Heart of the Melting Blood
Legend of the Moonlight
Written and conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO

Lone Wolf NEO does not own any of all the games or anime or manga featured in this story, but he owns the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.

Chronological Note: Heart of the Melting Blood: Legend of the Moonlight takes place scarcely half a year after the event in Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED, and currently runs roughly in parallel with Guilty Gear: the World within and Without written and created by Sheo Darren. This is Heart of Melting Blood: Legend of the Moonlight's new arc, the Awe of She Arc, which takes approximately a week after events in FATE Arc, and takes place in a peaceful, seaside town away from all the chaos and disorders. This is the arc where another half of the story will be revealed, thus completing the story… hopefully.

Author's notes: several scenes as shown later on are borrowed from Sheo Darren's The Wedding Night 2 series, reused and recycled to fit the story. And this is going to be long chapter… probably.

Chapter 14
"The name is Tanaka Eiko…"

Geese Tower, South Town.

"Reppuken! Double Reppuken Delayed Attack! Jaei Ken! Shippuken! Hado Senpu Kyaku! Wait a minute, that last move wasn't mine."

"Stun Dipper! Stun Edge! Midair Stun Edge Charge Attack! Greed Sever! Morning Star Wind Fang! For God's sake, why did I use that last move?"

"Those attacks of yours can't hit me, Kiske-san. Let me quote my father on that: Predictable."

The force of the reversal was too much, and the Holy Knight was instantly tossed to a wall and crashed. Kawane Misaki, the former associate of the Eternal Fighter Zero league, now Misaki Howard, was not even batting an eyebrow or dropping a sweat after tossing Ky across the entire room with enormous power. "Kiske-san, I thought you'd fight a bit harder than I expected," she said and sighed. "I wished you had used all your strength on me."

"Damn you!" Ky got back on his feet, braced himself and hurled forward with Thunderseal drawn. "RIDE THE LIGHTNING!"

Misaki shook her head in amusement. "Do I have to do it again, Kiske-san?" She caught Thunderseal's blade and tossed Ky across the room for the second time, without even bulging from where she was standing. "For the second time today: Predictable."

This time, he was slower to get up. Way too slow than the last time he mistakenly fought Geese. "IMPOSSIBLE! How can I be defeated by a girl? This cannot be happening!"

Misaki merely ran a finger through her satin black hair. "This is from vigorous training both father and I had, Kiske-san. You should be lucky to fight me today; had father taken my place instead…"

Exactly a second after Misaki finished her word, an explosion shook the entire tower. Ky was shocked and looked above him; the ceiling was shaking violently as if been trembled by a violent force. Misaki, instead, remained still and kept running a hand through her hair. "What in the name of God is that!" he demanded and almost lost his balance.

"That's what's going to happen if both of you were to fight," she answered and took a deep breath. "I just hope both of them are alright."

The scene switched to a steel-reinforced room one floor above the training hall Misaki and Ky were in. Inside it, two gale warriors of Howard clan clashed in a battle so vicious nobody dared to approach its vicinity. Geese and Rock had been exchanging attacks from the time they started their duel two hours ago, and intense energy wave was emitted from all their attacks that collided. Their projectiles, especially, were ludicrously powerful; so powerful they were that the tower was trembling violently. Had the steel walls not been there, the whole tower would've been reduced to mere piles.

Geese laughed and made a mocking pose. "Is that all you've got, sonny? Come up and fight! My joints are too itchy to do attacks right now," he taunted.

Rock shrugged and wiped thick sweats that were dripping off his face. "Don't look down upon me, dad! I may look weak, but I will not give up!" He immediately got up from his crouching position and charged toward Geese in his Rage Run. "Here I come!"

"Hah, your move is way too predictable!" Geese insisted and reversed the dunking fist Rock followed up from the move. The young wolf was flung across the room and crashed on the steel wall with incredible force. The Most Powerful Man in the World laughed at his opponent who toppled on his feet, and tossed a violent Double Reppuken. Rock immediately made an evasion roll and countered with his version of Double Reppuken. Geese laughed again and easily blocked the projectile. "Hah! Not even that attack can- eh?"

