Chapter 12: Not A Hero

Alex glanced over to Hunter who was at the front of Scarchain as the Undertakers got in close. Their eyes met for a split second before Alex looked away. Hunter didn't know why was it shame, was it that he thought Karako was more dangerous, or did he just not care? Rokuro then started Laughing as he cracked his neck saying

"Okay then kiddies unfortunately we don't need all of you, just a few so we're gonna have to to some slimming down!" He then looked right at Ganta. "You, oh that stupid look on your face pisses me off every time I see it!"

"No!" Hunter said trying to run in front to Ganta but an Undertaker then struck him in the gut sending him doubling over. Rokuro laughed at this saying.

"Wait your turn kid, we'll get to you soon enough." Hunter just looked up glaring at Rokuro who smirked at him before turning back to Ganta.

"Mōzuri, Shinagawa. You're up." Two men walked forward one almost the size of a bear and bald, the other was small and skinny with claw like nails on his fingers "But before they rip you apart let me tell you a little story" Alex then raised his left hand and said.

"Question." Rokuro turned to him with an annoyed expression. "Will this story take long?"

"I mean it's not that long like maybe a minute at best." Alex shrugged at this and said.

"Too bad, bored now." He then brought his index finger and thumb to his mouth whistling. Then in the blink of an eye Senji appeared and cut the two men into pieces.

"Dead Center!" "You know Ganta I could have sworn I told you that next time you fight I want front row seats. Now then you all are Undertakers right? Who's the toughest of ya?" Alex then pointed to the former undertakers on the floor.

"Um I think it was those guys" Senji's face quickly lost almost all it's enthusiasm.

"What really? Oh well I guess the grunts will do." Alex then turned his pistol on the Undertakers taking out two holding guns and one holding a katana killing them. Before any others could get to him he wrapped his arm around Rokuro's neck holding him in front of his own body as a meatshield.

"Drop the guns or I paint the wall with his brains!" Rokuro then started laughing.

"Man you suck at math dude! Your chances of beating these guys with worm eater is like two percent tops!" Alex rolled his eyes saying.

"Oh really and why's that?"

"Please if you think the virus in your blood can stand up to twenty megapasca-" He was cut off when Alex struck him in the cheek with his gun.

"Speak normal dipshit!" Rokuro spit out a tooth before continuing.

"Worm eater nullifies the virus in your blood using air pressure almost three thousand PSI so you're shit out of luck if you want to go against our weapons!" Senji hearing this looked over still looking bored.

"Air pressure huh? So what you're saying is I need to move at the speed of sound?" He then put his hands together one holding the back of his hand. His veines started to pop out as blood traveled from his entire body into that one spot. "Fine then. Invisible Black!"

"Thanks for the tip man" Senji then said turning to Alex who replied.

"Don't mention it, no really don't not a single person out of this room finds out." He then turned to Hunter and walked over Holding out his hand to help the younger teen up. Hunter instead slapped the handaway standing on his own before looking at Alex with tears in his eyes.

"How could you?" Alex stared at him not sure what to say. But eventually he managed to get out

"Look im sorry bu-"

"You're sorry? People died Alex! I could have died and you're sorry?! How long have you been an Undertaker?" Alex looked away guilt on his features as he tried to explain.

"I was forced to join right after my match. Tamaki ma-"

"NO I don't want to hear it! You let me walk right into a trap knowing full well I could have died? I thought you were better than that!"

"I tried to talk you out of it but you wouldn't back down it's not my fault you latch onto anyone that will give you half a chance!"

"No let's ignore me for a second. God only knows what's happening to Nagi right now and you just let it happen! Hell I bet you helped didn't you?!" Alex's silence told Hunter everything he needed to know. "Get out of here, I don't want to see your face ever again!" Alex was done now looking up with hate in his eyes he spoke with a voice that dripped with venom.

"Oh please! If it wasn't for the fact you followed me around like a love sick puppy you would have gotten yourself killed day one you ungrateful bastard! And now its my fault you walked into a suicide mission? Fuck you! If I wasn't busy saving your ass all the time I could found Zeus myself already!" Hunter had heard enough and threw a punch right at Alex's face. The blow was easily caught however and Alex drove his knee into his gut knocking the wind out of him. Hunter was about to fall over gasping for air when Alex grabbed him by the throat and forced Hunter to look him in the eye saying. "If you ever see me again, shoot first." And with that Alex dropped him and walked out the room. Ganta ran to his aid helping him up as Hunter finally caught his breath. tears threatened to fall from his eyes as he rubbed them.

"Are you okay man?" Ganta asked trying to help but hunter just shook his head and with a shaky voice lied.

"Im fine." Ganta knew he was lying but decided not to push it as he looked back to the rest of the group and said gently.

