just a note for this chapter: the fight scene probably sucks cuz i have no idea how to write fight scenes.
The man in the dark brown cloak watching the Reaper and his companions vanished from his spot on the roof, returning to kneel at the foot of his master's throne.
"Lord Orochimaru," he greeted the elder male with deference, tilting his his head forward in a low bow.
The Eidolons' leader barely looked up from his current activity at the sound of his subordinate's voice, appearing none too pleased about being interrupted
"I trust you have a very good reason for disturbing me, Kabuto," he stated in a soft, silky tone, much like a snake's hiss.
Pushing his wire-rimmed glasses further up his nose, Kabuto lifted his head to meet his master's gaze.
"I have located the Reaper, my lord," he informed the snake. "He has joined up with the Exorcists' former leader, as well several others, in a quest to destroy us."
A twisted grin spread over Orochimaru's wide, lipless mouth as he finally halted what he was doing.
"So, it has begun," he breathed, more to himself than to the other man, resting his chin on his open palm with an expression of what could almost be described as excitement. "Things are going exactly as they should."
Kabuto felt a faint sense of foreboding; if Orochimaru was happy about this, that had to mean there was something else going on.
"If you don't mind my asking, what exactly are you planning, my lord?" he asked carefully as he rose back to his feet, but kept his head low out of respect.
Orochimaru's smile widened, showing his distinctly fang-like teeth.
"When someone demands their freedom from you, Kabuto, you don't outright grant or deny it. No, you make a deal with them for it. You give them a chance-an impossible chance, but a chance nevertheless, so that, when you win, it will be that much sweeter because they tried and failed to get their souls back from you," the snake explained smoothly, leaning back in his throne.
The white-haired man eyed his leader shrewdly, upper lip curling as the pieces fell into place. His master had made a deal to grant a member of their new opposition their freedom, presumably if they succeeded at destroying the Eidolons.
The corners of his mouth twitched, recognizing the genius of that deal; whoever the other party was, they had made a grave mistake.
"So, you won't want me to recapture the Panther, then?" Kabuto quipped, arching a single white eyebrow.
Orochimaru shook his head, flicking his fingers dismissively.
"No, but have his former partner keep a close eye on him," he instructed slyly. "He'll be able to find out things you and I can't, things we can use to make the Panther suffer so he won't know what hit him."
The younger bowed his head a second time in acquiescence.
"Yes, sir, I shall inform Walker of his mission immediately," he consented. "Is there anything else you would like me to do while I'm at it?"
Orochimaru paused, tilting his head to the side in consideration.
"No, I think that will be all. You are dismissed, Kabuto."
Kabuto inclined his head a third time before turning and disappearing from the stone chamber in a blur of white smoke.
Once he was gone, Orochimaru closed his eyes, the smile on his lipless mouth becoming truly demonic.
Everything was running smoothly; everything was working out exactly as he had planned.
His white eyelids slid open again, and his gaze shifted onto the map he had hung on the wall behind him. Nearly all of it was covered in red flag pins, indicating all of the areas where the influence of his organization had spread.
The entire world was practically theirs, and ORochimaru wasn't going to allow that to change-not when they'd already come so far. And, once he had the Reaper and the Panther back under his control, there was no way it would.
He cupped his hands around the flickering candle in the pillar next to his throne, and whispered two seemingly innocuous words to himself.
"Game on."
Leaning up against the dark stucco wall near the window, Kanda scrutinized his quarters in the Kaibacorp compound. It was a lot nicer-and not to mention bigger-than the place he'd been previously staying. Not that that was saying much: being on the run wasn't exactly conducive to a life of luxury.
He didn't really know how he felt about the circumstances that had brought him here, though. Joining up with a bunch of people he knew very little about to take down the people he used to work for was definitely not something he'd considered before.
However, given what he did know about his new allies, he had a feeling it might have actually been a good idea-and sometimes, drastic times called for drastic measures.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his burned phone buzzing in his pocket.
Since there was only one person with the number, Kanda knew who it was, and he picked it up immediately.
"Just checking in, Kanda," his partner's voice came through the speaker, almost annoyingly upbeat as always. "What happened with that Hiwatari guy?"
"He asked me to help him get revenge on the Eidolons for turning him into a vampire," Kanda answered in his usual terse tone, tucking his free hand into his pocket.
