Chapter Nineteen

AN: Radio stuff is still in italics!

"Troop truck made it through." Prussia said. "Vent through three drivers. They pushed the old ones out and kept going."

"We've got it." Amity said. It sounded like she was running. "Zyler and I are right there."

"Want help?" Zola asked.

"Nah, we're okay!" Zyler called. Matthew could hear some gun fire in the distance. He could also still here a few shots coming from his marksmen.

"Some footmen made a break for it." Gilbert announced. "Thirty or so started, but only about twenty made it by. They vent around the back of the Hard Rock."

"I'll sniff them out." Canada said crossing the street and going into the building. He found the back door into the alley and stopped to listen. He could hear footsteps, but they were down the hill and coming his way. He waited until they had passed by and pushed out into the alley.

The men closest to the back noticed him right away and attempted to change cartridges as Canada released his kagune. Matthew made quick work of the first line slashing at them with his sharpened wings. The second row still hadn't had time to get their Q bullets before he began to attack them. Blackbird shot crystal shards at them hitting the majority of the soldiers.

The last few soldiers had managed to get the right cartridges. They started to shoot at him, but Canada didn't back down. He slashed at the ones closest to him, but one of the bullets hit him. He let out a strangled cry feeling it skim his neck and collar bone. He felt another pair of bullets rip into his shoulder.

Matthew fought through the burning pain and killed the last remaining soldiers as fast as he could. He paused for a minute to catch his breath and let the wounds start to heal. The Canadian wasn't used to this kind of pain; he'd never been hit by Q bullets before. He caught his breath and looked back down the alley to see if there were more men heading his way. He didn't see or smell any.

"What's going on over there Gil?" Canada asked rotating his shoulder. It wasn't quite healed yet.

"Not much, there's no jeeps left over there. There are a few soldiers trying to pass by taking cover behind the wrecked jeeps." Prussia explained. "The snipers are taking care of them though."

"This is almost over then." Matthew sighed. "Zyler, how's that truck coming?"

"All clear! There's a few running back over." Zyler replied. "We're just letting them go."

"Yeah, just let them leave." Blackbird said agreeing. He went back inside the building and back onto the street. Matthew looked up and down the hill, but spotted no movement. He was starting to relax a little. He hadn't noticed that clouds had moved in until it started to rain. It was a light rain that froze as it hit the ground.

"Shit! One of the soldiers was a ghoul!" Blair yelled. Canada could hear the sounds of fighting not too far away and ran towards the sound. "She's a chimera, koukaku and ukaku!"

"I'm on my way." Matthew replied nearing the fight. He heard a yell and knew it was Blair. Canada ran faster rounding the corner of the building and spotting the ghouls. Ash was busy protecting an injured Blair, but they were way in over their head. As soon as Matthew entered the alley the American turned towards him and ignored the other two.

"Ah, there's the one we were looking for!" She smiled stalking slowly towards him. She had a sword like blade shaped kagune on her left arm and sharp insect wings on her back. Canada had only dealt with a few chimeras in his life time. He knew if they had a good amount of fight experience they were deadly.

Matthew took a few steps back as the American ghoul continued towards him. He released his kagune ready for her first attack. She slashed at him with her sword, but he ducked under it. Blackbird moved quickly hopping into the air and flipping over her. He went to slash at her wings with his own, but she turned and stopped him with her sword. She pushed back trying to knock him off balance.

Canada let her knock him back to get some distance between them. He shot a blast of shards at her, but they were only a distraction. As she blocked the crystals, he rushed at her. The nation slid under her sword and slashed at her legs. He rolled back onto his feet as she was recovering. He was starting to tire, the amount of fights and healing he'd done that day were wearing him down.

"You're a tricky thing." She growled spitting on the ground. She suddenly smirked turning to where Ash was tending to Blair. Canada growled and tackled her to the ground. The American ghoul quickly pushed him off. He didn't have enough time to recover in the air and slammed into the alley wall. He coughed trying to catch the wind that was knocked out of him.

Matthew tried to get up, but she was already there and stepped on his back keeping him down. He pushed back against her weight, but couldn't get her off. She had all her weight on his back and there was a lot of pressure on his ribs. The Canadian felt like they were about to break. He saw her bring the sword close to his back and growled. He twisted slightly and shot sharp crystal shards at her point blank. She howled in pain and staggered back. Canada climbed to his feet and put himself in between her and his ghouls.

The American ghoul was not in good shape. She had shards of crystal imbedded in her face, neck and chest. Blackbird wasn't going to show any mercy with this woman. He charged at her and before she could even react, he stabbed right through her with his sharpened wing. She let out a choked cough as Canada pulled away. The woman collapsed in a heap still barely breathing.

Matthew watched her for a moment to make sure she wasn't going to get back up. He turned and ran over to where Blair and Ash were. Ash put Blair's arm around their shoulders and helped him up. Canada took his other arm and helped the pair. Blair had along deep cut on the back of his right leg and a few smaller cuts on his hip. They looked like they were healing well. The trio walked out of the alley, Blair between Matthew and Ash.

"Haven't seen a chimera in a while." Blair commented. Ash rolled their eyes with a smile. "They're a pain."

"Yeah, a real pain in the leg, eh?" Ash teased. "Are the Americans done?"

"Seems like it, for now at least." Matthew sighed running his unoccupied hand through his hair. He cringed noticing there was some blood matted in his hair. "We'll have to find the last few soldiers and chase them back over or arrest them or something."

"Hopefully they'll leave peacefully." Ash said and the other two nodded in agreement.