(Malik)
I sat on top of Koro's head, leering down at the two girls from Night Raid. Well, now it's time to play the villain.
"Sister, since General Esdeath is returning from her expedition up north, why don't we capture one of them?" I coolly said with a wicked smile.
The shock on Mine's face couldn't be expressed by words.
Seryu shook her head. "No Brother, they are evil, the same kind that Papa died fighting against, and the exact same evil that killed Captain Ogre. The only fate that lies before them is death." I sighed in annoyance. Typical Seryu, refusing to at least once use her head.
"Sorry Mine, Sheele, I tried. A shame really. I was quite fond of you both to be honest." I said, acting dismissive.
Seryu then shot me a look, scowling for some reason. "Little Brother, how do you know the names of these villains?" She questioned in extreme disapproval.
"A long story, Aneki. I'll explain later. Now then..." Tendrils of shadows rose from my back and writhed in different directions as I activated Soth. "...let's get this over with. I have a meeting with the Prime Minister in an hour and I can't afford to be late." I said with a coy smile.
"No matter, come Little Brother, we shall fight this evil side by side in the name of Justice!" Seryu said gleefully, pointing her tonfa at the two.
"Well said, fellow Warrior of Justice. I'll leave the Scissor User to you then. I'll take on the "pink one". My smile widened as I turned my attention to Mine.
At that, I leapt off Koro and landed in front of Mine, startling her. "We just keep meeting in the strangest situations, don't we Mine?" I pointed Soth at her and the tendrils of darkness lashed out at her, forcing her back.
Still, no matter how much I try to pretend, I honestly don't think I'd be able to actually kill Mine with my own hands.
Mine looked at me with shock, Pumpkin trembling in her hands. Poor girl, she thinks I really turned on her and Night Raid.
"Of all the people who could've been my enemy, why does it have to be you?" Mine said with a shaky voice.
For this brief moment, I dropped my act and my expression softened. "The the world is cruel, is it not? Who'd imagine we'd be in this situation after these four years. I want you to know, I still haven't given up on our dream, Mine. A united nation where no child will be discriminated against ever again." I said with a bittersweet smile.
Tossing aside all reason, Mine dropped Pumpkin to the ground and ran to me, clutching onto my shirt tightly, burying herself into my chest. "It's still not too late, Malik!" She shouted into my chest, her voice beginning to crack as tears ran down her cheeks. "Leave the Capital and join Night Raid with us! Being in the Empire will only turn you into a monster like the rest of those bastards! Run away...from all this..with me..." Her shouting gradually died into soft shaking whimpers.
It's funny how this girl can manage to break my heart every single time. I sighed and pulled her away from me. No, I already made my choice long ago. My place isn't with Night Raid nor the Revolutionary Army. "After tonight, it will be far too late for me Mine. Try to keep this in mind, everything I do, I do for the future of this nation. I truly am sorry, Mine... Seryu, Koro, to me!"
I lept back, Koro and Seryu jumping to my side. "You have some serious explaining to do, foolish Little Brother." She said in a dangerously cute tone, her voice oozing with annoyance.
"I'll tell you everything you want after this, Aneki. But first, we have Justice to deliver." I replied, delying Seryu's harsh scrutney.
At that, she nodded with a sick grin. "Koro, arms!" The enormous living Teigu then grew two huge muscled arms, baring it's teeth at the two girls. "Night Raid has poisoned the mind of my little brother with lies and filth. Yeah...that must be it. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have any problem delivering justice onto you bastards. May you both rot in hell for weakening the mind of my brother!"
She then had a dark and twisted smile. "Koro, go berserk."
The living Teigu let out a bellowing, bloodthirsty howl, causing Mine and Sheele to cover their ears in pain. Koro then increased it's muscle mass, turning a red hue and Seryu began to cackle madly. "I'm going to enjoy this. Suffer for what you evil bastards did to my brother!"
