniec said. "Now I'll show you your worst nightmare."
"My worst nightmare would be having to deal with you for any period of time." Ryan countered, a small smile on his face as Lusniec started his charge. His blade disappeared for a second, and reappeared as nine blades. Ryan's eyes widened in surprise and horror as he found himself on the receiving end of the Kuzu Ryu Sen. He jumped backwards, clearing the edge of the cliff and falling safely below the attack.
"Ryan!" Rikku cried out, starting to run towards the edge. Auron's firm grip stopped her and she spun around so quickly she slipped and only Auron's grip on her shoulder kept her from falling. "Let me go, he needs help!"
"This is his fight." Auron told her. "If you get involved you'll only give Lusniec another way to attack him. Be patient. He's finally ready for this."
"What are you talking about?" Rikku demanded. Auron spun her around and she saw Lusniec sprout jet-black wings and circle the area that Ryan had just fallen down. A few seconds later Ryan shot up like a bat out of hell, sporting his own pair of six foot long snow-white wings. "Wow…"
"Finally!" Lusniec cried as he dodged a slash and landed back on the ground, visibly shaking with excitement. "Finally, you're finally ready! Finally you've stopped lying to yourself!" Lusniec burst into an insane laugh.
"Are you finished yet?" Ryan's ice-cold voice caused Lusniec to stop laughing instantly. "Because we've got places to go, and you're in the way."
"I see. Only I'm not moving, so it's your turn." Lusniec brought his giant sword up over his head, a black aura surrounding it. "Well, care to try agai--" Lusniec's question was caught off when he had to swing his sword down to stop Ryan's eye level slash that the angel had barely seen. The impact was so powerful that sparks erupted from the clash and Lusniec stumbled back.
"Like I said, you're going to have your hands full this time around." Ryan was smiling broadly now. "Come on, don't tell me you thought I didn't have a few more tricks up my sleeve."
"Yeah, you caught me off guard there. I'll give you credit for that, not a lot of people can do that anymore." Lusniec admitted grudgingly, anger etched across his features as he cut his finger on his sword's blade and ran the blood along the entire thing. "This time I won't hold back."
"It's about time."
"Go to hell!" Lusniec yelled as he slashed down with Demon Edge, the same purple energy from before flying towards him. The world seemed to slow down for Ryan as he jumped to the side. "What's the matter, afraid to face me head on?"
"No, just not stupid enough." Ryan replied calmly. Lusniec was shaking in anger as he charged forward, Demon Edge flashing out seemingly at random.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Style Ryu Sou Sen!" He yelled, as he got closer. Ryan's eyes widened with surprise, but otherwise he showed no signs of being worried. He dodged and blocked, a blur of constant motion as he avoided Lusniec's attacks by a hair. "Die damn you!"
Ryan disappeared from sight completely. "You're pathetic Lusniec. Loosing to a kid with just a few months of experience." He whispered into Lusniec's ear. The angel whirled around, but Ryan was already gone. "So slow too. How did someone like you ever become a legendary fighter?"
"Shut up! Damn you, where are you hiding!"
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"Auron, what's he doing?" Tidus asked as he watched Ryan and Lusniec battle.
"Blind rage makes even the strongest fighter careless and easy to read." Auron told him. "Even Lusniec isn't immune to that. Ryan is playing mind games with him because Lusniec is better then him in every other aspect of swordsmanship."
"Maybe." Matt said uncertainly.
"You disagree?" Auron asked, mildly surprised that Matt held a different view on the subject.
"Not completely. You say that Lusniec's better then Ryan in every other aspect of swordsmanship, right?" Auron nodded. "But that may not be entirely true."
"Explain."
"Lusniec copied the Kuzu Ryu Sen, right?" Again Auron nodded, wondering where Matt was going with his thinking. "An attack that cannot be blocked or dodged… but it can still be stopped."
"What are you talking about?" Tidus demanded. "Ryan even said that it was the most powerful attack his style had!"
"If that's what Lusniec is thinking, then Ryan may very well have already won." Andy told Tidus.
