The Way to a Man's Heart Isn't by Crushing His Ego Chapter 32: Drowning in Invisible Water
"Grimm…" Jackal said nervously as he stared at the new arrivals.
The girl known as Grimm's real name was Rachel. She had brown shoulder length hair, pulled back into a ponytail, and blue eyes. Hell's Fire's beauty far surpassed Grimm's. Grimm got her mother's looks more then Hell's Fire did. Hell's Fire got them not from her mother, or her father, but from her grandmother. Grimm didn't give a hoot about it though, she wasn't the pettiest, but she wasn't butt ugly, so she was ok with it. She was also a firm believer in the term 'looks aren't everything'.
Grimm's outfit was, of course, black leather. Her pants hugged her legs tightly, and her belt was not made of black leather like her comrades, but of several small silver chains. Held in the chains was a katana, or Japanese sword. Her jacket was a short one; she wore no shirt under it, leaving most of her mid-drift showing, and was zipped up not all the way, but far enough that nothing fell out. She glared down at Roy and Hell's Fire with cold ice-like blue eyes. Roy noticed rather quickly that she had one of the deadliest glares he'd ever seen. 'The look' as the gangsters often called it, could send a chill down the fieriest of men's spines.
Grimm did not speak, but Lex, her father did. "Allow me to introduce myself and my men," he said in a stern tone as he looked down at the two military dogs.
Roy glared at him, he began to feel light headed, and his lungs cried out for air. He didn't show any hint of this on his face, he just sneered. Riza stood in her same position. Her gun was raised, ready to fire if needed.
"I am Lex," the tall dark haired man began, "I'm the leader of this gang. This is my oldest daughter, Grimm," he said as he laid a hand on Grimm's shoulder. She titled her head forward a little, in a bowing gesture to welcome the new guests. Her eyes still glared coldly. "I believe you've met my other daughter, Hell's Fire," he said as he looked over at the red eyed girl beside Roy. Hell's Fire just glared back at him. "These are two of Grimm's friends," Lex continued, Grimm stepped to the right, revealing the two teens that stood behind her.
"Saff and Shadow," Grimm finished her father's sentence.
"Huh?" Riza was surprised to see the girl behind Grimm with her nose in a book. I don't think this is the best time to do any light reading. She thought to herself. Her face became serious as she tightened her grip on her silver pistol.
Saff was the one reading the book. She was 14 years old. She had brown hair and brown eyes. Saff was a strange gangster indeed. Her clothes weren't revealing like most of the other females, and she'd rather have her nose in a book then fight. She hated fighting, but despite this fact she was Grimm's best friend. One good trait that came from this was Saff often read fighting books, which had excellent and affective attacks that she told Grimm how to do.
The other teen that stood behind her was a boy. He must be Shadow. Riza told herself, studying her new enemies carefully, trying to pick out anything she could use to her advantage on their bodies. Wither it be an article of clothing, old wound, or even their own weapon. She didn't care as long as it was something.
Shadow was almost 16 years old. His real name was Emsu Goldman. His hair was short and black, his eyes were yellow. His skin was very pale, his face calm as Grimm stood near him. He had a strange past. He was originally one of the orphans, but Grimm took him in and taught him to fight. For this he felt forever indebted to her, and now had a secret crush on her. At Shadow's sides were not swords, guns, or whips, but sais. These were a pair of weapons, also known to some people as jins. They looked like forks that had three long blades. The blades were thin and somewhat rounded. The blade in the middle was longer then the two on the outside. There was a small handle at the bottom, the handle was often pressed against the user's palm, and then his fingers were clasped around the base of the fork like structure, fingers grasping the weapon in between the blades, giving the user more control over the long sharp blades.
Roy's dark eyes squinted and his teeth clenched as he tried to keep from fainting. Beads of sweat traveled down his face as he studied the new gangsters carefully. He must be Chinese. He thought as he stared at Shadow.
Shadow was not Chinese, but it was a common misconception caused by his appearance. His parents were both originally from Xing, and they both followed the Xing law. Their people believed alchemy was only used for healing, but were proven wrong when they were both killed by the use of it.
