After The Storm Ch.2: Glass and Blood


"And over here we have the raging champion, GAMABUNTA! (1) He has crushed every foe ever to cross his way but tonight! Will tonight be the end of his streak?" The announce red yelled. The mixed reaction was his reply but in the end it was the same answer, bloodlust and money. Raising his arm dramatically his hand made a clench "Tonight, a newcomer challenges the Gama bunta! In this corner!" with that he pointed to the obscure corner.

The whole arena went silent, surprised at who the challenger was. The figure was covered in a large heavy brown coat; his pants were slightly torn as was his boots worn out. His features were hidden in a dark yellow beanie he wore it was hard to tell whether the challenger was built or a lightweight.

Amelda was underneath those layers.

He cursed in his breath he had been tricked! The guy had said bum fights but much to Amelda's surprise and anger the guy had led him to fight in an underground street battles. Now here he was, in an area where thousands of bloodthirsty thugs were betting for or against him, with a guy who called himself the frog boss no less. He wrinkled his nose 'He certainly does look like a frog' he thought.

"MATCH BEGIN!"

He looked up and barely got out of the way when the frog boss had tried to crush him against the caged wall they had put down. Gamabunta laughed at him "Scared? You should be," he taunted. Amelda remained calm and look to him, he smirked slightly "Afraid of a toad? Please…" he spoke. Gamabunta growled "I'LL TEACH YOU TO TAKE ME SERIOUSLY!" he yelled and charged. Amelda jumped out of the way unhooking his coat and pull it over the guy's head. He then kicked him on the butt making him crash into the caged wall.

The crowd was wild with cheers and boo's. Amelda scowl; he really didn't want to waste his time doing this. Bunta ripped the coat away and saw a whirl or red coming at him, his mouth opened as he felt the wind knocked from his whole body and then a swift kicked to the head had him stumbling. From the corners of his eyes he saw the red head unfazed 'who is this guy? That can take me out like this?' he thought making impact to the ground.

Amelda slightly smirked he had spent most of his life training under Dartz, that training included some martial arts. Bunta, refusing to be ousted by some girly looking fag let out a roar and lunged at Amelda unleashing a barrage of punches. Amelda's eyes slightly twitched as he dodged and evaded every attack. He saw Bunta's leg going to connect to his side and luckily blocked it unfortunately it had left his head open for an attack and Bunta head butted him.

Amelda stumbled back, the pain temporarily paralyzing him; he had underestimated the bastard. He heard Bunta's laughter as he wiped the blood from his forehead, Amelda blinked and felt his own, that was when noticed the cut. He look to Bunta.

"Give up now and I promise I'll leave you almost dead," he said

Amelda wiped the mixture of blood and sweat from his forehead. His eyes turned cold and dark he wanted revenge. Planting his feet on the ground one arm went behind his back while the other outstretched forward (2). He smiled and with his hand motion Bunta to come and get it. Bunta snarled "KISAMA!" he yelled and came running at him full force. Amelda stood in place waiting for the right moment. It wasn't until Bunta almost uppercut him was when the red head made his move. He crouched quickly and planting both hands on the ground he side sweep him making him lose balance. He then twirled and back kicked him the abdomen. The guy stumbled while Amelda back flip away a couple of feet, and resume the stance.

Bunta growled, with a slimy smile he touched the dagger her hid in his metal wristband. Amelda tilted his head noticing the guy was not retaliating, he only licked the blood from his lip and with his index finger motion Amelda to come and get. Amelda sighed; he might as well finished it and ran toward him. Bunta grinned wildly the guy fell for it, he began to charge and with a thrust the knife revealed itself and he aim towards Amelda.

Amelda dodged but the knife had grazed his cheek. "DAI SENPUU! (3)" He growled and unleash a devastating whirl kick onto Bunta. Bunta yelled out. Amelda gritted his teeth NOW he was PISSED! He didn't give the chance to stumble and planted his hands to the ground lifting his lower body and with both legs begin kicking down on the man leaving heavy blows (4), he didn't give Bunta a chance to step backwards for every time he try to escape Amelda would use his hands as his legs moving right with his opponent legs still kicking down at him. He then drop and roundhouse kicked him.