"I got you, dad."

Rock was standing behind him. He had apparently used the Double Reppuken as a decoy and Shifted toward Geese. And he was now grapping the old man's gi. "SHINKUU NAGE!" The throw sent Geese flying in the air, directly over Rock who Broke the move soon after performing it.

"RISING STORM!"

Both fists were slammed, and a powerful gale storm gushed upward from the floor. It wildly engulfed Geese who had no time to react or air-recover, and the Most Powerful Man in the World was trapped in his own overdrive. For the unknown time, the room was shaken and this time it was as if the whole of South Town was trembling.

The Rising Storm stopped, and Geese dropped flat on the floor. Rock fell on his knees, gasping heavily for air. He glanced at his father who tried to wake up and fell back to the floor, and grinned to himself. He had won the duel, and claimed victory from his father; an effort which seemed impossible to accomplish. In other words, Rock had whooped Geese's ass this time.

Or is it?

"That was the most powerful Rising Storm I've ever felt." Rock gasped in horror. Before him, Geese had risen back on his feet, and he was unaffected at all! The Most Powerful Man in the World was correcting his gi, cracking his neck and stretching his arms, as if nothing had affected him. He noticed Rock's horrified look and grumbled. "What's the matter? Have you forgotten that old man never dies? Even Lone Wolf and Sheo know that."

At the floating city of Venice, Terry Bogard sneezed, and Madlax who was with him at the café giggled. "I wonder who mentions my name right now," he demanded and rubbed his itchy nose.

"That person wasn't probably talking about you, Mister Bogard," Madlax replied, sweetly smiling at the lone wolf.

Terry stared at the mercenary in silk gown, and blinked. "Eh?"

The scene switched again. It's time for the legendary and feared REUSED SCENES, Round 1!

The camera switched to the edge of a cliff. M. Bison, with his infamous square chin and evil grin, was seen gathering his power for his Psycho Crusher.

The camera switched to an island. Akuma was shown charging up for his ultra-cheap Hadouken attack.

The camera switched to a stadium. Heihachi was seen making his intimidating battle cry while doing his Skull-Crusher fist onto his opponent during a Tekken tournament.

The camera switched to an old mansion. Ryuuhei-ojiichan was seen chanting in ancient language with Seiji assisting him, while Hazuki and Kouhei watched in fear (author's note: they are courtesy of Tsukuyomi Moon Phase). "Evil of Mother Nature, enemy of mankind, threat to the future, I command you, DISPEL!" he declared and tossed the talisman he was holding to a monster.

The camera switched for the unknown time. Cervantes was seen standing on his ship, laughing in victory after winning his duel. Lying on the floor were Cassandra, Taki, Seung Mina and -of course- Talim; all were defeated by the pirate lord. "This is not fair! Where's Wolfie when I need him?" Cassandra whined.

The camera switched again to a person who was sitting under the moon, holding a bottle of rice wine and reciting poems. His mantle cape that resembled those from Spawn was flapping to the rhythm of the night breeze, along with his ponytail that seemed to defy the law of gravity. Readers would be easy to guess it. It's Seijuro Hiko himself.

Again, Yuuki watched at the reused scenes from aboard Death Star and sweatdropped. "Why would Lone Wolf use those scenes way back in The Wedding Night series?" she wondered. "And why was Talim defeated in that duel? Why is Terry paired up with Madlax? Damn, I forgot to ask Lone Wolf-san on those accounts."

"Why she has to be scandalous?" I-No asked, even while the familiar tune of Scandalous echoed from the space station's PA system.

"Who knows, but she's been like that lately," Raven shrugged.

Ruri glared at That Girl, simply answered, "baaka," and left to her room. I-No and Raven glanced at the captain of Nadesico sweatdropped.

"No way!" Rock exclaimed.

