Part 56: Seek Out his Heart
Ryuki was in a clear state of depression. He sat on the front steps of the Lee's porch, absentmindedly inspecting the Keyblade in his hand, banishing it and summoning it repeatedly. Heaving a sigh, he looked up into the starry sky. His heart hurt in ways that he hadn't felt since Tazuka's death. Now he was back and the corruption in his heart twisted him into something awful.
"Niisan…" Ryuki let down a tear. Jinx then sat down next to him.
"A beautiful night, huh?" she asked. No answer. "Nice new costume," she added, but received no answer again. "I was with Mrs. Lee. She has a lot of books about magical creatures, magic spells, and potions." Ryuki didn't react. She continued, "Ryuki, you need to talk to me."
"I…can't…" he muttered.
"I know you're thinking about your friend, but you need to move on," she advised.
"I tried…after I went back to Tokyo and visited his grave, I thought I did. I thought I could get over it." He clutched his hair, "But…after seeing him again…The pain just came back, and now he's this Arrancar thing." He looked up in the sky. "He's out there, somewhere. And if I can find him, I know I can get through to him."
"Ryan said you can't get through to an Arrancar," she replied. "There's no heart to reach."
"Well, maybe I can! I refuse to believe that Nii-san is gone like that!" he shot back but then realized how harsh that had sounded. "Gomen…Jinxy-chan."
"It's okay," Jinx told him. "You're depressed, but please don't push everyone away."
Ryuki smiled and she smiled back before placing a short kiss to his lips. "So? About that Key thing."
"You mean this?" Ryuki asked, summoning the Keyblade. Jinx nodded. "Remember when I got lost jumping around different alternate dimension? Well, I got this thing to help me fight the Horrors. It's called a Keyblade and it has special properties."
"Wow," Jinx said, sounding impressed. "Can I hold it?"
"Sure," he handed it to her but when her hands touched the handle; it suddenly vanished only to reappear in his hand. Jinx gasped. He chuckled.
"Gomen, I forget that it does that."
"What is it?"
"A very powerful weapon, able to bring salvation or destruction," he explained, "Only those with strong hearts can use it."
"Don't you mean 'pure' hearts?" she inquired. He shook his head.
"No, I mean strong hearts," he added, "Good or evil, if the person has a strong heart, they can use the Keyblade. The Keyblade, as far as I know, reacts to its owner…its master's heart. I thought I lost it when I returned, but it looks like it still has a link to me."
"Wow…" Jinx whistled. "What can it do?"
"Well, when my Zodiac Powers were a bit out of control, the Keyblade helped me focus their magic. I can use a more powerful version of my fire, ice and earth magic, some gravity manipulation magic and other spells. Ryan taught me how to use it right."
"He did?" Jinx asked.
"I did," Ryan admitted as he walked out the door. "A Keyblade isn't very different from a Zanpakuto. A Zanpakuto is alive, has a spirit, and so does the Keyblade."
"He's right," Ryuki confessed, "The Keyblade…I sense a strong spirit in it, a warm and kind one."
"So you were never really alone, huh?" Jinx smiled, glad to have Ryuki open up.
"No, I wasn't," he said. He gazed at the shining Keyblade.
Ryan sat down on the porch, legs crossed as he began to play his guitar.
"We need to do something about that Arrancar," Ryan said.
"His name is Tazuka!" Ryuki snapped.
"Okay, fine," Ryan grumbled, "But you have to stop thinking of him as a human. He's not the same man you knew when he was alive. He's been warped by his inner darkness."
Ryuki stood up and glared at his senior Rider in the eyes. "Forgive me, sempai, but I know Tazuka. He's in there and I know I can get through to him!" He swung his Keyblade. "This Keyblade, it can unlock hearts and maybe I will be able to unlock his from its prison."
"His heart is gone," Ryan said solemnly. Ryuki held in the urge to flinch. Did Ryan really have to remind him after Jinx just told him that?
"If it's lost, then let me find it."
Both Riders stared each other in the eye, blue against green. Jinx looked worried, thinking a fight would break out.
Ryan sighed, "Okay, fine, kid. I maybe older than you, by a few millennia, but I've never met someone as stubborn as you in my entire existence!"
"Ryan-sempai…" Ryuki began to smile.
"He ran away when he could've won, maybe you did get through to him."
"So…you'll let me fight him again and get through to him?" Ryuki asked and Ryan nodded.
"And I won't interfere," Ryan continued, "It's your fight."
Bringing up the Keyblade, it shone under the light of the moon; Ryuki had a firm look on his face. "Arigato, sempai."
Jinx stood up, glad that it never came to blows, but then Ryan picked up his Guitar Axe, Zanki, and spun it around before it formed into a sword. He just restored his Zanpakuto into its sealed form.
