Dead And Alive
Part 3

The group ran as fast as they could. Wolfgang stood in the back with Dash as Alexia and Taiyou covered the front and okayed every person for a frontal movement. James climbed a ladder upto a water tower and scanned every nook and crany. No hostile units or civilians. They were all asleep. Then James spotted a light shining through a open window, curtains flying. A shadow loomed infront. It was Ikamaru, reading a simple book. He hadn't noticed James when he full scoped the window and reloaded a needle with a CLINK.

Alexia spotted James reloading and signaled the others to be careful. Too late for Dash, as he was right under the window. Ikamaru instantly heard the footsteps and walked over to investigate through the window. Dash tried to run away, but he knew it would wake everyone up. Wolfgang took out his kunai gun and aimed as well did James. They were ready for anything. Ikamaru would've been dead if he hadn't been called by the old grandma. The entire group sighed. Except Taiyou. Unfortunately, the old lady just happened to yell out "Ikamaru". And Taiyou was just next to Dash, who couldn't hear her say the name. Taiyou took out her exploding note and wrapped it around her kunai. Dash noticed and soon enough crawled away. He ran up a ladder to another tower to start the operation. Wolfgang and Alexia were right behind Taiyou. At that moment, a brave silence appeared for a while. Then it happend. She threw the note into the room and ran. The formed a hand seal, and it exploded.

Ikamaru heard the noise and rushed back upstairs. The small room in the hotel was obliterated. Gone. Destroyed. Nothing left but a open hole. He looked down to find both of his Katanas lying, unscratched. He was about to jump when a needle shot through the air. "Shit!" James swore as he reloaded. Ikamaru was lucky it missed. It was right under his chin! The old lady ran up to find Ikamaru hiding behind a corner. "Don't come near here!" The old lady was frightened, but understood and went down to wake up the others slowly. Ikamaru peeked around the corner to find James scoping around the place. Then he felt a metal point touch his neck.
"HANDS UP!"
It was Alexia. She had her serious eyes on. She had actually thought that he had caught him. Unfortunately, she was wrong. Ikamaru kneeled down and wheel kicked her legs. In an instant she tumbled down the stairs. Ikamaru jumped up and landed on the un-armed girl. Ikamaru had his pocket kunai infront of her. Then he kneeled back, surprised.
"You're a girl...?"
"Wha...Whatya think I am!?" Ikamaru blushed as he removed his arms from her chest. Then he handed her the gun.
"I don't like killing people who can't fight back"
"Shut up! Your only saying that 'cause I'm a girl!" She aimed and fired. Ikamaru speed shifted himself with a low crouch and both hands across. Alexia shot again, only to have missed. Ikamaru dodged the first shot by speed shift-side flipping to the other side of the stair case. Then he rushed back up, but the bullet caught up with Ikamaru's foot. Blood rushed out and Ikamaru fell back first on the floor. Alexia quickly stood up and ran to Ikamaru. She pointed her gun at him, with sorrow eyes.

A While Back

Ikamaru touched where his heart would've been. Nothing. Not a single sound. Ikamaru's eyes turned purple, and the old lady stepped back. Then she said something that alarmed Ikamaru more.

"We didn't need to take your heart out"

Ikamaru suddenly surged with confusion. Then she felt closer. Finally, he heard something. Thump...Thump...Thump. Ikamaru knew it couldn't be right. Most hearts went Dum Dum Dum Dum. The old lady sat down on the bed.
"When the medical ninjas looked in, they found a half black and half red heart. The black side... had black wings"
Ikamaru's eyes widened.

A little while after, Ikamaru was still sitting on the bed, tired. Then the old lady stepped in.
"I beleive I haven't introduced myself, or the other children. My name is-..."
"Maryilin Kanashi. Catherine Itsuka. Chandler Itsuka" Ikamaru said silently. Maryilin was surprised.
"How did you know!?"
"The family portrait with all the names" Mary then appeared to have a sad emotion clawing her face.
"It's not a family. I run an orphanage here" Ikamaru looked at her.
"Where are the other children"
"Dead" Tears appeared through her eyes. Ikamaru's eyes started bulging up and down.
"D-d...dea..."

"Dead" Catherine Itsuka said as she walked down the stairs. "They died ever since the nuclear holocaust killed their family and mutated them into Giant Desert Worms. Some even turned into-..."
"That is enough, Catherine! Please go and tell Ms. Githdari we need some extra money"
"...Money? Why do you need-..."
"We need money to help run this orphanage, pay the taxes, get supplies for winter, and pay for the treatment that Chandler needs for his arm"

Suddenly there were screams and shouts all over the the place. Maryilin quickly rushed out to see what was happening. A Giant Desert Worm picked her up and tossed her into a nearby billboard. Ikamaru's eyes turned purple again. He released his Pa-Purugan. He picked up his sword and unsheathed it. He released the metal onto the berserk giant's head. The insect dodged it in a clumsy accidently crouch. Then he knocked Ikamaru back in the house by headbutting his stomach. Ikamaru tried to stand back up, but the worm threw a rock solid... rock at Ikamaru. Luckily he dodged it. Ikamaru quickly threw one of his swords at the giant, hitting his direct eye. Then Ikamaru grabbed his 'Sword of Flames' katana and charged at the best, slaying it with a strike to his chest. The beast screamed a frightening tone, then crash landed on the hard soil. Ikamaru sighed a sigh of happyness, and limbed to Maryilin's side. Ikamaru checked her wound and yelled out for a medic nin. Soon enough one came and looked at her wound.
''It looks like she'll have to stay in for a while. Her legs fractured, but that's all, thank god''

Back To Current Time

''I know you don't want to kill me. Those eyes tell it all'' Ikamaru said, both eyes closed with a smile. Alexia was frustrated.
''Shut up! Like you know! I can kill you right now!'' She put the gun closer, reaching Ikamaru's neck. Ikamaru, losing 20 of his assurance, still kept to his own knowledge. While they were staring at each other, Ikamaru grabbed a loin cloth and wrapped it around the bullet wound. Thankfully the bullet had bounced off, surpisingly. Ikamaru stared at her one more time, then speed shifted sideways. Before Alexia could react and shoot, Ikamaru kicked her down the stairs again. Then he looked out the window and saw James there with his sniper. He smiled. Ikamaru ran down the stairs to help Marylin.

James didn't understand the smile and simply scoped harder. Then he heard a rough voice behind him.
''Put those hands'f yers up. Yer under arrest'' The gun steadily poked his back. James was worried and lost 45 of is hopefulness. He didn't like hurting innocent people. Well, not anymore. He thought that he could simply jump off the tower and land quietly. But he was wrong. The second he moved, as he picked up his Sniper Rifle and tried to run away, the police Warrant officer tripped him onto the ground. Then he took out his kunai and got ready to strike. James flipped around. He was face to face with the kunai. The officer was about to scrape his face off, when images and flashes of James past filled his eyes and thoughts. Without thinking, he pulled his sniper's trigger.

Next Episode,

James Arthur King William the fifteenth. Part of a proud family of heroic adventurers. But Jame's future takes a twist of the desert, as he embarks on an adventure to escape from his so called heroic family when he learns the truth about Humanity.

James: Truth Versus Family