"Come on, lets get some water."

Alex barged into Minatsukis room shocking her as he sat down on her bed and lit a cigarette.

"Hey what the fuck do you think you're doing!?" Alex took a deep inhale before blowing out smoke and laying back looking at her ceiling.

"I've got nowhere else to go"

"How the hell is that my problem? Get out!" Alex was very clearly irritated as he reached into his pocket and pulled out on of the cards Yo gave him and shoved it in her face saying.

"Look if I give you one of these will you shut the fuck up and let me smoke in peace?" Minatsuki looked at him, he almost looked pitiful his eyes were red and on the verge of tears, his usually sarcastic tone was now dull and flat and he wore this pathetic look of defeat on his face. Minatsuki simply sat down next to him and asked.

"What's wrong?" Alex looked shocked at that before quietly saying.

"I fucked up. I joined the Undertakers to get more information on this guy im looking for and then I ended up helping to fuck over Scarechain and now Hunter and Ganta hate me." She shrugged at him before saying.

"Yeah that sounds like a pretty shitty thing to do."

"Yep." She sighed and folded her arms looking at him with what he almost thought was concern.

"Tell me more."

Hunter stood at the side of the group listening to the plan. Karako was going to infiltrate the Undertakers and rescue Nagi while everyone else was supposed to work together and make a break for it. Hunter didn't like that plan what if Karako got caught she couldn't counter worm eater on her own. No she needed backup. So he waited for everyone else to leave before approaching her. She was half in an Undertaker uniform when he came over.

"Karako, I'm coming with you." She looked back at him and shook her head.

"No you're not. I have to do this on my own Hunter."

"Why? Because you're going to get yourself killed if you go in by yourself." Rokuro, now bloodied bruised and tied up on the ground spoke up.

"He's right you know..." Karako then walked over and kicked him in the teeth shutting him up. She then sighed and turned back to Hunter.

"Are you sure about this kid? You know what Hawk did isn't your fault." Hunter looked down gritting his teeth. What the hell was Alex thinking? How could he join the Undertakers? Did he really not know him at all?

"Maybe not, but if I just sit around and let the Undertakers win then im no better than him for doing them."

"Alright suit up, stay with me, follow my orders, and we might make it out alive." Hunter smiled and nodded. But then Rokuro once again spoke up.

"No you won't you have less than a zero point one percent chance." Karako kicked him again

Alex lay with his head in Minatsukis lap as they talked. It wasn't all that pleasant truth be told, Minatsuki shot down most of his excuses before he even got them out. It had gotten to the point where Alex just wanted to give up and sleep.

"So what am I just a shitty person or just pathetic?" Minatsuki smirked at that and said.

"Both." Alex Groaned at that.

"You know you aren't helping right?" Minatsuki shrugged at that and said.

"I'm not trying to. Look if you want me to sit here and tell you that everything's going to be okay you're shit out of luck." Alex sighed and sat back up running his hand down his face.

"I'm not...It's just...I wish I could fix things you know?" As if one cue Minatsuki's TV lit up with the camera on Genkaku's face

"Hello there you remaining Scarchain meatbags! I've got a little game for you!" The camera was then pointed at Hunter who had a gun pointed at the back of his head as a blade was being slowly pushed into his hand as he screamed out in agony. Behind him Shiro and Karako were surrounded by Undertakers. Some of who were ripping at the girl's clothes. "You can run out and try to escape like a bunch of rats from a ship or you can come to Undertaker HQ and did trying to be a hero! That sound like fun? Course it does!" And with a sinister laugh the camera cut off. Alex felt his stomach drop at that. Everything felt wrong, like it was all his fault. Shiro, Hunter and even Karuko he had to save them. consequences be damned.

"Well look at that, wish granted." Minatsuki said as Alex Jumped into action sprinting out her door without another word. He ran as fast as his feet would take them to the base as he burst through a side door panting.

"Genkaku STOP!" Some of the Undertakers Looked confused as they saw him. Shiro seemed to perk up upon seeing him. But Hunter and Karako both glared with hatred, they didn't care why he was here it couldn't be good

"Let them go." Hunters jaw went agap at that. What was he doing? How would this help him find Zeus?

"What?" Genkaku asked not looking up from his guitar.

"Let them go, you already have Nagi they aren't a threat anymore." Gankaku thought about it for a moment. No that wouldn't be very fun at all he had a better idea.

"Pick one." Alex took a step back in shock.

"What?" Genkaku turned his head and looked up at Alex with a smirk.

"Pick one, the other two die. Honestly your lucky im in such a good mood or I'd kill you myself." Alex grit his teeth as he stared down at the self proclaimed uber monk. Pick one? No fuck that Alex was tired of being ordered around these psychopaths.

