Chapter 6

"You know I'd be dead without you, right Kou?"

"How so?"

"Well, I may seem more responsible than you at times.. But you're always there for me. You being there gives me the confidence to do things I couldn't normally do. Like.. Cooking."

"But you're a great cook, Kouji.."

"Ya. But I only learned because I knew mom couldn't and dad wouldn't. I knew we'd starve if we didn't make the food ourselves. I didn't want anything to happen to you.. So I taught myself to cook." Kouji trailed off. "You have no idea how bad I felt when I made myself sick and you had to make food for me instead.. I thought 'I failed.' 'I failed Kouichi..'.. I remember all the cuts on your fingers when you were trying to cook for everyone. And I thought it was all my fault.."

"But it wasn't, Kouji! I choose to cook! You didn't think I'd let you starve, did you?" He asked, smiling at his brother. Kouji smiled back before pulling his older brother into a headlock.

"Nah. I'd really be lost without you, Kou.."

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

"KOUJI!"

Kouri's eyes dilated and just before the scissors could cut his hair, there was a flash. The next thing anyone saw was Kouri with his red light weapon at Lana's neck and breathing hard, like he'd been suffocating. Lana had nothing but surprise on her face as she looked into the hate filled eyes of her warrior. The scissors fell to the floor halfway between Kouri and Lana, and the group at the door.

No one moved. The only sound was the heavy breathing from Kouri. Lana's eyes began to loose the surprise and stared directly into Kouri's, as though daring him to kill her. Kouri blinked and he held his breath, realizing just what he was doing. He then backed down, his red weapon vanishing.

"Forgive me, your highness. I don't know what came over me." he bowed to Lana for apology. Lana relaxed but nothing changed near the door. Without a word spoken, a good 20-30 warriors entered the room and surrounded the rebel group.

Kouichi, Izumi, Takuya, J.P., and Tomoki were left to glare at the surrounding warriors. Kouichi glanced at Izumi. They all knew they would have to fight to get out of here.

'Kouji.. If only you could remember yourself.'

"Take them away.. I want them executed immediately... Now Kouri.. Shall we continue?" she asked, picking up a new pair of scissors. Kouri stood there, something stalling his judgement as the warriors began to approach the rebs.

They all nodded and decided to fight. This would end today. Takuya yelled as he lunged at an enemy, knocking him down. He grabbed the man's sword and spun around, apparently wounding three more men who were coming to attack him. As they all fell to the floor, Takuya blinked and they smiled.

'Awesome!' He grabbed two of their swords and handed them to Tomoki and J.P. Izumi was trying to put as many of them to sleep as she could. While the others fought, being careful not to kill anyone, Kouichi just watched as Kouri began to sit down again. Lana turned her gaze to him and smirked. A voice appeared in Kouichi's head.

'I win, boy..'

Kouichi felt the anger rising in him until he couldn't control it anymore and he whipped out his dagger, running straight at Lana.

Men tried to block him but they froze as they got near him, ice surrounding their bodies.

'That's right Kouichi...' Izumi closed her eyes as all the men around her were frozen by Kouichi. The others stopped when they noticed the warriors pausing as their feet or entire bodies were frozen. Takuya even poked one and he fell over. This is when they saw Kouichi nearing Lana.

Lana's eyes flashed and smirked. Kouichi only blinked before Kouri was standing in front of Lana. His dagger would come into contact with Kouri's head if he didn't stop, and there was no possible way of stopping by this point.

Time slowed and Takuya and Tomoki, and even J.P. watched as Kouichi was about to kill the greatest warrior in Lana's army. Izumi clasped her hands together, not once opening her eyes and Lana, despite liking her right hand man, knew she wouldn't mourn long after his death.

Kouri waited for the dagger to hit him, knowing he would die if it connected and yet he stood there... protecting a woman he didn't even like. Kouichi saw time slow and felt tears pricking his eyes.

When time restarted, Kouri should have been dead.. He should have been bleeding and collapsed on the floor.. But he wasn't.. And everyone.. Everyone.. Even Kouri, was speechless by the sight. Kouichi had moved when time stopped.

In the middle of the room, where death should be apparent, Kouichi was hugging his brother. Holding him as though letting go meant losing him forever.. And he was crying..

"Kouji.." he cried softly. "Wake up.. Please.." he continued to cry as he held his brother tight. Kouri stared at a distant wall, realization filling his eyes. Memories.. 11 years worth of memories filled his eyes and he remembered everything.. But only one word left his mouth..

"K-Kouichi?" Kouichi raised his eyes to stare into the eyes of Kouji.. Not Kouri... Yet the moment was short lived as pain filed the mask covered face.

"Kouji! What happened?" Kouichi asked, as Kouji became slightly limp in his arms. And he saw it.. Scissors in the side of Kouji's back. Kouichi looked from them to Lana with empty hands, slightly tainted with blood. Kouichi glared at her.

"Why?" he asked coldly.

"He's no longer valuable.. It's your fault.. If you just hadn't interfered, it wouldn't have come to this." she said, no emotion in her eyes.

Kouichi set Kouji to the side, in the chair, and readied his dagger. "You bitch..." he growled.

Lana's eyes flashed and anger filled them. She move so fast Kouichi didn't see her move until she had him by the neck, dangling high off the ground. He tried to grasp his dagger but found it was no longer in his hand. Lana smirked once again.

"Don't worry.. You'll join your brother soon.." malice poured over in her voice. She raised her clawed hand and prepared to give the final blow.

'You know I'd be dead without you, right Kou?'

'I'd really be lost without you...'

'You being there gives me the confidence to do things I couldn't normally do.'

' I didn't want anything to happen to you'

'Kouichi!'

They heard the flesh penetrating sound.

'All that matters... Is the final outcome..' Izumi thought sadly as she finally opened her eyes.

Lana dropped Kouichi and turned around, staring down at the blade coming through her stomach. She looked up, her hands now covered in blood, and saw Kouji standing there. He was shaking as he couldn't peel his eyes from the sight of blood where he'd stabbed her. His eyes were filled with fear and he was still bleeding from his wound, his navy clothing, darkened by blood.

"Kouri..." Lana said, with almost.. love.. in her voice. Her hand raised to his helmet, where she dragged one claw along the middle before dragging her finger down his cheek and smiling warmly at him. That is when Lana, ruler of two worlds, died and her body vanished without a trace. The warriors around the castle, either vanished back to their world or fell unconscious to the floor.

The ones in the room unfroze and then fell lightly to the floor. Silence ensued in which no one moved except for Kouji, still shaking.

"Kouji?" Kouichi asked softly. Kouji's fear filled eyes darted up to his brother and tears leaked from the sides and his mask cracked down the center, where Lana's finger had traced, and fell apart.

"Kouichi... I... I killed... so..so many people.." he cried as his strength left him. "I.. What have I done..?" he fell forward into Kouichi's arms.

When he connected with Kouichi's arms, lights flew off him as his uniform vanished, leaving only Kouji.. In his signature yellow shirt and blue jacket. With the soho pants and blue and white sneakers. His hair remained the same length and his bandana did not return.

"I'm... so sorry.." He breathed as Kouichi held him close. "I promised.. I wouldn't let anything.. happen to you.. I'm sorry.."

"It's okay.. It's all over.." Kouichi comforted him. He was still crying as he fell into unconsciousness.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Reb: Speak worthless mortals! -taking over Lana's role, as said demon queen is mourning her own death- Sorry. Lana decided to be uncharacteristic today and not show up. Aparently, reading her own demise was too much. go figure. -shrug-