Koro was then on Mine, faster than any of us can blink, slamming a huge fist into her gut, launching her backwards. He rushed her again, grabbing a hold of her with a vicious snarl. Seryu cackled, her eyes wide with bloodlust. "Now Koro! Crush her! Crush that bitch who toyed with my brother's head!" She shouted wildly, grinning from ear to ear as Mine struggled for breath from the increasing pressure. Soon enough, we heard a sickening 'crunch' from Mine's arm.
I felt dread creep from the pit of my stomach. I didn't want Mine to die...but I also have to stay by my sister's side.
"Mine!" Sheele, not taking this lying down, bolted towards us, her giant scissors raised, and sliced through not only Koro's thick arms, but also both of Seryu's arms. After that, the purple haired girl ran to the aid of her pink haired partner.
"Seryu!" I shouted, running to my amputated sister's side. Anger and rage knotted in my gut as I glared at the two Night Raid girls in outrage. How dare she hurt my sister! With a vicious snarl, a curtain of darkness rose up behind me and launched itself at the two assassins. I'll kill her...
Mine's eyes widened in shock as Sheele retaliated, slicing right through the approaching darkness and continuing on towards me, her huge scissors raised. I rose my black gauntlet above me just as Extase came down on my head, creating a shockwave on impact that shattered the ground beneath us. I smirked at her as several tendrils of shadows lashed out at her like whips, forcing her to leap back away from me. I need to keep my distance from that damned Teigu. The fact that it can cut through my darkness makes her a bigger threat.
Sheele rushed me again and I countered, creating pillars of shadows that erupted from the ground underneath her as she charged. Sheele dodged and weaved around the rising black pillars as she neared. Once she closed in on me, I stomped on the ground and spears of darkness jetted violently into her face, throwing her off but she recovered, slashing at my chest with that nasty Teigu of hers. Before I could counterattack, a volley of gunshots rang out from behind me and Sheele was shot in the chest multiple times, blood splattering on the cobblestone path behind her. Moments later, I heard the shrill whistle the guards used to summon reinforcements.
"Justice...always...prevails...Night Raid bitch..." Seryu's voice weakly purred in satisfaction behind me. I turned towards my older sister to see two smoking guns protruding out from her amputated arm stubs, whistle in her mouth, which was warped into a sinister smile. So that's what Seryu meant by 'modifications'...
Sheele stumbled, but used Estase to stand her ground and give the two of us a glare of defiance.
"Sis, I'm borrowing Koro for this. Keep the sniper busy. Sheele's mine." I ordered while approaching the wounded girl and signaled for Koro to follow me.
For the sake of my dream,
The scissor wielding girl winced in agonizing pain, struggling to get back on her feet.
I will not falter...
I glanced behind me and saw Seryu and Mine in the middle of a vicious firefight, the pink haired girl struggling with her shattered arm. Sighing, I continued my approch, Koro still following close behind me.
I will not hesitate...
Turning my focus back onto Sheele, a tendril of darkness lashed out and struck her chest, knocking her to the ground and caused her to cry out in startled pain.
I will show no mercy..
Raising my hand to the blackened night sky, I signaled Koro to stand by my side. I then grabbed the collar of her dress, lifting Sheele up off the ground, tendrils primed to strike.
...not even to those I could've, in another life, called friends...
For the sake of my dream and for the Empire, I will become an evil greater than Night Raid could ever hope of becoming. I will dirty my hands with the blood of those who stand in the path of my ambition. To make this world a better place, I will do whatever it takes to cut out the heart of corruption.
Even if it means killing Night Raid to do it.
"So, it's come to this." Sheele sighed quietly, weak with pain and emotional exhaustion. "Do what you must, Malik. If it means you have to kill me, then do it. But please, let Mine go. You mean the world to her and so much more. There wasn't a day that went by where she didn't mention your name at least once. So please, spare our friend..." Tears streamed down the girl's cheek and she wore a bittersweet smile. Sheele's eyes were kind, forgiving, and accepting.
I signaled Koro and the Living Teigu bared his teeth hungrily, but obediently waited for my order. "I'm sorry, Sheele. If only things were different..."
Sheele chuckled softly and placed a hand on my cheek, wiping away the tears forming in my eyes. "It's fine. I forgive you. You're a good person, Malik, with a good heart, and because of that, no matter what you do, no matter what evil you are forced to commit, I will forgive you."