"Really?" Allen replied, a note of incredulity entering his voice.
Kanda inclined his head, although he knew Allen couldn't see him.
"I said yes," he continued, his gaze turning to the window next to him and staring impassively out at the sprawling grounds.
He could practically hear his partner's shock in his head as he responded.
"You'd really put yourself on the line by getting back on the ghosts' radar to help someone you don't even know?" Allen asked, sounding faintly bemused.
"Well, he did manage to get the white dragon and the Legacies to help him, not to mention track down the Reaper-something even the Eidolons' best hunters couldn't do," Kanda pointed out matter-of-factly. "Besides, this isn't to help him. You know I have more than enough of a reason to go after the ghosts; the only reason I haven't is because, as much as I hate to admit it, I couldn't take them on alone. But now I'm not alone, and it is long past time to make them pay for all their sins."
Static crackled in his ear as Allen let out a quiet, thoughtful hum, clearly pondering.
"Well, I suppose when you put it that way," he said slowly, and Kanda could just picture him with that unfailingly optimistic look on his face. "But do you really think you can trust all of them not to stab you in the back if things get too hairy?"
"No," Kanda answered instantly this time, fingers flexing at the hilt of his katana. "But I trust that, if they really want the Eidolons defeated, they need me as much as I need them."
There was another brief silence after that statement, during which Kanda continued to scrutinize the compound's surroundings, assessing if it were really as secure as Kaiba proclaimed it to be. It seemed so, but Kanda wasn't one to make judgements about anything based on first impressions.
Once again, his contemplation was interrupted by Allen.
"Well, be careful," his partner advised with obvious concern. "I wouldn't want you to make the same mistake you made with the ghosts."
Kanda's nostrils flared at the reminder of that failing, and at the uncharacteristically mocking note in Allen's tone when he brought it up. That wasn't something he'd ever expected out of the younger man-and he wasn't sure he liked it.
"I will never fuck up like that again," he practically hissed, voice dropping dangerously.
He heard Allen let out a quiet laugh.
"Calm down, Kanda. I didn't mean it like that," the younger said with a rather abrupt return to his previous tone. There was a noise Kanda couldn't identify, then Allen exhaled. "Look, I have to go, but watch out, okay?"
"Bye," Kanda bade him farewell curtly, hanging up before Allen could say anything else, and flipping the phone closed.
He tucked the device back into his robes as he turned away from the window again, lips compressed in a thin line.
Though his delivery did leave a lot to be desired, Allen had brought up a good point: could he really trust any of these men not to betray him when things got serious? They were all pretty much strangers, after all.
In truth, there was really only one way to find out. Perhaps it was time this group of theirs made their first move against their enemy.
It took a little time, but eventually, all of the members of the rebellion gathered in the center room of the compound, taking up varying positions at the long, varnished table or up against the brown walls.
"So," Kaiba was the first to speak, crossing his arms and turning his white-blue eyes on the dual-haired incendus across from him. "Now you've got all of us together, I hope you have an actual plan of action."
Kai met his piercing gaze without blinking, his pale features so blank and still they could have belonged to a statue.
At least, until he spoke.
"I do," he confirmed, Russian accent soft and impassive. "And it's quite a simple one: let the Eidolons know they chose the wrong person to make an enemy of, and pick them all off, one by one."
The white dragon's bronze eyebrows furrowed slightly at the vague statement. "And how do you propose we do that?"
Surprisingly, Kanda was the one to answer that question.
"We start by sending the message: we attack one of their headquarters, so they know there are finally people who aren't afraid to stand up to them," the panther declared fiercely, setting his jaw as he looked at each one of his companions in turn, as if waiting for any of them to argue. "And we can also use the opportunity to take out some of their weaker members."
There was a brief pause while everyone seemed to consider his suggestion, most with inscrutable expression; Tara was the only one to smile.
"I think that's a great idea," she commented, giving Kanda an approving look from her seat in one of the wicked chairs as she stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing them at the ankles. "We all have our targets, and this could be a good exercise for taking care of them."
"This attack should not involve all of us," Itachi piped up suddenly, his low, mellifluous baritone effortlessly commanding all of their attention, despite the fact that it was barely above a whisper.
His eyelids slid slowly open, black coals seeming to focus on nothing as he continued.
