Chapter Seven

Love and Arms Taken Away...

Talon jumped off of the ledge, and slowly drifted down in front of them, keeping the smile on his face. Gera stood in front of Yuffie and summoned his Keyblade. Talon waved his finger at him.

"Nay nay, human... you don't want to hurt this little babe, do ya?"

He held out his hand, a silver portal forming flat on the ground. A figured tied up in spiked chains rose from it... it had long, red hair that covered the face. Talon grabbed the chains, still grinning.

"DO ya?"

Yuffie looked over Gera, recognizing the hair of what Gera told him.

"Gera... is that..."

Gera couldn't answer, his chin was shivering, his eyes couldn't have possibly gotten any bigger as a few tears ran down his cheeks.

"M.... Mella... no...."

She lifted her head, showing dozens of scars on her once pure face. Her right eye was swollen and her bottom lip was busted. But, even through all of that, there was a glimmer of happiness in her left eye as she saw him.

"G.... Ge... ra...."

He dropped his keyblade, letting it land on the ground. He slowly stepped over it and started to walk over to them. Yuffie watched in horror, unable to speak from seeing the pain on Gera's face. He spoke, his weakness in his voice.

"T-Talon... you want me... here... here I am... just... just let her go... please... I... I won't fight back..."

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..."

Talon pushed Mella forward. At first, Gera was about to grab her, but then he pulled her back toward him.

"Nah!"

He dashed toward his left, down an ally and through a white door at the end. Gera stood there, stunned. His face slowly changed into rage, his darkness forming on his body again.
"TALON!!!!!!"

His Keyblade flew into his hand as he dashed forward after him. Yuffie started.

"Gera! Wait!!!"

She ran after him, only able to keep up because of her ninja training. Gera kicked the door in and jumped inside... he saw two domations inside, one male, the other female. The male began to growl at Gera. He just glared down at him, his darkness flowing out of his very eyes. The dogs backed down slowly... Yuffie came in.

"G-Gera... you have to wait-"

"Wait!? I can't wait!!! He has Mella! Did you see her condition!? She... she has been... been...."

He turned away, tears flowing down his face, his eyes tightly closed. Yuffie reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"Gera... at least she's still alive. Wounds can heal, Aerith can easily heal those scars on her face and body..."

"No! It's... it's not only that..."

His fists tightened as he thought about it.

"It's... the fact that I couldn't.... protect her..."

Talon's laughter was heard, coming from back outside. Yuffie turned around, looking out the door.

"That... sounded like it came from the 3rd District..."

Gera opened his eyes, the purple in his eyes looking like they were swimming.

"Yuffie... stay here..."
"Huh?"

"Stay. Here."

He turned to her, staring at her.

"You need to stay here to be safe."

Yuffie placed her hands on her hips.

"No! You think that I am going to let you face him alone!? I-"

She gasped as Gera suddenly hugged her, her face red from blushing.

"G.... Gera...."

Gera closed his eyes, bringing his right hand up.

"..... I'm sorry. I must do this alone..."

He hit her neck with a chop. Her head fell on his shoulder, knocked out. Gera gently layed her down on a couch, then looked at her for a few moments... he felt so much confusion in his heart... his head snapped at the door.

"Talon..."

He walked out of the house, then bent his legs. He blasted off into the sky, making a creator in the ground from using so much energy. He quickly landed in front of the old house in the 3rd District, then peered down... he saw Talon, standing in front of Mella, who was laying down on the ground, with his arms crossed... Gera had his teeth bared as he jumped over the railing and landed in front of Talon. He gave another grin.

