Disclaimer: Original characters, concepts, items and... things are mine and may be borrowed with permission. All copyrighted stuff is copyrighted by the copyrighters of the copyrighted stuff. Read the fic.

AN. Some might rate this chapter R, due to graphic gore. If you're fine with such, read on.

Schizo 2: Arato Kazuyoshi

Chapter 4: Ojī-san

(3rd person POV)

Fsst

"Mission objective, search and destroy. One subject, possible others. Kill on sight."

"Roger that. Sending in scout."

The miniature flying device hovered across the grassy garden, heading to the house, only barely visible in the midnight darkness. The saucer-like hovering device cut through the paper wall with its rotating propellers, stopping to look around before heading down the hall. It took a left turn and cut through another wall, hovering to the middle of the room, stopping in the middle and panning around the room, finding it empty. It turned to leave, but there was metallic cling, a flash of steel, and the device fell to the floor in two pieces.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, but it seems we may be in for some resistance. Proceed with caution."

"Roger that. Moving in."

The group advanced on the house, stopping to cover each other and moving again when covered. One moved to the door, nodded to the others, then pulled it open and another one proceeded inward, followed by others. They proceeded down the hallway, hugging the walls. As they searched the area, they spread out, no longer watching each other.

One stood stationed, guarding the exit. As he watched for enemies, he failed to notice the hands lowering from the ceiling, which grabbed his head and twisted. With a sickening crunch, his neck broke and he fell to the flood, dead.

Another stood in the hallway, suddenly receiving a dart in his neck, severing his spinal cord, killing him instantly.

A blade stabbed into the neck and down the spine of another unfortunate intruder.

The remaining four men, seeing many of their fallen comrades, formed a circle, pointing in all directions. None of them was prepared for the man who swept down from the ceiling, making a swift, smooth orbit of the group. They all turned to fire at him, pausing to look in confusion at their rifles, astonished to find the triggers missing.

The man, dressed in black faced the group and let fall four small, curved metallic items from his hand. The group all discarded their rifles, equipping their knives, facing the outnumbered man. They heard someone clearing their throat behind them, and two turned to see two teens, one armed with dual knives, the other with dual sais. The protagonists all spread out, concentrating on their own battles.

The dual knifed teen waited for the other man to attack. When he did, with a wide swipe, he jumped backward, evading the swipe, then threw one of his knives into the man's shoulder, and as the man reared up and attempted to pull out the knife, he lunged forward and drove his knife into the man's throat. Grabbing his other knife with his free hand, he let the dead man fall to the ground, turning to face the others.

The man looked at his opponent, noticing that it was a teenaged girl. Remembering his mission, he brushed aside this fact, facing her again as an enemy. He made for a stab in her mid-body, but his thrust was sent off course by a flick of her wrist. She made a stab at his arm, missing intentionally, catching his arm in the side prong of her sai, twisting his arm behind his back and forcing him against the wall. She held him there, when and arm reached over her shoulder, stabbing a knife into his neck. He slumped to the ground, dead. The girl looked back to see the other teen. The two turned to look at the third fight.

The two men split up and surrounded their opponent. He was unfazed, reached over his shoulders with both hands, and pulled out two straight swords with black hilts and single blades. The two men hesitated. One backed off, pulling out a pistol, aimed for the outnumbered man's head. He pulled the trigger, but simultaneously the man ducked, spun around, sliced the man's hand with one hand, making the gun fall out of his mauled hand, and making a mighty upward slice, powered by both his arm muscles and his jump upward. They landed at the same time, one standing, the other not.

He turned to the remaining intruder to see him taking off his helmet, Kevlar vest, and shirt, to reveal a very muscular build. The man took a ready boxing stance, with his fists in front of his face, making a repetitive bouncing movement. The swordsman looked amused, stabbed his swords into the fallen intruder, taking off his gi, revealing a similar, but less gym manufactured muscular build. He took a ninjutsu pose of readiness, indicating that he was ready. The intruder erupted into a volley of punches, putting most of his weight into it. The resident blocked every punch with the palms of his hands. He grabbed the wrist of a punching arm, then grabbed the wrist of the following punching arm, now holding both wrists. He twisted them in a very painful manner, then applied some muscle, breaking both the man's wrists. The intruder now stood, helpless, with his arms hanging at his side. The resident walked up to him, staring straight through his face, with an empty stare that frightened the intruder out of his wits. The resident crouched slightly, thrust his open palm, fingers first, into the man's lower stomach, elbow deep, then pulled it out moments later. The intruder watched in horror at his last sight as all began to blur. What he now saw before him, held in this strange man's hand, was his own heart, still beating.