"We will lead a concentrated strike with three members: two to distract the guards while the third seeks out the information we will need to decimate the ghosts from the inside out."
It was a good plan; at least, no one seemed to want to argue. Tara, however, still had a question.
"So, who's going, then?" she wondered curiously, leaning back in her chair and turning her gaze on the elder Uchiha.
"Hiwatari, Kanda," Itachi tilted his head toward each man as he said their names; then, he paused before announcing the final member of the line up. "And myself."
Tara's olive-skinned forehead creased.
"Do you really think that's the best plan, Itachi?" she queried with obvious concern. "Orochimaru is still searching for you; you'd be letting him know where you are."
As she expected, Itachi barely batted an eyelid.
"So ne it then: I've been hiding in the shadows for long enough," he stated, sounding as if he was speaking more to himself than to the night goddess.
His dark gaze shifted to Kanda. "You have a location in mind?"
The younger man nodded.
"They have a base down on Miyori Street that I've been planning on hitting for a while; it's home to the Akatsuki and the neko-jins-all of whom I've faced in fights before, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get inside."
Kai's eyes flashed at the mention of the neko-jins, amethysts blazing crimson for an instant so brief no one even noticed.
Itachi was silent for a moment, considering, before accepting the suggestion.
"Very well. We will survey the site first, and, if it is still active, we will proceed. We leave in an hour; prepare yourselves."
He left the room then, presumably to do exactly that.
An hour later, the three men were perched on top of a wall at the end of Miyori Street, scoping out the building at the address Kanda had provided.
It was a military base-like structure, similar to the place they were currently staying at, only slightly smaller and with actual guars at every entrance.
Suffice it to say, it was definitely still active.
Itachi lowered himself into a crouch, narrowing his eyes at the site so he could scrutinize it more carefully and get a better picture of what they were dealing with.
"There are wards against teleportation all around, so the back door will probably be our best bet," the Reaper declared succinctly, not looking at his companion; therefore, he didn't see Kanda frown at his assessment.
The Panther opened his mouth to point out that there were more guards there than at the front-an oddity in and of itself-but Itachi had already leapt down from the wall, landing in the shadows of the street below.
Tossing a cursory glance at Hiwatari, who didn't look at all concerned by Itachi's statement, Kanda let out a quiet huff before following suit, drawing Mugen as his boots hit the ground.
He saw Itachi already locked in combat with the four guards by the door way as he approached, but there was something strange about the fight. The guards seemed like they didn't really want to be fighting him-they seemed to not even want to meet his eyes.
Kanda's frown deepened. He knew the Reaper had a fearsome reputation, but these men's reaction to him was beyond anything he'd expected.
He didn't have long to contemplate, though, because the second he entered the base's grounds, the guards caught sight of him and rushed to attack, allowing Itachi to slip inside without any further hindrance.
Kanda raised his sword, ducking under one of the guards' strikes and deflecting another before mounting one of his own, thrusting Mugen toward the one in the gray and green uniform.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Panther," the guard sneered in a familiar Chinese accent as he parried the attack. "Finally get tired of hiding like some dirty snake in the grass?"
Kanda slashed his sword to the side, knocking the guard in white to the ground before retorting coldly. "I don't have to explain myself to you, Yan."
His opponent's cat-like eyes flashed venomously.
"You're right, you don't; but you will have to explain yourself to Lord ORochimaru when I return you to him," he snarled, pulling out a spiked chain from his belt and hurling it at Kanda, obviously trying to capture him.
Kanda nimbly stepped out of the way, stabbing the guard who tried to hold him still in the gut. Stepping back, he ran his two fingers along the edge of Mugen's blade, causing it to glow a similar shade to his eyes, and then lunging straight for the neko-jin.
Yan managed to evade his first wing, but the second knocked him off-balance, and he had to struggle to remain on his feet. He let out a quiet growl, dropping to a crouch and aiming his chain at Kanda's legs in an effort to trip him up, but Kanda leaped away, sending a bolt of electricity off his sword in response.
It struck his opponent in the arm, jarring him enough that he dropped the chain, yelling out in obvious pain. Kanda didn't give him any reprieve, though; he quickly lashed out again, holding Mugen at an angle and intoning under his breath: "Underworld creatures, First Illusion!"