"….uh…" Jazz's eyes opened slowly. She blinked a few times as her pupils came into focus. She turned her head to the door, her eyes half closed and a sleepy expression on her face. She saw Grimm, Shadow, Saff, and Vis standing before the door, Lex was not in her range of sight. Her pupils dilated as they absorbed the bright light of the moon that shown behind Grimm, but her brown eyes quickly went back to normal as the dark clouds rolled in, blocking out the light that seemed almost blinding to her. "….It's… going to rain…" she whispered weakly and fell back asleep, her breathing more stable now.
Roy felt Jazz's movement and looked down at her. He faintly heard her whisper and glanced at where the moon had been. It was now covered by clouds. He could sort of see where the moon currently sat, a part of one of the clouds was brighter then the rest, it was blocking out the moonlight.
"Huh?" Riza glanced up at the moon as well when she saw the world suddenly get darker.
Roy's attention was quickly taken off the clouds as he slumped forward a little bit. The sweat on his forehead began to get thicker as it dripped off his chin. He quickly stopped himself from falling forward and pulled back at little bit, so he didn't smother Jazz. He began to shake his head back and forth; trying to focus his eyes and fight off the darkness that began consuming his range of sight. No, I can't pass out now. He scoffed again. If I pass out now, Hawkeye will have to fight all these men on her own. I'm her superior; I can't let her have that burden. He thought as he shook his head again, refusing to let himself fall asleep. His chest burned and his head ached as his body tried to gets his attention by radiating a fierce pain throughout his oxygen-starved body. His vision was blurry and his hearing became muffled. It seemed as if he was really under water. His body became so heavy and it felt like his chest was being crushed by the waves that no one could see. The world he thought he was apart of seemed to get farther and farther away as he sank down in the dark ocean some people called death, while others considered this dark world a type of paradise.
Lucky for Roy, Hell's Fire's mind was still set on her father, who was rambling on about how great his gang was. No one but the members were really listening. The orphans were scared out of their minds and hiding, Roy was trying not to pass out, Jazz was asleep, and Riza was calculating on what she could do to take this darker version of the world to her advantage.
"….huh…." Jazz slowly and sleepishly opened her brown eyes again when she felt some hot liquid raining down on her. "….uh…." she stirred as she saw Roy jerking his head back and forth, just above her face. It took her slurred mind a minute or two to process what she saw. "Mister….?" she asked as a slight confused expression appeared on her face. A few more beads of sweat landed on her face. It didn't faze or disgust her. She was too out of it to notice what it was. "Mister, what's the…. matter? Are you ok?…. Are …you, are you, are… you?..." she asked, her old personality coming through a little as her mind began to recover and speed up. She stared at Roy, her mind wanting to fall back asleep, but somehow she managed to stay awake.
Don't fall asleep. Roy ordered himself as he continued his attempt to stay conscious through shaking his head. It wasn't the most violent shake. He didn't have the strength or stamina for that. You could tell he was losing the battle as he got slower and jerked less frequently with not as much force. He began to slump forward again. No! His mind screamed as he stopped himself from falling.
"Hm?" Hell's Fire looked back at Roy when she caught a glimpse of his movement out of the corner of her red eye. She turned back to him, kneeling in front of him with a satisfied grin. "What's wrong?" she asked with a smirk, her voice full of seduction as she leaned in close to him. Roy stopped jerking when he noticed her body only inches from his. He sneered at Jazz who lay in his lap, too weak to lift his head and look at Hell's Fire. He was using all the strength he had left not to collapse on the five year old girl.
"What's the matter, Lieutenant Colonel?" Hell's Fire asked as she slid her fingers across Roy's sweat covered face, his face was damp and very warm. It felt as if he had a fever as adrenaline rushed through his veins rising his body temperature as he tried to fight off the death disguised as peaceful slumber.
