Chapter 14: Battle at Twilight
The team made it to Sunset Suburbia quickly and safely in their new gummi ship, and the trip was made easier with the newly installed warp drive. At the port, by the entry gate to the town, the trio heard massive explosions. The three made haste into the once peaceful town of the lost hearts. The gang was greeted by a dreadful scene: buildings half-demolished, the cobble-stone pathways stained with blood, walls blown apart, and the distance screams of fleeing mortals.
"How the hell did this happen so quickly?" Josh said in a half snarl and half surprised.
"Tairon..." Riza mumbled the name.
"Who?" Charlie asked, she tore her eyes away from the horrible scenery.
"And old friend," The angered ninja ran off toward the third district, her Brave Lion Keyblade already drawn. Mentally she dared any Heartless to get in her way.
"Wait!" Charlie went to give chase, but her cousin stopped her.
"Let her go, we'll catch up later. We have to help this first," he gestured the to the lamentable state of the town. She nodded and the two split up to help more people.
Riza made her way to the Third District, which seemed worse than the First or Second. The whole town seemed to go downhill the farther you traveled into it. She found the twin's base of operations; the door was off the hinges, sliced in half, and the door frame looked damaged. "Dae! Nyte! Where are you guys?" Riza called into the disshelved house.
"Riza...?" came a voice. It was one of the twins, but Riza couldn't tell which one, "Riza, over here."
"Dae? Nyte?" She ran toward the weak voice.
"It's Dae..." Riza found the boy; his dark hair matted and covered in dust, his usually bright colored clothes torn, darkened, and damp with fresh blood.
"Dae, you ok, buddy?" Riza tried to lift the ceiling beam of the teenager.
"I'm fine, find Nyte. He was kidnapped by this tall man with dark, spikey hair, a leather vest and a pike with the blade covered...thank you," Dae explained as Riza freed him from the beam.
"Tairon!" Riza hissed in rage.
"You know him?" Dae patted him self off. Small nicks and cuts were evident but not too serious. He went over to the computer, mumbling to himself that he had to get the town's defensive system up.
"Yeah, he's an old friend turned evil. I fought with him on Träume. But he won't live after today's fight. I'm gonna make him pay," Riza punched a wall, c. "Which way did they go?"
Without looking from the computer screen, he pointed to the back door, barely hanging on the hinges, "Head to the Solar Fields. Hurry!" Riza nodded and left the boy to his work.
Charlie jogged through the back alleys of the First District. The screams seemed to stop for the time being. So far she helped out four people. However, she came across dead bodies as well; healthy looking fighters and people. People that shouldn't have died. She passed and dead end but stopped when a pained moaned caught her ear. She turned and peered down a darker alleyway. "Yo! Anybody there?" She called.
"Help...I can't..move...can't feel...my legs.." came a strained voice of a young man. Charlie walked down the smaller alleyway, the main way's light only bringing a slight dim light to it.
"I'm here, just hold on," the warrior drew her sword and powered up the flame power to give her more light. The sight that greeted her was morbid to say the least. The man's left leg was completely and cleanly severed from just above the knee, his right three-quarter's severed just above the knee as well. "Um..." She thrust the blade into the wall, the flame still brightly a-blaze. "Hold on, I'll get you out of here." She luckily found a discarded cane to use as a splint for his partly severed leg. She tore off his shirt to use as the wrapping, not caring for the blood staining her hands and clothes. When she finished with his right, Charlie looked at the left. She removed her right shoulder guard and her dark blue vest. The brunette tied the vest around the still bleeding stump the best she could. She used the one belt that looped through her pants to apply pressure to slow the bleeding and keep the wrappings tight around his leg.
"I feel cold...and tired.." the man said. He was laying on the damp ground without a shirt and he lost a tremendous amount of blood.
"Just hold on, sir. I'll have you in a nice warm bed before you know it," Charlie whispered. She pulled the sword out of the wall, sheathing it after dousing her flame power, and lifted the young man into her arms. "Everything thing will be ok. Just stay awake. C'mon stay with me, sir," She left the small alleyway, making her way to the hotel. "How about you tell me your name? Yeah, what's your name, sir?" Chalire found the entryway to the first district main streets.
"It's...Naji.." The young man's eyes were half-lidded. His green eyes were dim and almost lifeless.
"Naji. That's a nice name. How old are you, Naji?" They made it to the Second District. Charlie was just a street away from the hotel.
"Seven...teen..."