Bunta was barely standing his heavy body swaying it was too late to realize Amelda came at him with murderous rage. Amelda let out a yell and head butted him. Gama's eyes widen at the pain looking into the man's steel gray eyes "I returned the favor" he spoke before Gama saw black.

His heavy body hit the floor with a powerful thud, making the ground softly shake. Everyone was silent in awe. The referee walk to Gama and checked him "he's out!" he spoke. He stood up and walked to Amelda, he raised his arm "WINNER!" he yelled. The crowd went wild as Bunta was carried of the stage.

"The next match will begin in ten minutes," the referee shouted. Amelda said nothing he crouched over, picking up his heavy brown coat and step down form the arena. His eyes hardened noticing the greasy snake that had brought him here.

"That was great!" the guy praised. Amelda scowled at him "why that look? If you think I'm going to cheat you; here" with that the guy gave Amelda a hefty handful, Amelda couldn't help but let a surprise look come to his face.

"That was from your first match" the guy grinned. Amelda look to him then to the guy "If you want we can just do this tonight and we split the all the winnings?" he proposed.

"Tch fine" Amelda said. "But" the guy began Amelda stared at him "The match after this one I need you to lose it; we'll get more money that way". Before Amelda could answer the bell signaling the next match to start rang, saying nothing he only turned from him and headed back.


Amelda put the heavy pack of yen in his pocket and sighed; damn he was sore. Not wanting to be offered another job position he began to make his way back to the streets. He sore and had some moderate bruises and wounds but otherwise it wasn't something a good bowl of soup and a nap couldn't do. He looked up when he noticed massive shadows obscuring his path, he grimaced they were the fighters he defeated but also some of the gamblers that had lost because of him.

'Shit' he thought.

"Hey, you, we lost a lot of money because of you" one of the men spoke. Amelda remained silent and begin to walk past them. "Hey Bastard!" another of the men yelled and grabbed Amelda's arm "WE'RE--" the guy couldn't finish as Amelda flipped him on his back.

All were taken aback, the nerve of this guy. Gama smirked "Tch, either way we're going to mess you up pretty good" with that all the men lunged at him. Amelda eyes widened, throwing the money aside he took a defensive stance. Despite his exceptional skills at fighting the numbers were still at odds with him, and he began to feel the effects of all the night's battles taking its toll on him.

He let out a heavy groan feeling a heavy punch impact against his stomach. Another guy grabbed his arms and made him stand. The other two began to whale on the red head. Amelda gritted his teeth, receiving blow after blow. He coughed out some blood and his head slumped. Gama looked around and found an empty bottle of vodka. Picking it up he turned to Amelda, his arm raised …

(CRACK!)

Amelda fell to the ground hard, his eyes were shut in pain, everything hurt and he was helpless to do anything. The men laughed picking up the money and made their way. Amelda breath was raspy gritting his teeth he began to stand but let out a pain cry feeling the glass piercing his skin. A pang of fear hit him "Wilcos toy?" he thought and through pain he searched his coat but to his horror couldn't find it. He forced himself to open his eyes and scanned his surrounding.

"No…I need to find it…Wilco," he whispered. With heavy steps he began the searched; if he couldn't find one of the only memento's that he had left in this world then he deserved to have this pain inflicted and then die the brutal death; at least, he would be with his mother and his younger brother. His breath was becoming ragged his sight was beginning to blur.

"Wilco…" he whispered.

His legs gave out and his sight turned to black.

'Wilco' he thought and blacked out.


"Thanks for helping me with the groceries" Anzu said. Yuugi smiled, "no prob just next time don't remember you need to buy them so late at night" he teased. Anzu blushed a little in embarrassment but it was true she was suppose to buy some necessities but she didn't remember until around 12 am fortunately for her Yuugi was still up and a local liquor had some Temporary necessities until tomorrow.

