--Disclaimer: I don't own AKIRA or its characters/gangs/locations. I only own Kiba and her 'friends'. So don't flame me, or I'll report you.--

AN: Warning here? Tetsuo's mouth. It's foul and horrible in this chapter. Almost every word that spills from his mouth is a curse or threat. You have been warned.
Kaneda thinks he's so great in this one too…but don't expect to see him or Kiba much again; it's just a quick appearance.
Oh, I also got rid of the 'characters' thing because you should all know who's in this by now. Kyubi's name no longer has the dash above it either, it saves effort. Lol.

Have you caught me yet? If you haven't discovered already that I have been using references to the Akira MANGA and the videogame Okami then…well, you know now. DON'T HIT ME!!

Tetsuo Take Ato Niban Kikai

Part 6: Pain, Anger And Confusion

In the depths of Neo-Tokyo…there stood a bar surrounded by shady looking teenagers, either smoking or chewing on toothpicks.
Through the entrance (which could only be reached by going down some stairs) laid the main bar and its hosts; Shotaro Kaneda and Kai.
It seemed a meeting was taking place right now, since both Kiba and Kyubi where there too.

"Kaneda, I need your help. It involves our newest recruit." Kiba said as she took a seat, Kyubi stood nearby in a very serious and stern pose.

"Oh, why do you need MY help? Shouldn't you and old fox-face be able to handle it? Wait! Let me guess again! You need my help because you're admitting my gang is better!?" Kaneda joked, nudging Kai who was chuckling beside him as they finished off cleaning the beer glasses.
Kyubi growled before slamming a map of the CMB on the table in front of Kaneda, Kiba seeming unaffected by the loud bang of Kyubi's hand slamming the map on the table. She appeared to be just sat there, a very serious glimmer in her eyes.
Kaneda and Kai jumped in unison after Kyubi slammed the map down, though.

"The Central Military Building has him; you've been there before so you should be able to help us get to where we want to be." Kiba explained, Kaneda edging his hand towards the map slowly as he eyed Kyubi…who was still growling at him.

"Kiba…Kaneda only went in once and that was with a secret organisation, they had equipment that helped them get past security too. We don't have anything like that." Kai answered.

"Look Kai, I know this sounds like suicide…but Kyubi found a small entrance into the sewers we could take, we just have no idea how to get to the 15th floor. If Kaneda and some members of his gang came with us we might be able to get up there." Kiba explained.
Kaneda just barely touched the map before Kyubi smacked his hand away; still growling at him he edged the map further away from Kaneda who was now rubbing the hand that was smacked.

"No way! I don't trust old fox-face one bit! And why do you care about this new guy anyway!? It's not like he's any different from one of your other goons!" Kaneda snapped.

"Do not question our new leader!" Kyubi boomed, causing Kaneda to jump backwards and fall over.

"N-new…new leader!!?" Kai coughed as Kaneda got back up, both displaying an expression of shock.

"That's right; I'm the new leader of the Rune-Tooth gang…until I get Tetsuo back." Kiba answered.

"So that's why Oni isn't here...anyway, I don't think you should fuss over this new kid. You might find someone better than him! I mean…is he your boyfriend or something? I thought fox-face was your guy!" Kaneda laughed, Kyubi growling at him again after the comment.
That was when Kei entered the bar.

"Kaneda, you won't believe what I just found out!" she shouted in a tone that seemed to make her sound afraid, a picture in her right hand.
Kyubi stopped growling and made room for Kei to get by so she could see Kaneda up close; Kiba still sat in the same place looking directly at Kaneda.

"What's the matter Kei? You look like you've seen a ghost or something…" Kaneda asked in a concerned tone, leaning towards his girlfriend who had flung herself across the bar; trying desperately to give Kaneda the picture in her hand.
She was shaking too, almost out of fear.
Kaneda took the picture and looked at it; narrowing his eyes as he examined the image.
After looking at it for a solid 15 seconds his eyes widened.

"This…this is---!!!" Kaneda suddenly started to tremble himself.

"I knew I recognised him! I went to the Rune Nightclub a few nights ago with some friends and managed to get hold of a picture of the clubs new male geisha; then after looking at it for some time I remembered who he was! It was that old friend of yours who vanished 5 years ago!" Kei cried out, her fists clenched as she still leaned over the bar.
That was when Kaneda and Kai huddled together and began to talk violently, shouting every now and then at each other.