Just a year younger than me and already his lost a limb, possibly two. Charlie mused sadly. She walked into the hotel and paid for a room. She lied the teenager down. "Rest." The man fell asleep quickly in the warm bed.
"Ah..miss!" The clerk called. He saw Charlie bring in the man and was about to leave. She walked over to the counter. "What happened to the man you brought in?" He whispered. "I was going to ask before, but I didn't think that was right."
"He got attacked. If you can have someone go in and clean his wounds often, that will be greatly appreciated. Oh! And they can't be scared of blood. He..He lost a leg and the other isn't in any better shape. I'll pay extra for new covers and whatnot, if need be." She rubbed her arm and smiled a sad, meek smile at the clerk.
He nodded in understanding. He was about to say how it was ok and the boy will be looked at, but another voice interrupted, "I'll do it." It was the bellhop that brought Josh and Charlie their food after the fight with Tonnerre.
"Farrell , you? You'll do it?" The clerk said in astonishment. The bellhop nodded. The clerk sighed and shrugged, "Ok, fine. You'll start now. Go clean his wounds and get fresh bandages and disinfectants," Farrell nodded and ran off to get the said items.
"Um...excuse me.." came a timid female voice. Charlie turned around and the clerk looked at the girl, a genuine smile coming to his lips.
"Why, Millie, what brings you here?" The clerk wondered.
"I came to see Farrell. I do hope he's being good," the girl answered. She was fair haired, the light locks coming to just above her shoulders. Her bright hazel eyes were behind owl-like blue framed glasses, which rested on her small button like nose. Freckles dotted her young looking face. Her body just a head shorter than Charlie's five-seven frame, and small built. She wore a simple dark blue collared shirt with a denim skirt which ended at her ankles. Worn-looking tan sneakers were on her feet, which she was currently staring at, avoiding eye contact with the new person. Charlie looked at the girl with a small smile, She's kinda cute in a mousy, bookish type. Farrell must adore her, heh. Millie held a few books in her arms, a timid smile on her lips.
"He's in the back," the clerk was hit by a brilliant idea, "Millie, your a medical student, right?" It was well known that the teen in front of him was known throughout Sunset Suburbia that she had her Ph.D in medicine at the age of fifteen; just four years ago.
"Yes...?" She looked up from her shoes.
"Farrell just went to go get some bandages and disinfectant for a boy that was attacked. He lost a leg and the other one is barely on. You think you can help him out?" the clerk leaned on the counter, hand on hip, his other arm across the counter.
Millie blushed, "I-I'll see what I can do. Where is he?" She looked to the rooms.
"The Orange Room. He lost a lot of blood and might still be bleeding," Charlie mentioned.
"Thank you, miss," Millie bowed.
"Charlie."
"Excuse me?"
"Call me Charlie. 'Miss' makes me feel older than I am," Charlie smiled lopsidedly.
"Millie!?" Farrell called from the 'Employee Only' room, medical items in hand. "Wha' are you doin' her'?"
"I came to see you, make sure you're doing your job," she giggled.
"Hehe, ok. Well, I guess I'll be helpin' ya out then? C'mon, this way," Farrell lead the way to the Orange Room.
Millie turned around, "It was nice meeting you, Charlie. Maybe we'll meet again." She followed her boyfriend.
"They're cute," Charlie said aloud with a hint of longing to her voice.
"Have your eye on someone, Miss Charlie?" the clerk waggled his eyebrows.
Charlie stuttered, blushed and turned to face away from the laughing clerk, "That sir, is none of your damn business!" The clerk continued to laugh.
"I see! So who is the lucky man?" he poked further with his words.
Charlie huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, back still turned to the nosy clerk, "None. Of. Your. Business." She looked to the clock, she spent too much time here. "Damn it! I got to go! Tell Farrell and Millie I'll see them some other time. See ya, you nosy bastard!" she shouted with humor laced in her voice. The amused laughter of the clerk still echoed in the halls of the small hotel.
Josh was in the Third District, more precisely, the residential area. This area was pretty left untouched by enemy hands; buildings in tact, blood not seen, and walls standing strong. "Looks like this place is ok." At the end of the road a street light flickered, casting more darkness than usual. "Hmm, maybe I should fix that?" Josh trotted over to get a better look at broken street light. He went to pull out his staff but stopped. The flickering light spurred memories of his beloved back at home in the Kingdom of Hearte. Catheryne..It was under a flickering street light. That night was very special. It was our first kiss. The night was clear, comfortable, and perfect. The stars were out, not a cloud in the sky. Josh shook his head, clearing his head. He'll muse over memories later. He had to be alert and on his guard at all times here."Gotta fix this."
