Opening Song: "Holy Diver" by: Dio/Killswitch Engaged

"Alan, it is time for you to wake up." I hear Maria say.

Her cold bisque hand touches my face and stings every nerve within my cheek. I open my eyes and look over where Octavian normally sleeps. The bed is a mess so that means he's gone. I get up and look down the hallway. It appears all the girls are gone as well.

"The creatures and Octavian are at the training grounds." The doll adds.

"I suppose we hurry. It's 11:17. Your friend Oliviera will be showing up in half an hour or so." Gehrman replies.

I don't think I'm going to take the axe with me. Reason being is I haven't had any training with the short design and when worst comes to worst, Oliviera isn't going to stop mid-fight and let me learn how to use it, and I can't use the extended version because it handles way too much like my scythe.

Something else Oliviera has observed, adapted and learned to exploit. That's why she isn't going to go into this with her wrist blades. I've killed many shinobi and hunters that use similar set ups and she knows that. Oliviera is more than likely going to use that cane of hers.

Something I've never seen before. However, Oliviera has never dealt with a Kopis user. It may not deal old damage, but it will have the element of surprise. Somewhat.

"What about the Queen?" I ask as I gather my things up.

"The Queen is greatly troubled within her sleep. She has been mumbling in her restless slumber." The doll replies.

Does she mean that M is having nightmares of some kind? It couldn't be Alice harassing her because they are both G rank. I wonder what could be upsetting her to the point she can't sleep. Whatever it could be, it has to be bad.

"Is it okay if I see her before we go? That way I might be able to offer her some kind of advice when she wakes up?" I ask.
"Sure Alan. Just don't wake her."

"I won't.

Of course, I won't. M is a big enough grump when she's wide awake. I'd hate to see what she's like when she just woke up. Gehrman puts his hands together, focuses and becomes a koukla. I put him around my waist and head to where M is staying.

The dojo is extremely dark. All except for some dim lights that shine down here and there. In the middle of the dojo sits her throne carved out of a burnt desk. On the floor are the glass shards that M uses for the illusionary refraction artform she created.

The queen is laying in the very back on nothing more than a bath towel on a hard-wooden floor. She's all curled up and whining about something. If I would have known she was sleeping on nothing more than this, I would have at least gave her my pillow and blanket out of Asuka's room.

Speaking of which, that isn't a half bad idea. I head to Asuka's room and grab my pillow and blanket.

"What are you doing?" Gehrman asks.

"Oh nothing. I just seen that the Queen was in need of some stuff."

I head back to the dojo and pitch the blanket over her. M rolls over and faces me. Her eye lids are closed as tight as they possibly can be and sorrow flows down her cheeks. M grits her teeth and rolls over. I place the pillow under her head at the right moment, and she starts to relax a little before tensing up again.

"Why did things have to happen like this? I possess strength and knowledge that far exceeds anything conceivable. Yet, I still don't understand! Why? WHY!?" M thrashes over to her other side and lets out a series of stifled sniffles before losing control of herself.

"Rest my precious hunter. It's only a bad dream." Maria says as she pats M's head.

"Come on Alan. Let's get going." Gehrman states.

"Alright."

I head out the back door and take the tunnel that leads to the training grounds. What was M going on about? I've never seen a goddess lose her composure quite like that. Even when Astoreth is emotional, she doesn't flip out nearly as bad as M did.

"Gehrman, what happened back there?"

"I have no idea. There are some nights that the queen sleeps soundly. Others, it's like that episode back there. Maria and I haven't discovered what the cause is though."

"Probably everything she's had and has to do."

"That's what I'm thinking. Anyway, let's hurry. I'd hate to see anything happen to those girls. Especially the ones named Hibari and Ayame." Gehrman states.

I head up the stairs at the end of the tunnel and open the hatch. The place I come out of is a hollowed-out segment of a huge nearby tree that blends in with the rest of the nearby forest. Outside, all the girls are casually training because of the anticipated fight that will be happening shortly.

I hate to break it to them, but they aren't fighting with me. Astoreth and Daigon can help, but when the time comes, they will be responsible for forcing the Hanzo girls away when Oliviera shows up.

Asuka, Ayame and Katsu are cutting down targets, Hibari is slamming her fist into boulders and shattering them while Octavian spars with Yagyu. Daigon, Mr. K and Daidouji are keeping watch while Astoreth and Ikaruga fight on the wooden platform.