"Yeah. The Kuzu Ryu Sen, there is one attack Ryan has that can stop it. The question is whether or not he can actually pull it off." Matt sighed.
"What could stop an attack that attacks all nine targets in swordsmanship?" Auron wondered aloud, confused by Matt's comments.
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"Lusniec, you're losing your edge." Ryan taunted as he batted aside another slash from the angel. "Can't handle a single teenager anymore? Man, being so old must really suck. I thought you were like, some unstoppable swordsman."
Lusniec jumped back and wiped the sweat off his brow. "I get it now." He muttered. "You know you can't win in a straight out fight, so you play mind games, get me angry and reckless, and then when you feel safe enough you attack."
"Well you got the second half right at least." Ryan agreed. "Let's see just how close you are on the first one."
"It's about time." Lusniec said. Ryan charged in and the two began a deadly dance of flashing steel, blood, and death. They lost track of time, but neither was used to moving so fast for such extended periods of time. When the fight was starting to wind down the two were coughing up blood after every attack, the snow, between Seymour's corpse and the blood the two had spilled, looked like someone had been decorating for Valentines Day or something similar.
"They're going to kill themselves!" Rikku said, wanting to run over and help but knowing she'd just get in the way. She whirled on Auron, "You've got to help him!"
"No." Auron declared firmly. Rikku looked like he'd just shoved a dagger into her back. She turned to Matt, who was already shaking his head.
"Why won't you! He's your friend!" She turned to Tidus. "Please, help him Tidus!"
"Rikku, I'd just get in his way too." Tidus said sadly. "This is his fight, just relax."
"How am I supposed to relax when Ryan's gonna die!" Rikku demanded.
"Ryan strong. Ryan not die." Kimahri told her.
"But how can you be sure? Why don't you help him, just to make sure!"
"Ryan deal with Ryan's problem." Kimahri told her. "Ryan need friends to trust him."
Ryan sheathed his sword, the sound drawing everyone's attention back to the fight. "What's the matter, finally wise up?"
"No. I just forgot that we can't be here forever, we've got to go to Zanarkand, which means that I don't have time for this." Ryan told him, his voice barely audible over the raging winds that seemed to show up whenever Lusniec was fighting. "So what do you say we end this now? One big move, winner take all."
"You Kakashi wannabe!" Matt yelled jokingly.
"Fru lynac? Kakashi gelgc ycc (Who cares? Kakashi kicks ass)." Ryan replied. "Anyway, I've got stuff to do, I'm sure you've got guys to do," This drew a few snickers from Ryan's friends and a very annoyed look from Lusniec, "so why don't we just end this with a dramatic flare, hmmm?"
"You're really serious about this?" Ryan nodded and Lusniec burst into laughter. So you won't run away from my Kuzu Ryu Sen then?" Ryan shook his head. "Well, you've got guts. Not a lot of intelligence, but guts."
"We'll see about that, Lusniec." Ryan told him. "I'm going to block your Kuzu Ryu Sen, and then cut you in two."
"Yeah right. You said yourself that the Kuzu Ryu Sen was the most powerful attack of your sword style. You're bluffing."
"Am I?" Ryan's voice held no hint of fear in it and Lusniec felt the sweat starting to run down his neck. "What's the matter? Starting to wonder why I'm not worried about your Kuzu Ryu Sen even though it's more powerful then mine?"
"The thought had crossed my mind."
"Then why don't you come and find out. And then you'll see my newest technique." Lusniec's eyes betrayed his amusement at the declaration.
"You made up your own technique? That's hilarious!" Lusniec burst out in laughter.
"I told you, I don't have all the time in the world." Ryan's legs were starting to give out, and he was feeling slightly light headed from the loss of blood. "Are you coming or not? Either way, only one of us is walking away from this alive."
"And it won't be you!" Lusniec replied confidently as he charged Ryan, nine blades appearing long before he was more then five feet closer. "Now die!"
Ryan closed his eyes and thought of everything he'd found in Spira, mostly of the new friends he'd made. He thought of the fact that he still had to help Yuna on her pilgrimage, and that he didn't really want to go home anymore. He opened his eyes and Lusniec's blade was only a foot away. "Sorry, not dieing today!" He yelled, dropping into a Battou Jutsu stance.