"But, we need to train. Would you like to be my sparing partner?" Ryan asked.
"Hai!" Ryuki nodded. They went onto the yard, and faced each other, gripping their respective mystical weapons.
"Hey, what's going on?" Gizmo asked as he came out, followed by Ray Ray and Mammoth.
"Are they gonna fight?" Mammoth asked.
"Woah! Cool!" Ray Ray said excitedly.
"It's nothing, guys, just a sparing session," Jinx told them before adding under her breath, "I hope…"
"Ready?" Ryan asked.
"Hai."
"Then I'll go first!" Ryan then lunged towards Ryuki, swinging his Zanpakuto in a horizontal arc. Ryuki ducked and rolled back before kicking Ryan in the chin, sending him back before he flipped back to his feet and swung his Keyblade. The Vizard spun in mid-air and parried with Zanki. Ryuki pushed back and the Vizard pushed harder and then forced Ryuki back before he swung out his leg, catching Ryuki in the gut.
"Come on, kid," Ryan said, "I know you can do better than that!" Ryuki got back up. A smirk appeared on the Vizard's face. "Good, now, fight me for real!"
"Okay!" Ryuki sent a fire ball at Ryan and he dodged it before Ryuki leapt up and sent down an arc of ice energy at the Vizard. Ryan jumped up to dodge but Ryuki teleported and then swung down the Keyblade. Ryan got slashed in the shoulder and slammed back to the ground. Ryan had to admit that the Keyblade was a powerful weapon. He felt like not only his body took a hit but his heart as well, at least a part of it anyway. He pushed himself back to his feet and glared at Ryuki who landed after him. Ryuki then charged again, swinging his Keyblade like crazy and forcing Ryan onto the defensive, blocking and parrying with his Zanpakuto, not allowing him to counter. Grinning, Ryan then turned intangible and vanished into the ground. Ryuki stumbled.
"Huh?" Ryuki looked around.
"Behind you!" Jinx yelled and he quickly turned before and saw the edge of Ryan's Zanpakuto headed for his neck. He rose up his Keyblade, blocking it, before shooting an ice ball into Ryan's chest and sending him sliding back by his feet. His feet dragged along the grass and he stabbed his sword into the ground to stop himself.
"Wow, you're good with that thing," Ryan complimented.
"You remember what happened before, don't you?" Ryuki asked, pointing the Keyblade straight at Ryan. "Don't hold back on me."
"Don't intend to," Ryan grinned and then he called, "Behead all my enemies…ZANKI!" He released his Zanpakuto and it turned back into the Guitar Axe. He strummed the strings. "Sonic Hammer!" The sound waves slammed into Ryuki with full force and he had to create a psychic shield to endure it. The shield vibrated from the sound waves slamming into it before it cracked and finally shattered. Ryuki slammed back onto the porch.
"You okay, baby?" Jinx asked. Ryuki grinned.
"Oh, I'm better than okay!" Ryuki stood up and prepared to battle Ryan again.
"Well, looks like you want to see how a Vizard really fights," Ryan grinned. "I don't always do this, but you need to see why you can't match up to the Arrancar. I want you to see why I'm the senior and you're the junior!" He closed his eyes and then they snapped open. Jinx gasped in shock, Mammoth's eyes widened and Gizmo looked shock. Ray Ray let out, "Look at his eyes, dudes!"
The iris of Ryan's eyes had turned yellow and the sclera around them had turned black…like a Hollow's eyes.
"We are Vizard," Ryan said in a distorted voice as he reached up to his head, pulling together white fragmented energy. "Shinigami and Hollows combined." The fragments joined together and shaped…into a white skull-like mask with horns and black facial markings. He smirked. "Prepare yourself, Ryuki," he said before he pulled the mask over his face.
Jinx could feel the spiritual energy radiating from him. It nearly suffocated her. Ray Ray's eyes went wide. June and Jasmine came out to see what was going on. June's bracelet was glowing brightly as it sensed the energy coming from Ryan.
Ryuki couldn't fight. He was forced to his knees by the aura he was feeling. Ryan looked at him and shook his head.
"Is that all you can do?" Ryan said before removing his mask and banishing it. "Now you can see how it's different between you and I…How can you think of defeating an Arrancar?"
Ryuki got his breathing back and growled, baring his sharp teeth, his eyes glowing blue and his hair starting to stand up. He gripped his Keyblade tightly and charged straight at Ryan.
"Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!" Ryuki cried and rapidly stabbed his Keyblade at Ryan. Ryan tried to dodge but got cut in the side, his arms and his face. Stopping his assault, Ryuki then tried another tactic. He ran around Ryan, creating after images of himself to confuse Ryan. The after-images were an illusion created by his speed and his chi. Ryan had no idea which was which. When did he learn how to do this?