Ikaruga swings her sword with grace and precision, but Astoreth casually dodges and throws a blow with her black spear every once in a while. Just to keep her on guard. Astoreth jumps back and swings her spear behind her and catches it. The weapon runs across the back of her shoulder blades and is pointed directly at Ikaruga.

Astoreth bends her back elbow and lunges the tip at Ikaruga. She deflects the incoming attack but fails to block the follow up as Astoreth swings it sideways and warps Ikaruga across her bicep. Ikagura grits her teeth and lets out a small yelp as she rolls backwards out of impulse.

"Don't lose your composure Ikaruga." I say as I stand outside the ring and cheer.

Astoreth chases Ikaruga down and traps her on the edge of the ring. She's got no where to go and Astoreth doesn't seem to be showing any signs of letting up. Which is good. The more difficult Astoreth is, the better the girls will get.

Ikaruga places one foot behind her and prepares to leap up into the air to try and get around. However, Astoreth seems distracted. Ikaruga sees her chance and leaps. Astoreth drops her spear and jumps at the same time. Ikaruga's sword slices into Astoreth's arm. She ignores the pain and wraps Ikaruga up in her arms.

A pale fist slams into Astoreth's face and sends her and Ikaruga flying into the nearby cliff side. A massive cloud of gravel and dust ejects out the crevice that rips the mountain in half. The impact is so great that it the mountain is somewhat of a canyon now.

It happens so fast that it takes a couple seconds to register what just happened. Son of a bitch. I grab hold of my handgun and fire at the incoming presence. The gunshot brings everyone's attention back to me.

The bullet shrivels up and crinkles like a candy wrapper. A huge spark bounces off a faceless, metal mask with Victorian era engravings. I bring up my kopis and deflect an incoming kitchen knife that was heading for my gut. My handgun wedges the barrels of a pepper box pistol in between the lever and the onyx grip as I direct the weapon away from my head.

"Get away from him!" Katsu yells as she approaches us.

"Stay back Katsu!" I reply.

Daigon appears behind my attacker and jabs with his lance. She dodges the attack and disengages with me. The woman slams her kitchen knife into Daigon's shield and pushes him back so she can temporarily retreat.

Astoreth staggers out of the mountain. Black blood drips from the side of her face and stains the white snow below her feet. Ikaruga's white outfit is slightly torn and missing a couple gold buttons, but she is unscathed. Rattled, but not hurt.

"Hanzo Academy! Hebijo has come to pay you all a social call!" Oliviera yells from a nearby hillside. Standing on both sides of her are all six of her girls. Ryona, Ryobi, Soji, Imu, Murasaki, and my sister Miyabi.

Even their instructor, Rin Suzune is here. There's also someone else standing behind them, but I can't tell who it is. All of the girls are wearing their winter, Hebijo attire while Oliviera is wearing her top hat and shotgun coat.

Everyone puts something solid between us and them. I dive behind a collapsed log with Octavian, Daigon and Yagyu. Hibari, Asuka, Ayame and everyone else are spread out amongst the trees. I peek over and see that they are all headed down the hillside before stopping about fifty yards (about 15 meters) away.

Oliviera pulls out a gold Germanic handgun and loads a clip of bullets from the top. She then pulls out another bizarre looking gun from Germany and sticks a magazine into the well. I've seen the one that loads from the top, but this one that loads with magazines instead of being tube fed or single action is a new addition.

It's solid silver and has a bizarre looking bulb on the very back. If I had to take a guess, that has to be where the recoil spring is housed. Oliviera puts it back in her holster, but keeps the top loading gun out.

This already puts me at a disadvantage in a gunfight. Both of her weapons are semi-automatic while mine is a lever. Plus, all she has to do is pop a new magazine in, or load a strip of bullets, and she's ready to go while I have to reload by hand.

Mine may do more damage per shot, but Oliviera has around twenty rounds before a reload while I only have a maximum of ten at all times means she's got me outgunned. Plus, she's got a cane that more than likely deals old damage.

"Alan! You and your girls come out right now!" Miyabi yells.

"Oh, and to make sure you don't get all chivalrous on me, or you go soft for the little Hanzo kitten!"

Oliviera walks behind the girls and grabs something. Ikaruga gasps in shock while my heart drops to the ground. They have Murasame. His hands are tied behind his back. However, he seems compliant.

Not only that, Oliviera isn't being as rough as she would be if it were someone like Asuka or Yumi. Murasame kneels on his knees and closes his eyes. It's like he doesn't think we value his life. Which is not true.