"Yes way," Geese answered and immediately started powering up for his ultimate finisher. "And since I said 'yes way' you better not say 'no way' this time. DEADLY RAVE!"

The scene finally switched to Misaki and Ky, the latter blinked in surprise at the plot. "That was a shocking development," he uttered. Misaki giggled at the reply, and Ky snapped at it. "What are you laughing at?"

"No, nothing," she said. She later glanced to the door when she heard someone knocking it. "Come in, please." The door opened, and an agent walked into the room with several companions. "Oh, it's father's agents. If you're looking for him, he's occupied right now. Is there anything I can do for him?"

"Miss Howard, here's the report your father had requested," the agent spoke and gave her an envelope. Misaki took it, tore it and took out several pieces of paper from it. "All of these are reports of the group your father had ordered us to investigate. I hope you can hand it over to him as soon as possible."

"I will. Thank you for doing the job, gentlemen," she thanked. "You may leave."

The agents bowed to her and left the room, and Ky was watching at them in wonder before looking at the report over Misaki's shoulder. "What does it say?" he asked.

"It's about a group of female warriors father has been interested in for two months," she told him, while flipping through the papers. "He had heard of them after seeing their leader winning a local tournament, but before he could meet the leader she left the city."

"So he sent in agents to investigate?" Ky asked. "Why doesn't he ask the police to do the works?"

Misaki coughed at the reply. "Kiske-san, my father is a crime lord. Does he actually need them to help?"

Ky was silenced by the answer before he shook his head in embarrassment. "Oh, I almost forgot," he uttered. "Then what happened next?"

"That's what I want to know, Kiske-san," Misaki said and read the report. "Hmm… Maidens of Purple Lotus, a group of highly trained female monks and skilled in close combat and chi-based fighting techniques. Believing in the code of honoured warriors, they are often strike fears into the heart of criminals and wrongdoers wherever they go. There have been no known reasons behind the establishment of the group, but investigation shows that the maidens are serving to… an underground movement."

"Underground what?" Ky said.

"The maidens here were working with an underground movement," Misaki answered. "At least, that's what the report here says. What's your thought, Kiske-san?"

The knight took the report and read the remaining pages. "From what I understand, underground movements are usually formed with intention to overturn any governments." His eyebrow suddenly twitched as he read a page. "For God's sake, I know this woman!" he said and pointed to the picture of a woman.

Misaki took a glance at the picture. "You know her?"

"Tanaka Eiko, a criminal in the IPF's most wanted list," he said and read the profile. "Responsible for murdering most of former knights of the Holy Orders, she has often escaped us when we think we are close to capturing her. We haven't had any ideas of why she would target the knights, but our investigations revealed…" He was silenced. He was blinking in shock when he read a part of the profile. "For God's sake, I never thought to see this!"

"What do you mean?" Misaki asked.

Ky pointed to a paragraph. "On her 18th birthday, she tied an engagement with Johansson Rudolf who worked with the Holy Orders in Germany. The news of his death reached her knowledge, and she was depressed by the death of her fiancé that she fled from the colony was living in and disappeared. The report says that he and his colleagues were killed by an assassin from the Guild during an operation at Hamburg. This is so unbelievable…"

"What's so unbelievable about?" Misaki asked.

"I knew that assassin well," he said and clenched a fist. "Way too well."

x-x-x-x-x

Today, the group would be going to the beach, and they were already too eager to have fun there. With only a day left before the Summer Festival, the girls were excited to have fun picnicking and playing at the beach. And they were gathering in front of the summer house before heading to the beach.

Venom gulped in fear as Millia was already threatening him with hair-scalpel. "I know you don't want me to look at you or the girls in that way, but can you stop doing that already?" he demanded.

"Aw, yeah right," Millia insisted and transformed the scalpel into a sword. "You should've knocked the door before coming in. Pervert."

"That was an accident!" he answered. "Besides, who would peek at you while dressing up?"