"So you DID know him? Well…isn't this a surprise. I figure you're still not interested in helping us rescue the little whelp?" Kiba questioned, seeming unaffected by the exposing of Tetsuo's old friends.
Kyubi on the other hand, was in a state of shock himself.

"You mean that kid was a spy!?" Kyubi boomed.

"No, he just had amnesia…maybe seeing his old gang might trigger his memories to come back…" Kiba answered.

"You don't seem like yourself today, Kiba." Kyubi blurted out after the ongoing discussion behind the bar stopped.

"I don't know what's come over me, this morning I felt really ashamed of myself for letting Tetsuo run off like that…by midday I felt like I had known him for years, suddenly bursting into emotional mood swings. Then a few hours ago I just felt calm and relaxed, ready to challenge anything. I'm only really desperate to take Kaneda with us so he can help 'wake Tetsuo up'." She explained, Kyubi raising an eyebrow after hearing her last sentence.

"What do you mean by 'wake Tetsuo up'? And how come you already knew about Tetsuo being in the Capsule Gang!? What are you hiding from us!?" Kyubi snapped before regaining his cool.

"I…don't know…4 children appeared in my dream last night and told me a bit about Tetsuo and Kaneda…and how they wanted him to 'wake up'. Next thing I know a dark fog engulfs the children and they vanish…screaming in terror." Kiba explained.
Just as Kyubi was about to say something, Kaneda coughed loudly to gain their attention.

"Alright, I'll come and help you out. But I'm only taking Kai with me! Everyone else is staying behind." Kaneda explained, Kiba nodding gently as a response.

"That's good to hear…I didn't mind about you bringing back-up, just as long as you came." She revealed, Kyubi falling into silence once more.

"So…when do we get this escape thing rolling?" Kaneda smirked.

"Tomorrow I will tell you everything about the plan me and Oni came up with…but we'll take action in 2 days time. Be ready." She answered.
---

Meanwhile over in the CMB, the Colonels office…

"I want a full report on it! Not some pathetic little idea!" boomed the Colonels voice from behind his office door, Dr.Zenchi stood outside flicking through his notebook.

"NO EXCUSES! I want that report by Monday! You are dismissed!!" the Colonel boomed again, soon followed by a military General leaving the office in a bow; still facing the Colonel's direction until ushering Dr.Zenchi inside.
Soon after Zen was inside the General ran off in a panicking manner, obviously to write up this report the Colonel wanted.

"Doctor, take a seat would you." The Colonel said as he glanced through the blinds covering his window, separating the folds with his fingers to 'sneak a peak' outside.
Zenchi nodded and took a seat right next to the old Professor and another older looking doctor, who where both sat opposite the Colonels desk.
The Colonel then took his seat behind his desk and started to rub the bridge of his nose as if soothing a headache.

"You should all know why I have summoned you all here…" the Colonel began.

"…it's about Number 43's dreams, Number 42's behaviour and most important…Number 41's power. All three pose a certain degree of concern to me. Professor; I hear you have some positive news about Number 43…so I wish to start with you first." The Colonel explained.
The Professor bowed slightly and then sat back down in his seat.

"Yes sir, she seems to have been happier since Number 41 arrived. Her powers have soothed and we no longer need to give her any form of medication, it is rather odd…but it is still good news." The Professor began.

"We have also examined her power pattern and now know that she has reached her limit, we don't have to worry about her getting any more powerful." The Professor finished.
The Colonel sighed with relief before nodding at the old Professor, turning his attention to one of the other doctors.

"Doctor Ankai, what can you tell me about Number 42's behaviour? Has it improved?" The Colonel asked.

"I'm afraid there is no change sir…we put him back on medication and have gotten back to testing, but he is still reluctant to tell us anything about what happened to Number 41. Whenever we ask him about it he gets angry and refuses to talk to us or resume testing." Dr.Ankai answered, shaking his head as he spoke.
The Colonel maintained a 'cool composure' but it was obvious that he was extremely irritated by what he just heard, he was cursing under his breath and fiddling with a nearby pen.
To take his mind off it he turned to Dr.Zenchi and nodded at him.

"Doctor Zenchi; has Number 41 spoken to you about anything? And…how is he?" The Colonel asked.