"Now listen to me! I don't want to kill this young man, but trust me, I will!" Oliviera kicks the safety off her gun and aims it directly at Murasame's head.

"Wait! I'm coming out!" I yell as I jump up. Yagyu tries to stop me, but I pull away and step over the log.

"Everyone comes out Alan!" Oliviera replies as she fires a warning shot in front of Murasame. Snow and mud splatter on his winter jacket and face. Murasame jolts from the fear and starts to gasp from panic.

"This doesn't concern them Oliviera!"

"Like hell it does! Get out here now!"

Ikaruga, Hibari, Ayame and Asuka all rush out by my side instantly as everyone else falls in. We all form a line with me, Asuka, and Ikaruga in the middle. To our left stands Hibari, Ayame, Yagyu and Daidouji. To the right is Mr. K, Octavian, Daigon and Astoreth.

Oliviera cuts Murasame free and he runs off after us. She puts her gun away and motions that everyone line up with the person they want to fight with. Alice tries to line up directly across from Asuka, but Oliviera points directly at Astoreth and Daigon.

Miyabi lines up with Asuka, Katsu is going to face Murasaki, Imu will fight Yagyu, Ayame is going against Soji, Ryona singles Ikaruga out, Hibari and Ryobi point at one another, Rin Suzune looks like she's got problems with Daidouji. That just leaves me and Oliviera while Alice takes on Astoreth. The only ones that don't have anyone to fight is Mr. K, Octavian and Daigon. Which is fine. I have plans for them.

Ikaruga holds out her arms and Murasame jumps into her embrace. It looks like he hasn't suffered any kind of injury. No bruises, cuts or anything.

"Are you okay!? What did she do to you!?" Ikaruga asks.

"Nothing! Oliviera and her girls actually treated me really good!"

"Hard to believe an evil bitch like me is capable of kindness, isn't it?" Oliviera teases as she completely unloads her top loading gun before sticking a new clip of small caliber hellshot in it.

Alice casually walks around in her faceless mask, occasionally sniffing around everyone she walks by to determine who is who. She stops in front of Octavian and examines him. Her metal mask touches Octavian's shoulder.

"Milady, this boy smells of the shinobi's parents."

"It's okay Alice. He's not a threat to us." Oliviera replies.

"Who's parents? Tell me!" Octavian yells.

"Oh, their daughter had blonde hair, red eyes, about fifteen or sixteen years old now. Don't worry though. Milady had me dispose of them in a humane way despite being good shinobi."

Shock grows across Octavian's face as he staggers around and collapses to his knees. He grabs both sides of his head. So that's what happened to Shiki's parents. They set out on a mission and didn't come back within the designated time.

Then three days later, a pair of matching caskets came instead. I remember that day. Shiki and Octavian were looking forward to telling them about their announcement. That Octavian wanted to be the man in Shiki's life and was hoping her dad would teach him.

"Daigon, I want you to get Murasame and Octavian out of here." I say.

"But Alan…"

"Just go! Alan and I can handle this!" Astoreth interrupts him.

Even though Daigon does not agree with what we are saying, he reluctantly nods and motions for both of the boys to follow him. They will be safe with him. Although I doubt Oliviera is going to chase after them since she's more focused on making an example out of us.

"What's gotten into you Alan? Why are you withholding valuable information from me?"

"Because you tend to do unreasonable things when your upset. Much like right now."

"It's not unreasonable if you are dealing with a correlating problem that's tied to the main issue. If you truly understood what was at stake here Alan, you wouldn't be opposing me." Oliviera replies.

"I'm aware of the current situation, but killing people who may not be directly related is unethical. You do that, then you are no better than the shinobi council…"

"Don't you dare compare me to those fucking terrorists!" Oliviera rages as she points her handgun at me.

Asuka and all the Hanzo girls draw their weapons. Their reactions to Oliviera garners Hebijo's attention. The sounds of gun slides and bolts being pulled back along with swords and various other weapons being drawn from sheathes lasts a solid five seconds before everything calms down.

I'm the only one that hasn't drawn my weapon. Instead, I hold my hands up in a submissive manner. Oliviera is very unstable right now, and if she doesn't get the notion she's in charge, she'll attack.

"Oliviera listen, you set out to make a home for runaway shinobi betrayed by the council. The very council that took the lives of your parents and little sister unfairly. I know you love your girls to the point you'd turn heaven and hell upside down, and I understand killing those that stole the talilbasha, but killing someone in cold blood with no evidence connecting them to the crime is no better than killing an innocent civilian walking down the streets."