Her slender finger caressed his cheek gently before slipping under his chin once again. She lifted his chin up so he could see her face. There was still a slight glow to it as the light from fire on the other end of the room bounced off her pale skin. "Is the flame you once so powerfully possessed beginning to burn itself out?" she asked as she stared at Roy, his dark eyes were glazed over as he gazed into her red ones. Another bead of sweat traveled down the side of his forehead. His face had lost all its color, leaving him very pale. He was losing the battle wither he liked it or not. His eyes began to close as he tried once last time to get a breath, but too weak to even open his mouth enough to taste the char filled air.
Riza also saw the movement Roy had made. Her amber eyes were quickly set on him. She didn't fire until she saw what was really going on with him. Once she saw how glazed and lifeless his eyes had become she realized he was suffocating. "Lieutenant Colonel, sir!" she shouted as she raised her gun, aiming at Hell's Fire.
The teen's attention was quickly taken to Riza, but she didn't have time to react. Riza was just about to shoot when another gunshot rang out. Her amber eyes widened as a bullet whizzed by her head. Before she could regain herself there was another figure barreling towards her.
"I don't think so!" Grimm's voice retorted as she put the black pistol in her hand back in its holster and quickly switched to her other side, once she was in arm's length and Riza was about to fire, Grimm pulled her katana from its sheath. It flashed an orange beam of light as it caught the dying fire's gaze. Then she swung it hard and a clang along with a gunshot was heard as she diverted Riza's attack and pushed her pistol toward the ground. The bullet lodged itself in the floor as the barrel of the gun was pushed down by the crushing force of the sword.
"Errrr…" Riza growled as her sliver pistol was forced away from its targets.
Grimm's blue eyes narrowed and a smirk appeared on her face. She turned her sword's blade quickly and was about to bring it up toward the ceiling and slice Riza in half, bottom to top.
The Lieutenant saw what was about to happen and defended herself from the blow as she moved her gun in front of the blade. The katana was caught on the underside of the barrel of Riza's gun, cutting off the attack, sparks appeared as the steel from the weapons clashed. The force of the upwards blow caused Riza to fall backwards a little bit. I didn't think she was that strong. She jeered to herself as she tried to stop the backwards motion her body was now making. She then planted her feet firmly on the ground and brought her arm up, her gun in hand, trying to shoot Grimm as her upper body continued to fall back.
Grimm wasn't ready for this at all. "Eh!" she snapped, her eyes widened and she was about to try and dodge the attack, to make a seemingly impossible escape when she was quickly saved, and another loud clang was heard.
Riza sneered again when she felt her gun come to a sudden halt. She'd miss Grimm for sure if she tried firing at this angle. "What?" She looked over to the right and saw the barrel of her pistol caught between two blades. Her amber eyes ran down the blades and up the arm that held the sai.
"Not today…" Shadow said coldly as he held Riza's gun still. Then he pulled out his other sai and lashed out at her.
Riza's eyes widened as she jumped back fast, releasing her grip on her pistol, but also missing the blades in the process.
"Hm…" Hell's Fire smirked as she watched her sister. Roy was half dead, but still had enough life left in him to see Riza out of the corner of his glazed eye. His brain was shutting down, so he couldn't register fully what was happening. A blank expression now inhabited his face, but little bits of his mind urged him to help her.
Lex and Jackal watched the teens work with a smile. Ice still sat on the floor, clutching his wounded arm. Saff was still reading and Vis stood next to her. He smiled as he watched the future leaders of the gang work. The third man walked over to Saff and Lex, Jackal followed. Jackal knew full well he couldn't lash out, not with Lex right there. So he restrained himself and stood quietly next to the leader.
Jazz still stared up at Roy; she then looked over in the direction Hell's Fire's face was turned too. Her eyes widened when she saw Riza. She watched as the military dog jumped backwards as she was slashed in the stomach by Grimm's katana. The wound wasn't too deep, but it did bleed and it stung. Riza eyed her pistol. It still sat in Shadow's sais. The boy just watched, allowing Grimm to do what she pleased with Riza. He would only step in if ordered or Grimm needed his help.
"Finished already?" Grimm asked as she was about to slash at Riza again.