"He may have started acting a little defensive but…he seems to have calmed down a little now; we managed to speak to him earlier but he refused to say what happened. Normally he would just curse at us and tell us the problem, but yesterday he would shout and scream at us to not approach him…then he'd start to cower and seek some positive reinforcement. And then it would start all over again. I think he may be suffering from Psychic Trauma." Zenchi explained as he entered a thinking pose.

FLASHBACK!

"Don't fucking come near me!" Tetsuo cried out before pushing himself away from Dr.Zenchi.

"Tetsuo just try to calm down!" Zenchi said as he tried to approach Tetsuo to calm him down, all the bruises he got from the beating Derby gave him had gone now.
Zenchi was just a few inches away from Tetsuo, when suddenly the 20 year old screamed at the top of his lungs and leapt over his bed to distance himself from the Doctor.

"I already fucking told you! Stay away from me!" Tetsuo hissed.

"I just want to know what's wrong; I'm not going to hurt you." Zenchi said in a soft tone, hoping that Tetsuo may calm down if he acted calm himself.

"Nothing is fucking wrong!! Piss off!!" Tetsuo snapped before stumbling backwards, obviously loosing his footing because of the nerves in his body being weakened due to the sedatives he received earlier to calm him down to this level.

"Tetsuo, why don't you just tell me what happened?" Zenchi asked calmly.

"It'll make no fucking difference!! Leave me alone!" Tetsuo snapped as he leaned against a nearby lamp desk for support, breathing heavily and sweating a little.
He had recently stopped having seizures now, thanks to the new medication he was being put on.

"No need to get upset, just tell me what happened and I'll be able to help you." Zenchi said as he made his way slowly around the bed to reach Tetsuo, obviously to calm him down again.

"Why should I!? I hate being the weak one, the little weak fucking kid…you make me feel helpless by saying that to me! Damn it, how could I let Derby take advantage of me!?" Tetsuo answered in a weeping tone, tears starting to trickle down his pale cheeks.
His eyes firmly shut, his body shaking as if fighting the urge to just fall down onto the floor, one hand quickly wiping as many tears away as possible whilst his metal hand was still resting on the lamp desk.

"Wait a minute…what about Derby!? What was it he did do to you!?" Zenchi asked in a very concerned, serious tone. He was also much closer to Tetsuo than earlier, actually able to put his hands on the 20 year olds shoulders and sooth his crying.

"N-nothing! He didn't do anything! Now leave me the fuck alone!!" Tetsuo cried before pushing himself free of Zenchi, throwing himself into the nearby cushion-chair.
He continued to weep, rubbing the tears away desperately to maintain a tough exterior, whilst cursing under his breath about how weak he sees himself to be.
Zenchi sighed heavily before grabbing a chair and sitting next to Tetsuo, putting a hand on his shoulder to sooth his crying.
Tetsuo had given up on wiping away the tears and had resided into burying his head in his hands, crying heavier than earlier.

"It's alright Tetsuo; I'll leave you alone if you really want. We can talk about this some other time." Zenchi offered, still patting the 20 year old on the shoulder.
Tetsuo didn't respond, he just continued to cry…acting almost as if he didn't know Zenchi was there.
The Doctor sighed and looked down at Tetsuo in pity, what upset him so much?

END FLASHBACK!

"…maybe he may have been scared by something Derby did to him..." Zenchi added, coming out of his thinking pose.

"…I see…but how has his power level been? Was that reading we got really a glitch or…did it detect something we didn't know about? I need to know just how much power he has; if any change occurs I must be the first to know about it!" the Colonel explained, getting out of his chair and approaching the blinds again to look outside.

"H-his power level is at one hundred and twenty four now. It seems to be growing by seven point nine six every day. But we have a solution!" Zenchi began, the Colonel turning to look at Zen after hearing about the 'power growth'.

"We can put him on the exact same medication as Number 43! It will not only lower the power growth rate…but it will also calm him down! He'll be more open with us and won't get so angry! It may help him recover from the Psychic Trauma too." Zenchi explained.

"Are you sure this will work!? I don't want the same thing happening again!" The Colonel snapped as he sat back down in his seat, Zenchi cowering slightly.

"Y-yes sir! I am positive this will work! It was a success with Number 43 and Number 44!" Zenchi answered.

"…very well then…all of you are dismissed. But remember to report to me if even the slightest thing turns up over the issues we have discussed today!" The Colonel explained, the doctors and Professor bowing before leaving.

