Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 25

The talon foot of Shin dove down in order to tear apart the fallen mole, but both he and Kohryu were surprised that his attack and smashed down an inch away from Kohryu's head.

"You miss?" Kohryu said in dismay. His black eyes suddenly flashed and he sprang up to his feet, slashing out with both his hands and knocking Shin back. Shin shrieked lightly and stepped backward, still in wonder. Kohryu rose to his feet fully, glaring darkly at harpy zoanthrope.

"You call yourself the wings of Death?" he growled. But then a slight grin came over his face. "Allow me to teach you its meaning!"

In a flash, the metal ninja waved his hand and vanished. Shin didn't even have a chance to blink as Kohryu reappeared beside him and give him a stabbing blow to the ribs.

"Shrakkkk!"

Shin staggered to the side in pain and Kohryu pressed with a second quick chop. Shin was hit further back and Kohryu finished with a spinning kick. Shin's head snapped off to the side, but he didn't fall. Nor did, Kohryu want him to fall. There was still more punishment to dish out to this low-rate.

Kohryu sot his hand out in the same fashion as before, only this time his hand morphed into a claw, which sliced across Shin. Shin was able to defend against it, but that didn't stop the metal blades from raking across his feathers, leaving behind its marks of red. Relentlessly, Kohryu stabbed and stabbed, each attack slicing across Shin and mattering him in red. Then with a final blow, Kohryu slashed into an uppercut, sending Shin helplessly into the air and knocking him into his human form. Shin felt consciousness slip from him for a moment as he was knocked up in the air.

"Lightning…!"

He heard Kohryu's cry and he knew what was coming next. He had to reverse it now, but Kohryu grabbed hold of him. But the multiple wounds across his body made his efforts all the more difficult. It was all over for him…

Until a single leaf floated across his vision…

"Ha!"

Sounds of conflict followed shortly afterward and Shin felt his body descending. Using what strength he had left, Shin rolled himself downward, hitting the ground on his hands and knees. His vision was a bit blurring and his body hurt like hell, but he was able to look up to see his savior, standing in front of him and across from Kohryu, who was on his feet.

"Kenji…"

The earthquake was as devastating as the first, though it lasted only a few minutes. The buildings had cracked under the rumbling and the ground was torn apart once again. Yet, despite this, on one of these rooftops, Nagi continued her bloody battle against Xion. Xion snarled strangely as they backed away from a collision strike between them. Something wasn't right. 'She's not supposed to be this powerful.' Even with a single blade, she was matching him blow for blow. Even her speed was up to his. No one he had ever faced has matched up with him so evenly like this.

'Gaia…I'll deal with you yet, once I finish your little creature here.'

Bending low, Xion unfurled his arm blades and whirled around in a double slashing attack. Nagi lifted her blade, causing repeated clashing against it and sparks to flash between them. In response, Nagi raised her blade and dropped it straight down. Xion sidestepped as the slice ripped downward into the ground and tearing a hole in it. With her immobilized for the moment, Xion hopped in the air and launched a back kick into her body, hurling her back and near the edge. The edge crumbled slightly as she skidded to stop from falling over and the Spurious looked back to see Xion in the aerial spin. His leg was stretched out and the ankle blades where slicing through the air toward her.

'You're mine!'

The blade smashed down on the defending Nagi and the force of the blow caused a large chunk of the roof edge to collapse completely, taking Nagi with it. Xion jumped back to prevent himself from falling as well and Nagi completely disappeared over the edge. Xion waved his arm back and instantly returned to his human form. He then brought his hand up to his head and laughed hysterically.

"Hahahahaha!"

He may have been celebrating prematurely, for moments after the fall, and crimson blur soared high into the air and was no descending. Xion sensed her attack and in a panicked dash, he jumped back and barely dodged the deadly blow. But Nagi pulled her arm out and reeled back, her body shimmering with energy. Meanwhile, Xion began to regain his bearing and began his transformation once again. But as soon as his armored body came to form, Nagi had dashed in close with her blade to her side. Xion didn't have time to let out a cry as she rushed right through him, blade held forward. Xion was frozen in place and then suddenly exploded in a blast of energy. The force had knocked back into his human form once again as well as the ground.