"Hey! You! Stop! Thief!" a voice, muffled by the distance and the electrical tick of the flickering light. Josh turned to see a small figure slam itself into his body. "Hold that scoundral!" came a gruff voice. The figure came into view; it was none other than Kou. "Josh!" the ex-samurai-turned-store-owner called.
"Hey, Kou," Josh looked down at his captive, it was a small girl.
"Thanks, buddy. This little trouble maker cost me store a pretty penny," Kou eyed the small girl.
"What did she steal?"
"I didn't steal nothin'!" she cried in a scared shrill.
"You did too, I saw it with my own two eyes! Anyway, where are your parents? Don't they have munny so you don't have to steal from people?" He said with that glare still fixed on the smaller girl. The store-owner's gaze softened considerably when large tears welled in the large brown eyes.
"My..parents..were taken from...from me..b-b-by the Heartless," she choked out, the tears freely flowing down her face. The small bag of munny fell from her grasp as she brought her tiny hands to wipe away the tears. Kou, the once fearless samurai of past, broke down and felt a tremendous amount of pity and guilt; he watched the tiny toddler's shoulders rise and fall with each hitch of breath the girl tried to take through her sobs. He got close and took her into a hug whispering soft, soothing coos into her ear. She wrapped her small arms around his muscular neck, her crying not letting up.
He stood up and held her close, "Josh, watch out. And sorry for dragging you into this," he said quietly. "See ya later." He carried the small girl off the store, not doubt she'll be tired. Josh wondered how long she held those tears back. Before turning back to the light, Josh felt a dark presence. He looked toward Kou and the smaller girl, Josh noticed the shadows getting darker. He cursed under his breath and made a mad dash for the two. The sage tossed his staff at the Heartless, impaling it to the door in front of the store-owner. Kou noticed the sage's weapon vibrate against the door along with the dark haze of a destroyed Heartless. "Josh?" The said person now stood next to the ex-samurai.
"I got your back, just protect the girl." Josh extended his hand, calling back his Bladed Staff.
"Gotcha!" Kou hugged the girl closer, her crying has stopped. "Just be still, 'k, girl?" He still never asked the small girl her name; she nodded slowly.
"Ok scum... I mean, losers!" The twenty year old caught himself cursing off the Heartless just in case the girl would pick up that kind of language. "Have at thee!" The Heartless swarm charged, their claws and weapons drawn, yellow eyes glowing with ill intent. "Icy Daggers!" The large blades of ice shot out in the wide spread trail of the slashing blade. The immediate Heartless were destroyed while the ones followed were frozen in place. The rest just jumped over the frozen barricade, continuing with the attack. Josh did his best to hold off the assault, but was soon losing ground. "Damn it," he muttered as he was slashed across the back. His best bet, and the plan he had formulated was to make an open path to the door. He used his Slashing Twister spell to destroy and blow away the Heartless.
"Kou! Hurry to the door!" Josh ordered.
"What about you, man?!"
"Don't worry, I can handle myself," Josh parried an enemy blow and counterattacked with a slash of his blade.
The door opened and feminate, yet husky, voice bellowed forth, "No you can't!" The voice was light and teasing.
"Kuzumakii, get your ass over here and help me!" Josh roared. Charlie joined the fray, by taking out ten Heartless in her Dragon Firestorm. "About time," he grumbled.
Kou silently thanked the too and ran to his store. Charlie chuckled, "So how bad were they beating you?" Her version of 'are you ok?'.
"For your info, Miss Hapharzard-Slasher," he fired off an Ember Buster, "I was just doing fine." That was his version of 'yeah, thanks for showing up'.
"Sure," She said in a sarcastic voice, 'no problem'. "Let's finish this and help out Riza!" The two cousins charged into the mass of Heartless.
Meanwhile...
A mile behind the main city lied a enormous field. The Solar Fields, with its dry, but still green grass gave off a relaxed feeling with the setting sun. "Solar Fields...This must be it," Riza mumbled. In the distance, the ninja spotted a tall figure, the back was turned to her. "Tairon," she growled. Riza charged the looming figure, her Brave Lion Keyblade drawn.
"Speak, damn you!" Tairon punched Nyte in the jaw with his left hand, sending the smaller boy to the ground. "Tell me where the..." But Tairon couldn't finish his command, a shuriken whizzed past his ear, slicing his cheek on the left side. "What the hell?"