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"What the hell is he doing!" Rikku was practically chocking Matt to death to get some answers.
"Air!" Matt gasped and she let him out of the headlock she had him in. "It's the attack he's using." He told her.
"But he's not even moving!" Rikku was yelling in Matt's ear now.
"I know!" Matt yelled back. "His attack is a drawing technique! He has to wait until Lusniec is close enough to hit!"
"But Lusniec has a much longer sword." Tidus pointed out.
"Never thought of that…" Matt admitted as worry flashed across his face. 'Ryan, how are you gonna use your damn attack if Lusniec has such a longer sword? You won't be able to get close enough to attack!'
"He'll be fine." Auron declared. "He may be a beginner compared to Lusniec, but he's not stupid. He wouldn't put himself in a situation that he couldn't defend himself in, not willingly anyway."
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"Looks like they're getting ready for the final blow." Seph said. Rae looked at him, her face as pale as possible.
"This isn't a swordfight." She told Seph, who was also pale. "They're just cutting each other up."
"Yeah, no kidding." Seph agreed as Rae looked over the edge. "But this looks like it's gonna be the end."
"Good."
888
"Well Ryan, it seems you've put yourself in a bad position." Vena said, signaling for Dnortih to come and watch. "They're about to end it."
"One big move?"
"Yeah, it seems they both want to look good." Vena said in a strained voice. "Lusniec always did love to show off."
"Well let's see just how good Ryan's gotten."
"Think he can win?" Vena asked. "Honestly I mean."
Dnortih was quiet for a while before answering. "The Kuzu Ryu Sen is his style's strongest attack, but if anyone knows how to counter it, it'll be him." He said.
"Here's hoping."
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"Ryan, move!" Rikku screamed. Ryan's eyes shot open and the raging wind died down until it was all but gone, as a calm feeling washing over the group. The snow on the ground shot up, hiding the final blow from the group. There was the sound of steal on steal, followed by a sword tip flying out of the snow curtain and embedding itself into the ground next to Auron's foot. A massive amount of blood splattered through the curtain, enough to make Yuna and Rikku sick, and to make the others look away in disgust as the curtain of snow began to settle.
"Now that's what I call overkill." Matt muttered as the snow landed.
"Disgusting." Rikku added.
"Ryan, what did you do to him brudda?" Wakka asked.
"Impressive." Auron admitted.
"Ryan?" Yuna asked in disbelief.
"What in the name of blitzball did you do?" Tidus asked.
"What's all the noise about?" Lulu asked weakly.
"You don't want to know, Lulu." Yuna whispered.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, sitting up and looking over at Ryan. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him holding himself up simply by his sword, covered in more then three dozen cuts ranging from scratches to deep cuts, and surrounded by blood, not to mention being covered in it. The ground under his left foot was cracked and indented nearly three inches, and five feet behind him lay Lusniec's legs, his upper body a few feet away. "In the name of Yevon!"
"What… was that?" Lusniec demanded through coughs of blood.
Ryan laughed weakly and dropped to his back, starring up at the sky. "That was the Hiten Mitsurugi Style's true succession technique." He said simply.
"But the Kuzu Ryu Sen was your strongest attack!" Lusniec whispered.
"My strongest is what I said. The words 'succession technique' are oddly absent in that statement, aren't they?"
"You tricked me!" Lusniec accused.
"I didn't trick anyone." Ryan replied.
"Then what do you call this!" Lusniec demanded. "You said that the Kuzu Ryu Sen was your strongest attack, but you cut through mine like it didn't exist! How could it have been your strongest attack if whatever the hell you used just now is so much more powerful!"
"He didn't lie…" Matt said, understanding what Ryan was getting at. Lusniec gave him a death glare but he walked over to his friend. "You couldn't do it when you fought Yojimbo, could you?" Ryan shook his head. "Because it takes too much concentration, right?" Ryan nodded. "I thought so. What was it called again?"