'How…so fast…'

Xion slowly climbed up to his feet, grasping his arm in pain. But in truth, his entire body was wracked with pain. Whatever her attack was, it did him in. 'But how?' He wasn't drained that much from the fight to have been finished in an attack like that, no matter how strong it was. And yet, that was the case.

"Guah…Spurious…" He glared up at the crimson form of Nagi, who was holding her blade arm forward in order to continue fighting. "Gaia…Copying my powers to destroy me." He then yelled out. "How could I lose than a…imposter!"

"Don't give me that!" Nagi shot back, annoyed of his ramblings and ravings. "Why don't you just return me to my original body!"

Xion blinked at her request and then started to chuckle. "Hehehe…" You don't seem to get it. You seem to want to blame me for being in that body, eh?" He then broke into an all out laugh.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Wh-What's do funny?" Nagi snarled. In tuth, she was getting tired of him. This creature was now mocking her. Mocking her power… 'Stop it. Stop it or I'll…' Her blade arm twitched slightly and Nagi was in wonder about this. 'What's up with me? Why do I feel so… Is it this body?'

Xion finished laughing and struggled toward her, his eyes piercing. "Hehehe. Gaia, you made a big mistake. I can sense it… I can sense it." His eyes narrowed as he approached. "Only a little bit, but it's inside you. The…Unborn…"

Nagi stepped back unconsciously. "Wha-What are you talking about?"

Xion continued to approach, seemingly talking to himself out loud. "You probably wanted to skip it. But…" A dark smile lit across his face. "You've captured a hint of the true me as well."

Suddenly, Xion lunged at her and grabbed her shoulders. Nagi tried to push away, but she was unable to do so. It was as if some powerful force was holding her still, fighting against her from the inside.

"Ahhh!"

Xion continued to speak, holding the girl in place while she struggled against him. "It's too bad that you're going to end up as just an imposter. As the real thing, I use the power as I please."

Nagi continued to fight, but the unseen force was now beginning to affect her senses. Her mind began to drift away and something else began to fill the space left behind.

Something sinister…

"S…S…stop!"

RHHHAARRRRRRR!

Never in a long time has Long faced such a ferocious and savage opponent. Shina continued to attack him despite the earthquake and now that it ceased, it didn't appear that she was going to let up. The fighting was actually animalistic, at least on her end, as she snapped and clawed at him. Long had managed to overcome most of her fury, but she was relentless.

'I must get some distance.'

Shina roared as she pounced high at him again, her feline form background in the night sky as she dove in. Long held a leg back and when she came in close, he rolled backward, planted his foot in her stomach and tossed her backward. But like every cat in the world, her body twisted and she landed on her feet. With no hesitation, she charged again and this time, Long met her head on, roaring as he did and the two cats hit each other in the air. And they fell in, Shina continued to snap at him, leaving Long to do the same in an attempt to force her down. But she held on even as they hit the ground, biting into his arm. In a pained response, Long used his weight to hurl her off, shoving her aside. Shina slid on the ground and snarled as she made ready to attack again.

'She just won't stop. What's gotten into her.' He managed to take a quick scan around in search for Mana, but she had disappeared. Long snarled beside himself, but that soon changed into an outward one as Shina charged again. Long knew he had the size advantage, but she had the strength to minimize it. That and the fact that her attacks were so savage was what was really throwing him off. He had to stop her, but in his beast form, all he could do is meet her with savageness. And that would get them nowhere. He knew how tough she was and he didn't have time for a prolonged fight.

'It's risky, but it can be done.'

Shina closed in on him when Long suddenly ducked down and relinquished his tiger form, returning to his human self. Shina flew over head and Long whirled around to confront her. This was a major risk for him. Fighting her in his human form would make him more prone to her attacks. But he would have more maneuvering room and focus and he knew how to fight another zoanthrope in this state. He wasn't the top assassin of Tylon for nothing, after all. He just hoped he wouldn't have to go that far with her. He doubted he could, but now wasn't the time for doubt. He just had to put her down and fast.

Meanwhile, the still snarling Shina had circled in and turned to him. But in a seemingly change of tactics, she didn't lunge at him right away, but continued to circle him. Long kept her in front, knowing this sort of pattern. Since she missed her last attack, her animal instincts had been telling her to try a different approach. She was looking for an opening.

