Epic Battle
Chapter 3: Doomsday Plot
Ichigo lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Ryou paced the floor. He stopped and finally said, "I think it has to do with the cherima anima." "You mean the mutant animals?" Ichigo asked. "Yes," Ryou said and sat down. He raked his finger through his hair. "I just can't figure out what it is," He frustratedly commented. "I see," Ichigo replied and continued staring at the ceiling. There came a crash from the kitchen and Keiichiero stormed by the door grumbling about something. Ichigo and Ryou watched Keiichiero pass, surprised that he was in a such a dark mood. Ryou and Ichigo looked at each other, then sniffed the air. The smokey scent sauntered in and there was a cry of, "Healing Wave!" Then Minto stormed by their room and some shouting and more crashes were heard. Ichigo sat up and Ryou raised his eyebrows. Then Minto stormed back across, followed by a green mist and leaving a trail of crystallic water across the floor. A more than slightly disgruntled Retasu and an aggrivated Yukitto poked their heads into the room. "We need to go shopping for food, do you want to come, Ichigo?" Retasu asked in a bittersweet voice. Ichigo jumped up and onto the floor. "Sure," She said and followed the pair out the door. "See 'ya, Ryou," Ichigo called over her shoulder. Ryou nodded and fell back on his bed, wondering at the strange events of the morning.
Ichigo, Retasu, and Yuki walked to the village in silence. "So, what happened in the kitchen?" Ichigo asked. Yuki glanced at Retasu, as though daring her to say something. Retasu shook her head. "It was nothing. Blame Yuki and Minto," Retasu said. Ichigo stayed quiet until they entered the small village that had once been Ichigo's home. She looked at the stone and wood houses, remembering. Ichigo thought about Masaya, and, as if on cue, he appeared. "Hey Ichigo," He greeted her. Retasu looked on with mild interest. Yuki nudged her and she faced forward. "Hey, Masaya," Ichigo replied. "Can we go for a walk?" Masaya asked. "Sure," Ichigo replied. "Retasu, Yuki; you guys can go on, I'll go back when I'm done," Ichigo said. Retasu and Yuki nodded and watched Ichigo and Masaya walk off. "Come on, Yuki, we have to follow them, please?" Retasu begged. Yuki shook his head. "After shopping," He said as they approached the noisy crowds of the marketplace. Retasu sighed, but went along with what Yuki said.
Ichigo and Masaya quietly walked down the path, the opposite way Retasu and Yuki were going. Ichigo felt tense and slightly giddy at the thought of being with Masaya and walking with him alone. He suddenly turned down a dirt path which rarely anyone used. "Masaya, where are we going?" Ichigo asked. Masaya smiled gently. "You'll see," he said. A comfortable wind breezed by the couple as they walked. The path led to a beautiful garden with flowers blooming in all shades of purple, blue, green, and scarlet. Ichigo involuntarily gasped at the beauty. Masaya smiled gently. "I knew you'd like it," He commented. "Ichigo, what would you do if the one you loved was in danger?" He suddenly asked. Ichigo turned to face him, but he was gazing into the distance. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"If the one you loved was going to die, what would you do?" Masaya asked. "I would fight for them," Ichigo answered. Masaya nodded in agreement. "That's what I thought you'd say," He commented. He looked down at the ground, then at Ichigo. "Let's walk," He said. They continued down a path lined by shruberies. After a while, Masaya continued talking. "What would you do if you knew your love was going to die?" Masaya asked. Ichigo looked up at him, wondering what brought on this type of question. "I would warn them, fight for them," Ichigo replied. Masaya nodded. "What if it meant you yourself would die? Would you still fight?" Masaya asked, looking down at her. "O- of course I would," Ichigo said and looked up at him. Masaya looked into her bright pink eyes and she into his soft brown eyes. They stayed in that position for a while.
A large object drifte din front of the sun, blocking all light. Ichigo's pupils expanded and she could see faint outlines of object, mere shadows against blackness. "Ichigo?" Masaya called. "Masaya?" Ichigo asked and turned to meet the sound of his voice. Hands slipped around her waist. "Ichigo, is this you?" Masaya's voice asked. "H- hai," Ichigo replied, blushing in teh dark. She felt her cat ears pop out in the darkness, but felt somewhat safe, konwing Masaya couldn't see them. Masaya's hand felt her hand and he clasped it. His arms retracted from her waist and Ichigo smiled in the darkness. "What do you think is causing the dark?" Ichigo asked. "I don't know, Ichigo," Masaya replied. Then there was slience. A shadow moved in the darkness, it looked strange. The shadow had pointy ears, and a strange form. She rubbed her eyes, but it passed her again. "Masaya, I think there's something out there," Ichigo trembled. "I don't see anything," Masaya's voice replied. A swoosh of air ran past the cat girl. "Masaya, something just passed by me," Ichigo trembled. Then there was a thunking sound and Masaya's hand slipped out of hers. "Masaya?" Ichigo asked into the darkness. She heard nothing and became scared. "Wh- who's out there?" She demanded.
