For the Humanity Within

Disclaimer: Megaman is owned by Capcom but the names used here are meant for fictional purposes. If real names appear here, this is out of coincidence.

Note: This chapter is focused on three people. A certain guy is about to make an appearance and it means, chaos?

Anyways, enough blabbering, here's chapter 15

XV. Bloodline or Numbers

The sunlight brought its scattered rays, its light guiding its shower upon the gentle earth. Trodden upon it, the stranger crossed the shades of the woods upon trekking his way through. The wind blew gently upon that moment, caressing his cheek and combing his jet black hair. The yellow scarf adorned upon his neck danced with his motions, his crimson shirt and black trousers felt the light come at its course. His gloved hands with his fingers exposed, were still as if anticipating any threat that come his way. He turned his head towards the trail of the mountains, searching for a structure that stood around the face of the verdant terra firma.

Takenori sauntered within the trail, his mind averted to the questions that had been bending him to doubt. Knowing that his search would be found futile, he knew that the time for him to face his only family was now. The time that drifted with his journey came to being, the sun riding its chariot upon the air as it reached noon. His stern expression remained, quiet upon his saunter as his mind fell into thought.

"Who could have thought I'll come by this path again." he smirked, pausing for a while and gazing at the mansion standing out through the woods. Without a word uttered, he sauntered through the trail as the yellow scarf on his neck danced with the wind. A feeling of nostalgia came to him as he continued his journey.

The waters rippled upon the large tub, a droplet making its impact upon the reflective surface. A graceful touch met the warm water as a foot came to submerge its form that not sooner, the whole body with its fair complexion and form. Feeling the warmth of the steaming bathwater, she brought her body to its depths as she laid her form on the tub. Gazing at the view outside her window, she idly pondered as she relaxed on the comforting water. Her thoughts dwelt upon her brothers, wondering about the outcome of their actions.

"I wonder what those two are up to." Mana asked herself as she raised a leg, scrubbing it with soap in cleaning herself.

As the sun peered through the sky with the spring air, the wind came to dwell upon the branches of the cherry blossom trees as it swayed with its pink petals. The sun shower scattered upon the gentle earth, a weary body fell to its verdant bed. Gasps of air left his lips, exhausted after being strained from his training. The scarf of blue was hanging loose around his neck as his hands seemingly twitched at the aftereffects of his shots. His eyes gazed at the sky as he tried to regain his strength. The scattered rubble and its charred pieces noted the results of his work as what stood there before were a pile of boulders. The young man raised his hand to his face, wiping the sweat beading his forehead. He propped himself to sit up, gazing at the broken pieces of stone. A sigh came to his lips as he settled himself.

"This doesn't seem enough." He said to himself, his hands flexing in a fist then loose in a palm, the gesture repeating a loop as an exercise. "There's more to the Gemini Sphere technique. But what is it? Something's missing. Kamui, think."

Kamui gazed at the boulder blankly as he rose from the ground. Setting himself into posture, he whisked his hands as it spanned on both sides. The arrays were summoned on both sides, bearing its delta formation on each as it spun to motion before coming still. The protrusions of the array spanned open, energy coming to gather upon the two. He glared at the rock, then without any ado, he fired the Gemini Spheres one after the other. The two blasts of energy destroyed not only the boulder standing on it but also the trees that were behind it. Shards of rubble and splinters came to its shattering aftermath.

The quiet villa was stirred from its silence. The wooden floorboards creaked with the footsteps set upon the entrance. Takenori took a moment, keeping his composure along with his guard. His eyes ran to and fro with his surroundings, searching for anything that has been suspicious. Reaching his hand towards the doorknob, he turned it open and took a few steps as he entered. Welcomed by the lighting and the furnishings of wood and ceramic, Takenori ambled his way in as he felt a hint of nostalgia made by the compound. His eyes moved slowly at one corner to the other, noting the figure that sat on the chair. There, his eyes rested its gaze as he stood at ease upon seeing who it was.

The white lab coat came to attention. Along with the wrinkled skin and white hair on his head and face, it dawn to him who it was. The elder one raised his hand as he gestured a welcome to the youth.