"Oh, you're he-"

He bent his body, avoiding a stab from Gera from his keyblade. His eyes were wide; he was barely able to see the attack coming! He jumped back, but Gera jumped with him, slashing his Keyblade at him with blinding speed. He took out his own Keyblade and used it to block the attacks, then flipped beside him. Gera slid beside him, making his body go low, and slashed upward. Talon flipped back and continued to. Gera took his gun out and began to shoot at him. He stopped flipping and ran in a circle around him, running close to the ground. He waved his hand, making a few rings of energy fly at Gera. He jumped in the air, summoning him Keyblade back. He swung it at him, the blade coming off of the handle, but was attached to a chain, which looked like it ever ended. He spun it around him and let it slash at Talon, cutting through his rings. Talons began to run up the wall, the blade missing him. It quickly retracted into the hand as he flew at him, giving a loud battle cry. He flew into him, their blades lock while their energy cracked the wall. Talon gave Gera another blood lustful smile.

"Ha! What a wonderful battle! I never expected this from a mortal!"

"Shut UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!"

He unlocked their blades and spun in a circle upward, cutting right through him, then stopped, floating about a foot above him, stabbing down at him with blinding speed again. His attack looked like he had multiple Keyblade striking out at him. He jumped back and landed near Mella. He watched and pieces of Talon fell to the ground, then ran toward Mella herself. He knelt beside her, holding her in his arms, not caring if the spikes dug into his skin.

"Mella! MELLA! Please! Answer me!"

She slowly opened her eyes, then smiled at him.

"Ge... ra..."

Her smile went away.

"Look... out...."

He quickly put her down and turned... Talon dashed at him, punching him in his stomach, his fist going a few inches in him. Gera gagged, dropping his Keyblade and falling to his knees, holding his stomach. Talon chuckled at him.

"Ha.... even if you are a good fight, you are still, after all, human."

He kicked Gera away, sending him rolling to a stop. He slowly got to his feet and summoned his Keyblade again, pointing it at Talon. Dark Lights began to form on the tip of it. Talon suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Enough, weakling."

He sliced up with his Keyblade. At first, everything stood still for them... except for the blood slowly running down Talon's blade... Gera's eyes were wide... as all the feeling left his right arm... hearing something hit the ground in a puddle of blood. He brought his left hand over to his right shoulder... he felt his own bone and muscle, and blood... his arm was cut off...

Talon glared down at him like he was nothing.

"You're too weak... You can't even beat the Heartless, let alone me..."

He kicked Gera's chin, sending him flying back into a wall. He slowly fell face first into the ground, then slowly tried to get up. Talon sighed, appearing beside him again. He bent down and grabbed his hair, lifting him up.

"Give up and die, already. You lost, and now both you and Mella are going to die this day."

Gera suddenly summoned his Keyblade and sliced up with it... Talon just caught it in his hand like it was nothing.

"Pathetic, you fool."

He summoned his own Keyblade into his left hand and sliced down... Gera's left arm slid off of him and onto the ground. He fell onto the ground, his face turning pale from the lack of blood and the pain. Talon laughed, swinging his sword to get the blood off...

"Now... to finally kill you, weak fool... wanna watch your love die in front of you?"

Gera slowly looked up at him, glaring at him. Talon gave another grin, spinning his sword in his hand.

"Watch and learn..."

He turned around and began to slowly stroll over to Mella. Gera tried to get up, but couldn't, his vision was getting blurry... Talon picked Mella up by her hair and stood her on her feet. She stumbled a bit, but slowly looked up at Talon.

"Bye Bye, Beautiful!"

He sliced up again... this time, there was no blood on his sword, since he did it so fast. Mella gasped, a line of blood forming straight down her face... she then split in two, she was cut in two clean halves... Gera's eyes grew wide as he felt his heart break, crying harder then he ever had. Talon began to laugh hard, turning to Gera.

"Now, it's YOUR tu- huh?"

A man in all silver appeared... the one from Gera's Station. He drew out a Keyblade himself. The handle was of a silver heart shape that was like the Heartless', while the blade was like a Katana, but wider and longer. The sides of it was curved inward, unknown symbols on it. Gera looked up at him, seeing he was wearing similar clothes as him... hen then layed his head down, feeling darkness consume his body... the last thing he saw before he fell unconscious was the man in silver blocking every attack from Talon with ease...

End of Chapter Seven...