A/N: Hey guys! New chapter! First off, thismwill be really heavy, so don't be too upset.
Second, I don't care, nor will I ever care for Aigis, so you superfans of that hunk o' junk can take a hike with your preaching. I don't want to hear any of it and it WILL be ignored if it has nothing to do with the story, especially if the reviewer is rude and immature. I'm NOT talking to Jeoffrey Baraenon, or whatever his name is. Take your Aigis loving rag elsewhere, fool, I don't care about it (Aigis).
(1/20/11)
Sunday...
The last few days were undisturbed respites. I finally had a few days of peace, since Elder oddly didn't attack. Minako and I spammed the Dream Charms, having gone on dates at the mouth of Mt. Krakatoa, went diving on the wrecks of Titanic, roasted marshmallows in the sun.
But the fun part was this place I call 'The Dream Corridor', basically a hall with doors that open to other people's dreams, which Minako and I stumbled into after we wrestled with Cowboys on the Moon.
We would 'invade' other people's dreams. It sounds more fun than it is, our most latest was Quan's dream wherein everyone was redheaded. The funniest was Junpei dreaming he was Superman, and surveying New York City through the Empire State Building. Minako promotly tied his cape to a pole. The results were hilarious when he jumped off.
After a while, Minako was leaving, and I was about to follow. Then... I saw one door, a black shale nameplate that read '?'.
I earnestly entered the door. The room was dark and cold. I took a look outside and I was horrified.
Outside was a picture of pure destruction. Shadows running around and destroying everything. There were giant shadow-wyverns and even a tripod robot reminiscent of those from War of the Worlds.
I stared at the wreck, unable to believe anything.
"And what..." A cold voice said behind me, "Do you think you're doing?"
Suddenly, I was awakened by someone pulling at my sleeves. It was Minako, who beckoned me to wake up and get ready to chill with the gang.
The day went out without a hitch. I saw Cato by the same spot as I saw him when Naoto interrogated him when I went out for a breather.
Suddenly, I saw someone savagely beating someone inside the same alley Naoto interrogated Cato in. It was a cloaked man. He gave Cato a proper beatdown and finished with a slam on the wall.
"Cato! You worm! Where is Minato?! Where?!" He demanded angrily, throttling Cato.
"I'll never tell!" Cato said and spat in his face, "Leave me alone!"
He knocks Cato down and carried him off, "Help me!" Cato screamed. I yelled at the cloaked man and he knocked Cato out.
"Elder..." I mused, "Prepared to fight?"
"Come." He beckoned as I charged. He teleported away and knocked me out with a clean pommel-whip to the back of the skull.
Everything went black and fuzzy, but when I woke up, I was in a strange room. From the noises outside, I guessed I might be near the outskirts of town. I couldn't move a muscle.
"Wake up, Little Godling..." A voice said coldly, "Yes, you aren't dead... Not yet..." It said silkily. Noticing my distress, he held out a vial of sickishly yellow liquid, "Paralasis serum. Derived from pufferfish venom." the cold voice rang out, echoing from the room.
Elder walked in, but for the first time, he was unhooded. Due to the poor lighting, and his face paint camouflaged specifically in his eyes, I couldn't recognize him. Or her. Depends.
He faced the window, which casted an eerie light into the room, "We aren't too different, you and I... We both are orphans, had bad past experiences and disappointing parents..."
"Don't talk about my parents that way!" I snapped weakly. Elder planted his boot on my neck slowly.
"You never even knew those roaches."
"You little bastard!" I spat at him, "When I get my hands on you-"
"I'm calling the shots here, so you be quiet." He commanded, pressing down slowly.
"You're better off killing me... I'm nothing like you... You're a butcher!" I squeaked.
He smirked and let go, "To each his own. You chose the Path of Light. I chose the Path to Chaos. Sue me for picking the winning side." He shrugs, "You... You're nothing more than a roadside attraction to those people... But if there's anything they'll love seeing more than you prevailing, its seeing you fall and die. Man was born to be enslaved by greater powers. Why even bother?"
"Because I choose to do it." I said.
He sighs sits beside me, "There are approximately 7.5 billion people in this damned world... With the sole purpose of raising up that one individual who rises above the mediocrity as their hero. You see, Minato? You are nothing but their tool. A true mockery of your talents. You are only good to them as long as you protect them. If you fail them, they will forget your greatest accomplishments for one tiny mistake... And if they know you have the power of either destroying or saving this world, they will shun you, just like they did to the Original Messiah. That's the Gospel Truth." Elder said and stood up, "Only strength and the willingness to use it can preserve us." Elder said with conviction.
I looked defiantly at him, "The people of the Free World are worth dying for."
Elder scowled, "Think long and hard about this, Messiah..." He warned, "For they may be your last in this earth."