"Tairon!" Riza shouted, her Keyblade coming down onto his pike, which he quickly brought up with his right hand. "Die for your crimes!" Riza pushed off the pike and landed a few yards away from Tairon, her Keyblade pointed toward him.
"Crimes? What crimes? Kidnapping a boy? That deserves execution around these parts? C'mon Riza, can't cut me some slack? Show a bit mercy?" Tairon laughed.
"Slack? Mercy? You want mercy? Did my father beg for mercy before you killed him? No," She shook her head," he was too proud for that. He would have fought to his last breath." The keybearer fell into her usual stance.
"Actually he was bound and gagged as a sword was rammed through his chest from the back. Not much of a fight when the man was shot with seditive poison. Now, we're here to finish our fight that was interrupted back in that dream world." Tairon took off the pike's pouch and threw it aside. "Let's go!" He charged. Riza stood her ground, switching to a defensive pose. Tairon's blade shot out like a striking viper, hoping to dig its fang into the small Ukaizr. Riza side-stepped the thrust and brought her blade up, defending her from the slash that followed the thrust. The force pushed the ninja back. Riza retained her balance and watched Tairon make his move. He ran and leaped, but not too high, and swung his blade low to the ground. Riza jumped over the low sweeping blade and kicked the taller man in the jaw, sending him crashing to the ground.
"That was for Nyte," She muttered. "Now get up, I'm not done with you." The anger was returning, the blue-grey eyes lost their shine and turned a darker blue.
"Hah, you definitely improved from those years ago, Riza. Now, let's get started for real." Tairon stated, taking on an offensive stance, Riza opting for a defensive. Nyte watched as the two stared at each other for what seemed like an hour but was only a few seconds. Tairon made his move first, the dry grass crunching under his swift feet. "Your days end here!" He called out.
"As if!" Riza blocked the downward slash, the blades grinding against each other. Riza tipped her blade downward a bit, making the pike's blade slide off the Keyblade; Tairon lost his balance. Riza quickly dismissed her Keyblade, and kneed the falling warrior in the gut; she backed up and round house kicked him in the face. "C'mon Tairon, you put up a better fight in Träume."
"I'm not done yet!" he roared. He picked up his dropped pike, twirling it in an intimidating manner. "Don't underestimate the power of a king, Ukaizr," the self-proclaimed king growled. "Try this! Imposter of the King!" Tairon glowed a dark green hue, his body vibrating slightly. After a few seconds, his body split into two separate beings. "I know you can handle one of me just fine, Riza; but what about two?" The two Tairons said.
"Two? But how? No doubt powers given to you by the Troup Grimm. Fine! You wanna see if I can handle two of you, let's see!" Riza charged and attacked the two of them, Keyblade at the ready. She never had experience in this type of combat, fighting two of the exact person at one time; it was unheard of in her village. The two Tairons retained their full power and speed. Riza was quickly losing ground even though the battle just started. If she blocked one blade the other will catch her off guard. If a punch was evaded a kick would sweep her off her feet. She couldn't keep up with their dizzying speeds or handle the power behind their blows.
After three minutes of this close-to-slaughter, the two Tairons disappeared. "Crap, where did they go?" She slouched slightly, still keeping an eye out for the two. Her ears caught the near-silent sound of the swishing blade behind her. A flash of steel and the Keyblade was holding off the sharp edge of the pike. Tairon smiling down at her.
"You can't win, Riza. Give up. We have you beat," he whispered.
"Not..happening," the force of the older male was pushing her back.
"Too bad then; die!" the other yelled behind her, his blade coming in fast.
Damn! I can't block that! Riza's eyes grew wide with fear, death coming to claim her as his own.
Before the blade could cut her, a clank rang out; the pain never came. She looked up to see a figure holding off the blade, "Looks like I came just in time, Squirt," Ren turned his head to smirk.
"About damn time, you loser," she said through her clenched teeth. "Can we take these guys out, today?!" She yelled, pushing the startled Taion back. Although Ren's help was appreciated, Riza couldn't believe her luck.
"Sounds good to me, Little Fox," he chuckled, pushing back the other Tairon.
"OK, let's go!" Riza charged, a renewed vigor energizing her bruised and slightly bleeding body. Ren gave the other Tairon a run for his money; the four did battle.
Nyte watched from a good, safe distance as the four fought. "Amazing. I'm witnessing a truly great fight. Go Riza!" He cheered.
Riza launched herself at Tairon, who raised his pike up to block the incoming slash. The two stood there, their weapons locked together. "Give it up, Tairon. I won't let you live," the ninja growled lowly in her throat.
