AN: Yo! I'm not gonna waste words up here, so on with it!

Cookie: I'm not telling... But yeah, ranged attacks are 1337! Muahahaha! How do people come up with that stuff? 1337? Who would've figured out that could stand for 'elite'? Not me...


Years had passed since Akuji's passing into the ranks of the Ranger, as well as Alexei's defection. There had been countless searches for him, though none had found a single sign of him. Akuji had trained relentlessly. He surpassed his father in strength, and was nearing Bowen's prowess. Arash was unnerved by his son's rapid growth. He was unhealthily obsessed with finding his brother. The sun burnt the land outside of Perion as Akuji trekked through the rocky hills. Tatum, a Cleric, stumbled along beside him, her Thorns Staff providing a rudamentary cane. "Akuji! Slow down! I... can't... keep up!" She groaned as Akuji increased his speed.

He glanced back. "Oh, right. Sorry, Tatum... I forgot you were there," He apologized sheepishly.

"I noticed! Man, you're totally obsessed with this whole Alex thing aren't you?"

Akuji nodded.

Tatume shook her head. "Maybe you should just forget about him! He left the company of the known world a few years ago! He's not your problem any more! Let him fend for himself, you hunting him will only make his existence harder," She pleaded.

Akuji tensed his shoulders. "Dammit... I... Know you're right. But... I can't forgive him! He betrayed all of us! He has to pay!"

Tatum nodded sympathetically. "I know, but you don't have to--- Akuji? What's wrong?"

A hooded figure was approaching them, a Helios held loosely across his shoulders behind his head. He wore a cloak, obscuring his body but revealing a Black Battle Road underneath. Akuji tightened his grip on his Golden Arund. "No... He wouldn't..."

The man looked up and nodded to Tatum. She tentatively waved back. The cloaked man cast a long glance at Akuji. In a single fluid movement, Akuji cocked his bow and shot an arrow. The man leaped high into the sky and brandished his Helios. The huge axe slammed into the ground where Akuji had been moments before. Akuji was flying through the air, shooting arrows as he flew backwards. The man raised the Helios and used the flat of the axe as a shield. "Akuji... What?" Tatum asked.

The man shot towards Akuji and attacked, only for Akuji to have leaped away again. Tatum raised her staff to help Akuji when he called to her. "No! Stay out of this Tatum!"

"Akuji? Why the hell are you fighting him?" The man swung at Akuji again. Akuji ducked and delivered a sharp blow to the man's side with his bow.

"Dammit!" The man groaned as his hood fell back. Alexei's face came into view.

Tatum gasped. "Alex! Akuji, how the hell did you realize it was him?"

Akuji smiled grimly. "It's that swagger of his. And the way he carries his weapon. He's just confident, and it exudes from him in everything he does," Akuji told her.

Alex shook his long hair out. "Huh. I figured I wouldn't be able to fool you. Managed to fool your girlfriend ther though," He taunted.

Tatum blushed and opened her mouth to speak, but Akuji beat her to it. "Dammit! She's not my girlfriend! And quit changing the subject!"

Alex frowned. "What subject"

Akuji visibly bristled. "Just shut up and fight!"

Alex shrugged. "Man, always the violent one. Very well! I will prove to you that I'm better! I don't need any stupid test to tell me that!" He charged forward with a fierce roar and swung at Akuji. Akuji parried the attack with his bow.

"Arrow Rain!" Akuji bellowed. Arrows fell from the heavens, smiting all within their reach. Alex retreated, his axe held protectively over his head. Akuji ran after him, releasing volley after volley of arrows. Alex stopped abruptly. "What's wrong big brother? Run out of places to run to?"

Alex gritted his teeth. "Dammit! I will not be defeated by you!" He stepped back hesitantly, but stopped when his heels meet nothing but air. A chasm opened behind him. Alex lunged forward, his axe brandished beside him. "Panic!" Dark energy overflowed from the Helios. Akuji stared blankly at it, seemingly unaware of the approaching danger. Then, he seemed to snap out of it just as the axe was brought down upon him. There was no time to dodge it.

"Akuji!" Tatum called out in vain. There was no answer.

Alex straightened up. "Humph. Pathetic. You needn't be worried. He's quite alive."

"Damn... That was close..." A muffled voice mumbled. The dust passed away and Akuji stood. A scarecrow was erected in front of him.

Alex grunted. "I should've known you'd use Puppet. Too afraid for your own neck. The scarecrow split in half, straw spilling out in handfuls.

"Alexei! Now we'll really start fighting! Fire Shot!" A fiery arrow smote Alex in the chest, sending him toppling over the edge of the chasm. Akuji walked forward. Alex's hands were gripped tightly on the edge.

"Dammit Akuji!"

"Poor Alex. Hanging on for dear life on the edge of a chasm..."

"Akuji!"

"Are you going to beg for me to help you?"

"Never! I was meant to be the hero! Not you! My name even means 'Defender of Man'! I was supposed to be the hero... But you stole that from me!"

"Alex... Let go of the past! I can't help it! I don't want to be a hero! You can have that priviledge!"

"Ha! You're just going to stab me in the back when I'm not looking!" Alex swung up over the edge. He directed his feet at Akuji in a mid-air kick. Akuji brought his bow up to protect himself. The kick broke through the Golden Arund, breaking it into three large splinters. The kick landed on Akuji's stomach. He fell backwards. Alex loomed over Akuji, his Helios raised threateningly.

"Well Akuji? Any last words?" Alex asked mockingly.

"No!" Akuji challenged. He grabbed hold of the two largest splinters from his bow and slammed them into Alex. The blow knocked him off balance, giving him a chance to hit him again. Alexei fell backwards into the chasm, his eyes wide with fear. Arms outstretched as if to reach hold of Akuji. Akuji turned, chest heaving. He looked at Tatum. "Let's go."

Tatum nodded dumbly. "O-okay..."

Akuji walked on, the shard of his bow loose in his grip. "I'll have to get another bow..." He muttered.

Tatum looked at him questionably. "Another Golden Arund?"

Akuji shook his head. "No, gold's too... bright for my tastes now. I want a Dark Arund."


AN: Okay, so I was going over what I was gonna do for the ending, and yes, I know this will give something away for those of you who have seen X-Men: The Last Stand (and I don't own that, just so you know), I noticed that the ending bore small resemblence to Jean Grey, or Phoenix, I guess. Just how she was acting, you know? And she was creepy man... (Spoilers) I mean, making-out with someone then killin' em! Jeez... And did you know that (MAJOR SPOILERS) they killed off Cyclops because he was working on the Superman movie and it was gonna be hard to film both at the same time? But, jeez, Jean was like extra creepy in that one (Shudders). Anyway, please review, it helps my poor self-esteem. Well, okay, I don't have a poor self-esteem. But if it makes you review... Oh, and back on the X-Men subject... I wonder how many people stayed for that scene after the credits? Not many. I was the last one left in the movie theatre when they showed that scene. I'm like, yellin' at everyone: YO! IDIOTS! IT'S NOT OVER YET! JEEZ! AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO ACTUALLY READS THE WEBSITES? Apparently...