"It's been a while, grandson." He said to Takenori with a hint of joy in his voice.

"Yeah, and looks like nothing changed at all, Grandpa." He replied to the elder.

The elder smiled at the comments of the man. He gestured his hand as he smiled at the youth. "Have a seat."

Takenori said no more as he brought his form to rest upon the chair, easing his partly tense form upon the soft furniture. His eyes lay straight upon the elder and felt a surge of questions running in his mind, waiting for answers. Clenching his hand into a nieve, he had no chance to hesitate but initiate the question as soon as possible.

"Grandpa, what is it that you know about Father?" He asked his question, sudden in its tone.

The inquiry caught the elder one from his reverie. The line was drawing near that he should explain everything to them. Closing his eyes, he took a breath before facing the young man. Bringing his composure to remain, he raised his right leg and laid it atop the other to rest, leaning his elbow to the armchair as he careened on his side.

"Takenori, I guess you should know the whole truth about your father and about the rest of your siblings." The elder man spoke.

Takenori fell silent, his ears prepared to listen to the old man. His hands grew tense in fists, being prepared to brace any truth thrown at him. The elder one began his explanation as he noted the silence being an affirmed response.

"Very well, then I should tell you what you are."

The wind blew gently on the compounds environs. The place resting on a cliff, a woman beheld the area as her blond hair danced with the wind. Clad in a black suit with a white overcoat, she perused at the compound with her hands resting within the pockets of the coat. She made no statement as she sauntered her way to its path. Passing by the woods, she followed the trail where it was leading as she halted her pace halfway. Her eyes moved to and fro, even if they were covered with her sunglasses. Her hands prepared in their movements, she rested her palms as it seemed to anticipate whatever comes amiss.

Black dust came to form at every corner, the cloud coming to form a number of beings. Dark in its form came forth a squad of sword-wielding Guilt Tears. The woman made her silent assumption as a light amassed her palm, coming to form her weapon. The light shaped its guise as it summoned her favored rapier. She whisked the weapon, its defined form now solid with a flick of her wrist. There in anticipation, she waited for them to strike.

The squad of 20 began its division as the half dispersed and had their way towards the mansion. The other 10 made their stance, poised to strike this lone stranger. A blade made its descending thrust from the air whilst another lunged with a thrust straight at her. The woman angled her blade as she twisted her body sideways in a step, the rapier pointing towards the ground as it blocked the two swords with her back unto them. The blades now locked upon the earth, another Guilt tear made its charge at her as the blade was raised to level of its head. The woman made no hesitation, launching herself into the air as she made a back flip, her foot striking the chin and launching the enemy to the air. Landing on her feet once more, she pulled her blade as it slid from the locking of the swords. With a quick motion, she brandished her sword cleanly upon the back of the Guilt Tear. Falling to the ground with a fountain of dark matter spraying to the air like dust, she initiated another blow as she brandished the blade once more on the opposite direction, striking the arm and chest of the other. Now three have fallen to the ground, leaving a few more.

The woman took a few steps, watching her enemies circle around her as they wait for the moment to strike. A smirk came to write its form upon her face as she gazed at them. She raised her blade in level to her head, touching the rapier's edge with her gloved hands. In this stance, she gazed at them when she dashed her way towards one unsuspecting being and made her blow.

"What does that mean, Grandpa? Dad wasn't an Original Human, but an Altered Human?" Takenori said with a calm tone, though evident within it is the startling truth.

The old man simply nodded, nonchalant with what has happened. "He's the progenitor. But ever since he was close to being human, I have to grant what divides humanity from the inanimate. Falling in love with your mother, Miyuki Date, Alecsi was bearing his guilt that he felt something missing within him. Even if he is close to human, he isn't. I need to search for a vessel to place him in. With my apprentice, I made what was necessary and made a duplicate body crafted with his genome code. In simple terms I have to give him a different body for him to reside on, a host."

Takenori winced as he heard the explanation. He shook his head as he placed his hands together, leaning forward as he began to speak.

"So he became a Chosen Being, giving him a vessel to have his Altered Humanity turn into Inner Humanity." Takenori minced the facts. He then came to the conclusion. "Then that makes Kamui, Mana and I inhuman?"