"Hah! You think I'll let you do that? Sorry, but I have strict orders to eliminate you and Ren," Tairon stated.
"Well, looks like that mission will be left unaccomplished!" Riza jumped back and Tairon lost his balance; Riza used this as her chance to attack. However, a form was slammed into the fallen body of Tairon, sending the both of them tumbling some yards away. "Huh?"
Tairon got up, and the figure that flew into him gone. "That should make this easier," Ren strutted up next to his sibling.
"Yeah, now, let's end this!" The two Ukaizrs charged.
"It's not over yet, Ukaizrs! Not by a long shot! King's Final Ruling!" Tairon's power shot out form his body, blowing both Ren and Riza back, his form glowing a bright green. "No that I unleashed this ferocious power, you can't win!" From Tairon, three separate entities emerged, the four of them rushed the two Ukaizrs. Ren and Riza slashed, the first two Tairons disappeared, the next two close behind.
"Brace yourself!" Ren called, Riza doing just that.
The real pike crashed into Ren's sword, Riza slashed, but missed the other Tairons. A foot shot out and kicked Ren in the face, the butt end of the pike jammed into his gut. The Brave Lion doubled over, his weapon dropping from his grasp. Tairon kneed the bent over Ukaizr in the face, sending him to the ground on his back, clutching his now bleeding nose. "Ren!" Riza roared. "Get away from him!" she charged.
"Stay back!" Tairon yelled, his aura pushing her back.
"Why are you chosing to fight me alone, Tairon? Or should I call you Albrtraum now?" Ren said, his nose still bleeding, but not profusely. He staggered as he tried to stand.
"Because, Ren, when I killed your father, I didn't see the pain, horror, shock, and absolute hatred in Riza's eyes. By finishing you off first, I can witness those emotion's racing through her eyes. When you found me standing over your father's still bleeding corpse, I saw those emotions fly through your eyes, Ren. But I also saw confusion; that was something I expected," Tairon smirked evilly. He could feel Riza's burning passion to rip him apart behind him, just yards away. Ren, in front of him, his face portraying no emotions whatsoever. "I see you put that emotionless mask back on. What, don't want to show you actually cared for the man that deemed you unworthy? Who called you his bastard son? C'mon Ren! You actually wanted to see him live another day?!" Tairon practically laughed out loud.
"I wanted to see Riza happy. And if that meant that Maikeru lived, so be it," Ren calmly, but coldly, stated.
"Ren...?" Riza uttered, confused at this information. Bastard son? Her father was unfaithful to the woman she called 'Mom'? "Ren, what does he mean? Was Dad...unfaithful?" She stepped closer.
Ren smiled, but it was small, "No Riza. Da...Maikeru wasn't unfaithful to Mom. I was...just a disappointment. I failed him one too many times and he wouldn't have it. And I didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes anymore. After an argument, he called me the bastard son he never wanted. So I took that as my cue to leave. We..never exactly made up. He would tolerate me, and I would him," Ren sighed, looking away from Riza's blue-grey orbs. "Then, after our last mission, I found Tairon, covered in blood and Maikeru laying on the ground. I didn't know what to think...too many things were going through my mind. Then Tairon fed me lies that I all too quickly ate up. Then we got mixed up with the Troup Grimm. They promised him power and the thrill of the fight, the title of 'King', while they promised me you, that I could find you. Riza, understand, if I knew what he was going to do, I would have stopped him."
Riza waited a few seconds before answering, "I know. I don't blame you, Ren. But, that doesn't excuse him," Riza readied her Keyblade.
Ren, switching his blade to his left hand, held out his hand, "Together, right Squirt?"
Riza nodded and placed her hand in his, "Together." Tairon charged, however, a bright flash emitted from the Ukaizrs' body halted him. When the light subsided, and Tairon regained his vision, a single warrior stood before him.
"What the hell?! Who the hell are you?"
"Your executioner," the being uttered in a double voice. The warrior extended arms brought forth two balls of energy; one dark one light. From the energy, the warrior summoned Riza's Brave Lion Keyblade and Ren's Night Steel. "Let's see how you deal with this!" the combine Ukaizrs rushed Tairon, then leaped just before Tairon could swing his weapon. Ukaizr hovered in the air for two seconds, the weapons gaining a red glow, "Brink of Despair!" The warrior crashed down upon the taller ninja. The three weapons clashed, the pike being the only thing between Ukaizr's weapons and Tairon's flesh. Tairon held out for as long as he could before injury happened; the Night Steel sliced Tairon's right side. He yelled out in pain, the blood flowing freely from his new wound.