"So, you know some tricks," Ryan admired.
"More than you know," Ryuki grinned and then one of them darted forward and then swung his Keyblade at Ryan's neck. Ryan flinched awaiting impact but after a few seconds opened his eyes to see the tip of Ryuki's Keyblade in his face.
"I can handle myself, you see," Ryuki told him before banishing his Keyblade. "And I will get through to Tazuka-niisan."
"You're really stubborn, kiddo." Ryan chuckled. "Then again, being stubborn sometimes is all you need to be the one standing on top in a fight."
"I am who I am. I cannot be anyone else," Ryuki spoke solemnly before he turned to look at Jinx and the others.
"You're going to look for him, huh?" June asked.
"Take me with you?" Jinx pleaded.
"I won't be too far," he told her, revealing the Pactio card he'd made with her. "If I need you, I'll call you. Don't worry about it."
"Okay…" Jinx nodded, holding a matching Pactio card. Both cards held Ryuki's image, wielding his Keyblade bravely.
"I'm coming with you," June said.
"Juniper…" Ryuki said slowly.
"I'm the Te Xuan Ze, it's my job to keep things in balance," June said stubbornly and confidently.
"Juniper has grown from her experiences," Jasmine added. "She may be of help to you."
"And this is my evaluation, isn't it?" June finished, "So, use this chance to evaluate me."
Ryuki nodded in agreement, "Okay, but at the first sign of real trouble, get out of there."
"Hey, no promises," June shrugged. "But I'll try."
"Good," Ryuki said, "Ikuzo!"
Pasenderos had nearly torn off every fragment of his bone mask, except for the broken fin in top his head.
'Kill him…kill him…' the voice urged, 'KILL HIM!'
"No!" Pasenderos… (Or was it Tazuka?) denied. "No, I won't do it!" he clutched his head, "Shut up and leave me alone!"
'NEVER! RELEASE ME! RELEASE YOUR TRUE SELF!'
"I…won't…" Pasenderos said but his hand was moving for his Zanpakuto.
'RELEASE YOUR HOLLOW POWERS, ANIHILATE HIM!'
"Otouto…forgive me…" Pasenderos clutched the sword. His voice wouldn't even obey him and none of his arms would do the same either. "Massacre…Tiburon."
That was the cue the Zanpakuto needed as it shattered.
A tear fell from his eye as the energy engulfed him and he howled.
Draco was in his Survivor Mode armor with June behind him. She had her arms wrapped around his waist as they raced down the streets upon Dragonrizer's bike mode.
Draco's head snapped up. "Niisan!" he panicked before accelerating.
"What's going on!?" June asked, clutching tightly.
"I heard him screaming!" Draco told her. "He might be in danger!"
'Or we might be walking into a trap,' June thought fearfully. She hoped it wasn't true.
Suddenly a blue ball of energy came rushing towards them. Acting quickly, Draco clutched the handles of his bike and Dragonrizer changed back to its draconic form and flew to safety, just as the blue ball smashed into a car and blew it up.
"That could've been us!" June realized. "What shot at us?"
Draco pointed ahead, "That."
Floating in mid-air was Pasenderos…but in his released state. Bony armor covered his entire body, leaving only his upper arms, his midsection and upper legs exposed. His face and head were hidden under a helmet with a grinning face mask. The design of the armor was identical to his Zodiac armor.
"What happened to you?" Draco asked but received no answer as another energy blast came flying at them. Draco maneuvered Dragonrizer out of the way before the mighty armored dragon roared and flew at Pasenderos, readying a counter attack.
The armored Arrancar didn't even flinch or run but raised his head and when Dragonrizer spewed flames at him, which Draco protested, a blue energy barrier erected itself around Pasenderos' body. The flames dispersed around him but not against him. Dragonrizer stopped its assault and decided on the direct approach, bringing down its claws upon Pasenderos. The Arrancar dodged and grabbed the dragon by its tail.
"Brace yourself!" Draco called to June who was now holding VERY tightly to his waist.
Pasenderos began to spin them around and around AND AROUND before sending them straight to the ground. Draco grabbed June and teleported them to safety as Dragonrizer crashed onto the streets below. Draco landed and let go of June before checking up on his Zodiac Beast.
"Dragonrizer! Are you okay?" he asked and received a growl. "I'll take that as a no." He turned to see Pasenderos making his landing, glaring at Draco with his eyes. Draco's own eyes glowed under his helmet and he summoned his Keyblade to make a point. "Tazuka-niisan…I want to help you." The only reply he received was a powerful energy blast headed for him. He smacked it away with his Keyblade. "Niisan! Listen to me!" The Arrancar roared and surged straight towards Draco. June suddenly leapt out between him and Pasenderos before she reared back her fist and threw it forward. Her punch smashed into the Arrancar's armored face and shattered a good portion of the mask. He was sent flying back by the force and June recoiled, flicking her wrist.