I thought for a while, "If I die to save everyone... Then my mission would be complete. My life would be fulfilled."
"But a wasted one, yes! Your life is worth more than theirs! Think what kind of death awaits you if I would gladly kill any of my followers to attain victory!"
"And think of what I would gain when I would willingly die for them!" I cried defiantly.
"Minato..." He growled, "I said... A thousand of their lives are not worth one of yours!"
"If I had a thousand lives, I would gladly give it to save the world!"
"He who sacrifices himself is an idiot." Elder said quietly,"There may be honor in death, yes, but there is far more profit in life."
"At what cost, Elder?" I said with gritted teeth, "So you can see the world you fight to rule become utterly desolate?"
"Watch your tongue, scum... I hold your life at the palm of my hands, maggot," He wrapped his hands around my throat, "I'm giving you a choice right now... To join me, and see how far Darkness will take us to glory... Or rejoin the Path of Light and we engage in a fight again and again and again until we're both dead. As for you, you owe me a debt. And that's a debt I want paid in full."
"Never." I said angrily, "If I have to pay you a debt of any sort, it'd come wrapped around a fist, Elder."
He smirked, "I respect that... The drug will wear off by the time I safely exit this building." He puts back his hood before walking off and stopping again. "But remember... there are other ways to collect a debt." Elder said sinisterly.
After five minutes, I got up and cursed loudly. Why would Elder want me to join him, when all he ever tried to do was to kill me?
I tried to forget what happened and checked up on Cato. I learned he was at the hospital and went to visit him.
A Doctor was attending to him.
"I... fell down a flight of stairs, Doctor." Cato insisted, "Nothing unusual about that..."
"Fractures along the ribcage, sixteen stitches inside the lips and a torn scrotum..." The Doctor mused, "That must've been one helluva fall... Anyway, we'll need to keep you here overnight just in case." He said before leaving.
"Hey buddy." I greeted.
Cato perked up, "Oh, hello guv!" Cato greeted brightly.
"Did you call your parents?" I asked carefully.
"Eh... Yes." He admitted bitterly.
"Are they coming?" I asked.
Cato's bitter scowl and slow shaking of his head answered my query.
"Wait here." I said through my teeth.
"No, bruv, whoever they are, they're baiting you! Forget about it!" Cato said anxiously.
"Okay..." I said hesitantly, "But I won't ask for your help anymore-"
"No way," Cato said furiously before wincing from the strain, "These blokes, they mean business... and them attacking a guy like me, like ME?! They just made one very powerful enemy. Go on along, Minato. You have my help. And be safe."
I walked off and tried to forget about it. Reviewing was hard, considering the fact that Elder included my friends into this.
I did, in fact, managed to review well. And come Monday, everything was looking good...
(1/21/11)
Monday...
I had my finals today and I was very excited to finish them, so I could finally meet Yukari's mom in a few days. Suddenly, I recieved an unexpected call from Yukari.
"Hello? Yukari? Is everything okay?" I questioned.
She was sobbing, "Minato... Minato..."
"Yukari...?! What's wrong?" I demanded, acutely aware that Elder might have kidnapped her.
"Minato..." Yukari hiccoughed, "My mom... She got into cardiac arrest..."
I felt glacial inside, "What?!"
"Yeah..." Yukari bawled, "She... She... Her heart rate began to drop and her blood pressure as well... They're trying to revive her."
"Yukari... My heart goes to you-" I said, but she hushed me.
"Minato... Please..." She begged, "I need you here with me... Now more than ever."
I was torn asunder inside. I knew the school rules and it forbade being absent on finals.
"Yukari... I want to be by your side more than anything, but... I got exams." I said feebly.
"Minato... Please..."
"Yukari, no matter what happens, I'll be there. For now, please hold on for me." I said.
She mumbled and hung up.
I bit back a torrent of tears and continued to school. I could barely muster enough focus to stave off how useless I felt.
I desperately wanted to head to Yukari, but I had to wait. Only two more days to go.
(1/22/11)
Tuesday...
Today, I was an endless ordeal of Algebra, Chemistry and Physics. Of course, that was the easy part. The bad part was going home to a few voice messages, saying that Yukari's mom is now 50/50. The second one was more depressing, just Yukari sobbing. The third one was hard on me. Yukari was asking where I was. Just one more day...
I was about to sleep, when I got a jarring call from Yukari.
"Minato?" She sobbed.
"Y-Yeah?"
"My mom... She's dead." Yukari mumbled. I closed my eyes and uttered a short prayer.
"Yukari... I-"
"Please... Don't be late for the funeral." She mumbled quietly and hung up.
I was devastated for Yukari. I felt sorry that I never got to meet her mother. But I didn't allow it to stop me. I forged on and finished another grueling limbo of exams.
