T_T sorry its sooo late...


17

"You son of a bitch," Hotsuma growled under his breath.

"What's the matter? Did your past not please you?" Grave teased.

Hotsuma spared a glance in Shusei's direction. Shusei was on all fours, staring at the ground. Hotsuma could see him mouthing some words but couldn't make any of it out.

"You okay over there?" he asked.

A slight glance was all he got in response.

"Come on, Shusei! Now isn't the time." He responded keeping both an eye on the Opast and his partner.

"He's so delicate isn't he?" Grave says casually while walking in their direction, "I mean he thinks you betrayed him and he falls apart." Grave laughs, "It's almost like it's your fault."

Hotsuma clenches his fists and tries to hold himself back from lunging at the duras. Instinctively, he knows how to fight from all the experience of his past lives, but it's always frighteningly new when you engage in the first battle of a new life. Especially against a foe as powerful as this one. Not to mention, he has someone to protect now, and that someone isn't exactly mentally stable now.

"You look like you want a fight." Grave says in a low voice, "But you hesitate."

Hotsuma stands his ground, "What? You think I am afraid of you?"

"Well…" Grave loosens the cuffs on his elegant jacket, "I'll make the first move then!"

Faster than Hotsuma can comprehend, the duras was behind him. When he finally turns around to face him, Grave had already moved behind him again. This time when Hotsuma faces him, he feels a blow to his stomach and falls back.

"Well if it's gonna be this easy, it won't be any fun. Hardly worth my time as a matter of fact." Grave says nonchalant.

Hotsuma stands up and braces himself again. He curses when he can't call upon Masterstroke, his swrod.

Why?! Why can't I summon it?

"Please try to make this entertaining." Grave's voice call Hostuma out of his fog.

Hotsuma charges the duras in a futile attempt to land a blow. But again, the duras moves faster than he can follow.

"What's wrong? The Zweilts are nothing compared to me, but this is like fighting an ant." He asks the blonde, "Perhaps…you need motivation?"

Hotsuma sees the Opast glance at Shusei, "Don't you even dare." He growls a warning.

"Oh?" Grave laughs at Hotsuma's threat.

Hotsuma's fists tighten as he sees Grave walk toward Shusei like he is a wolf and Shusei is wounded prey. But against the Opasts speed and callousness, what could he do? He feels his ring on his thumb and glances at it. The shimmering silver ring houses Hotsuma's weapon. He remembers how the Murasame siblings materialized out of thin air. He wonders if he has the strength to summon Masterstroke as he hasn't yet done so in this life. As he looks up again he sees Grave closing in on Shusei.

"Many years I have been hunting you two." Grave reminices, "You damned Zweilts…If you hadn't been in the way, Reiga would have accomplished his goal. But since he hasn't, I've been tied to him and under his control. And I am quite sick of it. Do I look like a slave? Finishing you two off will bring me one step closer to freedom."

Shusei realizing the danger he is in tries to back away in a futile attempt. The Opasts long and graceful strides always kept him within striking distance.

"I am nobody's servant!" Grave howled not to the Zweilts, but to Reiga, should he be listening. In his anger the Opast summoned a claymore and held it high above Shusei's head, "It's time you die for good this time."

In a panic, Hotsuma no longer has the time to think of a proper strategy and lunges toward Grave.

The next thing Hotsuma knows he is standing to his side, in between Shusei and Grave. He looks down and sees his sword, glistening red and white and with blood dripping off the end. In his panic he must have drawn upon the strength to summon it in order to save his partner. He doesn't question it, rather is grateful it just happened.

"How dare you…" Grave hissed as he holds his hand to his side in an attempt to stop the blood flow.

For the first time, Hotsuma sees a truly evil look on the duras's face. He knows the real fight will now begin and this time, Grave will hold nothing back.

"Shusei. Stand up." Hotsuma tells Shusei who's still in a daze. He looks behind him to see if he's done as ordered, "Come on. I can't do this alone."

"I'm sorry." He says as he staggers to his feet, "I don't know. If I can fight."