(1st person POV)

I watched the fire, listening to the crackling sound as I pondered over the day's events. Kaze had told me there was a sage on the mountain that could unlock another ability for my portal stone. Apparently he had himself visited him and got the upgrade, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. Mewtwo and I had left about midday in search of the cave in which he apparently lives. Kaze refused to tell exactly where the cave was, and that I would have to find it for myself in order to earn the upgrade. We had spent the whole day flying around the mountain, with no luck finding any sort of cave. When night came, we decided to camp down and wait for daylight. Mewtwo had helped to start the fire using his powers, and now we were sitting around, waiting for any indication of fatigue.

I felt my eyes involuntarily turning up to face the sky, and I felt Mewtwo at the controls. I let him take over completely, and he shifted us into his physique. We shifted a bit, adjusting our position to better suit Mewtwo's different figure.

The sky is beautiful tonight.

That it is.

There are only a few more days to the full moon.

Certainly looks like it. I always love walking around at night, with no other light than that of the stars and moon.

Likewise, except for the walking. I seldom walk.

I've noticed. Why is that?

It is more efficient to levitate. However, I can use my body very effectively when necessary. Which is not very often.

Howsabout a demonstration?

What?

Show me what you can do with your body, without your powers. It'll help to get us tired.

We sighed. If I must.

Mewtwo used his tail to get up, landing softly on his feet, now standing erect at his full height. He turned to the wooded area on his left, taking a few wobbly steps, then bursting into a full sprint. I watched in awe at the sheer speed of the motion. He must have been going at least 50 km/h. I used his eyes to see in the darkness ahead, letting Mewtwo do all the steering, knowing interfering would just lead to disaster. Suddenly I noticed a wide gorge ahead, and I watched in sheer awe as Mewtwo leaped the whole thing, which must have been at least 20 metres wide, without using the slightest bit of psychic power.

I saw a steep cliff ahead, at least ten metres high. As we approached, Mewtwo lengthened his stride, taking a few short leaps, then suddenly stopped, crouched, and let loose all the energy he had worked up with those preparing leaps, and leaped to the top of the 10 metre cliff, landing softly as ever, but this time not continuing in his sprint. Instead, he eyed the trees around us, then approached one, took a few short leaping steps, then span around forcefully. I wondered for a split second what he was doing when both his legs passed the tree, indicating he wasn't kicking. I then remembered his tail, and I focused my attention on it, just as there was a huge crack. As we span around to look at the result, I saw that the whole tree was cracked through. There was a short, splintered stump, and right next to it, the rest of the tree, still standing up. It began to tilt in out direction, but before anything more could happen, Mewtwo reared up, standing on his tail, and kicked with both feet, sending the whole tree plummeting down the cliff that was situated some 5 metres away.

I stared absolutely dumbfounded at the stump of the tree Mewtwo had demolished as we took a few deep breaths, then returned to the normal, erect composure of Mewtwo, standing upright, tall and proud.

I'm impressed down to my over strong Mewtwo legs. How come you never told me you could do this?

You never asked.

Well, suffice to say, you definitely are the strongest Pokémon of them all.

That goes without saying.

I know. I paused for a moment. Hold on. Is that a cave I see?

It would seem like one.

Well, we didn't get tired, but we did find the cave. Now, howsabout we expend a bit of pyrokinesis to put out that campfire?

In the hills of Japan, in a grand Japanese castle, on the top floor, in the great hall, at the back, on the large throne, sat the criminal lord of the castle, oppressor of various villages and skilful swordsmaster of his own style; Tomori Satoshi.

He sat there, his katana at his side, leaning against his throne as always. He had not used it in a fight for years. He had had little use for it. The only people who could get to him were poor swordsmen who he could defeat with his bare hands. The rest were stopped by his bodyguards far before they could get anywhere near him.