Riza cursed and crouched down low to the ground, one arm over her stomach's wound. Ok. She thought to herself as she watched Grimm's blade flash. This is worse then cramps. She flinched and spun her body quickly. She attempted to trip Grimm, but the brown-haired girl saw it coming and quickly evaded it. Riza then jumped back fast, out of her reach for a moment.
Jazz quickly looked up at Roy again, her mind was quickly retuning. She saw the knife lodged in Roy's upper arm. This gave her an idea. Her eyes went to Hell's Fire for a second, when she saw Hell's Fire wasn't watching she quickly raised her arm up. She grabbed the handle of the knife and pulled as hard as she could. Roy flinched as Jazz struggled and pulled the knife out, some blood gushing out along with it.
"Hm?" Hell's Fire asked when she felt some hot liquid hit her hand that rested on her lap. She saw the dark blood that had fallen on it. It looked somewhat purple from receiving no oxygen. She glanced up at Roy. "Hey!" she snapped and lunged for Jazz, but before she could the small girl forced the blade between some of the leather straps. She could have done this before Hell's Fire saw, but with the bullwhip being looped so tight around the Lieutenant Colonel's neck she struggled with it.
"Ehhhhrrrhhhh!" noise escaped Jazz's lips as she pulled back hard on the knife, trying to cut at least some of the whip.
"You brat!" Hell's Fire roared as she grabbed Jazz, pulling her off Roy and dragging her to the side, leaving the knife still lodged in the leather straps.
"Hey!" Kenny snapped as he watched Hell's Fire. His fear faded, overcome by rage as he watched Hell's Fire assault his friend. Pure adrenaline shot through his veins as he got up. He then dashed out of their hiding place and headed toward Hell's Fire and Jazz.
"Hey!" Reina shouted. "Where are you going?" she asked as she watched Kenny. He ran up to Hell's Fire and grabbed her arm, yanking on her to release Jazz.
"What?" Hell's Fire's face was overcome by surprise when she felt Kenny yank on her arm. She scoffed and tried to grab him, but once she tried to grab Kenny, Jazz tried to escape. It's was one of those times when you try to get one and lose the other, so she retained her hold on Jazz, and snapped at Kenny with words.
Reina looked from Hell's Fire to Roy. She smirked when she saw the knife still there. "I'M COMING, HONEY!" she shouted, one hand rose in the air as she took off running.
"Huh?" Shadow asked in wonder when he caught a glimpse of Reina run passed him. Then he saw the knife. He cursed and was about to run after her when he felt both his legs become overcome by weight. He looked down and saw Blare and Tommy clinging to one leg, Sayo held the other. All three of them glared up at him, but Tommy held an evil smile.
"Now what you gonna do?" Tommy asked with a smirk. Then the three kids pulled back hard, it didn't take much to get Shadow to lose his balance. He fell forward, landing on his stomach. Once he hit the floor both his sais flew out if his grasp, and then slid out of reach. Riza's gun had fallen loose and slid across the wooden floor, lying a few feet in front of the sliver sai.
"Er!" Shadow sneered as he looked back up towered Roy. He saw Reina pulling on the knife. "Hey!" he was about to yell to Lex and the others to help when his mouth was clasped by Tommy.
"Now, now, you shouldn't talk if you aren't called on," Tommy replied.
"Um….." the third man said as a sweat drop appeared on the back of his head. He, Lex, Vis, Ice, and Jackal watched in disgust and embarrassment as the kids over took the thugs. They could hear Riza and Grimm's quarrel on the other side of the room, but they couldn't drag their gaze away from the rampaging rug rats.
"Hhhheeeerraaawwwww…." Reina said as she pulled on the knife, it took a lot to cut through the fine leather of the whip.
Shadow jeered. You could help you know. He thought as he stared up at Lex. Once he saw the men weren't going to interfere he diverted his attention to the two kids that clung to his legs. He was about to left his upper body up, and then go into a sitting position to lash out at them with his fists, but was quickly stopped when Tommy sat down on his back, preventing him from doing so.