A series of small, red-eyed creatures suddenly emerged from his sword, converging on the yellow-eyed Eidolon and knocking him onto his back.
Yan let out an almost-lion like yowl as what felt like a million tiny needles pierced his skin, and he felt his energy leaving him. He tried to get away, to fight back, but the things just came after him all the harder.
"Don't worry, it won't kill you," Kanda called out as he sidestepped another guard's attempted strike, raising Mugen just in time to block it. "The first illusion isn't a killing blow unless you're fully human."
Yan didn't speak, too busy growling at his attackers; but he did press a button on the leather cuff around his left wrist, making Kanda's brows furrow. He knew what that did; there were going to be reinforcements coming.
It wasn't until he saw them running around the corner that he realized he was going to have to fight them on his own-for Kai had disappeared, presumably inside the base as well.
Ray had been waiting for this.
From the second he'd fed his blood to his former friend and snapped his neck, he'd been waiting for Kai to come back to-try to-haunt him, one way or another. And now it appeared the moment was finally here.
He sensed the fledgling's presence before he saw him, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he turned around to face him.
Everything about Kai was different-or everything on the surface, at least. His skin was paler, his body was leaner-but the most significant change were his eyes. Once, they'd been a pure amethyst; now, in the darkness of Ray's quarters, they were a deep, writhing crimson, like freshly spilled blood.
To anyone else, it probably would have been deeply unsettling, all these alterations to Kai's appearance; but, since Ray had been the one to bring them about, they were actually quite the opposite. He'd done this, made his former friend into this, and now he was seeing the result.
He smiled at the cold, emotionless expression on the dual-haired vampire's sculpted features.
"It's good to see you again, Kai," Ray greeted him amiably, tone not quite reaching the malevolent gleam in his amber eyes. "How's the new lifestyle treating you?"
The incendus' crimson orbs narrowed slightly, but other than that, nothing about his expression changed. He didn't even move; he could have been a statue, if it weren't for that slight motion of his eyes.
Is this what you wanted to make one of your best friends a monster to make sure he made it his afterlife's mission to destroy you like you destroyed him
Mission accomplished
Ray couldn't hold back a snort at the typical lack of response. That was a schtick he recognized all too well. Kai may have looked different, but his personality was the same as ever.
"If you came here to try and make me feel guilty for turning you, I'm afraid you wasted a trip," he continued calmly, hands slipping into his pockets as he observed the fledgling with a cool nonchalance that didn't really befit the situation.
Kai's stare intensified, and he finally replied.
"So, it was you," he stated icily, arms folding across his chest. "I'm assuming your boss ordered you to do it, and it wasn't just some random whim of yours?"
The lamia grinned, showing his pointed incisors.
"Come on now, Kai, you know that' snot how this works," he tsked at the former human, wagging his finger like he was reprimanding a naughty child. "It'd be more than my life's worth to tell you that. If that's what you came here for, you really did waste a trip; I'm under strict instructions not to tell you a damn thing."
Kai exhaled soundlessly; he didn't seem at all irritated or upset. He'd expected that, to be honest. After all, the Eidolons weren't exactly known for divulging their master plans to their victims.
"Fine, then, let me tell you something," he shot back in an even colder tone than before, uncrossing his arms and taking a threatening step toward the elder vampire.
"You should have killed me, instead of listening to them, because now I've made it my mission to kill you. And, thanks to your mistake, I have an eternity to make it as painful as possible."
Far from being intimidated, Ray actually appeared amused as he stepped up, meeting Kai's glare with his smile still firmly in place.
"That might be a little scarier if, you know, I wasn't like five times your age," the lamia intoned with a soft snicker, watching Kai carefully with his slitted gaze. "How about you try again."
The younger vampire didn't flinch, either.
"Even a vampire as old as you has a weakness," he retorted smoothly, not missing a beat. "Whatever it is, I'm going to find it, and I'm going to exploit it to its fullest extent."
Ray spread his arms as if to say, 'go for it'.
"Go right ahead. We'll see who makes it out in the end," he said almost lazily, as if he were daring Kai to make good on that promise.
It was Kai's turn to smile-and his was the smile of a predator luring its prey into a false sense of security.
"You're going to regret saying that, Kon," he stated, voice dropping to a hiss as he bared his fangs in an obvious warning. "Mark my words."
That was the worst mistake you will ever make