(1/23/11)
Friday...
After the exams, I immediately ran home, ignoring Minako and everyone else. I ran so fast, my shoes got damaged and I threw some clothes on and took a trolley full of clothes and zipped out before Leah could even ask me where I was going.
I called Caro up.
"Hello? Romano Heir, Cato speaking," Cato said with a highborn voice.
"Cato, hello!" I said hurriedly, "I need help."
"Help?" Cato said with concern, "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"In a sense." I said, "Listen, I need a few tickets to Tokyo, please!"
"Tickets? To a plane?" Cato fumed.
"Okay, look, I realize its short notice and-"
"No friend of mine will be stuck in a cheap economy-class plane. No, take my personal jet. Move with haste!" He cried as I thanked him and ran to the place he told me to go.
I took the chartered jet to Tokyo. It took nearly a few hours, but I was there. I took a taxi, got a hotel room and arrived there later. I saw Yukari by the funeral home.
A smile cracked in my face as I approached her. But... I saw a guy go near her and she turned around and kissed him in the lips.
I was shocked, and really relieved. She just made my job much easier. But I couldn't help but feel sad. Sad because she didn't need me... Sad, because she wasn't honest with me. Suddenly, I felt extremely angry. I stormed off and wandered along the meadow nearby.
I went under the tree a sat up the whole night crying because after all Yukari and I had been through, she wasn't honest with me, which felt as bad as her kissing someone other than me... Call me a hypocrite, but what's mine is mine.
It was dawn when I finally calmed down. I was shocked at the time, since the burial is in a few hours. I decided to walk back, but found myself lost. I managed to reach a fork in the road, with someone standing in between the paths.
"Elder..." I walked in front of him, "I have no time for this! Let me through!"
"Am I blocking your way?" Elder asked quietly, "I only stand as the sentinel to facilitate your path. Will you take the Twilight Road to Darkness and Chaos?" He points to the left, "Or shall you take the Path to Dawn and Order?" He points to the left, "Your choice."
I grunted and strode past him, "Neither,"
"Neither?" Elder said.
"I'm taking the Middle Road." I said.
"Ah, the Path of Mystery?"
"No... The Path to Destiny." I said and walked.
"Wait, Messiah..." He stopped me, "I kow what bereaves your heart is not for the loss of your friend's matriarch... It reaves your soul that Yukari has someone she loves other than you and the sadness of your soul that will rend your spirit, correct?"
"Yes..." I mumbled, "But that's none of your business." I walked ahead of him.
"How many more must be hurt?" Elder cried as I stopped in my tracks, "How many more must I maim, hurt or kill just for you to join me? A hundred? A thousand? If you want more to die like Yukari's mother, then go!"
"What did you say...?" I seethed.
"I tried reasoning with you, Minato, but you keep forcing me to take drastic measures." Elder said sadly.
"Wait a minute..." I growled, "You killed Yukari's mom!" I cried.
"Yes... I killed Yukari's mother. Get over it!" Elder cried.
"I will... After I'm done destroying you!"
With a cry, I lunged at him audaciously and battered him with my fist. He was taken by surprise at my unarmed response, that he failed to summon his own weapon.
I punched him and summoned my sword. He instinctively jumped back and summoned his giant sword.
We both charged at each other and our weapons clashed like thunder and lightning.
Despite his seemingly unwieldy sword, he was still quick. He snarled like a beast and parried my strikes with fierce vengeance. Whenever our swords would clash together, the sparks and blasts would light up the dawn skies, instantly burning nearby vegetation within range.
I made a foolish move of aiming for his gut and he knocked me aside with the flat of his blade, which due to its immense size, sent me flying and crashing through the grass.
"You truly are a fool." Elder said, "Just because you got lucky beating me once, you think you can stand and fight me this time?" He raised his sword.
I shrugged off the daze and deflected the blow. With a loud roar, I cpunterattacked him.
We both fought like demons, space and time around us bending with every blow. He managed to knock me down.
"Die!" He jumped and plunged his sword to the earth, to which I rolled away.
I kicked him off his grip and knocked him down. I was about to kill him, when he held his hand out.
I immediately felt something wrong. My breath was shortening and my back felt as if something heavy, probably like a thousand rocks, had been placed there. I wanted to faint from the strain, but I took a deep breath and fought it. Every muscle felt like it was being pulled by a team of race horses. My blood felt like molten lead, while every bone felt too brittle for my body. I wanted to shout, but my voice wouldn't come out. My vision went into white-and-black and everything was dim. With a roar, I shrugged it off completely, and to Elder's horror, I glowed white.
"Impossible!" He spat, "There's nothing that can defeat the powers of Time!"