"Please lady Olivera, listen to him!" Murasaki states as she clenches her axe tightly.

"Silence Murasaki! Let the big kids solve their own problems!" Imu snaps.

"No! This is stupid and you know it! Lady Oliviera, please remember what I said last night, even if we came all this way, let's just make this a duel! There isn't any need for anyone to die today!" Murasaki pleas.

Oliviera lets out a trapped sigh of frustration and holsters her handgun. Everyone begins to loosen up, but they still keep their weapons out just in case. "Forgive me, I lost my cool. However, if you don't have anything to say to me, then maybe you'll open up to our guest of honor."

Oliviera and Murasaki step apart, and the person hiding in the back is finally revealed. He's got black hair, amber colored eyes and is muscular. His demon steel armor has recently been polished and looks like the traditional style knights from England used to wear.

I immediately recognize who he is and sigh deep down. Of course, Oliviera would do something like this. It's not like I didn't have enough problems already. Now I get to listen to this guy bitch at me. The girls whisper back and forth and ask who this could possibly be. Although their question is about to be answered.

The man lumbers over me in height and looks directly down at me. I make eye contact but refuse to say anything because I have nothing to say to him. Other than get out of my life and never come back.

"Hello Alan."

"This matter does not concern you Keisuke."

"That's father to you." Miyabi snaps.

"I don't recall this man ever being my father." I reply.

"Mind your sister boy and show respect for your family."

"Family? What family? I spent eight years all by myself, and now you just show up and expect respect?"

"That does not change the fact who you are, and where you come from!"

"Funny how now all of a sudden, I'm part of YOUR family again! A family I don't want any part of ever again!"

Murasaki has her face covered and is softly crying within her hands. Although I can't see it, I know what father is doing, and when he does, he's going to regret it. I'm already heated enough as it is, and I'm not holding back when he pulls his stunt. I place the kopis's edge across my arm and prepare to say the words to send me into Apocalypis mode.

"Well I can't stand the fact that my little boy carries the same blood of the creature that slaughtered my wife. Nor disgracing our family with the daughter of our sworn enemy, so I thought I'd come by and give some fatherly advice."

Before I can run my kopis across my arm and chant, Asuka appears in front of me and crosses her katana with dad's black steel longsword. The sound of metal scraping against metal let's out a high-pitched squeal that causes my eardrums to rumble.

"And who may this be?"

"My students! Now back off!" Mr. K yells as Asuka throws my dad's blade away and slices horizontally. Dad leaps over the incoming attack and lands right by Miyabi's side. Miyabi makes a statement and dad let's out a sigh of relief, "Of all the girl's in the world, the granddaughter of old man Hanzo is the one you pick. How you disgrace our name." Father states.

"Consider it my Father's Day gift." I spit back.

Mr. K locks eyes with father and follows his exact move patterns. I haven't seen dad fight in a while, but I sure hope Mr. K ends his cocky ass.

"I was hoping Mr. Keisuke here would have been able to talk sense into you about the stone's location, but it appears what he told me goes deeper than I anticipated. Ah, who am I kidding, you're one of those good shinobi. The moment they open their mouth, nothing but lies come out. To hell with it, let's just have some fun. Girls, I want you to enlighten the Hanzo girls of your skills, but do not kill any of them, and stay away from the academy."

Although this is a bad deal, at least we won't be killing one another. Oliviera just wants a basic brawl. Still though, people are going to get hurt over nothing because she can't be reasonable right now.

"So that's the way it's going to be?" I ask.

"It's nothing personal. It's just business."

"I suggest that we take our fights elsewhere. That way people won't be getting caught in crossfire." I reply.

"Girls, activate your kekais." Oliviera states.

We back away as all the Hanzo girls are swallowed up by a makeshift dimension while Astoreth and Alice travel to the fracture to fight. Mr. K, Daidouji, Rin and Keisuke decide that they are going to fight in a duo here at the training grounds.

"So where do you want to go Alan?" Oliviera asks as she holds up her gold talisman.

"Well because you had the courtesy of asking, I'll let you decide."

She rolls the object around in her hand and thinks deeply. There's no telling where she is going to take us, but wherever it is, it will be a place where both of us have an equal advantage. That I can count on.

"I know just the place! Nithedrali!"