Hotaru was glowering at him in an angry look. "Mou, Venom-san ecchi," she blatantly spoke. "Why would you want to come into the room? We had told you not to go there while we dressed up, didn't we?"

Venom blushed. "I'm not a pervert! I've told you it was an accident!"

Standing beside Hotaru was an equally embarrassed Hibiki. "Accident or not, you've disgraced yourself as a married man. You should be ashamed of yourself," she insisted, her hand was too eager to pull out a kamae from her sword.

Venom glared at the Takane heir. "Then why don't you ask your Lone Wolf to come here instead? I'm sure he doesn't mind getting surrounded by girls in bikinis." The answer made her blush in embarrassment and bopped his head with a tessen she produced in the air. Venom cried in dismay at the hit, and Millia was looking at Hibiki in surprise.

"I thought you'd do it only to Lone Wolf," she commented.

"Don't talk about it," Hibiki demanded while murderously glowered at Venom. "Ecchi nano ha ikenai to moimasu! Venom-san baaka!"

"Why do I have to receive all the torments?" Venom grumbled and frowned in defeat.

Dizzy was the only who didn't seem to be angry. She was busy admiring the swimsuit she had bought at the town days earlier. The bandana --a sweet reminder of her old days as a Jellyfish Pirate-- was firmly tied on her head, and she corrected it as not to let it fall off. She then made several poses and giggled to herself, even as a faint blush tinted her cheeks.

She heard a chuckle and turned around. Hotaru, Dizzy and Millia were staring at her with eyes full of mischief. "Aw, Dizzy-chan wants Alex-san to see her in swimsuit. I'm so jealous," Hotaru teased.

"Oh, my, I wonder what Ky will say when he sees this," Millia wondered.

"Indeed, and Dizzy-chan looks very cute in the bikini today," Hibiki added.

Dizzy blushed at the comments and shooed the three women away. "Why are you teasing me?" she demanded, pouting at the teases she had to face.

"Because you're getting too close to Alex-san, and we're making sure you won't stray from your intention," Hotaru said and made a 'no-no' signal. "And playing deceitful is a no-no for a married woman, Dizzy-chan. Don't say that I didn't tell you."

"Hotaru-chan!" she cried and chased Hotaru down the road. Millia and Hibiki stared at the two young women in wonder, then nodded to each other and followed them. Venom walked behind, carrying the picnic basket while mumbling in low voice.

"By the way, I thought Alex's going to join us," Millia said. "Did you see him anywhere, hubby?"

"He told me he'll follow us later," Venom told her and glanced back at the house. "What took him so long?"

x-x

Alex was scavenging his room. He had dropped something, and he was busy looking for it to take to the beach. "Where did I put it? I'm sure it's somewhere inside this room," he pondered and looked under the bed. Then he looked over the closet, beneath the mattresses and inside the drawers. "Strange, where did I put it?" he asked and scratched his head.

A loud rustling noise caught his ears. Quickly he looked outside the window, but saw nothing. Maybe it was some kids walking around, he thought and resumed his search. Then the noise became louder, and it was approaching his room. Alex stopped his search, looked at the outside and decided to investigate. Seizing his walking stick, backpack and the guitar, he headed to the back of the house.

"Who's there? Will you please come out right now?" he asked aloud. Several seconds passed, and there was no answer. "If you don't have any business to do, I'd like you to leave now." Then he heard footsteps coming from the woods. He turned around, and saw a woman in blue cape walking toward him. "See? That wasn't hard. So would you like to tell me what are you doing here?"

"Alexander Hahn, I've found you at last," the woman spoke.

He blinked and stared at the newcomer in intrigue. "Have we met before?"

The woman growled at the response and removed the cloak. Alex cooed in amazement at the outfit she wore; something that seemed to come from ancient Chinese period, complete with gauntlets and bead necklace hung about her neck. "The name is Tanaka Eiko, leader of the Maidens of Purple Lotus," the woman introduced herself and opened a battle stance.