"I won't let it end this way!" Tairon threw his pike at Ukaizr. The blade missed the agile warrior, but appeared behind Tairon in a dark flash. Tairon grasped his wound with his Claw of the King. His clawed gloved attained a deep crimson color, "You think you'll escape my King's Blood Stained Fist this time? Try it!" the huge red energy ball accumulated in Tairon's grasp, larger and a darker red than the first time he used it against the younger Ukaizr.
With in Ukaizr's mind, the two voices rang, What are we gonna do? Ren's voice spoke.
Dodge it, and when I give the signal, we'll use my Backlash Wave. That should finish him off, Riza's voice stated.
Sounds like a plan! Ukaizr dodged the first strike of the technique. The blood red energy ball came toward the warrior again, at a faster pace. "Opening!" Ukaizr sped toward the apparent defenseless Tairon.
"I don't think so!" his crimson claw rose up then he slammed it against the ground. The speeding Ukaizr noticed the large shadow from above; it was Tairon's attack.
"Damn it," the warrior muttered and back tracked to evade the deadly attack.
"Not so easy, now is it?" the power hungry king raised his palm from the, now, slightly scarlet ground and aimed it was the fused warrior. The energy obeyed its master and charged forth.
Riza, now?! Ren's voice echoed through their combined mind.
Now, he's expecting us to use the Backlash Wave. Plus, if it misses, we might hit Nyte; he's still behind him.
Then what? The two of racked their brain for an idea, when finally made its way to their conscious.
Got it! See how the ball is a good distance from the ground. If we slide under it, attack from below and launch it to the sky, we'll have a chance at Tairon and getting Nyte out of there!
Then what are waiting for?! the warrior put the plan into motion.
Tairon, with his attack in his line of vision, couldn't see Ukaizr initiate the plan. The duel wielding hero slid under the ball and attacked, launching it skyward. Ukaizr moved in on Tairon, hoping to end this battle. "How did you do that?!" Tairon gasped as he watched his attack be deflected. Tairon was quick to dodge the sword strokes of the swift warrior, even with his ghastly wound on his side. Ukaizr was only able to inflict minimal damage. Tairon ducked a double sword slash and kicked the fused warrior in the gut. Tairon, grabbing his pike, went into a flurry of thrusts, the agile warrior was able to dodge the first few without a scratch but soon was getting nicked and slashed. Ukaizr dodged a thrust and brought up the weapons in a cross-fashion, with his side turned to Tairon. The taller ninja went into for another thrust just as Ukaizr formed the cross; the pike's blade skidded across the Night Steel's blade. Ukaizr leaped before Tairon could counter. Tairon thrust the pike into the ground, blade down, and raised his clawed glove. "Did you forget about this?" Ukaizr looked up to still see the crimsom sphere still in existance. "Now, your finished!" Tairon swung his arm down, the energy obeying.
"Damn it!" The energy crashed upon the fused fighter like a meteor. The explosion rang out, accompanied by a shock wave. Tairon staggered a bit and Nyte was blown back some yards.
"Riza!" Nyte yelled but it came out a raspy whisper due to the dust and smoke created from the explosion. "It can't end here, it just cant!"
"And it won't," a double voice came from behind Nyte. It was Ukaizr.
"But I thought...you were..." Nyte was in disbelief. He just witnessed, what he thought, was the destruction of the keybearer and the mystery man she was fighting with.
"Nope used Fox's Trickery just in time. Now, get out of here, let me handle Tairon." Nyte nodded and ran toward the city, wishing them good luck. "You ready Tairon?!" Ukaizr startled the laughing villian.
He stopped short, "Huh?! You!" He began to stutter, "How..How are you st-still a-a-a-alive!"
"Eh, a thing called fast reflexes and speed," the warrior drew the Keyblade and Night Steel. "How about I show you that speed!" the fused ninja disappeared and reappeared in front of the unguarded and wounded Tairon. "Thousand Shinobi Slash!" Tairon, in his weakened state could do little to evade the assault. The numerous strokes of the weapons made it seem like their were more than one ninja attacking the injured king. The speed was too much; after about three quarters way through the technique, Tairon tripped, sending him downwards. He skidded an few inches. He saw Ukaizr leap for the finishing attack. The two weapons glowed, above the warrior's head, ready to be brought down to finish off the fallen ninja.