"You obtained inner humanity because of your Father. Model X was placed inside Kamui by him. For you and Mana, however, it was his blood that gave you your Inner Humanity, him being the Progenitor. Now does that answer your doubts, dear grandson?"

The woods stillness was stirred. The half of the squad treaded their way through the woods as they began to close in the compound. Their blades gleaming with the sunlight, they were longing to destroy. Within the midst of the woods stirred a shadow crossing through the canopy of branches above them. The stirring of branches caused the leaves to drop down to the terra firma. Gliding its way down to the shadowy beings below, the leaf laid its part upon one of the Guilt Tear's head. It looked up, gazing what has been going above it as its fellow beings turned to the branches. Shifting glances in their search with the light of the sun obscuring their vision, a barrage of shots came to descend upon them. A spray of energy bullets came in rapid bursts as it rained down on three of the beings. Pummeled by the shots, the Guilt Tears fell to the ground with pierced bodies, battered with holes. The rest stirred as they scrambled about, searching where its origin came from.

A beam of energy rushed its way towards another, this time, piercing through the body of the Guilt Tear and the one behind it. Assailed by the blast, the two fell with a gaping hole in their chests before meeting their fall to the ground. The remnants of the squad turned their heads, facing the figure that stood before them. The wind passed by, the breeze brushing his ruffled hair of shoulder length. The denim jacket that topped the apparel of a white shirt and a pair of rugged jeans swayed with the breeze. His crimson bandana hanging on his neck loosely seemingly hid something to them. He sauntered, his sneakers making crunches on the grass upon his foothold. Raising his gloved hands, his fingers peering through the holes of his gloves, he crunched his knuckles then pulling the edges of his gloves snugly on the wrists. The Guilt Tear made no hesitation as it charged forth towards the stranger. The stranger gave an outstretched arm, his open palm coming to the being's visage. Halting instantly, the Guilt Tear stopped in its tracks as its blade laid poised to strike. Foolish was this moment, energy amassed upon his open palm. The man smirked at the enemy as his energy made its discharge, blasting the enemy through the head and the torso with the blast.

The remnants scurried about as they made their way towards the mansion. He was about to take action but from the trail rushed a woman who brandished a familiar looking rapier. Noting that weapon, her attire of white and black, and the blond hair that she sported, he recognized who it was. He watched her, gazing at her profile and at her movements as she seemed to be a streak of white in its rush. He watched as he didn't stir himself to follow. Idly, he gazed at her as she rushed her way towards the area.

He closed his eyes; a sensation came to his senses as he noted a familiar presence around the area. Opening his eyes once more, he turned to the nearby tree and gazed above it. He stressed his legs and launched himself towards its branch. Making his way up, he stood upon its sturdy vantage point, watching what will soon occur.

"My son will meet you there soon." He said with the message passing with its mental transmission. "And maybe…your beloved husband will see you soon."

Takenori brought himself at ease as he heard the whole truth. His mind that was once filled with doubt has somehow enlightened its burden. Knowing the pasts of his grandfather along with the project that he has crafted, it was more of a confirmation and a matter of discovering other things that linked him and his siblings to their lineage. He hushed himself as he squinted to the corner of his eyes, feeling something amiss came to being. He rose from his seat as he gestured his grandfather to be still, uttering without any word with the gesture. Tensing his fists together, he ambled his way towards the door as he readied himself for a battle.

"So, do you think it's those things again?" the elder man asked him, having a deal of a clue of what these things are.

"You mean those Illuminati soldiers? Yeah, must be their squad." Takenori replied nonchalantly.

"Takenori, defeat them and get stronger….for Albert's sake and mine, along with the rest who cares for you." He added before Takenori opened the door and left the room. As soon as the door closed, he sighed as he gazed at the family picture that sat on the corner. He smiled as a tint of nostalgia and sadness seemingly filled its mark. "If only this insanity that I started would end soon."