"Don't say stupid things," Hotsuma holds out his hand, "By the way, I think this is yours."

Shusei hesitantly holds out his hand and Hotsuma drops the small silver ring into his palm. He carefully studies it despite the current situation. He tries to remember all the secrets that come with this ring.

"You know what to do with that."

Shusei nods and slips the ring onto his right index finger.

"Well isn't that cute? Too bad you're both already dead!" Grave interrupts.

"Like hell we are! It's time you pay for all you've done!" Hotsuma yells.

Trying to get his head into the battle, Shusei throws aside all the thoughts and memories of the past aside. While there is still so much he doesn't understand and too many puzzle pieces that need to be put together he knows that by getting rid of Grave, he may have a future, "I can't believe I was foolish enough to fall for your schemes." He whispers.

"He fooled us all, don't blame yourself." Hotsuma reassures him.

Blood still dripping from his side, Grave wields his claymore in an offensive position and readies for an attack, "Don't think you two can do any real damage to me? You may have the memories and instincts of warriors but these two physical bodies are no match for me!"

He throws himself at the two Zweilts, his first target: Hotsuma, for revenger for before. Hotsuma narrowly dodges the blow and uses Masterstroke to block the second attack.

Despite taking the current onslaught of attacks, Hotsuma looks over to find Shusei. And he sees him standing there, two blades in hand."

In disbelief he asks, "How did you manage to summon your two swords so soon?!"

"It was easy, no?" Shusei shrugs his shoulders.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Hotsuma pushes against Grave's claymore with his sword pushing him back and gaining some distance.

Shusei comes up beside him, "What should we do?"

"Pretty sure you're the one who comes up with ideas, Shusei."

"Like I'll stand by and give you two time to think? This isn't a movie, this is real life and your enemy's won't sit idly by!" Grave came in again sweeping his sword left to right in an attempt to knock the pair down.

The two stepped back in time to avoid another attack but weren't given much time to regain their footing before Grave started another onslaught.

The most the Zweilt pair could manage was to evade his attacks and they both knew they would run out of energy soon.

"Damn, he's fast." Hotsuma stated the obvious.

"A real trial by fire. How can we win?" Shusei says, "This is quite the first battle." Shusei leans on his knees to catch his breath.

"See? I told you, you don't eat well enough!" Hostuma says.

"Is this really the time for that?" Shusei quips back.

"What do we do?"

"He doesn't leave room for an opening to strike. Perhaps we can get him from both sides?"

"Let's do it, " Hotsuma braces himself.

As Grave comes at the swinging again, each Zweilt takes a side ready to launch an attack at the same time. AS the Opasts is caught between the two, they both strike at the same time, but Grave manages to twist his body enough to avoid a lethal blow.

"I see your starting to work like one. Not bad, but far from good." Grave smirks.

The wounds were merely superficial. The pair decides to not try the same tactic again given that Grave probably won't fall for it.

Suddenly the barrier they had been in begins to crumble. Grave stares up in disgust at seeing it fall apart.

"What is going on?" He looks at the pair, "No way you two could manage this."

A gun shot rings out and Grave jumps back avoiding the bullet, "Hmph, back up?" He says

Hotsuma turns around in surprise, "Tsukumo?"

"Hey, I'm here too, ya know!" His sister Toko says.

Hotsuma sighs in relief. He looks at Shusei who is clearly on the verge of passing out.

"Glad you could make it to the party." Hotsuma says to the siblings.

"Hmph, more Zweilt's to destroy." Grave says like their appearance means nothing, "Nothing more than chew toys for my pets." He says as he summons two demonic wolves to his side. Their appearance causes a shiver to run down Shusei's spine.

Hotsuma places himself between Shusei and their foes, "You okay?"

"I will be," Shusei stands, bracing himself on his knees, "I won't let him win again."

"Damn right." Hotsuma agrees, "Lets end this for good."


Apologies for the long wait! (Again…)

I also just heard Hotaru Odagiri is drawing for Uraboku again! So exciting! Can't wait to finally be reading Uraboku again !