He was leaning over a game of go, playing with no-one, seemingly. He seemed to be pondering his next move as a well armed man came rushing in. He walked briskly up to Tomori, made a small bow, and started to talk, just to be interrupted by Tomori, who lifted up his hand to silence him, not taking his eyes off his go board. He pondered for a few more seconds, then made his move and looked up to face his inferior. "Nan'desu ka, Nagano-kun?"

(The following conversation takes place in Japanese.)

"The Americans have failed. They were all killed. The only one left is the man who monitored the operation with the cameras." Nagano got ready to bear Tomori's wrath, but it didn't come.

"Good, good. At least Arato hasn't lost his touch." Tomori turned to his board again.

Nagano was confused. "I beg your pardon, but wasn't their objective to kill Arato?"

"That's what we told them. In reality, I just sent them there to test Arato and to gather information. What can the remainder tell us about the residence? Has Arato acquired any extra force?"

"It was reported that two teenagers were detected aiding Arato in the battle. Two of the men were killed by them."

"Is that so? Now why would a man like Arato have a couple of teenagers about the house...?" Tomori pondered, staring at his game.

"Maybe he's training them to be his successors? If so, we should really look out for them. They could become as dangerous as he is, some day."

"No, I don't think so. Arato is very proud of his skills, he wouldn't teach them to just any teen. Besides, he isn't that old. No, I think they have something to do with his portal stone. They might be someone he knows from another dimension. They might even have a portal stone of their own."

"That would explain why they were there at night. What should we do about them?"

"Nothing for the moment. We concentrate on Arato. He is our greatest threat. We'll send in the samurai tomorrow morning. Leave the bodyguards here. We might need them. You'll lead the assault tomorrow. Kill, and bring me the portal stone. Now go. You'll need your rest."

"Yes, sir." Nagano turned and walked away, sliding the door closed just as Tomori made another move.

"Dammit!"

I snarled as I got cut by a sharp rock for the third time in half as many minutes. I looked at the cut, snarling in frustration as I recovered the wound and wiped off the blood. "Very nice little cave, this."

"Indeed."

We spent the next few minutes in silence as we wandered through the narrow passageway. I was beginning to think of turning back, when I noticed the narrow passage coming to an end, opening up into a wide passage, heading uphill. I noticed that the whole passageway was circle shaped. "Weird."

We started to walk through the cave again, climbing up the steep incline. We climbed about 100 metres worth, when suddenly as I took a step, the ground under my foot seemed to sink about an inch into the cave floor. I looked down to see that I was standing on a rectangular stone slab, which had indeed sunk about an inch into the ground. I heard a rumbling sound, and I looked up to see what could only be described as an 'oh SHIT!' situation. Rolling down the cave, in my direction was a spherical boulder big enough to turn a cow into fertilizer. There were no places to duck and let the thing pass, so I did the only thing I could. I turned and ran.

Or tried to anyway. I suddenly felt Mewtwo take over. We turned back to the boulder, now about 20 metres away. I noticed that we had, without my noticing, shifted to Mewtwo's physique. Mewtwo looked at the boulder, which was steadily picking up speed. The boulder now rolled at a furious speed. I almost started to panic, but then Mewtwo lifted up his arm, pointing an open palm at the boulder, his eyes glowing blue. The boulder stopped about 30cm from Mewtwo's hand, glowing blue. I looked up at the boulder, simply amazed that Mewtwo could stop a boulder that size so quickly. I noticed then, that the boulder was blocking the whole passageway, so we couldn't get to the other side.

I was about to say something, when I heard a loud crack. I looked at the boulder again, noticing a crack through the rock, splitting the whole thing in half. The cracks started spreading around the boulder, and soon there wasn't a square decimetre of whole surface area. Mewtwo ceased his concentration and lowered his arm. As soon as he did this, the whole boulder shattered to thousands of small rocks, now cascading down the cave floor to the bottom. By some unseen force, the rocks flowed around our feet, so not one touched us, and soon all the rocks had passed and rolled down to the bottom, leaving the cave silent again.

Wow.