"Okay, that hurt," June winced.
Draco looked to see Pasenderos getting back up after he hit a car, shattering the windows and denting the front. The Arrancar growled again.
'Something's wrong,' Draco thought. 'He's like an animal right now. It's like his Hollow self has taken over.' He banished the Keyblade and then took out his Dragblaster. He then drew out a card from his belt and slid it into the card reader in the back of the weapon. "Survivor Final Vent!"
Dragonrizer before flying towards its master from behind as Draco jumped up and did a back flip before landing on his dragon's back. It let out another roar as it changed into its motor-bike mode. Tires screeched when they came into contact with the ground before the vehicle sped towards the Arrancar. Pasenderos got up and fired Bala shots at the approaching Knight and Dragon Bike. An aura of flames engulfed Dragonrizer and Draco before they rushed straight towards the Arrancar.
"DRAGON METEOR FIRESTORM!" Draco shouted before he and Dragonrizer accelerated and sped towards Pasenderos like a meteor. The Arrancar didn't have time to dodge before the attack hit and…
The group at the Lees' residence heard the booming explosion and then they looked to see a mushroom cloud of smoke and flames rising up from the middle of the city. A lot of people were starting to wake up, which was actually quite logical seeing as the explosion had been massive. It would definitely attract unwanted attention, something that Jasmine could do without.
Jinx, eyes were wide and she was worried. Her face showed a determined expression. "I don't care what he said, I'm going!" She was a stubborn girl by nature. She would not let anyone stop her. It was a trait that made her a good thief in the past; her inability to give up. It had been her drive as a criminal and right now it was her drive to run and save her beloved.
Before she could summon her Inzecter, she felt a hand grasp her shoulder gently, yet also firmly. Jinx narrowed her eyes at the second pink-haired youth in the group.
"Let go, Oni," she hissed at him.
"He's not dead," he told her, answering the question that had been playing in her mind.
"How do you-?" she stopped herself when she remembered Draco telling her of how Ryan could detect spiritual energy. "Well, I want to see for myself!" she insisted as she pulled away. The Scarab Inzecter flew into her hand before she snapped it onto her belt, "Henshin!"
"HENSHIN!" the Inzecter echoed before the armor engulfed her body.
"Cast Off!" she commanded. The Inzecter repeated her command and her armor then exploded off her body to reveal the sleeker version underneath.
"CHANGE SCARAB BEETLE!" the Inzecter called.
Ryan sighed and then summoned his Zanpakuto, Kachidoki, that had been disguised cleverly as a tuning fork-like dagger. He tapped it before placing it close to his forehead. A skull emblem materialized on his temple before spiritual flames enveloped his body. He then dispersed the flames as he revealed his black clad Rider form.
"Let's go," Oni said and Jinx nodded.
"What about us?" Mammoth asked. He hated being on the sidelines. He admired Jinx's armor yet again. It just looked so damn cool. Oni shook his head.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Mammoth," Oni explained, "An Arrancar is on a whole different level."
"Don't give us that!" Gizmo snapped, "We can handle it!"
"Gizmo, Oni's right," Jinx said to him, pleadingly, "I don't want you two to get hurt. You're the only real friends I have from the Academy. I don't wanna lose you."
"You won't, but we're still going with you," Mammoth said gruffly, arms crossed.
"Ditto for me too," Gizmo smirked. Jinx rolled her eyes and sighed.
"They got spirit," Oni admired as he said to Jinx.
"That's all they got. I just wished they listened."
Ryuki panted as he stood in a ring of fire. His armor was gone and he was down on his knees. Sweat dripped onto the ground as he looked up.
"Tazuka-niisan…" Ryuki said pathetically as he forced himself back to his feet.
Juniper had been caught in the explosion too. Her clothes had nearly burnt off and her hair was slightly singed at the ends. She had some marks on her too. The rising and falling of her chest indicated that she was still alive. Ryuki let out a relieved sigh.
Pasenderos' condition wasn't so good. His bone armor was gone and he was lying on the ground. His clothes were completely singed. His sleeves were gone and his pants had been burnt off from the knees down. He too was alive, in a sense…he was a ghost, but still alive and…
Too confusing. Ryuki stopped his trail of thought. He looked between the Arrancar and Te Xuan Ze. Both were wounded and needed to be treated.
But who first?
He turned his back on the unconscious Arrancar to check up on Juniper. He did not notice Pasenderos' fingers twitching and curling around the hilt of his Zanpakuto…
To Be Continued…
Well, that's the chap. The next chap we'll return to Shadowcobra. Let's just say there's some sibling rivalry to the extreme in the next chap.