He would give it to her.

Long allowed himself to slow down just enough so that she was now on the side of him. It wasn't his back, but an opening was an opening and she lunged again. Long swiftly whirled to me her and crouched low enough so that it would seem that she would fly over him again. But as she go overhead, Long shot his fist up to her gut hard. A snarl of pain emanated from the leopard zoanthrope as she was brought down from the air to her feet, but Long wasn't finished. His fist still in place, Long drove another in. It wasn't as strong as the first, but it stunned her enough for the third blow. And the fourth. Long then went in low, ready to execute his rapid-fist technique. It would be enough to subdue her for a good long while. But as he went in for the starting blow, she suddenly dodged aside, allowing his fist to fly into the air. Long was stunned. 'She must still possess her intellect as well.' He was completely open to the flying swipe she hit him with and was knocked down. Long rose to his feet quickly and checked himself. It was a backhanded swipe and although she had cut a bit of his clothing, there were no slash wounds. 'Is she holding back?' That must mean that deep down in this wild beast, Shina was still in there.

"Shina…Jane, can you hear me?"

The leopard snarled and began to inch closer. Long held his fists up in readiness, but continued speaking.

"Jane, I don't know what's happened to you, but you've got to fight through it."

Another step closer, although it seemed slower to him. Was he getting through, or was she taking her time?

"You're tougher than this. Fight it."

The leopard snarls soon turned to roaring and she shook her head rapidly. Long watched the war wage within her as the leopard snarled continuously. Finally she let out a single high-pitched roar and looked back at Long, eyes primal with aggression. With a final pained roar, she lunged at him again.

The beast had won…

RROOAAAHHHHHHRRRRRRR!

"Bakuryu. It took you long enough."

Kohryu stood a good distance away, with his back facing the crevice behind him. On the opposite side, Kenji stood in confrontation, with Shin lifting himself up behind him.

"Now we can finish this once and for all." the mechanical ninja continued, pointing at Kenji. Kenji narrowed his eyes and bent his knees ever so slightly, readying to spring into the fight.

"You still owe me for our first encounter."

Kenji remembered. It was that time ago when they had fought in the Neo-Tylon complex. Kenji had broken free from their control and nearly crippled the cyber-ninja in combat. 'So that's his intent.' He held his fingers up and forward in classic ninja stance.

"As you…"

"Kenji, stop."

Kenji paused and turned to his compatriot, who was now on his feet, but his face was still lowered.

"Shin. I have to…"

Shin cut him off. "No. I have to. This must be finished. And I must finish it."

"Revenge will not bring him back."

"This isn't about revenge." Shin moved beside Kenji. "At least, that's what I believed before. But now I know. This is about moving on."

Kenji turned to him. "Moving on?"

"My brother sacrificed himself for me. Now I must show myself worthy of that."

"By fighting him?"

"I wasn't strong enough save my brother. But I will not allow him to take away…anyone else." The eagle zoanthrope's fists tightened.

Kenji took in his words. 'So that what this is about. Wanting to be stronger to protect…her. Still, Kohryu was close to killing him earlier.' His present wounds were proof of that.

"You don't have to do everything by yourself."

"I must be strong. And I must know if I'm strong enough. If not now, than never." He strode toward Kohryu. "I hesitated because my intent was unsure. But now I know." Shin lifted his head, his determination clear in his eyes. "Please, let me finish this."

At this point, Kohryu decided to speak in. "I have no interest in you, poseur. I want him."

"If you want Kenji, you'll have to go through me first." Shin shifted into his battle stance, his eyes not moving away from the cyborg.

"So be it"

Kohryu lifted his fingers up and then with a wave of energy, he exploded into his alternate form; The Iron Mole. Kenji watched as Shin drew closer, watching his own aura beginning to flare and feather slowly sprouting from his body. He knew this had to be settled, but he still worried about his friend, possibly one of the only people who understood him.

"Shin. He could kill you."

"I won't lose."

With those last words, Shin completed his transformation into the harpy eagle once again. His wings spread out wide and his front knee slightly bent forward, Shin was ready to renew the fight.

To finish his fight…

'I will complete my mission. I won't lose.'