"Not this..time!" Tairon summoned his pike, the long weapon dislodged itself from the ground and flew to its master's grip just in time to block Ukaizr's finishing blow. The down ninja quickly brought his claw against his still bleeding wound, "Try this! King's Blood Thristy Pike!" Tairon placed his crimson claw against the blade, the weapon taking in the power. The staff of the weapon turn blood red, the blade letting little red energy bolts around it. He used his legs to push the silver haired ninja back, then leaping to his feet. "Even though I'm crippled, I still have enough energy to finish the likes of you off! Crimson Strike!" Tairon rushed forth, thrusting and slashing at Ukaizr. The two grappled for five minutes, neither one gaining ground one the other. Tairon leaped back and attack with a powerful thrust, Ukaizr sidestepped and slammed the Night Steel against the pike, making it lodged in the ground. "Damn!" Tairon cried.
"This ends now!" the warrior leaped, bring the Keyblade down, fast. Tairon dodged the downward swing, and evaded the following horizontal slashes made. Ukaizr grazed his midsection, drawing blood, which was followed by a powerful thrust. Tairon dodged that, but the blade bit deep into his right side, making his wound worse. Tairon fell back, screaming in pain. He lied sideways on the ground, clutching his side, the red fluid staining the dry grass under him. The left hand of Ukaizr was held out, calling back the Night Steel. The fused ninja brought the left blade down, but before he could deliver the final blow, Tairon disappeared into the darkness. "Damn," the warrior uttered. In a burst of light, Riza and Ren stood next to each other.
"Looks like this is over...for now, at least. Thanks for helping my out, Ren. If you didn't come when you did...well, I guess I would be a Riza-ka-bob by now," Riza looked at her brother, who was looking at Tairon's blood, still fresh on the grass. "Ren?"
"Riza. You're welcome," he turned and started to walk away.
"Ren! Wait!" Riza was in front of him now, "Where are you going? You wanted to find me, and here I am. You're not leaving, not again. You're the only good thing I have left from my previous life. I can't let you just walk away," Riza pleaded.
"Well, then, where will I go?"
"With me! With my friends! You'll come with us, we could use your strength. Plus, I think Josh needs another guy around," Riza chuckled and Ren laughed as well.
"Hmm...ok, I'll tag along. You sure your friends will be ok with it? I mean, I did beat them pretty bad back in that dream world," Ren explained with a skeptical look on his face.
"They'll be fine with it! They wanted to help me get you back, and now that your here everything will be great. C'mon, let's hurry!" Ren and Riza hurried toward the town.
"Geez! What a workout! I hope Riza's ok," Charlie wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Yeah, as much as I want to help, I don't think I can. I just don't have the strength," Josh muttered. Charlie agreed. The duo just successfully held off wave after wave after wave of Heartless. Charlie and Josh were sitting near the door to the First District. From the distance, they heard a door being opened then shut, "Damn, I hope its not a Troup Grimm member, or we're done for." Josh didn't even have the energy to lift his staff, let alone fend off a Troup Grimm member.
"Hey guys! Where are ya?!" It was Riza.
"Ah, good, it's just Riza. Over here!" Charlie called, she was too tired to even call Riza one of her little nicknames. "I see you turned out ok," Charlie nodded her head to Riza.
The teen looked at her body, all the cuts and wounds she sustained fighting with Tairon were gone, completely healed, "Yeah, I guess I am," She gave the cousins a huge grin. "Charlie, Josh, this is Ren, my older brother. Ren, these are my friends." After the formalities, the four made their way to the twins' house.
The four made their way inside, noticing the twins busy to work, trying to clean up the mess that was made in the struggle before Nyte's capture. "Hey you two," Josh called to them.
"Hey," Dae stopped typing, and went over to the four, "Thanks for rescuing Nyte, Riza. C'mon here, I have something you might want to see. Look at the monitor, this here shows the Heartless levels in the worlds you visited."
"Yeah, they should be at zero, right?" Charlie said.
"Should be, but they aren't," the groups shared a common expression of disbelief. "Even though you locked the Heartless away from the hearts of those worlds, the darkness in the people's hearts are what lured the Heartless back. As long as there is darkness in every heart, and there will be, the Heartless will continue to exist." There was a pause, letting the information sink into the minds of the group. "I want you to revisit those worlds and try to decrease the levels. They are way too high; that only means that the Troup Grimm are planning something. They must be stopped. Go, head to the Inu Realm first." the four left Dae and Nyte to their work.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Farrell? I mean, we barely know them," Millie asked her clumsy boyfriend.
