Chapter 44
Third Person POV
Hikan dashed towards Akumu and gave off a few barrages of slashes, but Akumu was able to block them all, Akumu then jumped up and roundhoused kicked Hikan.
Hikan countered it by grabbing his leg and did a corkscrew toss towards the wall, Akumu did a somersault and jumped off the wall and zoomed over to Hikan and slashed at him and Hikan rolled to the right to dodge, after Akumu landed he glanced over at Hikan,
"You know Hikan, I'm impressed, you actually have been providing me with so much fun and you're still not dead yet!" Akumu complimented and Hikan glared at him,
"I can't die… I made promises… AND I WILL KEEP THEM!" Hikan shouted and materialized a sword and swiped the air, a fireball erupted from his sword and shot towards Akumu,
Akumu grinned and swiped the air as well, smacking the fireball back towards Hikan and the two kept slashing the fireball back and forth like a game of tennis. Finally, Akumu stopped it and jumped over the fire ball while charging a ball of energy of his own, it phased into his hand and his hand became energy filled, once he was back on the ground he charged Hikan and Hikan charged him,
Once the two got to each other, they both slashed at the other and jumped up and tried to kick, but Akumu stopped mid-kick, swatted Hikans leg away and then punched Hikan with the energy filled hand and Hikan was sent flying back.
Hikan collided with the wall and smashed it and then dropped to the floor, he only broke the wall, but didn't go through it. He looked down at his shirt and the front part was torn completely, revealing his upper body.
Akumu landed on the ground and dropped his sword, then started to clap his hands "well Hikan, it's been fun, but looks like your time is up!" Akumu said as he held his hand back and began to charge another blast of dark energy, Hikan tried to move or stand up, but couldn't. It was like he was paralyzed.
"D-Dammit!" Hikan cursed and Akumu started laughing,
"HAHAHAHA! Goodbye Hikan!" He yelled and shot the energy burst straight towards Hikan, Hikan looked up and saw the burst coming for him, but he couldn't move.
"agh! GAAAAAAAAAH!" Hikan screamed in pain as the blast hit him, he felt skin being torn off and blood oozing out of him, he lost his balance and fell out of the broken wall, the momentum of the blast made him fly towards the trees and collide with some while destroying some behind him,
Akumu walked towards the wall and looked out and saw where Hikan landed, he jumped out of the building and landed on the ground and walked over to where Hikan was.
"Hehehehe! Yes! I can't wait!" He told himself, if Hikan was down, then all Akumu had to do is drag him back to the machine and extract Hikans power from him.
When Akumu arrived where Hikan was, there were a bunch of trees that fell on top of Hikan, Akumu started to lift the trees off of Hikan until he saw a hand,
Akumu grabbed the hand and started to pull on it and Hikan was drug out of the debris, His eyes were shut and he wasn't moving, Akumu grinned when he saw this.
"Looks like the promises were broken huh?" He said and started to drag Hikan, but Hikan's grip tightened on Akumu's arm and Akumu looked back stunned,
"How…?" Akumu muttered and Hikan glanced up at him, his face was cut and bruised,
"I… Always keep… My… Promises…!" Hikan replied and started to get up, he held his chest and materialized a sword and slashed at Akumu, but it was too slow and Akumu just had to step back,
"You really are an idiot." Akumu said and Hikan kept walking at him and swinging his sword, Akumu just kept stepping back.
Hikan then tried to go for a stab and Akumu sidestepped and gave a quick punch to Hikan's face, making him drop to the ground, Akumu walked over to Hikan's side and crouched down next to him.
"This wouldn't have happened if you just stayed your old self." Akumu stated and Hikan glared at him,
"Fuck you." Hikan cursed and his fist engulfed in fire and he tried to punch Akumu, but Akumu grabbed his fist and twisted it.
"Useless. Do you really not know what's going on?" Akumu asked and Hikan raised his eyebrow,
"What do you mean?" Hikan said and Akumu facepalmed,
"And after you've been warned so many times…" Akumu muttered then stood up, "I'm sure that EVERYONE has been telling you to not fight right?" Akumu started.
"I told you- *cough!* don't bring them into this!" Hikan yelled and Akumu sighed,
"I didn't want too, they joined in BECAUSE they wanted to protect you!" Akumu yelled and Hikan gritted his teeth,
"I told them not too, I understand that they want to protect me, but I can fight you myself!" Hikan retorted and Akumu grinned,
"There's the reason, you fight." Akumu pointed out and Hikan raised his brow again, they didn't want him to fight?
"What are you saying?" Hikan asked and Akumu facepalmed again.