Warm arms slipped around her waist, and lifted her into the air. "It's just me, koneko-chan," came a sinister voice. A familiar sinister voice. Ichigo glared into the darkness. "Kish, you let me down this instant!" She demanded. Instead of letting her go, the alien's arms held her closer. "No, I won't do that, Koneko-chan. You'd be dashed to bits on the ground, and I don't want that," Kish said. Ichigo pouted. "Now, now. Don't pout, Koneko-chan. We'll be to our destination soon." Ichigo glared into the darkness and pouted some. A small part of her wanted to know where they were going. She quickly shoved that part down. "Don't you want to know where we're going, Koneko-chan?" Kish asked. Then Ichigo realized that he hadn't tried to kiss her yet. So instead of giving him an answer, she asked, "Why haven't you kissed me yet?" She sensed that Kish was a little surprised. "Aww, does the kitty miss my kisses?" Kish asked the air. "No! I didn't mean it that way!" Ichigo yelled. Kish chuckled and she could imagine him smirking at her. Ichigo felt the wind stop rushing by her as they slowed to a stop. "Put me down now !" Ichigo demanded again. The sun began to show from behind the thing as it moved across the sky.
In the dim lighting, Ichigo made out that Kish was standing atop a building and that the thing in front of the sun looked like a cocoon. "Ah, I see you've spotted my creation," Kish commented. Ichigo twisted around to look at him. "You created that?" She asked. "Yes, indeed I did. It's a venom cocoon. When it hatches the bug inside will spread venomous poison throughout Tokyo and kill everyone! Except you, Koneko-chan. I'll save you from that fate and you can live with me," Kish said and smiled at her. "But I don't want that. I don't want to live with you knowing that my world is destroyed and that you caused it. I don't want to live in a world without humans or human things. I couldn't live like that knowing that I should've died with my race," Ichigo cried and struggled to get away. Kish gently set her on the ground. "And what would you do, kill yourself?" Kish asked. "I would if that were the only alternative," Ichigo said. Kish shook his head. "No, koneko-chan, you wouldn't. You love life too much to willingly give it up," Kish said, keeping his arms around her. Ichigo broke free and ran to the edge, and jumped. "Thorn wrap!" Kish shouted, spreading his hand toward Ichigo. Thorny vines reached out and wrapped around her, bringing her back to Kish before she had even begun to fall. The thorny vines brought Ichigo close to Kish and he held her chin in the crook of her finger. "You're not getting away that easily," Kish said and kissed her. Ichigo tried to slap him, but he caught her wrist and thin thorny vines curled around it and her other wrist also. She tried to pull away, but the thorns dug into her wrists, drawing blood. "Aah!" She cried out. She thought of kicking Kish, but as the thought entered her head, vines snaked around her ankles, binding her legs. "Kish! Let me go!" Ichigo shouted. Kish shook his green head. "No, no Koneko-chan, not right now." Then he moved closer to her, pressing up against her. "Right now, you're mine," He said and kissed her. Ichigo's body tensed as Kish snaked his arms around her neck and played with her hair.
The ground behind them exploded and Kish broke off the kiss. Ichigo opened her tightly shut eyes and looked over as Kish did. Masaya floated up through the dusty smoke and rubble. "Do not harm my princess," Masaya said. Kish glared. "She's mine now!" He growled at Masaya. Masaya looked up at the girl held by thorns. "Let my princess go," Masaya commanded. "No," Kish said resoloutly. Then, before Ichigo and Kish's eyes, Masaya transformed. His hair turned a shiny gold and grew into a long ponytail. His eyes flash brown, then bright crystal blue. His clothes glowed bright, then morphed into the yukata he had been in when he saved Ichigo last. A double edged long sword glowed and appeared in his hand. It was made of a shining blue metal Ichigo had not noticed last time. The hilt was decorate with blue and black stones. The blue knight held it pointed at Kish. "So your boyfriend is your 'protector'?" Kish asked. "Don't hurt him!" Ichigo immediately shouted. "You're in love with him right?" Kish asked, ignoring Ichigo's plea. She immediately blushed. "As I thought. So if I kill him you can love me!" Kish said happily. "What? No! Don't kill Masaya-kun!" Ichigo shouted. "But you won't love me if I don't. Gomen, koneko-chan," Kish said and pecked her on the cheek. Then he turned to the blue knight. "Get away from Ichigo," The knight commanded. "Dragon Swords!" Kish shouted. His dual swords glowed and appeared in his hands. The blue knight and Kish eyed each other. Each daring the other to make the first move.