"What business do you have with me, Miss Tanaka?" Alex asked.

The woman pointed a finger at his face. "Avenging the death of my fiancé Johansson. Prepare yourself, Alexander Hahn!"

Alex could not help himself but to laugh. "Excuse me? What did I do to cause his death?" he said. Eiko shivered in anger and pounced at him, trying to land a fist onto his face. It missed and she almost slipped off her feet. "Whoa, there. I don't know any grudge you have against me, but why are you attacking me?" he asked.

"Why am I attacking you?" Eiko replied. "Don't you remember what you had done to him ten years ago, Alexander?"

"What are you talking of, Miss Tanaka? If I remember everything," he said and frowned. He started scratching his head and murmuring under low voice, as he tried to relate his words to events that appeared in his mind. Then he stared back at the woman, and seemed confused. "Did I ever do anything in the first place?"

Eiko calmed down and lowered her fist. "I see. You don't seem to remember," she uttered. She took back the cloak, wore it around her body and headed back to the forest. "What a pity. This business should've ended today if you still remember it. Very well; if you want the answer, meet me at the hill this midnight," she spoke before disappeared in the woods. "I'll be waiting with the answers you need. Ja."

He remained idle at the back of the house, and just watched at her who disappeared in the woods. Then, "what did she want from me?" he said to himself. He decided, later, that it was not essential to think of it and headed down the hill. "Sorry for being late," he apologized as he approached the group.

"Mou, Alex-san, you could've told us you want to pick up stuffs back there," Hotaru said.

He laughed and scratched the back of his back. "I was looking for something at my room. Sorry," he said. "So, shall we go now?"

"OKAY!"

x-x

"I must say," Venom told Alex as the two men took shelter under the umbrella, watching at the women who were happily playing volleyball at the edge of the water. "That you've become closer to Dizzy since you came here. You should be careful, since you know she's been married."

Alex just breathed out, even as his eyes were locked at Dizzy. "Why can't I? After all, she's willing to help me," he answered. He later waved at the Gear; she waved back at him and continued playing volleyball when she squealed in dismay at the water splashed upon her face. Alex couldn't help but to laugh when Dizzy chased Hotaru into the sea and caught her body.

"Why don't you join them, Mister Rage?" he asked.

Venom snorted at the suggestion. "With Millia? I've been bullied like hell ever since we came here. So the answer would be NO." Just then he was hit by Silent Force, and he immediately glanced at Millia. "Alright, lady. Why don't you come over here and fight?"

The displeased Millia put both hands on her slender hips, and glowered at Venom. "Why, hello there Mister Rage. Who accidentally entered the room and left without apologizing for peeking? Shame on you, even Alex knows how to respect women." Venom lost patience and pounced toward Millia, and the assassin woman ran away from him. Alex just watched at the married couple in amazement before fell on his back. His mind was thinking of the mysterious woman named Eiko who claimed to know everything about him. What she wanted from him, and what she knew about his past, he wanted to know.

"Wait a minute," he said and sat back. "I shouldn't think of that right now. I better join those guys right away." He jumped on his feet and ran toward Dizzy who was tightly holding Hotaru in her arms. "Am I disturbing you girls?"

"No, you aren't," Hotaru said and pushed away from Dizzy. She jumped toward Alex and teasingly stuck out her tongue at the Gear. "You want to know something, Alex-san? Dizzy-chan wants you to praise her new look," she said, causing Dizzy to blush in embarrassment. "Aw, look at that. She's so embarrassed. Boo-hoo, I'm so jealous."

Alex stared at Dizzy from tip to toe, and that made her even more uncomfortable. "Will you stop looking at me like that, Alex?" she pleaded and covered her bust. "The way you look at me is making me embarrassed. Mou…!"

He laughed, and she pouted at the response. "Come on, you look so pretty in it. What's so embarrassing about?" he insisted, and was promptly splashed on the face. He stared at Dizzy and was splashed more. "If you stop doing that, I promise to treat you and Hotaru with ice-creams. So please stop doing it."