"Oh c'mon, it's not rocket science! Can't you tell already, your body has been warning you and everyone has been warning you! It doesn't matter if you do kill me or not! You'll die anyway, no matter what you do!" Akumu explained, Hikan was wide eyed by what he was hearing me,
"So, they were trying to protect me… All of them knew…?" Hikan muttered, they were all just trying to help him…
"Duh! Didn't you feel weird when you were using your power doing quests and freeing Histoire? News flash! That was your body saying 'hey, you need to stop or ya gonna die'." Akumu said doing a different voice and Hikan stared at him, everyone knew that he would die…
"It was went kinda like this." Akumu said then shrugged, "Screw it! Role the flashback sequence!"
Flashback
A few chapters ago, Hikan had released Histoire from her seal and had fallen asleep shortly after. Meanwhile, Histoire and Shizuki told everyone the fate of Hikan…
"Is he asleep?" Histoire asked Shizuki and she replied with a nod, "that's good, now everyone, I have something very important to tell you all." Histoire started and everyone stood in attention,
"It only makes sense that you should all know what may happen." Histoire said,
"What do you mean Histy?" Neptune asked and Noire stepped up,
"I'm also confused, what do you mean by what may happen?" Noire agreed,
"Shizuki and I knew this for a while, but Hikan's condition is changing drastically." Histoire replied and everyone's eyes widened,
"What?! What are you saying! You make it sound like he'll explode or something!" Neptune shouted,
"No! Nothing like that will happen! What I'm saying is his power is what kept him alive hrough all the abuse he's been through, it was Akumu that kept him alive, because Akumu could control the power." Histoire explained,
"So what you're saying is that Hikan and Akumu together were a brand new CPU?" Vert asked and Histoire nodded,
"Precisely, so now that they have separated, where does that leave them?" Histoire asked and Blanc stood up,
"They're not immortal anymore." she answered quietly and Histoire nodded,
"Correct, so now that Akumu isn't in Hikan's body, he can't control it anymore so in return, Hikan can't heal himself like he would before." Histoire explained,
"Alright, so we don't let him fight." Noire said and Shizuki shook her head,
"It's not just that." she stated, Shizuki stepped up into the center of the room, "Hikan's in danger as long as he uses his power, he doesn't know that the power drains his life force." Shizuki explained and everyone's eyes widened,
"What?! You can't be serious!" Noire shouted and Shizuki shook her head,
"It's a hundred percent true, I heard it from Saito. While Hikan and I were still in The Saviors, Saito and I were watching Hikan train in a simulation and Hikan was using his power, after the fight was over, he collapsed in the simulation and he was in critical condition, it was then that Saito came up with the idea of giving the darkness emotions and Akumu was born." Shizuki explained and everyone stood staring at her,
"You're not serious… right?" Neptune asked and Shizuki shook her head,
"I wish I wasn't, we cannot allow Hikan to fight at all, we'll need to fight The Saviors ourselves when they decide to show again, if Hikan goes to fight them, then he'll die…" Shizuki said and looked at the ground,
"So, Akumu is the reason that Hikan is like this…" Blanc muttered while clenching her fists,
"Then we'll deal with him ourselves!" Neptune shouted as she pumped her fist in the air,
"You know that he's not gonna let you four just go." IF pointed out and Shizuki nodded,
"I might be able to manage something." Shizuki stated and Histoires shoulders slumped,
"I apologize about telling you this, but Hikan cannot be told about this." Histoire said and everyone nodded,
"Alright everyone, we know the plan now, time to look for The Saviors." Shizuki stated,
"Yeah!"
End of Flashback
Hikan's POV
"And that's kinda how it was." Akumu said, I tried to get up, but I slammed back down to the ground because Akumu slammed his foot on my back.
"So… i'm gonna die no matter what huh…?" I said and Akumu nodded,
"Pretty much." he answered and I started laughing,
"Heh. Hehehe. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" I started laughing maniacally and Akumu tilted his head,
"Hm? Did you lose your mind? Didn't know that happened." Akumu mentioned and I looked up at him,
"If I die, then i'm gonna take you with me, I won't go down that easy!" I yelled and pushed myself off the ground and my hand engulfed in fire, I tried to punch Akumu, but he grabbed my arm and punched my face again,
"You can't do anything to me. Don't you get it?" Akumu said and I grinned at him,
"I'll get you sometime…!" I said as I continued to walk towards him, I could only materialize a sword and engulf my hand on fire, my chest was hurting and my breathing was weak, this really is killing me, but I can't stop now!
I tried to throw another punch, but Akumu dashed towards me and grabbed my neck and lifted me into the air, "You know, I kinda feel bad about this, so i'm gonna help you just this once." Akumu said and dropped me, he kicked me to the ground and grabbed the back of my hoodie, "Come with me." he said as he started to drag me across the ground, my chest started hurting even more and my arms were shaking drastically, so this is my body telling me to stop?