Four of the Guilt Tears stood before Takenori. Their blades gleaming and their bloodlust longing for death to claim, he glared at the dark beings. His hand began to summon its array, circles of light revolving upon his wrist with its symbols. The array made its alignments, his hand still facing down while his body began to surround its form with an aura of power. The aura turned blue at its manner as he gazed at them, the hues of his hazel eyes gleamed with its cobalt shade. The array seemingly vanished as he moved a step to his side. This sudden maneuver became something beyond the comprehension of the beings. He vanished before them with that flash-step. With an open palm striking the foe from behind, he sent one Guilt Tear at a distance, followed by a number of small shots. Gathering energy at that interval, he stretched his right hand with his left bracing it upon the wrist. Aimed at the remaining group, he fired a spray of shots as it spread out with its coverage.

"Shotgun Strike," he uttered as he initiated his shot. The spray of energy blasts took two of them down. With the remnant still remaining, his array changed its alignment once more as the aura shifted to red. His eyes came to its crimson shade with the aura. The Guilt Tear waved its hand to the air, gesturing backup to come by. The remaining five came to regroup to its aid as the squad had gathered its reinforcements. Takenori grimaced as he aimed his shots at them.

"Let's see what you can do." Takenori said to them as he began fire his energy shots. The energy shells were much larger than its usual minute blasts. The projectiles caught two in its accented shots while the other beings spread out into positions. One of them lunged in midair with its blade overhead. He rolled aside, dodging the blow. And at reflex he aimed his palm upon the enemy at close range and shot out a charged blast, taking his enemy out into dust. With the two remaining, they began their retreat but even before they could initiate their escape, they fell to the ground with a spray of dark matter to the air.

Takenori gazed at the fallen and then he shifted his gaze to the figure standing before him. The woman gazed at him, her flowing blond hair upon her shoulders and her rapier clasped in her hand. He noted her features and recalled certain descriptions given to him by his friend. He was about to speak as soon as she recognized her when she gestured her hand to stay silent. He took heed to her command, the chaos made now resolved.

"So, you must be Takenori." She spoke to him. She dispelled her weapon into light as she placed her hands to her sides. "I have a message for you and for your comrades."

His curiosity now grasped, he wondered what it could be. "And that would be?"

"To prepare for the next phase," she answered. Her tone hasn't stirred into emotion. "The enemy is moving quickly and has taken measures in appearing before the public. Encounters cannot be avoided any longer that you have to make certain actions. The war has begun. You have to be stronger that you must harness its full force when needed. You know what I mean."

"I understand." Takenori said to her.

The woman was about to take her leave when he stirred once more. "Hold it. Let me ask you a question."

The woman said nothing, listening to what he was about to ask of her.

"Why wouldn't you tell them yourself? And why the trouble of moving on your own?"

"Because the time hasn't come yet," she answered. Without a word she sauntered away, melding within the woods once more.

Takenori shook his head as he sauntered through the trail. Halting halfway, he gazed at the compound once more with a thought in mind. "Grandpa, I'll bring them here soon. The time will come for them to harness its strength."

Making his note, he turned to his direction and went on. His scarf seemingly followed his trail as he walked away.

Days have passed and the black motorbike was parked under the shade of the verdant canopy. Klaha stood before his ally with his hands on his pockets. Takenori called him out after a few days, stating the urgency of the meeting. Piqued, Klaha demanded his answers for his peace.

"Takenori, what's urgent this time?" Klaha asked, his hand tapping upon his sides.

"We should be ready. The attack is going public more than frequent. We have to be vigilant and we need to make the young ones stronger."

"Then we have no time to waste then. It seems they're moving drastically." Klaha felt amused with the development.

Takenori grimaced as he gazed at the cliff. "And we have to get the job done. We'll need a few more hands on this."

(End of Chapter 15)

Author's tête-à-tête

Time has begun to turn the cogs of fate. It has called the last to action. The war might escalate.

Ok, looks like it's a bit short or something but it's worth the battle. Takenori has made some actions and what's this, mystery lady with rapier comes in again with another appearance. And a stranger in the midst of them, could this be Alecsi?

Question time

Who are those two?

The woman with the rapier – (This is round two…place your bets)

Stranger with buster skills

Please review. All comments and suggestions are welcome as always. Thanks again.

Sydney Grise