That was nothing. You remember I once teleported a whole lake underground.

That's true. Well, shall we move on?

Yes.

We climbed the rest of the incline in silence; now very much beware of any dangers about. Eventually we reached the top of the incline, the passage levelling out and continuing as a hallway, about 20 metres, after which it ended in the form of a pair of double-doors. I looked at the hallway ahead, noting the holes all over the walls. We waved a hand through the air ahead, and there was a strange whooshing sound, and I suddenly noticed that we were holding an arrow in our hand.

You caught that?

Yes.

Holy Hell! You've got such good reflexes that it's almost ridiculous.

Whatever you say. Now, have you any ideas for getting across?

Why're you asking me? You know at least ten different ways to get across!

I cannot be bothered. This is too easy. You have fun.

I sighed inwardly. Okay, then. I took over, but remained in Mewtwo's physique. I applied a bit of levitational force, then extended our aura, in the form of the blue fire that had caused so much trouble on earlier occasions. I hovered forward, and the arrows started flying around the whole room. None touched us. The arrows were burned to ashes before they could get within 30 centimetres of our body, falling to the ground, colouring the whole floor grey. I continued moving forward, the arrows all disintegrating into ashes in microseconds. I finally reached the other end, applying a bit of telekinesis to open the double-doors, waiting until I was outside the room before ceasing the blue flames and closing the door behind us. I landed on the floor and surveyed our surroundings.

We were now in a large square room, which seemed not to have anything in it. There was another pair of double-doors at the other end.

Now, then, I wonder where the switch to activate the- Oh, there it is. I stepped on the wire near the floor, causing a clicking sound to my right. Suddenly, the whole room seemed to come alive. Poles sprouted from the floor, blades folded out, and the poles started rotating at great speeds, stopping every half circle. Large circular blades cut out from slits in the walls. Giant half-circle blades swung from the ceiling, swinging back and forth. The whole room was now one big jungle of blades.

Lovely. Methinks I'll do this with my body. I shifted out form to mine, depositing all my weapons in portals. I tied up my hair, swung my arms about a bit to stretch them, and studied the challenge ahead. I found a good entry point, and walked up to it. I watched the blades, timing my entry, then, when the time came, I dove in. Using our psychic power, I sensed about me to feel my surroundings as I moved about among the blades. I found myself acting mainly upon instinct and reflexes than anything else. As each blade approached, I moved out of the way, into the way of another, dodging it, moving to a new situation, never getting a moment of peace.

As various blades at various heights and directions came my way, I found myself twisting into positions that I had never discovered before. I found myself standing on my hands on a few occasions. Lunging feet first between two blades, I landed on my knees, leaning back as a blade sliced horizontally right above my face. I moved again continuing the seemingly never-ending journey through the jungle of blades, until I finally found an opening at the other end. Lunging through, I rolled on the floor, landing in a crouching position, before keeling over backward and lying down on my back.

"That... That was... Fun..." I managed to say between gasps for air.

I suddenly heard clapping from ahead. I looked up, over my chest to see an old man standing in the doorway, clapping.

"Bravo! Bravo! That was incredible! I haven't seen something like that since that young ninja came by. Black stone, he had." He said, smiling.

I held up the portal stone. "Blue stone. I hear you could help me with acquiring some new skill." I said, beginning to catch my breath.

"And earned it you have. Here, let me help you up." He walked over and offered me a hand. I took it and he pulled me up. I brushed a bit of dirt off my clothes. "Now, then. Let's see this stone of yours." He held out a hand, and I put the portal stone in it. He did the same little ritual as Jou-san had once done to it, then handed it back to me. "You can now create portals without having to cast the portal stone. You can also create many portals at once, which should come in handy."

I took the portal stone, looking down at it. I looked up again, facing the old man. "Thanks! I'm Loren, by the way."

"My name is Ojī-san. I would ask you two to stay for tea, but you really should get back to Kaze."

I was surprised. "How did you-"

"I'm a sage. I know things. It's my job." He said with a smile.

Chapter 4 of Schizo 2. Please R&R.

There have been influences to many aspects of this fic, like the obstacle course, and the flying disc thing is basically straight from xXx2. Live with.