Akumu dragged me all the way back to where I entered Celestia, he put his hand on the ground and the area pulsed, then the portal opened up, "Well, there you go. Leave, get out of here." Akumu said as he held his hand towards the portal,
I started to stand up and glared at him, "I'm not leaving until you're dead!" I said and Akumu sighed,
"Geez, and here I thought that if I was nice, then you'll fight another day, but so be it." he said and the portal shut, I engulfed my hand in fire again and ran towards Akumu, he moved his head to the left and kneed my stomach, I grabbed the back of his head and slammed my elbow on his head, then pushed him back and drop kicked him, but he sidestepped it and grabbed my shirt,
"It's so boring now…" he muttered and I gave him a quick sucker punch to the jaw, I saw a vein pop out of his head and he glared at me,
"What's wrong huh? Kill me!" I shouted and Akumu gritted his teeth,
"Don't tempt me, I won't hesitate." he replied and I grinned,
"C'mon! Kill me, you big pussy! You think you can beat me! Ha! You can't even kill me!" I started shouting, Akumu lifted me up and threw me over to a tree, I collided with it and destroyed the tree,
"Shut the fuck up!" he yelled as he walked over towards me and stomped on my stomach, I coughed and blood splat out,
"That all ya got?!" I taunted and Akumu tightened his grip,
"Don't think that if I kill you, I still can't take your power!" he yelled and stomped me repeatedly, each stomp I coughed up more blood,
"Gh! Sure, What- Gah! Ever you say- Agh!" I struggled to say and Akumu grabbed my neck again,
"I had enough of this…" he muttered and grabbed my neck again, he lifted me up and materialized a sword "DIE!" he yelled and stabbed the sword through my chest, the sword was going through my chest and popped out of my back
"Gah! *Cough!*" I spat up blood and shut my eyes, my chest was hurting so bad already and now I had a sword going through it,
"Goodbye Hikan." Akumu muttered and a smile formed across my lips,
"Gotcha…" I muttered and opened my eyes, they were now red and black again and I materialized a sword and stabbed Akumu from behind with it and my sword went through him and me, Akumu was now stuck to me,
"No… way… how…?" Akumu muttered and I smiled,
"Gotcha…" I repeated and an energy field surrounded us, the field grew more intense and Akumu was looking around, I used my free hand to start charging my final attack…
Akumu looked over at my hand and his eyes widened, "No! How did you get that! Not even I could activate it!" Akumu yelled and I smiled,
"Past… stays in the past… and the future developes new… abilities…" I struggled to say, my vision was going blurry, I need to end this fast…
"Hikan, don't do it! You'll kill both of us and destroy Celestia!" Akumu shouted and I smiled even more,
"That's… the… plan…" I muttered and my arm lit on fire,
"Hikan! Don't!" Akumu pleaded and I shook my head,
"Goodbye Akumu." I stated and a black fireball appeared in my hand,
"HIKAN!"
I smashed the black fireball into the ground and an explosion erupted throughout Celestia, the blast shook the clouds in the sky and some disappeared, the sky turned orange and the black flames turned blue, then back to their standard fiery orange.
"AGGGGGGGGH!" Akumu and I screamed in pain as we felt our bodies burning, I started to see images…
What I saw was Neptune, Noire, Blanc, Vert, everyone, they were all looking at me and smiling, then some memories started to play back, When I met Neptune for the first time, when I kissed Neptune for the first time, it showed everything we did together...
It showed Noire, when I fought her in Lastation, when I helped her fight Kinoshita, when I came back to her after the Lowee incident, it showed the scene where she kissed my cheek and I hugged her…
Next was Blanc, it showed when I met her in the Basilicom, when I promised to help her take back Lowee, when I hugged her, read with her and when she and I went out to buy the ingredients for pudding, and when we went to the library and she bought me that series I wanted to read…
Last was Vert, too bad that not many scenes involve her, but the time I met her for the first time and when she and Neptune were arguing over me in Leanbox and the way to Lowee…
Everyone… I'm sorry… i'm going to break… my promise… good...bye…
Third Person POV
While the flames were still going, Hikan and Akumu lost their footing.
The two of them dematerialized their swords and were tossed in separate directions, Hikan was sent flying towards Planeptune while Akumu was sent in the opposite direction.
Hikan was flying through the skies towards Planeptune, his eyes were shut and he wasn't moving.
Hikan stayed like this until he reached Planeptune…
Back in Planeptune, Shizuki, IF, and Histoire were all looking at the sky and soon they saw a flash of light in the sky and then something that looked like a shooting star, it was going to land on the outskirts of Planeptune.
"That… could be…" IF started and Shizuki ran back into the house and barged into Hikan's room, Neptune was still sleeping in his bed,
"Neptune wake up!" Shizuki yelled and Neptune turned over,
"Five more minutes…" she muttered and Shizuki grabbed her arm,
"Hikan's back!" Shizuki yelled again and Neptune's eyes shot open,
"WHAT?!" Neptune yelled as she jumped off the bed, "Where is he?! Where is he?!"