She lifts her talisman and throws up a barrier. Our boots land on the quaint shingles of a gothic cathedral like structure. Behind Oliviera is two spiral shaped towers made of black lava stone.

Surrounding the place is a series of gothic era buildings mixed in with more modern structures. Some roads still have traditional oil lanterns that serve as a way of illumination while others have street lights. I have no idea where this place is based off, but I'm going to assume France since Oliviera likes to spend whatever free time she has in that country.

The only light we have is the faint gaze of the pale moon that turns the roof a dark grey color. Numerous dots sparkle above in the dark blue curtain above while little clouds of grey causally float above.

"Cathedrale Notre-Dame-de I'Assomption de Clermont-Ferrand, or the Cathedral of our lady of the assumption of Clermont Ferrand. One of the many beautiful Cathedrals in Western Europe. This one however, is my favorite."

"Well I consider it an honor to face you in your most beloved of places. Although I think we should consider talking rather than resorting to violence." I state as I do an honorable bow.

"Now where would the fun be in that?" Oliviera asks as she bows.

The both of us take up a shooting stance and carefully watch one another's movement. Any sudden movements, and we'll both catch a bullet to the head at the same exact time. Although it wouldn't do much to either of us.

Oliviera pulls her handgun out the same exact time I do. I fire the first shot off from my hip, but she dives out of the way. The muzzle of both her handguns flash and a hail of hellshot flies toward me. I roll to the side and slide down to where the flying buttresses on the side of the cathedral are located.

"Still the quickest draw I've ever known!" Oliviera yells from above.

She rains down some more rounds on me and keeps me pinned behind a buttress. I rechamber a new round and rotate the crank on the side of my weapon two times. Oliviera dives off the side of the roof and sends more rounds at me.

I slightly lean out, pull the trigger and aim at Oliviera's torso. Three huge rounds of molten orange stream out of the gun. The recoil forces the barrel up as three consecutive shots exit the weapon in a quick three round burst. She hops behind a buttress before the three rounds can hit her.

The structure explodes as I swivel the gun around by the lever. Oliviera hops behind another buttress that's still in contact and blind fires around the corner. Chunks of black lava stone pelt against my face as her bullets shred the buttress I'm behind.

The firing pins in her weapons click, and the slides slam back. I pull a couple rounds from my waist bandolier and top my gun off. Oliviera peeks around at the same thing as she feeds a stripper clip through the top of one gun. A thin black layer of dust covers her face, and the silk head band on her top hat.

"Why did you kidnap Murasame!? He had nothing to do with this!" I yell as I close the tube on my handgun.

"I needed a way to keep everyone involved in this little predicament! Because he's your friend and the step brother to Ikaruga, it was a guaranteed win-win! But personally, I've grown quite fond of him!"

"Funny! I'd never thought you'd develop a case of Lima Syndrome! Considering he's son of someone in a position of power!" I state as I lean out and take a shot at Olivera. She flinches and sinks deeper into cover.

"Doesn't change the fact I'm still going to kill that bastard along with everyone else on the shinobi council!" Oliviera fires four shots at me. Shards of shingling fly up and hit me in the face with enough force that it causes my left cheek to bleed.

"Well what can I say!? Love does strange things to an individual!" I reply as I wipe my face with me hand.

"That it does! I always thought you were foolish for choosing a good shinobi weakling like Asuka as a bride, but now I find myself in a similar situation like you!"

"Karma's a bitch, isn't it!?"

"That it is! You know, I never had intentions on killing Murasame! I even told him the worst that was going to happen was me shooting him in the leg with a low velocity rubber bullet!"

"Well if I would have known that, I would have had you shoot him in the mouth for me!" I state.

"Always the comedian!"

Oliviera jumps up to the top of the cathedral and casually waits as if she wants me to climb up too. I leap up to the roof and keep my handgun off to the side since she isn't aiming hers at me. Oliviera is probably wanting something a little more interesting now. Something that will give us both a real challenge. Oliviera twirls her guns around her fingertips and holsters them.

"As fun as this was, I reckon it's time for the main event."

"I suppose." I reply as I put my handgun away and draw my Kopis from my sheathe.

"Hmm… That's new, and I like it! I even have something myself that you should see!" Oliviera says as she takes a unique stance and holds her hand out in front of her. She points her index finger up towards the sky and her body starts to glow white with red swirls that wisp around her body like the wind.

"Shinobi transformation…"

Ending Song: "Jekyll and Hyde" by: Five Finger Death Punch