"Zenchi, wait one moment." The Colonel said before reaching for some paper and a pen.

"I want you to try something for me, a little experiment with Number 41." He began as he wrote on the paper.

"Try these questions and document his responses, afterwards I want you to show him the photos of the people I have listed on this sheet as well. Document his responses to them as well. Once you have all the information I want a report on them, handed in by the end of next week. Understand?" The Colonel explained as he handed Zenchi the paper he just wrote on.
Zenchi nodded as he received the paper, glancing at it for a second before looking back at the Colonel.

"Sir…I can't get any access to the old Prisoners files, I need access to get the photos." Zenchi explained.
The Colonel then opened his desk and handed Zenchi a card.

"There, use that card to get all the access you need, you are dismissed." He answered, Zenchi bowing to show his gratitude.

"Remember, Zenchi, I want that report by the end of next week." The Colonel reminded as Zenchi left the office.
---

A dark void…nothing but darkness…only one figure floated within its centre; Tetsuo.
Drifting in the black nothingness, seemingly awake, he heard voices ringing through his head…the voice of that weird metal creature; Donikoto.

"You're not even going to shout and scream this time?" the voice asked.

"You've been invading my sleep for some time now, Donikoto. And you haven't said a fucking word about why. I'm used to it." Tetsuo answered, chuckling slightly.

"I have my reasons for keeping silent about my presence, mortal." The voice answered back.

"…are you some kind of fucked-up demon or something? Come on, show yourself for once! I don't even know what you look like!" Tetsuo demanded, getting slightly irritated.

"You already know what I look like…you just forgot what I looked like. Amnesia is a horrible thing, isn't it? So far you've had no luck in gathering all those memories of yours…let's keep it that way, shall we?" The voice mocked, Tetsuo growled slightly in disgust and shut his eyes.

"Just try to forget about your past…it was worthless anyway. It was filled with nothing but pain, anger and confusion…and the suffering of others." The voice began; all the darkness swirled together to form a cloaked person right in front of Tetsuo. The black void now turned into a blood red; allowing the black-cloaked figure to stand clear before Tetsuo's eyes…which shot open the instant the darkness started to move.

"You where nothing but worthless trash amongst the living; you even haunted the spirits of the dead without knowing it. Your very being cursed the land and tormented peoples souls." The cloaked figure said, Tetsuo clenching a fist towards the mysterious man.

"Shut the fuck up! I've heard this way too many times from you already! If you're trying to scare me, can't you at least come up with something better!?" Tetsuo snapped, laughing in annoyance afterwards.

"…you want to know the truth…yet you try to block it out? I have a question for you, Atoshimatsu…Do you remember HER? The one who showed you love and affection? The one whom you threw into danger? That young girl you crushed alive because of your selfishness… " the cloaked figure began. Tetsuo's eyes widening with each 'clue' the man gave him; it seemed he did remember something after all…the question he was asking himself though was; who was this girl who's face he recognised?

"It seems you do know who I speak of, but you just can't put a name to her. How sad…but wonderful." The cloaked man laughed as he faded back into the shadows, Tetsuo rushing towards him in pursuit screaming for him to stop tormenting him and to tell the truth…but to no avail.
The man was gone.

"I know you're still here, Donikoto! And stop calling me 'Atoshimatsu' or whatever! It's 'Shima'! Got it!? SHIMA!" Tetsuo yelled, his voice echoing in the darkness.
It was then that a white light appeared before him; taking the shape of what looked like a young girl in her early teens.
She was dressed in a long white T-shirt and had black shorts on, her medium-long shaggy black hair obstructing the view of her eyes.
Tetsuo stopped dead as soon as he saw the girl, noticing that she was crying heavily whilst holding a piece of red cloth in her hands.
She squeezed the cloth with all her might as she cried, muttering the words 'Why did he do this to everyone? Why did he run away?' as she wept.
Tetsuo didn't understand what the girl was talking about, but wanted to ease her crying for some odd reason.
It was rather strange to him, he recognised her…her build, clothes and posture. He also felt very comfortable with her presence.
It was when he touched her on the shoulders that she vanished in a flash of white light; Tetsuo only managing to get a glimpse of her face.
That young, innocent face.