She's so kind...
I gritted my teeth as more tears flowed down. I actually consider the members of Night Raid as friends, fellow revolutionaries who fought for the same reasons that I did.
But we're on the opposite sides of the battlefield...and fate was a cruel mistress.
"Koro, Devour!" I ordered through tear filled eyes.
I'm so sorry, Sheele...
"Mine! Run! I'll hold them ba-!" She shouted at the pink sniper, but her voice was silenced at her last words. Koro let out a great roar and his huge mouth of pointed multi-layered jaws chomped down on Sheele, ripping her in two.
I felt...numb, cold. Like the sensation you get when all the warmth in you body dies, leaving nothing but an empty, cold feeling. Everything felt...tingly.
-xXx-
Watching Koro rip the purple haired girl asunder, Mine stopped everything and her eyes widened in shock and horror.
"SHEEEELLLEEEEE!" She let out a loud grief filled cry that resounded through the night.
In that moment, the rest of Seryu's garrison arrived on the scene with swords in hand. Mine was surrounded.
-xXx-
(Mine)
Sheele, oh God, Sheele...
Glaring at the approaching Guardsmen, I backed up until my path was blocked by a statue. I'm not going down without a fight.
I was completely surrounded, one of my arms are broken, that disgusting monster of a Teigu was still eating my dear friend, and that sick psychotic bitch was grinning wildly.
My situation couldn't be any worse...
Perfect.
"Come get some, you bastards!" I shouted defiantly, charging up Pumpkin and aimed at the approaching guards.
I stole a glance at Malik, who remained frozen in place from where he stood. His eyes were a blank, horrified stare.
Oh Malik...
"Estase!"
Suddenly, a bright glare illuminated the dark night, blinding the Guardsmen, who halted their charge to shield their eyes.
That's...!
"Mine! Make a run for it, while they're all distracted!"
Sheele called out, still stubbornly clinging onto life despite missing her lower half.
Before I could respond, I saw a number of shadows creeping towards me from the pool of Malik's darkness. Was he trying to help by giving me a way out?
"Koro, just finish the villain off already!" The psychopath ordered her pet monster.
Biting back the tears welling in my eyes and holding my limp arm, I risked one last look at my dear friend and turned to the forested area of the park, bolting away from the guards.
From that disgusting Teigu and that crazy bitch.
And...from Malik.
-xXx-
(Malik)
I felt myself relax a bit as I watched Mine safely make it out.
At least that's one less thing to worry about..
Emotionally drained and exhausted from the fight with Sheele, I collapsed onto the statue in the center of the park with a weak grunt, a blood stained Estase in my hand.
Sheele's blood..
Justice has prevailed, evil was vanquished...
Yet why do I feel so empty and numb?
"You were great out there, Little Brother! Things might've gotten a lot worse if you weren't there to help!" Seryu cheerfully chirped, despite having lost her limbs during the battle. I didn't respond, I don't think I even have the capability to talk after that...
After what I've done...
"A shame one of them got away though." She sighed while taking a seat on the statue beside me. Koro plops down next to me, chewing on what's left of Sheele's arm before slurping it up like a noodle.
"Oh well, it doesn't matter." Seryu continued with a soft chuckle, resting her head on my shoulder with a content sigh before letting out a soft 'hmph'. "Justice always wins in the end. The pink bitch will show up again in time. And when I see her again, I'll make her suffer for trying to seduce you to the side of evil." She chuckled softly and laid her head in my lap, her stubs reaching towards the sky, her growing laughter echoing into the night.
"Did you see it, Papa? Did you see us defeat that villain?" Her laughter grew louder as she looked up at the night sky, smiling warmly in accomplishment. "Oh Daddy, we finally were able to shed the Light of Justice onto the world!"
I sighed and leaned back, placing a hand on Seryu's head and absently stroked her hair gently as her mad laughter grew, ringing loudly in the still night air.
Marcoh- no, Father, will you be able to ever to forgive me for what I've done tonight?