"Neither of you ever could remember the name." Ryan whispered. "It's the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki. The Dragon's flight of the heaven, the dragon's flight inspired by the heaven, heaven's soaring dragon flash. I'm not sure which one it translates into."
"But what is it?" Auron asked, more then a little curious. Ryan sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them he found himself starring into Rikku's green swirled eyes.
"Don't worry about it, I got this one." Matt said from somewhere off to Ryan's right as Yuna began casting healing spells on him. Auron turned to face Matt, along with Tidus, Wakka, and Kimahri. "The ultimate attack of the Hiten Mitsurugi Style is, in essence, simply a Battou Jutsu." Everyone but Ryan and Andy looked at him like he was crazy. "Believe me, it's true. The stance, the drawing of the sword, they're identical except for one thing."
"And that is what?" Tidus asked.
"In a normal Battou Jutsu you lead with your right leg so you don't cut yourself, right Ryan." Ryan nodded. "But the attack you just saw was different."
"Ryan's left foot was in front of him and not his right." Lulu stated.
"Exactly." Matt smiled. "When Ryan leads with his right foot he loses a lot of the speed of his draw because his body has to twist more."
"But if he leads with his right he doesn't have to waste energy twisting, making the attack more powerful." Auron summed it up for the group.
"Yeah, exactly." Matt agreed. "Only problem with this technique is that it's a double bladed sword."
"What'd ya mean?" Wakka asked.
"If Ryan had screwed up while he was doing it, he'd have cut off his left leg." Matt told them. "The reason Ryan couldn't use it against Yojimbo is because he couldn't get close enough."
"No, I wouldn't have been able to focus enough." Ryan corrected, sitting up slowly. There was a loud smack and Ryan dropped back to the ground, his hand rubbing his left cheek. He looked up at Rikku who was crying.
"You could've died you jerk! And you're sitting here like nothing's wrong!" She whispered as he sat back up. "They wouldn't let me help you."
Ryan smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't worry about it." He said. "Besides, me, you, and Tidus still have to figure out how to save Yuna, remember?"
"Right." Rikku whispered into his shoulder.
"If you two are done we'd like to leave this freakin' winter wonderland sometime today!" Andy yelled at the two.
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"Seph, I thought that Lusniec's attack was the ultimate sword technique." Rae questioned the assassin.
"Guess even the ultimate sword technique has its disadvantages."
"Like what?" Rae asked sarcastically. "Being unstoppable?"
Seph chuckled. "Nothing is unstoppable Rae, nothing." He told her. "The weak point of the Kuzu Ryu Sen lies in its speed."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Simple." Seph smiled evilly. "It's so fast that you can't alter your course. When someone counters instead of trying to block or dodge you can't avoid it."
"Well that's a dumb technique." Rae muttered.
"Not really. The sight of nine sword points coming at just about anyone is enough to make them freeze up with fear."
"I guess."
"It wasn't made to be used in combat." A voice said from behind them. The two whirled around, Seph hurling a pendulum at where he assumed the person's shoulder to be. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a temper, you're so much like Usi it's creepy." The voice said as a shadow literally rose up of the ground and began to take human form.
"What the hell are you?" Seph demanded.
"Me? You can call me ZP, but I'm not an enemy." ZP said, holding up his hands in a sign of peace. "See, I'm even unarmed!"
'Yeah right.' Seph thought as he gathered water under his sleeve. It was almost automatic to attach them to a pair of pendulums, so he wasn't surprised when he found them tying off to two pendulums. "Alright then ZP. What are you doing here?"
ZP smiled as the shadows began to run off his skin and onto the snow below. "Me? I was here to see an old friend, but our friend Ryan just killed him. So now I'm here to lend you a hand."
"And why is that?" Seph felt the pendulums starting to slide down his sleeve, stopping a few inches before its end.
"Because we have a common goal. We both want Ryan dead for our own reasons, isn't that right?"
so now the new character appears... and he's marked me for death no less. and lusniec is officially gay, something i'd intended from the beginning... wait until we deal with yunalesca! srry for not updating sooner, and i think it's going to take awhile to update again. so until then, enjoy people! and don't forget to promote my story! i want more people to read it! don't forget to review on your way out!