"You killed that poor girl, you know. And you can't even remember her name…she loved you dearly, so much that her spirit came looking for you even after rumours where spread of your death." The voice blurted out, almost out of nowhere.
Tetsuo looked at his left hand, sulking slightly, before quickly clenching his fist as if to trap whatever light remained from the girl he touched.
Looking at the floor afterwards, growling and cursing under his breath, that light appeared once more and fully engulfed his left arm.

"She died because of YOU, Atoshimatsu." The voice laughed, obviously not yet noticing Tetsuo's glowing arm.

"K…Kaori…" Tetsuo muttered; the light intensified and some crimson markings became faintly visible on the white lit surface of his arm…which he used to strike out mercilessly at the darkness, desperate to find Donikoto and annihilate him.

"You fucking rotten son of a bitch!! I never killed her!!!" Tetsuo screamed out before stopping his onslaught, quickly feeling exhausted from the attacks.

"You're mentally weak, Atoshimatsu. In your transfer back to this world you lost everything…Akira made a grave mistake sending you back to do his dirty work; you'll all pay the price soon!" the voice laughed.
That was when Tetsuo screamed with all his might 'SHUT UP!' before waking up in his bed, glass on the floor once again along with other smashed pieces of debris.
Jolting upright upon his awakening, arms spread forwards to grab anyone near him to seek some form of reinforcement that it was just a dream.
He saw that nobody else was in the room with him, but could still sense the presence of someone: Donikoto.
Panting heavily, Tetsuo got out of bed and strolled into the bathroom to wash the blood off his face, blood from the cuts he received when the glass smashed and scattered everywhere.
He glanced into the mirror angrily, still panting and rubbing his head as the cuts healed instantly before his eyes.

"…healing is faster today…" he muttered before leaning on the sink to stare into the mirror, gazing directly at himself in disgust.

"…I'm getting fucking tired of this…what was that shit-face talking about anyway!? Who the hell is Akira…?" Tetsuo began, before seeing a reflection of the cloaked man in the mirror.
Tetsuo turned around in an instant to gaze directly towards the mysterious figure, snarling with his fists clenched.

"You teenagers are always so angry; no wonder you all die when you get the power." The figure laughed, Tetsuo shaking his fist in his direction.

"Donikoto, you're such a bastard! Invading my dreams was bad enough! But coming into the real world and pestering me!? Oh…and showing me Kaori was a mistake you'll live to regret!" Tetsuo snapped, still shaking his fist angrily at Donikoto.

"Kaori…yes, the young girl who was interested in you…she must have been incredibly stupid to fall for trash like you; maybe she learnt her lesson when you killed her? Oh, how angry she will be with you! I bet she's begging for you to be condemned to Hell!" the man laughed.

"SHUT UP!!!!" Tetsuo screamed before lashing his arm at the man, who vanished into a trail of black smoke upon impact.
After the smoke cleared away, Tetsuo strolled back to his bed and sat down. Placing his head in his hands, whipping away some tears that where forming in his eyes.

"K-Kaori…I…wish I could see you again…" Tetsuo muttered as he faintly remembered all the memories surrounding Kaori.
That was when Zenchi entered the room in a state of panic, possibly worried about all the screaming he heard.
As soon as he came into the room though, he seemed to know what happened.

"Another Psychic Nightmare? You need to calm down a bit; otherwise you might blow up the entire building!" Zenchi laughed, until noticing how upset Tetsuo was.

"Tetsuo? What's the matter?" Zenchi asked in a concerned, fatherly tone as he sat beside the slightly tearful 20 year old.
Tetsuo didn't say anything and instead just burst into tears, Zenchi patting him on the back gently to calm his weeping.
Memories of loved ones can never be forgotten.

END OF CHAPTER 6.

AN: Fairly short chapter for a reason; the last one was huge…so this one is smaller. Anyway, you know what I am going to say…so do it please. I have no real comments on this one, just the fact I made Tetsuo a little to 'whiney' and 'crybaby' like. But oh well. He did go through some shit earlier in chapter 5, so who could blame him?

Teaser for next chapter

"Kaneda?"

"That's right, moron. My name is Kaneda! Now, where have you been for the past 5 years!? How the hell are you even alive!?"

"…5 years? Wait a minute…you knew me?"

"Are you RETARDED!? We where best friends since we were kids! How the hell could you forget about me!?"

"Kaneda, calm down! Otherwise you'll alert security!"