Ch.4 Flesh and Fate

" You can't be real! I'm just dizzy!"

Odd shouted holding his head and willing the nightmare before him to leave. And still it stood there, when he opened his eyes, X.A.N.A. He looked about 18 with black hair and a black outfit on Odd thought he looked like william, but with one smal difference. X.A.N.A.'s skin was as balck as the night and his eyes glowed red like a firey ember. Summer stood in front of him, terrified, yet the look in her eyes betrayed her. She knew him. her eyes blazed with anger and hatred and most of all sadness was in her eyes, sadness that scars a person and won't leave them alone.

Ulrich slapped himself trying to wake up. His whole body hurt, but he knew he would have to fight. He half laughed to himself seeing X.A.N.A.'s resembalance to William. Scramblingto his feet Ulrich shifted to to his fighting stance. Glancing over at Yumi, Ulrich smiled. It would be his last emotion other then pain and anger for a long time. Turning back to X.A.N.A., Ulrich's lip curled into a sneer as he felt red hot anger flow inside of him and old painful memeories pounded through his head. He screamed letting out all his rage.

" You are the reason I have no time to have a normal life! You are my pain, the feeling when i see Yumi with William. Every feeling of pain, every moment I've lost because of you, it feels like its slowly killing me and now I'll kill you!"

Ulrich lunged at X.A.N.A. yelling the final words Yumi would hear until this was over. The words bit at her soul like cold in winter.

" Everything ends now! "

Ulrich struggle to grip X.A.N.A.'s throat, trying to unleash his pain. The two of them roll locked in combat. No special moves, no surprises, just strength to strength, man to man.

Odd dodged out of the way as Ulrich tackled X.A.N.A. Seizing the moment Odd grabbed Summer and Yumi and ran with them until he began feeling dizzy. Setting Yumi down Odd whispered to Summer.

" Go in to town and get a doctor, get someone anyone who can help us."

Black spots began to appear in Odd's vision and soon he was lost in the dark, knowing nothing more than the cold ground beneath him and the whispering of the trees.

Tears came to Summers eyes as she saw Odd fall to the ground. She turned and ran faster then she'd ever run before. I can't let Odd down, I won't. He trusted me. She burst into a hospital yelling and motioning for someone to follow her as she ran back out. A young E.M.T. followed behind her, back towards the forest.

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X.A.N.A roared with pain as Ulrich punched him again and again. X.A.N.A. shifted seding them rollling again.

" I will kill you and all the guardians. You have messed with my plans for the last time!"

Ulrich paid no attention and continued punching every part of X.A.N.A. he could reach. X.A.N.A.'s anger greew everytime Ulrich punchedhim , umtil he finally let loose his powers and began electrocutin Ulrich. Shaking in agony, Ulrich contained the scream that struggled to be let loose. X.A.N.A. dropped him laughing. He was mad and he knew it, but he enjyed the pain everything about it. Ulrich's vision blurred as he tried to get up and he quickly laid down again. He muttered silent wishes in his mind. Please have Yumi be alright! His mind rested on one picture as he passed out, Yumi excepting his kiss.

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Summer darted through the woods leading the medical technican to where Odd and Yumi were. Kneeling down the E.M.T. roused Odd, who immediatly scrambled away from him.

" Who are you and what do you want? "

" Calm done kid I'm here to help you. this little brought me here. "

Odd looked up at Summer and remembered her rescue mission.

" Man, your good Summer! That was fast. "

" Ya, I saved your life again you owe me! "

She laughed and went to help Yumi to her feet. Odd smilied and stood up, leaning against a tree for support. Summer led the way as the group hurried back towards Ulrich and X.A.N.A.

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X.A.N.A held Ulrich up, bringing him around, and continued to electrocute him. Ulrich knew he couldn't take much more. he fought the darkness that threatened to overcome him. Suddenly Ulrich shouted as loud as he could.

" Odd get a move on! "

His voice bounced around the alley reacing Odd and Summer. As they rushed towards the scream Summer stopped.

" Odd, you and the E.M.T. have to stay here. Your the one X.A.N.A. wants and we're going to need the E.M.T. later."

" No way Summer! X.A.N.A.'s going to expect to fight! "

" And I'll give him one! "

" You? Summer are you crazy? "

" No Odd. I'm angry."

Odd suddenly realized what she meant. She wanted to use her powers! If only she knew how to control them!

" Are you sure your powers will work?"

" No, but I don't wat you and your friends getting killed. I'm going, your staying, end of story. And don't you dare make me angry."

Odd stayed behind, watching. Summer stood terrified as X.A.N.A zapped Ulrich again and again. ulrich saw Summer running up behind X..A.N.A., just as she jumped at him yelling.

" Leave him alone!"

X.A.N.A turned his head, just as Summer kicked out, hitting him between the eyes.

" Stop messing with my life!"

Summer thought all the toughts that would make her mad. Her parent's death, her sisters disapearence, and suddenly she was more mad than she thought she'd be. Her puzzle was coming together. Her parents hadn't died in an electric accident, X.A.N.A. had killed them. She remembered his face. Summer ran at him, hatred filling her.

" Where's my sister you freak!"

X.A.N.A laughed enjoying Summer's pain.

" Haven't your so called friends told you anything? Your sister was with them today, you've seen her."

" Stop lying to me!"

" He's not lying Summer. We just didn't know."

Thats when Summer got mad. She seemed to glow as she stared at X.A.N.A.

"You took my family away from me. And now your trying to take the only friends I have too! I wish you would just go back where you came from!

With those words X.A.N.A let out a scream of agony and dispair.

"No! My skin...it's burning!"

X.A.N.A slowly disappeared muttering cures and a farewell.

" You haven't seen the last of me I'll kill you yet!"

Rushing out from his hiding place Odd stared at Summer in shock.

" You just single-handedly beat X.A.N.A.!"

" Ya that was awesome wasn't it!'

" Hey odd where's Yumi? "

Odd looked around for Yumi and found her exactly where he thought she would be. Right at Ulrich's side, except then he saw what he thougth he'd never see. They were locked together lip to lip, swept away in thier passion. Odd's normal smile appeared on his face.

" Hey come on love birds! Lets go get the others. "

Ulrich and Yumi blushed as they ran to catchup with the others. When they stopped to get Aelita and Jeremie Summer walked up to Aelita and hugged her. Aelita smiled remembering another thing about her past and leaned down and hugged her back. Odd smilied at the two sisters and turned back to the gang, his signature smile on his face.

" We'd better get back to school! Saving the world doesn't make us exempt from tommorrow's quiz!"

Eveyone one laughed as they headed back towards the school.

Hey everyone I loved writing thi fic and am very sad to say that this is the last chapter. Big thanx to everyone who reviewed especially Amaherst and bobbyneko who have reviewed at every step for me and I'd like to say thanx to my BF and my bro for helping me. I will be writing another fic but it will take longer seeing as I'm in the middle of writing a book to hopefully be published. Please feel free to E-mail me and review. Thanx! Starsk8r