As they walked back home Yuugi decided to spark a little conversation "Hey Anzu, do you ever think what happen to that guy?"

"What guy?" she asked. "You know, the one you helped out" he replied. "Oh, a little sometimes" she said. "I wonder if the guy's ok" Yuugi wondered aloud. Anzu was silent remembering him, ' The way he acted…and what he gave off…I hope he is ok"

Anzu stopped. Anzu look to him "Yuugi?' she asked and look towards where he was looking, in fright she dropped her bags. Before them was a badly beaten man, unconscious on the ground but what had gave them a fright was a small puddle of blood near his head. The two ran quickly to him.

"What happen to the poor guy?" Yuugi exclaimed. Gently the two turned him around. Anzu covered her mouth while Yuugi looked away. The man whole face was bleeding, the pieces of glass glistening against the moonlight as they protruded from his skin. The two teens had to use all restraint not to drop him from pure shock. Yuugi quickly took out his cell phone "911, this is an emergency we found a highly…" he walked away telling the operator of the incident leaving Anzu alone with the male.

She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and try to stop the bleeding but she hesitated seeing the glass dangerously near his eye 'I need to take them out otherwise they'll infect his eyes" she thought, carefully she begin to remove the pieces of glass, one by one. She heard the man make a light moan of pain while she was doing this.

"Sorry," she whispered.

Noticing that blood was seeping in his dirtied beanie she gently took it off, his red hair coming down, dirtied, messy and matted against his skull. She could help but tear up at the sight "Who could have done this…?" she thought, cleaning his brow. She looked around seeing if there was anyone that could help instead she saw a most peculiar object on the ground. Gently setting the man on the wall she went to see the object. Slowly she picked it up it revealed itself to be a charred toy, one from a very popular show she herself use to watch when she was a child.

Not knowing why she put it in her pocket something in her told her that she should keep it safe for a bit. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the sirens of the ambulance come near their destination.


(Domino Hospital)
"Is he going to be ok?" Anzu asked. The nurse look to them and made a face "Miss, he's lucky he's still breathing," she said, this sent a shiver to both Anzu and Yuugi's spine. "Will he be ok…"? Yuugi repeated the question. The nurse nodded "Yes, we manage to get all the glass out, we had to give him some stitches, but his eye are swollen shut, it'll take a week for them to recover, he also had some ribs broke, body wide" the list went on. Anzu Gulped; she didn't know he was so badly off.

"But we'll have to release him as soon as he wakes up…"

"WHAT?" the two teens yelled in shock. "The hospital is overcrowded if he doesn't have means to pay then we'll have to let him go. "You can't do that!" Anzu practically yelled. Yuugi held her arm in an attempt to calm her down. The nurse gave a stare "It's their own fault that they do this to themselves" she stated. Anzu's blood boiled, she would have slapped her if she weren't called to duty.

"Did you two bring that man in a while ago" another nurse ask. Both nodded "Here, you'll need to sign this release form" she said. Yuugi look to Anzu "Well you just turned 18" he spoke. She nodded and took the paper signing it then handing it back to the nurse. With that she left and in a few minutes came back with someone on a wheel chair.

Yuugi and Anzu gape; the guy was practically in bandages; he was more a mummy then a man. She gave them a slip "the doctor prescribed some painkillers, he should not get out of bed for the first two weeks, put him in a mostly liquid Diet them move him up to solids after the first week" she ordered. Before they could reply the nurse left. Anzu look to Yuugi and he looked back.

"Yuugi we can't just leave him…" she said. Anzu nodded "I know but how do I explain this grandpa?"

"It's ok, lets take him to my house" Yuugi eyes shot open "but!" he began, the though of Anzu alone with a man they never knew scared him. "Yuugi, my house is closer then yours and he's hurt, he need to rest two weeks before he can do anything to me" she said.