"We don't know if it's him, but we need to go check!" Shizuki said as she ran out of the room and out of Compa's house, IF was still looking in the direction with a phone in her hand and she hung up,
"Everyone is on their way over here." IF said and Shizuki nodded, Neptune then bursted out of the house and started looking around,
"Where is he?!" she shouted over and over and Shizuki looked back at her,
"Everyone is on their way, just wait a little longer." Shizuki said and Neptune puffed out her cheeks,
"Fine, but I get to see him first!" Neptune said and Shizuki nodded before looking off to where the "shooting star" landed, if that is Hikan… then Akumu should be dead right? But at the same time… that fall he had…
About 30 minutes past when everyone had arrived in Planeptune.
"Alright, let's go!" Shizuki yelled and the group ran towards where the supposedly Hikan crash landed…
The group was now in a field, no trees in sight and there was dust and smoke was still in the air and flames were surrounding the area, in the center was a long track of pushed up dirt and red cloth,
"Hikan!" Shizuki yelled and heard no answer, the fire started to die down and the trail was ending.
In the middle of the field, where the trail ended was a dirt pile, laying in it was Hikan, face down and his arms and legs were bleeding, almost all of his clothing was gone, the only thing remaining was his soccer pants, that have now turned into shorts, one of his shoes were missing and his hoodie completely destroyed…
"Oh my cod…" Neptune said and everyone ran over to him, they flipped him over and Shizuki started checking his pulse and heartbeat,
"He's alive, but he's not breathing!" Shizuki said, she grabbed Hikan's hand and tightened her grip on it,
"Compa, is there something you can do?" IF asked and Compa shook her head,
"I'm only a nurse, Hikan needs a doctor…" Compa said with tears in her eyes,
All of the CPU's gathered around Hikan, "No, I refuse to let him die!" Shizuki yelled with tears in her eyes,
"Hikan, We warned you what would happen!" Noire yelled, fighting to hold back the tears,
"Dumbass, you shouldn't have left!" Blanc cursed, everyone had mixed feelings, but one true thing is that everyone was filled with sadness.
"No, this isn't it! It can't be! Author! Change this ending!" Neptune started yelling, but then it happened…
"*Cough!* *Cough!* *Wheeze!*" Hikan started to cough and slowly take in breaths, everyone looked at Hikan with tears in their eyes,
"Hikan!" Shizuki called out to him and Hikan opened his eyes,
"Ever- *Cough!* one…" Hikan said and everyone surrounded him,
"Hikan *hic* don't worry, you'll be okay." Shizuki said and tried to lift him up,
"Akumu… is dead… everything is safe now…" Hikan muttered, Shizuki and the others stared at him,
"You did it Hikan, we beat them!" Neptune said, but Hikan's face didn't change,
"Don't try to... help me…" Hikan stated and Shizuki looked him straight in the eyes,
"No! Hikan you will survive, I won't let you go!" Shizuki started yelling, but Hikan wasn't listening.
"Thank you everyone… You all gave me a reason to keep fighting… you all gave me a reason to live… The Saviors are gone… My purpose is done… I did… what I needed to do…" Hikan started saying and everyone shook their heads,
"No! Hikan don't say that!" Noire yelled and sat down next to him, "We all need you!"
"Hikan don't go!"
"I wanted… to stop… Akumu… he… can't hurt any… one else…" Hikan continued, while everyone continued to shout at him,
"Hikan you dumbass, LISTEN TO US!" Blanc shouted at him, but Hikan's look didn't change his look,
"Please… everyone… stay safe… good...bye…" Hikan said and shut his eyes, his grip on Shizuki's hand went cold and his breathing stopped,
"HIKAN!" Everyone yelled his name and Shizuki put her ear on Hikan's chest.
...nothing. There was no heartbeat, Hikan was no longer alive…
Rain started to fall and cleared the rest of the dust and smoke, everyone stood staring at Hikan's corpse, Shizuki stood up and clenched her fists…
"No… Why… WHY!" Shizuki yelled, everyone had tears in their eyes and IF flipped up her phone and started calling the guild,
"We found a body… in the field on the outskirts of Planeptune… see you soon." she said and then hung up,
After what seemed to be like war, everything was finally over, The Saviors have been destroyed and the CPU's are safe… Hikan's life was on the line and he gave it up to protect the ones he loved and the all the people of Gamindustri.
Hikan Masato… The Hero of Gamindustri...
A/N: I'm not gonna lie, writing this made me tear up a little, but do not worry this isn't the ending of The Journey, I still plan on making a couple more chapters. Anyway, all I got to say is I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I hope to see you all later!