"Like I want to listen to you," Dizzy replied and splashed more water at his face.

He started to lose patience. "Don't do that, Dizzy. I'm warning you."

She laughed and splashed sea water to his face before finally ran away. "Catch me if you can, Alex!" she shouted.

Alex wiped off the salty water from his face when Hotaru suddenly splashed him. "Not even you?" he yelled out and chased the two women across the coastline. "Come back here, both of you! Don't mess with me!"

"Kyaa! Alex-san is trying to catch us!" both Dizzy and Hotaru yelled and ran faster.

x-x-x-x-x

"I have won!" Rock declared and lifted a victorious fist. He had been beaten to death by Geese's many punches and kicks, tossed across the room by the Predictable throw, vigorously hit by Reppuken and owned by Deadly Rave, and in the end he was the champion.

He stared at his father, who seemed to be a little upset. "Dad, what's the matter?"

"I cannot believe this," he answered, batting an eyebrow in amazement. "To be actually defeated by my own son, this has to be the most unexpected day I've ever had. And I don't even get to have a glorious defeat."

Rock growled at the suggestion. "Don't even attempt doing it, dad," he insisted and folded his arms. "Why would you have to do that? It's stupid."

"Why not?" Geese demanded. "All of old men's deaths are always dramatic."

The camera switched. It's time for REUSED SCENES, Round 2!

The scene switched. Mr. Bison was seen crushed by his own Psycho Crusher, and buried under the cliff that collapsed under his Psycho power.

The scene switched again. Akuma was seen engulfed by an explosion that destroyed the isolate island, after trying to break the limit of his power.

The scene switched. It was Heihachi, pinned down by a battalion of Gun-Jacks at a temple, after Kazuya betrayed him and left. One of the robots exposed itself to him as a time-delayed bomb, and exploded altogether with its comrades. "Heihachi Mishima," Raven the black ninja declared and left the hill, "is dead."

The scene switched again to the old mansion. Ryuuhei-ojiichan and Seiji were punched by the monster, and crashed on the wall. Hazuki and Kouhei screamed in horror and ran toward the downed old man.

The scene switched again. Cervantes was bopped on his head and tossed to the sea by an angry Link who happened to be at the port. "Touch Talim and die! Only I can touch her!" he declared. Talim blushed at the comment.

The scene switched for the last time to the hill outside the city of Kyoto. Hiko collapsed on the ground after receiving a fatal blow of Amakakeru Ryuno Hirameki from his 'stupid apprentice' Kenshin -but not before his memorable quote to the scarlet samurai.

"Whatever," Rock grumbled and stylishly swayed his hair. "Hey, dad. Remember the Summer Festival you promised to take us there? Why don't we go there with Misaki tomorrow?"

"You know, Rock, I like you and your brilliant idea," Geese uttered and stood back on his feet. "But why didn't you bring Hotaru along? A husband and wife should go along together, don't you know?"

"Don't ask me," the young wolf said and shrugged. "It was she who wanted to go to the summer house with Dizzy, and she didn't even tell me about that. Sheesh, what are they up to?"

Just then, Ky stormed in with an angry look on his face. Both Rock and Geese stared at the Holy Knight who was staring at the former, Thunderseal withdrawn. "Don't ever tell him those shoujo-ai things!" he demanded.

"What's wrong with him, Rock?" Geese asked.

The blonde heir of Howard family merely shook his head. "He's been scandalous since we came here. Don't worry, dad, he just doesn't like to see Hotaru and Dizzy paired up," and then a mischievous look sparkled from his eyes, "like Himeko and Chikane, for instance."

Geese scratched his chin and nodded at the statement. "I see."

Ky was annoyed. Way too annoyed. "Sacrilege! Your sin is beyond the grace of God!" he screamed and dashed toward Rock in Ride the Lightning. Yet Geese already stood in his path, both his arms opened in his reversal. "Oh no! I'm…"

"Predictable."