Chapter 2 1st Strike…He's out

Disclaimer (See Chapter 1)

I've got nothing to say other than thanks for the replies so here's chapter 2

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

"There's nothing worse in this world than a person who's cornered and can't fight back. He's hopeless that Kawazu and so is Tsukiko for that matter."

"I am here to aid the cornered, the hopeless…the people that have no one to turn to for help…they are all mine to save."

"The hopeless souls in the world are many. I can feel hundreds of souls at a time just waiting to burst. They're so close to paranoia that I can barely retrain myself. They are so hopeless. I'm amazed that they can keep their lives in one piece. Every once in a while I'll come across someone who is desperate but they usually save themselves, by taking their own lives. I wanted to help them but they beat me to their salvation…all I had to do was give them a little incentive…"

"One of the problems I've come across is finding the right people to save. I've learned to control peoples' emotions and it's sure to help create people to save. Humans are driven by emotions, tweak their strings a little and they snap or do anything you want them to, that's how I've chosen my targets. After all if there aren't enough people to save how can I possibly do my job and help people. There aren't enough people to save I make them. My help will make them stronger people and how can I refuse them my help."

"With practice I've learned to control people's emotions and it's sure to help create people to save, my fist is Kawazu."

"Kawazu seems to be close to breaking like a twig. His boss is becoming more and more unhappy with Kawazu's work, due to my help of course. He's failing as a journalist and he'll break away from reality any moment. That bastard ran over some old guy a while back and now it's coming back to haunt him. He didn't have much money before but now he has even less. I'm making sure that he only becomes more desperate."

"Kawazu is starting to take too much interest in my work too. Why can't he mind his own damn business? He should just leave Tsukiko alone and find another story. I can promise that Tsukiko's story will not end well…she's so hopeless and I don't need Kawazu to get involved. "

"Kawazu is with those cops again and they're looking through that old woman's home. They're staring to get on my nerves. Their job is not as important as mine and they're sure to get in way. I'll have to dispose of them because nothing can interfere with my plans. I can't save the detectives yet so I'll have to break their spirits first. I'm going to have fun crushing Ikari (the chief detective) and his little protégée. It's a shame they'll have to wait, after all there's a very long line of souls waiting to be saved."

He retires for the next and awakens the next night.

"Kawazu's life only seems to be getting worse. He's slipping from paranoia to reality and back more often than before. His mind is a mess, he is no longer thinking of making profit from the story. He wants to make Tsukiko suffer so he can save her…I can sympathize with that but he needs saving…saving Tsukiko is one of my job's perks and I can't let him take that from him."

He morphs out of the shadows onto the street.

"I HEAR HIS HEART…he has finally decided to slip into paranoia and never return, he has nothing to look forward to,…now is my time to strike…."

"I'm close I can feel three souls nearby…just a few meters away. That annoying dog is there too. It's trying to speak to me…"

From Shounen Bat to Maromi, "Maromi, Maromi, you can't even keep Tsukiko safe. I can feel her pain, she's scared, she doesn't want to remember how she faked the attack and you're allowing her to forget...that's not the way to save people."

"You shut-up! Tsuki-chan is my responsibility…I will keep Tsuki-chan safe from you while you do your job. Don't forget you're here to help her too…"

"I know the deal but don't interfere with me again, you know the rules, the one that delivers the first blow will lose. Attack me again and you won't be able to stop me…your poor little Tsuki-chan will suffer for your incompetence and the world will be laid to waste after…when I save it."

"Are you afraid, Shounen Bat…afraid of the little dog you attacked so many years ago?"

"Don't make me laugh Maromi; you know that she was at fault not me, never forget the day when we were both born."

"NO! YOU ATTACKED ME AND TSUKI-CHAN…YOU'RE THE REASON THAT SHE IS NOT A STRONGER PERSON…YOU'RE THE REASON THAT HER LIFE IS A MESS…I WILL HELP TSUKI-CHAN GET BETTER AND YOU'LL NEVER GET TO HER AGAIN…NOW DO YOUR JOB!"

"Calm down Maromi unless you'd like to settle the score once and for all…remember that I do my own work…I don't need some fake mutt to tell me what to do."

"Umph, you haven't even struck once …I've begun to think you're not so strong."

"Oh little Maromi, how wrong you are…right now I'm on my way to my first strike. It's Kawazu…consider it a favor Maromi. It should make him leave Tsukiko alone."

"Don't strike now…We're with him, we're being chased but don't attack, Tsuki-chan is too close..."

"Shut up Maromi…it's my job remember…"

This should send a message to that mangy

Shounen Bat gets closer to them and he can hear Kawazu chasing Tsukiko, "Hey Sagi-san, think of it as helping me out here!"

"That bastard has no idea that I'm about to save him, there's no need to thank me but I would like some recognition for my help. Maromi is everyone's idol and all it does is bitch and moan. I can't believe that Tsukiko can stand that mutt. I'd have burned that thing at the stake if I could. Here's Kawazu."

"I'm here now, Kawazu don't fret…I'll save you," and with one swing of the bat Kawazu fell.

"My fist strike that felt great, the thrill of the hunt to save souls. I've got to find the next one soon…here's Tsukiko….I should at least say hello to my creator."

Maromi stares at Shounen Bat hard with a look that challenges.

"Maromi don't worry it isn't time for us to settle the score…I'm just here to say hello."

To Sukiko, "I'm home." He skates away, "and there's nothing anyone can do to change that. I will do my job...I am not leaving until I do...not even Maromi can stop me. I'll take care of that bitch soon enough…"

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Dark Dreams

The enmity between Maromi and Shounen Bat will only become more and more involved.

Next chapter Icchi's Fall