Kohryu made a swift dash toward his opponent, who held his place before him. Shin kept his wings spread while holding his head forward. Kenji jumped back, allowing the fight to take place. Despite what Kohryu thought, he knew that Shin had the speed advantage over him and the airborne edge to deal with him. But Kohryu always had a surprise or three to use. He'll just have to wait and see.

Kohryu closed in and suddenly dove at him like a missile. Shin ducked in low, keeping his wings spread out as he did and allowed Kohryu to fly overhead. Kohryu continued on and suddenly dove right into the ground itself. Shin slowly turned around while keeping his wings outstretched. This puzzled Kenji. 'Is that a new stance?' He returned his attention to the hole Kohryu left behind. The obvious was clear. He planned on attacking from the underground. Kenji knew the attack possibilities of such a maneuver and staying on the ground was not the best thing. Luckily, Shin could take to the air and cancel out any such attacks, but the harpy zoanthrope remained on the ground. 'What are you doing, Shin?' Kenji could sense Kohryu underneath, trudging unknowingly underneath them. Shin began to back away slowly, moving near the cliff's edge. The movement underneath began to quicken and it was only a matter of time before Kohryu made his move.

KRRRRCCCCCKKKKKK!

An explosion of rock and gravel erupted right behind Shin, with the emergence of the iron mole within. However, Kohryu was flying out feet first. Shin seemed to expect the back attack by the way he sidestepped the attack. But when Kohryu touched the ground, he instantly sprang forward, his razor-sharp claws now coming at Shin.

"Shin!"

'Maybe this wasn't a good idea.'

Rei was out in the middle of the streets in search for Shin. Despite her guardian's assurance for her not to worry, all she could do is worry. And the earthquake didn't help out at all. She was fortunate to find shelter in the path of a nearby store, but now the streets were littered with more damage and scared people. A few fires were also abounding, but the fire departments were already on the case. She almost considered going home herself, but she couldn't. She had to find him. Something was really wrong and she…

"Uriko?"

Through the chaos and wreckage, Rei could make out the form of her brown-haired counterpart rushing around the corner. Her face was frustrated before it turned to surprise by Rei's call.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I was looking for Alice." Uriko replied. "She got hurt and left out with Yugo and I'm…" Her head whirled around a bit and she sighed. "I was following them. I think I lost them. Stupid earthquake."

Rei smiled knowingly. "Tell me about it."

Uriko then added quietly. "Kenji's gone too. He went looking for Kohryu."

"Kohryu…" Rei whispered, now understanding Shin's departure. "So that's what happened."

"Yeah. Shin came by earlier and said he was going after him." Uriko explained. "Kenji wanted to get to him first."

"We've got to find him."

Missing the fact that she had said him instead of them, Uriko nodded. "We will. But we don't even know where to look now." She looked around again, but stopped when she saw the futility of it. "I lost Alice. They all could be anywhere now."

"Wait." Rei's eyes found someone else familiar. "Hey, that's Ms. Saori."

The dark-haired woman was in the street along with everyone else. However, unlike everyone else, she seemed pretty calm about the destruction around her. "Maybe she might know."

"Well it's worth a shot." A long shot, but what else did they have right now. The two girls rushed over across the street to reach her, but then she turned down into an alleyway.

"Huh? Where's she going?"

The two finished crossing the street and entered into the alley. The area was trashed by the earthquake and it ended with a high pile of bricks from one of the walls that had fallen in. But Saori was nowhere to be found.

"This is weird." Uriko cringed. "Really weird."

Rei remained silent, seeming to be in a partial trance. Something was amiss, more so than just her disappearance. If anything, this confirmed what she had felt about Saori. That there was more to her than meets the eye.

"She's behind us."

"That's right."

The two of them whirled around to see Saori standing just behind them. Uriko blinked, not only by her silent appearance, but by Rei's knowledge of it. Even with her feline senses, Uriko had not sensed Saori's approach. Turning to the blue-haired girl…

"How did you know?"

"Because, we are all part of the same person." Saori answered. "Aren't we, Rei?"

"Who are you?"

Saori smiled and closed her eyes. A light glow shimmered around her body, causing to younger ones to take a step back. Saori's black hair waved in the energy and then changed in aquamarine blue. Her eyes then open up, revealing now golden eyes. 'Just like Shin' thought Rei.

"I am sorrow…seeking a heart…"