"Anzu, I think my grandpa would be ok if we took him" Yuugi replied. Anzu shook her head "Yuugi your house is crowed as it is; I can take care of myself, right now this guy's health is more important" she reasoned. Yuugi bit his lip "fine…" he sighed. Taking the man the two began to walk out.


"It's so dark…why is everything so dark? ' Amelda thought, his arms waving around him "hello?" he spoke aloud the last thing he had remembered was being ganged up then…

'Wilco!' he thought and try to stand but pain riveted his body and he forcefully lie back down. "Shit…" he cursed. He couldn't see, his body felt like crap and he didn't even know what was happening and where he was. Amelda admitted to himself; he was afraid.

"You're awake?"

His head jerked, "Who's there?" he exclaimed. "It's ok," the voice said. Amelda look around trying to hear the source of the voice. "Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm right by you" the voice repeated, it was a soft feminine voice but it held no malice, Amelda calmed slightly. "Where am I?" he asked again.

"You're at my home; my friend and I found you…you were badly beaten up…" she repeated. Amelda nodded "…Why can't I see?" he spoke, fearful of the answer. "Your eyes were injured but don't worry! The doctor said they should heal in two weeks" she assured. Amelda remained silent.

"…You should rest some more, even if you already slept a couple of days away" she trailed off. "…You're the girl from before," he suddenly said. Anzu looked up the guy turned to hear "You're voice, I recognize it, you're Queen Amidala right?"

She laughed a little at this "No but my name starts with an A" she said. She looked to her watch "You need to take your medication" she said. "Say ah" she joked.

Amelda didn't open his mouth "I'm not going to poison you" she said. After a few moments he opened his mouth, Anzu placed the pill in before putting the water to his lips. Amelda began to drink until he felt a burning sensation rip at his throat. He quickly choked out the water and pill in pain coughing violently. Anzu was taken aback.

"Throat…hurts…" Amelda raspy voice said. Anzu frowned; She got another pill and opened it spilling the powdered contents in the water this time. "Try again" she said. Amelda slowly drank this time his throat still burned but it was still tolerable enough to drink the medication. He lay back down and the room was silent.

"What happened to you?" the girl spoke breaking the silence. "I was stupid…" he merely answered. Anzu bit her lip he wasn't really the talkative type was he? "Why are you helping me?" he suddenly ask. Anzu look to him.

"I have nothing to give you," he added. "Do you always think that someone has an ulterior motive?" she ask. Amelda sighed "Of course, everyone does you know" he said matter of fact. "Well I don't and I'm helping you because it's the right thing to do," she concluded. "Whatever…"Amelda said, he wasn't buying it, he just wanted to know what she wanted.

"What's your name?" He suddenly asked. Anzu look to him "what" she asked.

"I want to know you name," he repeated. "You can say please you know?"

"...Name?"

"…It's Anzu, Mazaki Anzu" she replied. Amelda stiffened "what?" he ask. "Anzu" she said. 'She's the Namomaki pharaohs friend' he thought stunned. Even though Doma was behind him the news shock him surprisingly. "What about you? Your name?" she asked.

Amelda was silent, even though he was no longer Doma sanjushi he couldn't help but feel not trusting, and what reaction may be triggered if he told her the truth. "…Allister" he lied, it was the first name that popped in his mind.

"Well then Allister, get some more rest, I'll be taking care of you for a while" Anzu said. He heard her stand, her footsteps getting far out of reach.

"Allister if you need anything just call me" she said and left.

Amelda was left in the room, and for once he had nothing to say.

TbC


1: Gamabunta aka Frog boss I got the name from Naruto

2: Yet another Naruto reference this is the stance Rock Lee uses for fighting! HAIL ROCK LEE!

3: one of Rock Lee's attacks the full name is Konoha Dai Senpuu

4: This is another of Rock Lee's attacks except when he is...DRUNKEN ROCK LEE! YesI love the guy!

Wootah What will conspire the next two weeks? Will Anzu know the truth? Will Amelda's heart finally open up? You just gotta wait and see, including you Vazzy mwahahahaha

fOX