Another angel attack. How will this end? Please read on!

Don't own anything expect the concept of the story.

CHAPTER FOURTY-TWO: TOJI THE BANDIT

The sun had reached high above the sky when they heard the alarm. Scrambling into the briefing room like always, they had all grown accustomed to it. Who was attacking this time?

"Toji the bandit," said Yuan "Is the title they have this low-life. He lies, cheats and steals. Although he doesn't look like much from the outside, he's a powerful melee fighter which has the backing of a small army. He's attacking the city as we speak. Your job is to stop him at all costs. Are there any questions?"

"I've got back the results of the battle from last time," said Xavier. "It seems that Genis is too slow, Kratos and Wilder should pace themselves. Asuka, you just shoot without bothering to aim."

"I'll move faster," said Genis.

"I'll slow down," said Wilder.

"And I'll boot you in the head," yelled Asuka.

"Someone should hold her while we get going," said Regal.

"She's not going at all. We need someone to look after Shinji."

"Why can't the Renegades look after him?"

"It seems that every time we get near him, he pushes us away. We need someone that knows him to…convince him that this side is the best choice for him."

"………okay, fine. I'll stay here. But I don't like this."

"And what are the rest of you doing here?" asked Yuan. "Are you or are you not suppose to save a town from its sheer destruction?"

The attacks were in Izood. They were so frequent that people marked the days of attacks on their calendars. It was every three days. Flying on rheairds, Brunel decided to fly beside Raine. Everyone was surprised when Brunel made her appearance which got people talking.

"Is that…Colette?" asked Genis.

"Looks like it," replied Regal. "It seems she wears the opposite attire of our Colette."

"I can't believe that's me!" chirped Colette. "I'll go say 'hi'."

"No you will not," said Professor Raine.

"What is the reason why we shouldn't make contact with Colette?"

"She's too unpredictable. You remember what happened to Lloyd right?"

"No offence, Colette, but she was a violent banshee," said Lloyd, "Right next to Raine."

"I can hear you, Lloyd," said Brunel. "I hope that you're talking about another me and another Raine."

"I'll…I'll be good," stuttered Lloyd.

Zelos made some whipping sounds. "Damn, she has you on a tight leash."

The sun had begun to set and everyone could see the fires that were set in town. They saw men on horses riding in town, toppling stands and lighting fires. The group swooped down on their rheiards (the angels flew down), catching the attention of the bandits.

"Looky what we have here!" said bandit number one.

"They look like they want to be a he-ro," said bandit number two.

"What we do about this kinda situation?"

"We roast them alive!" yelled bandit number four, igniting a match.

(Author's note: I'm trying to give the bandits a 'Billy numerous' personality complete with personality and facial expression; to those who know who he is. To all others, disregard this note. Thank you).

"No, I'll take care of them," said a voice on top of a roof. The other looked at the roof and saw the figure jump down. This figure was Toji.

"Spoiling my fun, are we?"

"We're here to stop you," said Lloyd.

"You stop me? Come on, Asuka and Shinji may be pushovers, but not me!" He took out his sword. "I'll give you a whirlwind of pain."

"The only ones that will giving the pain here are us," said Sheena.

"You're going down!" yelled Zelos.

"What can you guys do to me?" asked Toji.

"A lot more than you think!" yelled Raine.

"We'll see about that. Guys! Take care of these cretins!"

The bandits on the horses separated the team into groups of two, picking on them two at a time. Alright, post-battle conversation time!

Genis and Aryll:

"This is gonna get messy!" said the bandit.

"That's what you think!" yelled Genis. "Pancake time! Grave!"

Stones shot up from the ground and knocked the bandit off his horse. "Ooh, you're gonna pay!"

"My turn!" chirped Aryll, "Fireball!"

The fireballs hit their target and the bandit started to run around trying to put himself out.

"Teamwork!" Genis and Aryll said together.

Kratos and Wilder:

"Well, let's see if you guys can take me down!" yelled the bandit on his high horse.

"Will I attack first, or will you?" asked Wilder.

"I say we play 'rock, paper, scissors' for him," replied Kratos.

They started to play 'rock, paper, scissors' and the bandit got annoyed. "What the--You think I'm some kinda joke?"

"You look like a joke, therefore you are a joke," said Wilder.

"You're going to wish you hadn't said that! Hyah!"

Kratos shot a Thunder Blade spell. The bandit got hit and went smack dab on the floor.

"It seems that you have taken the first offence," said Wilder, "Although I did win the bout of 'rock, paper, scissors'."

"Well you win 'rock, paper, scissors' and you get the grand prize of complete self-satisfaction." replied Kratos. "I'll get the consolation prize of defeating this low-life." He kicked the bandit in the gut who groaned in defeat.

Sheena and Zelos:

"Why am I always paired off with you?" Sheena asked.

"Fate, dear Sheena," replied Zelos with a bow.

"I hate fate. I want another partner."

"Then you can get acquainted with my sword," yelled the bandit. He charged on his horse. Zelos jumped up and knocked out the bandit.

"That wasn't too hard," said Zelos. Little did he know that he never did stop the horse.

"Zelos!" Sheena exclaimed. "Watch out for the--"

Zelos continued riding until he hit smack dab right into a tree.

Professor Raine and Genis:

"You guys wanna fight me?" asked the bandit.

"Not really," said Professor Genis. "But we have no choice."

"Then get ready for a world of hurt!" The bandit charged at them. Raine hits him with a Proton spell. He fell off the horse and was knocked out cold.

"That was mine," said Professor Genis through his teeth.

"You took to long, so I figured you wanted me to take him!" yelled Professor Raine.

"Do you always make things difficult?"

"Only when there's someone stupid making the situation worse!"

"Could you guys get off me?" asked the bandit, lying on the ground.

"Shut up!" yelled the two professors, knocking him out.

Lloyd, Colette, Raine, Presea and Regal were left to defeat Toji the bandit.

"Well, five against one. That's not a fair fight," said Toji. "Isn't that against the goody rule book or something?"

"Save it," said Raine. "We have you. You can't escape."

"I wasn't planning on escaping," said Toji taking out his sword. "I was planning on winning."

He charged right at them and shot earth type spells.

"Watch out!" yelled Regal. Regal was struck with a grave spell. "Damn."

"Infliction!" Presea yelled.

Toji blocked the spell. "Too slow! Rock breaker!"

"Absolute!" yelled Raine.

That pierced Toji. "I'll get you for that, brat! Grave!"

Lloyd seeing the incoming spell pushed Raine out of the way and took the hit.

"Lloyd!" Colette yelled.

"All part of the plan," said Lloyd. "Raine, take him down, now!"

"Got it, Colette, take down!" (Sounds like a pokemon attack). "Brunel leapt into the air, used her sword and struck the exsphere. The mana in Toji's body began to reach uncontrollable limits. He was going to explode.

"We must move to a position far away," said Presea.

Everyone ducked behind a building while Toji exploded, leaving nothing but clothes and blood on the ground.

"That was fun," said Zelos. "We should do it more often."

"Are you alright, Raine?" asked Brunel.

"Yeah, I'm fine," replied Raine. "Lloyd thanks for saving me."

"Don't mention it," replied Lloyd. "I'm just glad that you're safe."

"Looks like he's proven himself," said Kratos.

"I still don't trust him," replied Brunel.

"Why don't you trust him?" asked Genis.

"Let's just say that there is a lot of conflict in their pasts," replied Kratos.

Dismissing the issue, all of them headed back to base, where another problem was unfolding.

A happy ending…or is it? What is going on in the Renegade Base? Please R&R and no flames.