"Looks like I did." I said smugly.
With a tremendous roar, he charged. I feinted with my sword and he dodged. I did a leg sweep on him and knocked him down.
I was about to kill him, when he jumped, embraced me and teleported. The same feeling of being pressurized and compressed hit me. I continuously punched Elder as he punched back.
We materialized fifteen feet in the air and he teleported away. I fell down, screaming, when I imagined myself on the ground. Immediately after, I felt the same feeling of compression and then, I materialized on the ground, unharmed.
I had teleported.
Elder grabbed his sword and tried to plunge it into my throat, but I caught it with both my palms and redirected it to hit the earth beside me. I held it down and kicked Elder to the dirt.
He grabbed me with furious speed and teleported. We materialized 60 feet in the air and fell down to the earth.
I grabbed him and he smiled. I knew he was going to teleport.
I thought incredibly fast and grabbed a knife Lee gave me for Christmas and stabbed him in the bicep, "I go, so do you."
We were nearing the earth, so Elder made his choice and teleported away.
When I did open my eyes, Elder was up and he conjured a dark wall of energy to block my furious slashes and assaults, "Till we meet again, Messiah." And disappeared.
I made a long, loud roar that rang out in the entire area. After I was done, I realized I was late. It began to rain and I knew it'd be impossible to reach there on time.
I then remembered my newly acquired skills. I thought about being there, and within a few seconds, I materialized near the burial. Sadly, only Yukari and her sister were left. Yukari wore an all-black dress and a hat-veil, her beauty undimmed by the sorrow of her loss.
I slowly walked towards her and bowed my head whil staring at the freshly buried plot of land, the marble headstone, the picketed fence and the plaque with her mother's name.
INO TAKEBA
April 21, 1973- January 22, 2011
Yukari was sobbing and crying, "Mom..."
I stood beside her, quietly wiping my tears and brushing debris off my clothes.
Yukari noticed me, stood in front of me and slapped me, nearly twisting my head 170 degrees.
"Where have you been...?" She sobbed, "Too late, Minato... Twice now..." She sniffed.
She raised her hand to hit me again, but her hand fell and she embraced me.
She kept sobbing and sobbing. I comforted her, no matter how I felt about her.
Elder... He did something truly unforgivable.
"Minato... Will you stay with me... tonight?" She sobbed.
I nodded grimly.
After a terse introduction between Hikari, we went to my hotel room and had a quiet dinner and went to bed.
Hikari, an oddly quiet child, slept at a different room.
"Yukari... be strong for Hikari." I said to her.
"I will... for you." Yukari kissed me in the ear, "I love you."
That comment made me slightly confused. I pondered on it for hours. Then, I decided that, ultimately, Yukari will only love me whenever she feels like it... If she gets bored with me, she'll dump me and I'd be the one who gets hurt.
I wrote her a letter explaining everything, left the tickets to the chartered jet, a lot of cash and went to the top of the roof and teleported away, leaving the memories of Tokyo behind.
A/N: Intense... Anyway, I'll say it again for those slow readers (Joeffrey) I will NOT, and I repeat, NOT entertain stupid queries about Aigis. It has no place here, and I will not change my opinions about it. Please learn to understand and interpret it. Thank you!
For the regualr readers, its just another day... The next chapter will come out soon... Yup. Casual sex time! Wooo!
As usual, the quota still stands. Please review!
Q/A: (will not entertain questions about Aigis/ not related to story(
Aaron: Well, he takes their virginity, or they take his. Depends. But I shudder to think about Chihiro's...
Good times indeed! Cato is now a better person than he was.
Radaketor: 300 reviews...? There's only 57 chapters...
Thanks! And TBA means To Be Announced!
Yeah, you'll be surprised.
Iron Wasp: Elder deliberately let him go in order that he warn The Third Dark Lord. Well, I will keep that in mind.
Well, Cato definitely showed that side of him on this chapter...
Uh, I don't see that possible, Rise having a cameo, given to the lateness of the chapters, but I will definitely try to remember that.
I came up with something clever just a while ago. You're sure to enjoy it!
He's secret, so hush! :)
Gin: yeah, I never knew stilettos were also knives! And Elder is a bit of a child, hinting his real identity...
Not all detectives are like that... Most are Private Investigators and such.
Thanks. I try to destress at times... With a nice massage...
Joffrey: Sorry bub, but I don't care what you have to say about Aigis. The fact of the matter is it sucks. And, no, I won't stop calling it and 'it' because it's a machine, fool. And machines are neither male nor female.
Take your useless debacles elsewhere, because I don't really give a fvck. But your false information and pathetic attmepts to make a point was good for a few lulz, so thanks! I really enjoyed readong your arguements and your feeble attmepts to insult me.
Au revoir!