"Give up yet?" Grimm asked as she lashed out at Riza with her katana. All Riza could do at this point was dodge the blade. She had no weapon to attack with. She dodged, but kept a close eye out for a chance to punch or kick.
Riza sneered, her attention going back to Roy every now and then. Come on Reina; don't let him die, please. She said to herself. Her heart longed to go help her commanding officer, but Grimm was preventing her from doing so.
"Hrrrrrreeeeeeerrrrr…" more noises escaped Reina's throat as she pulled on the knife. She was beginning to tire out, but she wasn't going to let that stop her. She stopped a moment for a breath, and then she started again. "Errrrggggg…."
"Huh?" Sayo said when she noticed how much trouble Reina was having. She knew Roy wouldn't last much longer. "Blare," she said to the little boy who sat next to her.
"Huh?" the small boy asked looking back at her. Her lime green eyes flashed in the fire light. They were serious and determined.
"Can you hold both his legs?" she asked.
"Uh… sure," Blare replied as he scooted over a little. Sayo lifted off Shadow's leg and he scooted over on it. One arm curled around each leg. This made things a little more difficult, but he managed.
Once she was sure Blare could do it, Sayo ran over to Reina, her long black hair swaying back and forth as she ran. "Sayo?" Reina asked, surprised to see the shy girl next to her.
"Come on, let's help him," Sayo said as she began pulling on the already damaged leather.
"Right," Reina said with a smile as she pulled, too.
"Hurry up!" Blare called. Shadow was pulling his legs apart in opposite directions, making it very hard for little Blare to hold on. "I can't hold him much longer!" he shouted. Shadow was a lot stronger then he was so he knew this wouldn't last long.
"Pull, Reina!" Kenny called as he watched from Hell Fire's side, still pulling on her arm. He wanted to release Jazz, but provide more of a diversion for Reina and Sayo.
Riza glanced over at them. Come on, you can do it. She was currently pinned against the wall. She had found a large plank along the way. She was using it as a makeshift shield. It wouldn't take long before Grimm's blade cut through it, but it would last for now.
"Errrr…." she growled as she pushed hard against Grimm, she managed to take a few steps forward, giving her a little space between herself and the wall. She glanced over and saw her pistol lying on the floor. She had to get over to it.
"Got it!" Sayo shouted a few seconds later. They heard the sound of the leather snapping as the knife went the rest of the way through it.
"Ahh!" Sayo and Reina fell backwards as the whip gave way and there was nothing holding the blade back.
Roy fell back on his back, gasping and taking in the air in large gulps. Small noises escaped his mouth as he sucked in and flushed out the air. The color began to return it his skin as a few more beads of sweat traveled down the sides of his forehead and into his soaked black hair.
"Are you ok, dear?" Reina asked as she knelt next to Roy and leaned in close to his face. "Master?" she asked again as she watched him take in the air, waiting for him to reply.
"He's breathing," Sayo said as she sat behind Reina. "He should be ok."
Relief overcame Riza's face as she saw Roy's chest rising and falling. Her relieved expression quickly changed when she saw the dark bruises that now consumed his throat.
"Get serious!" Grimm snapped. Her face became angered when she saw Riza kept ignoring her. She pulled out her black pistol and fired into the air, getting everyone's attention. "That's more like it," she smirked as she swung her katana as hard as she could.
"Eh!" Riza said in surprise when she saw how hard the sword was swung. She ducked quickly as the sword cut through the plank. The top of the board flew through the air and landed a few feet away.
"I don't think you'll need this anymore," Grimm said as she pulled the wood out of Riza's grasp and threw it to the side.
Now what do I do? Riza wondered as she stepped back. Great heat was on her back as the fire burned behind her, she could hear the cracking of the wood in the flames. It wasn't directly behind her yet, and the flames began dying. No one had noticed it because of the fight, but it had started raining. It water soaked the wood, killing the fire and giving what flames remained a hard time spreading.
Grimm just smirked. Her eyes still shown like ice, not even the flames could melt the coldness in her heart.