Chapter XXXI: Bankotsu: The Will of Fire Still Burns

Nightshroud: Thanks for the reviews! I would have updated yesterday (Monday) but I was exhausted from soccer practice, so I didn't feel up to it. I'm our best defensiveman, and I was practically playing the whole defensive line by myself, so I almost made myself sick with exhaustion. Ah well, I pulled through today. So here it is, part one of the Twilight Impasse finale!
Lerena teleported to the top floor where Bankotsu was. His back was turned to her, and he was leaning slightly on his halberd.

"Why?"

He didn't respond to her question, so she asked again, this time with more force in her voice.

"Why did you do it?"

He laughed. She couldn't believe that he was laughing about this.

"What, killing Renkotsu? Hah, are you asking 'cause you don't know, or do you just want to hear it in my own words?"

She turned her face away slightly, unable to continue. He continued.

"Renkotsu was a traitor. He was jealous of my position and my abilities, and wanted to put me out of the way. I did what any loyal Organization member would do. I disposed of him."

"But, but he was your brother! Doesn't that mean something to you?"

"Heh, hardly."

She clenched her fists and tried not to choke on her words. "And what about me? What do I mean to you?"

He grew a little stiff and said, "You knew about it, so that means you were in league with him."

She looked at him surprised. "No! Of course not!"

"Then why didn't you tell me?" he said, his voice full of scorn.

Her head sank a little. "I just...didn't want Renkotsu to get hurt. I was going to try to convince him not to."

"So, he meant more to you than I did. Well, if you're not with me-"

And here he finally turned to look at her, "Then you're against me!"

Her eyes widened in shock as he grabbed Banryu and ran at her. She summoned her Wind Guides and jumped out of the way of the deadly halberd. He turned and swung at her, his sword sparking with fire. She tried to block with her tonfas, but the force of the attak was too much, and she was thrown into a pillar, sinking to the ground. She looked up at Bankotsu with pleading eyes, but saw only the cold eyes of a man with no heart.

Reyna, Tyson, Namé, and Fayt ran up the final flight of steps and pushed open the large white doors to find themselves in a large pillared room, with a table set up for the castle Org. members. It would normally have been in the middle of the room, but right now it lay smashed on the side of the room. They saw a blond girl, who they recognized as Lerena, and a new figure that they hadn't seen.

"You're Bankotsu, lord of the castle?"

Bankotsu turned his gaze from Lerena to the four new intruders.

"So...you four are the intruders that managed to defeat most of subordinates. I'll be with you in a minute."

They watched with confused expressions as he turned from them to Lerena. She tried to get up but he summoned a fireball into his hand and blasted her back down. The four drew in gasps. She staggered back against the pillar, and suddenly she smiled.

"You know, after you took his heart, Renkotsu's body remained. There was a still some light in there that kept his body from fading. I think he would have been a good person, but he was made bitter by people like you and your father. I hope that means there is hope for him yet. And maybe...I'll see him someday."

Bankotsu bared his teeth and held up the Kronos Stone.

"Sacred Seal of the Kronos Stone, triumph over her weak heart and seize it!"

The Kronos Seal encircled her, and in a flash of red light her heart was taken. Her body fell to the ground, but didn't vanish. Bankotsu sneered and kicked her body to the side.

"Worthless."

He turned his attention to the four, who were watching with shock at what had just happened. Bankotsu laughed at their expressions.

"What, shocked? Heh, she had it coming. Renkotsu too. That's what happens to people who get in my way."

Tyson frowned and held the others back.

"This guy is mine. Get her (Lerena) out to safety."

Fayt carried Lerena over to where Reyna and Namé were standing near the doors. Bankotsu laughed and shook his head.

"Why are you bothering with her? She is an Organization member, one of you enemies!"

Tyson gripped Lionheart. "That maybe be true, but I sensed that she was a good person, and it's my job to defend good people, whether I like them or not!"

Bankotsu grabbed Banryu and smirked. "It won't do you any good, 'cause you're going to be joining her!"

Bankotsu swung Banryu down, sending off a flaming shockwave as it smashed into the ground. Tyson jumped out of the way and hurled his keyblade at Bankotsu.

"Strike Raid!"

Bankotsu brought his halberd up and blocked the keyblade, which Tyson summoned back to his hand. He then rushed at Bankotsu and slashed down, but Bankotsu dodged it and swiped Tyson with the flat of his halberd, throwing him to the ground. Then he summoned a fireball to his hand and hurled it Tyson, blasting him into a pillar.

"Tyson!" the others called out. Tyson waved that he was okay and stood up. Bankotsu smirked.

"I admire your determination, but you'd be smart to stay down."

"I never stay down! I'll give all I've got to take you down!"

Bankotsu frowned and swung Banryu.

"Wrong Answer!"

Tyson quickly dived to the side as the halberd split the pillar in half. Tyson quickly kicked off the ground and jumped at Bankotsu.

"Ars Arcanum!"

With rapid speed he hacked and slashed at Bankotsu, who managed to block most of the attacks with his halberd. Bankotsu swung at Tyson. but he flipped over Bankotsu's back, slashed at him, then kicked him forward. Bankotsu chuckled darkly as he stood up. He then clenched his fists and threw fire down, which engulfed him in flames.

"Burst Flame Dive!"

Bankotsu, now covered in flames, flew at Tyson, spinning in midair with incredible speed. Tyson put up his keyblade, defending against Bankotsu's attack, though he kept pushing into the keyblade, until he finally released the fire around him in an explosion, throwing Tyson to the ground. Bankotsu recovered in midair and threw a slicing wave through the air with Banryu. Tyson stumbled forward to avoid as it sliced through the wall, but as he looked up Bankotsu appeared in front of him and kicked him in the face. He tumbled back and skidded along the ground, then remained motionless.

"Pathetic. You're abilities are nothing compared to mine. Just make things easier and stay still while I finish you off."

Bankotsu laughed and swung Banryu, sending off a blast of fire at Tyson. Tyson weakly forced himself off the ground, with the blast coming closer.

"I won't-"

Closer...

"I-"

Closer...

"I won't give up!!"

He swung Lionheart, sending off a blast of light energy that crashed into Bankotsu's attack and blasted through it.

"No way!"

The attack blasted Bankotsu back against the pillar, his halberd falling to the ground. Tyson smiled, his resolve bringing his strength back.

"Maybe you should stay down, 'cause there's no way I'm going to lose to you!"

Bankotsu pushed himself up and smirked.

"Not bad, kid. But if you think that's going to be enough to beat me, then you're sadly mistaken."

Tyson growled as Bankotsu retrieved Banryu and pointed it at him.

"Let's turn up the heat!"

Nightshroud: Yay, part one of the fight with Bankotsu! This part was more emotional, while the next part is definitely going to be more physical, with a lot of new attacks. Definitely going to be good! But for now, let's have an intermission and get back to Kai! Read, review, and reall hope I get the next chapter done tomorrow haha.

Next chapter: Sound Off with Sommelier