"Sure, why not? I mean, they saved this town an' tha' there boy; why can't I give'em a thank ya present?" Farrell countered. "There! That must be their ship. C'mon, I'll help you up." Farrell climbed up the side of the gummi ship. He pushed a button and the door hatches opened. He lied on his stomach at reached out to Millie, who grabbed it hesitantly.
"Are you sure, Farrell?" Millie asked again, looking around after being lifted onto the gummi. Farrell was already inside.
"Wow, just look at all this fancy-smacy tech!" Farrell gawked.
"Don't touch anything! Just drop off the present and let's go."
"This seems like a good spot." Farrell made his way to Josh's room. The metal doors opened with a hiss, letting the boy enter. "C'mere Mill."
Aw man, the things he gets us into! her mind mused. No sooner did she step into the room, the doors closed then clicked. They were locked in. "Huh?! Farrell, this is your fault."
"Mine?! How so? I just wan'ed to give'em a present."
She sighed, "Good thing I brought this with me," she say down on the small chair in the corner and opened a book.
"Wha' did...Why do ya have that?"
"When don't you see me with book? We'll wait till they get here, then we can be on our way."
"I guess your right. Ya think they'll min' if I catch a quick nap on their bed?"
"We practically broke into their ship, I think sleeping on one of their beds won't make a big fuss, Farrell."
Farrell shrugged and kicked off his shoes. Within minutes he was snoring. Millie, some time after, followed suit, book lied open to the page she was reading on her lap.
About a half an hour later, the four made their way to their gummi ship. The doors were closed, and it looked untouched. "C'mon let's hurry, InuYasha might need our help." Riza called, hopping onto the ship, opening the doors. Josh went to setting a course to the Inu Realm, the gummi on auto-pilot once in space. Charlie and Riza headed to their room, while Ren admired the ship's cockpit.
Josh called, "Well, I'm gonna take a shower before we get there. Ren, keep an eye out, make sure no Heartless attack." Josh left to the shared bathroom. A few minutes pass and Farrell and Millie wake up from a jerk by the ship.
"How long were we asleep?" Millie asked, Farrell whipping the sleep from his eyes.
At this point, Charlie walks by and hears voices coming from Josh's room, one male one female. She stands next to the door while the conversation on the other side continues. The words were muffled by the doors and the low tone they were speaking in, as if it was a secret conversation. Charlie steps closer to listen more clearly. Still the conversation is too muffled to make-out what they are saying, but she was able to catch a few words. Her first thought it had to be Riza and either Josh or Ren, but seeing it was Josh's room, it had to be Josh. Are they..? No, can't be. Maybe they're just having a talk; yeah, that's it, a talk! Charlie heard a giggle, and something along the lines of 'stop, some one might hear us.' Riza? And Josh?! No way! Charlie was pressed against the cool metal doors, as if they were the last life line she had.
"What are you doing?" came a male voice behind her; it was Josh, fresh out of the shower. His blond hair limp with the towel on his shoulders, and with grey sweatpants on.
"Quiet, Josh! I'm trying to listen to Josh's and Riza's conversation," she replied in a hoarse whisper.
"Riza and my conversation? But I just got out of the shower, and the last I saw of Riza she was in her room.
Charlie just realized what she said and looked up to see Josh, still wet, looking at her. "Oh, then who's in your room?" She knocks. Startling the two inside.
"Why did you knock?! I can just press this button and we're in," he reached for the button his index finger was on it.
"I didn't want to be rude." He stopped and looked at his cousin with 'are you kidding me?' kind of look. He pushed the button, and in his room was Farrell and Millie. "Hey, you're from the hotel!" Charlie stated.
"Isn't that the bellhop that brought us our food?" Josh said, turning to his cousin, who just nodded.
"Why are you two here?" Charlie asked.
"I wan'ed to give ya a thank-ya presen' fo' saving our town an' that man. Naji survived an' he'll be fine. But he lost both his legs," Farrell informed.
"Well, looks like you guys hafta stick around with us, we're about a quarter away from our destination. Sunset Suburbia is a good distance away," Charlie said, leaving the room, "Oh, I'm glad that Naji is ok. When we get back to Sunset Suburbia, send him my best wishes." Charlie left.
The two looked at the barely dripping sage, "Well, are you gonna get out so I can change?" He asked like it was everyday a bellhop and his girlfriend fall asleep in his room after sneaking on to the ship.
"Sorry, sir!" Millie grabbed Farrell and left the sage to change.
It would be another fifteen minutes before the gummi ship made it to the Inu Realm.
TBC
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