"That's not gonna happen you sick fuck." Alex said pulling out his gun and pointing it right in between his eyes. Genkaku actually looked bored as he said.

"Sick fuck? That's rich coming from you. You claimed you were just some street thug who shot rival gang members. But Tamaki dug up your files, I know how you got that title you're so proud of." Alex's eyes narrowed as Genkaku looked over his shoulder with a smirk that was daring Alex to take the shot. When it became apparent Alex wasn't going to shoot he finished his monologue. "After all not many people have the stomach to rip an entire family apart with their bare hands." Hunter Watched as Alex looked down a look of regret on his face. He then spoke in a calm and somewhat sad tone

"I never claimed to be a good person, hell I may be one of the few who actually deserve everything that's been thrown at me this past week. And I know I can never fully come back from what I've done, that when I die there's a special place in hell waiting for me. But if you think that means I'm gonna sit here and do this shit, you have me all kinds of fucked up!" Alex then pulled the trigger as Genkaku twisted out of the way turning his guitar into its gun form and shooting Alex's gun shattering it. Alex jumped back as three Undertakers ran at him all with worm eater weapons. Alex was able to dodge the first couple swings but he was then cut across the back as one of them flanked him. Then another attacked from the side and Alex raised his arm covering it in blood. It was a reflex, something he did to defend himself in fights to defend himself and now he was going to lose his arm because of it. Or so he thought as the blade made contact with his arm with no effect of his blood.

"What?" The Undertaker asked stunned Alex was also surprised but was still aware of the other two about to stab him from the side. Sending a barrier in front of them they hit it without causing so much as a dent.

"I guess you all need to upgrade your gear." realizing their best advantage over him was gone Alex created spikes in the barrier and sent them thrusting into those Undertakers killing them instantly. He then created a bladed stilt on his foot before using it to cut off the last undertakers leg off just past the knee before creating his three foot long arm blade and bisecting the man in one downward slash. Then out of nowhere the Guards holding Hunter Shiro and Karuko were sent flying with crater in their armour. Everyone in the room turned to see Ganta standing with his arm outstretched with a look of determination on his face. As Hunter stood he stared in shock.

"Ganta!? How did you-"

"You need to make you're branch faster than sound!" Ganta said before shooting more Undertakers sending them all flying Before he collapsed to his hands and knees.

"Ganta!" Shiro called out as she started to run to the fallen boy.

"Faster than sound?" That's right Senji had said something similar before taking out the Undertakers in the Scarchain HQ. Looking up he saw four Undertakers pointing their weapons at Alex and using a fallen blade on the ground next to him he cut along both his arms as blood lightning surged out. If his blood was anywhere near as fast as lightning then he was definitely faster than sound. Pulling his arm back he then threw red lightning at one of the armoured men the worm eater did nothing against his branch as it then started to short out. Alex saw this and grabbed another Undertaker throwing them into the already shaking man as they both began to smoke before falling to the ground dead. "This doesn't change anything." Hunter said as Alex turned and sent a tendril right through one of the other undertakers. Just then a sickening crack rang out as Hibana sent her blade into Shiro sending her flying into a wall where she crumpled to the ground. Her legs twisted and broken in sickening ways.

"SHIRO!" Alex and Ganta screamed in unison as they both ran to the fallen albino. Genkaku stared down at the four deadmen with a disappointed gaze.

"Is this really everyone who's gonna show up? And here I was hoping for a grand reunion." He said opening up a large door. Karako could see the figure of Nagi as Genkaku stepped out the way and all but invited her to walk in. Alex looked down at Shiro horrified at what he saw, her legs were almost destroyed. Alex had seen rather bad injuries, injuries people never recovered from, that changed their lives completely for the worse and somehow this topped all of them. It wasn't the brutality that shook Alex though it was who it happened too. Shiro didn't deserve this, she couldn't have. but what made all that worse was the voice. It was small in the back of his mind but he could hear it clear as day. there was the cutting. All your fault. then one that screamed at him You were supposed to protect her! But the worst of it felt targeted at him like it was made just to hurt him specifically. How does it feel to let your family die all over again? Family? Shiro? No that's not possible he didn't have any family left, not anymore. But that didn't matter, that monster had hurt Shiro and she was going to pay with blood.

"You. Little. BITCH!" Alex said turning around Creating serrated versions of his normal claws. They were twice as large and twice was thick as he started to walk at the second grader who raised her blade ready for battle. Hunter then interrupted stepping in front of Alex saying.

"Alex stop we have to keep Shiro and Ganta safe! Then we can-"

"GAHHHHHHH" Only one person in the room expected that scream of agony. And Genkaku didn't need to worry about the explosions that rang out afterwards.