Finally Kish lunged at Masaya. "Masaya!" Ichigo shouted. But he already knew. He jumped up and dodged the attack and landed behind Kish. He swung with his sword and the alien blocked and parried. The blue knight loped and struck, driving Kish back. The alien let off a series of lunges, forcing the knight on the defensive. The alien forced the blue knight back to the edge. Ichigo struggled to break free and the thorn vines finally broke. As she dropped to the ground, she was about to transform when two sets of hands grabbed her arms, pulling her back. "Let me go!" Ichigo screamed and looked back to see the two aliens from before. "Wait and watch," Pai commanded. "And stop struggling you old hag!" The younger shouted. The blue knight's concentration broke as he looked to see what was happening to Ichigo. Kish took the opportunity to strike at the knight's arm. Blood seeped through the cut cloth. "Masaya!" Ichigo shouted, struggling to run to him. The blue knight cried out in anguish. "Kish! Stop it! Stop hurting him!" Ichigo cried. Two tears ran down her pale cheeks. "Stop talking, old hag! You're distracting them!" Taruto shouted at her. Then, under his breath, he mumbled, "I don't know why Kish likes you." Ichigo struggled harder, trying to break free. Pai and Taruto gripped her harder. "Don't cry, Koneko-chan. I'll finish him off quickly," Kish assured her. "No!" Ichigo screamed. More tears ran down her cheeks. The blue knight looked at her and his eyes filled with resolve.
With his unharmed arm, the knight raised his sword. "Cerulean Lightening Flood!" He shouted. His blue blade glowed brightly and mystical black writing appeared in the air. Then smoking drops of rain dropped down from the dimly lit sky. Black and purple lightening struck down at Kish and the blue knight slash at him with his sword. Kish jumped back and dodged the first sword attack and lightening. The second bolt hit him, causing him to yell out in pain. Then the sword slashed at him and he teleported out, but not in time. The sword cut his arm. The blue knight's hair slowly began turning black and his eyes glowed. Ichigo finally broke free from Pai and Taruto. "Masaya-kun!" She shouted and hugged him. "Don't kill Kish!" She pleaded. The battered alien reappeared near Taruto and Pai. He noticed the black roots of hair and how the knight's eyes were glowing. He smiled to himself. The blue knight looked down at Ichigo's tear-stained face and his eyes softened. The lightening storm dissapated and the black roots of his hair turned shining gold. His eyes stopped glowing and he placed his arms around Ichigo. "Leave us, now," The blue knight said to Kish. The green haired alien smirked and knelt to the blue knight. "Yes, but I will be back, Deep Blue-sama," He said. Pai and Taruto, who had also seen everything, knelt as Kish did. "What do you mean, 'Deep Blue'?" Ichigo asked. Kish looked up at her. "You'll see soon enough, Koneko-chan. You'll see soon enough," He told her and the alien trio teleported out.
Ichigo and the blue knight stood there for a moment. Then, the blue knight silently picked Ichigo up. She leaned her head against his chest as they flew. "Masaya?" She asked. The blue knight's crystal eyes looked down at her. "Yes?" He asked. "Thank you," Ichigo said and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him. The knight smiled softly. "You're welcome, Ichigo," He said.
"What will you do, once they come up?" Gabriel asked. His friend shook his blonde hair. "As of yet I do not know," He replied. "Six of them are tied to your fate, you know," Gabriel said. The friend nodded. "Yes, I know. 'Twill be a trial for both them and the inner circle," The other angel replied. The two angels sat in silence. They watched the battle unfold below and saw how much in danger the protector had been in. " 'tis a good thing the protector is so strong in that form," The other angel commented. "Yes, it is. But that presence down there, in him. I did not sense Lucifer. It was another," Gabriel noticed. The other nodded. "I felt it too. But if it is not the work of the fallen, then who is it?"
Lucifer traveled up to take a front row seat for the battle. He saw how it went and, at the end, at once realized that some other being was inside the boy. The boy was not merely the protector. There was something darker inside him. Something trying to get loose, to be free. But because it was inside the boy, it must be powerful. Lucifer did not know if he wanted to release it or kill the boy before it could come out. He watched as his alien minions bowed to the boy, calling him, "Deep Blue". The ruler frowned. This was not a good sign. Deep Blue was Lucifer, not someone else. He frowned, puzzled. "It seems, that there is another player in this game," Lucifer said to himself. He watched the boy and the fire guardian vanish into the dim darkness.
