Part 66: Howl of Memories
It was nearly noon when Mortuary was in his room and at his desk making adjustments to his best friend, the one and only Deathbuster. As Cyborg and Pluto were the main tech guys in the house, no one but Mortuary knew more about guns and other weapons of the like. Mort learned about different types of weapons from his adopted father who came from a long line of monster hunters. Mortuary didn't put this knowledge to use until Orphenochs became his primary target, when the Templars were massacred. Mortuary often thought back on his time with the Templars. They were a test squad for new types of troops, but Mortuary often wondered who this 'One' person was who contracted him to lead these test troops. Mortuary's thoughts stopped as an instant message screen popped up on his computer monitor.
IceQueen: Hey there, fearless leader.
TheSkullMan: Ash?
IceQueen: Yeah, dummy. Who else?
TheSkullMan: Well, what is it you want?
IceQueen: As blunt as ever I see. See, the thing is that we need to meet up cause I've got some info you need to see.
TheSkullMan: About?
IceQueen: Occultus, we found out where he's hiding. I've got the rest of the team with me, but I'll understand if we don't fit into your schedule. I mean you are one of the famous Teen Titans now.
TheSkullMan: A guilt trip is it? OK, fine, I'll grab Tara.
IceQueen: It's a date.
TheSkullMan: Yeah, sorry to burst your bubble there, missy, but we don't do that anymore, remember?
IceQueen: Whatever, just come. We'll be at the harbor, warehouse 6at 8.
Mortuary just leaned back in his chair and sighed. "This is gonna be a long day."
"OK, that's the last of them," Pluto said after placing the heavy equipment down. He wiped the sweat off his brow as he surveyed the area. "Not too shabby if I do say so myself," he grinned to himself.
Over the past few months Pluto had turned the basement into his own private laboratory. When asked why he couldn't just use the Tower lab or his room, his only excuse was that he needed adequate space for some new inventions. And the result was the old junk being thrown away to make way for newer junk, Pluto's junk.
There were several machines Pluto had invented, failed prototypes that he had stored away to modify later but never got to them. There was the Turbine Accelerator and the Shrink Way. There was also a large containment unit for his hefty supply of plutonium. No matter how much anyone tried they could not stop him from getting plutonium so they just stopped trying and no longer bothered. At least he stopped putting it in the fridge which meant they no longer had to deal with mutant food or mutated mold.
Blueprints and schematics were pinned up on the wall as well as notes and equations. Despite his bumbling appearance, Takada was a genius. If only he had common sense to go with that.
There was a large computer set up with a monitor as big as the one in the common room. This was his private control console where he would direct all of the machines. Like everything in the Tower, it was connected to T.I.T.A.N., the AI he had created to automatically manage the Tower while no one was around or awake. It meant that none of them would be required to go on monitor duty, plus T.I.T.A.N. could process information better, despite its initial failure the first time it came online when it tried to kill them due to giving the AI not enough of the required data. At least he'd learnt from that debacle like he did the others.
He'd moved all the inventions and equipment he had left in the Tower lab and his room down here. He didn't move his car down here but he did have Motor Majin, his robotic bike, in it. There was a bed in the corner just incase he was too tired to return to his room.
He looked around at his new lab. With all this space, he could build bigger and better inventions. The only restriction was that he had to have some sort of supervision.
The final finishing touch was a framed photograph of his mother. He frowned sadly as he gazed on the photo. She was alive but still in a coma and despite Shadow's healing abilities he could not revive her. She was stuck in life support which was being paid for by Smart Brain, which led to his employment in the company.
His computer alerted him of a new e-mail message. "Hm, must be fan-mail again," he said to himself before he opened up the message to read. His eyes scanned it and then widened with shock. "No…"
As the Dog Knight was going through his second lab, Ryuki was in his room considering his own decisions.
"Should I give it to her?" the Dragon Knight asked himself with a shy. "Would she even say yes? Or will she say no?"
Draco was in his room, lying in bed as he absently stared at a ring held between his thumb and forefinger. It was a simple golden band but it held a lot of meaning. There was a similar golden band held in his other hand. He remembered the day he'd received both rings.
Flashback…
"You wanted to see me, okaasan?" Ryuki asked as his head peaked through the door.
"Yes, Ryuki-kun," his mother said. "Come in." Ryuki then walked through the door and into his mother's private studio which was located in the mansion. This was where she would draw up her designs and bring them to life. He saw lengths of fabric decorate the wall and mannequins wearing what would soon become great masterpieces in fashion. To the whole world, she was Emiko Narukawa Hasuma, genius fashion designer extraordinaire. Of course, those people never got to know Emiko Narukawa Hasuma, mother.
Emiko sat on a simple stool, hands folded on her lap. Ryuki sat down on another stool, across from her.
Ryuki was curious as to why his mother wanted to see him now, like this. He knew she had seen and found out much over the years. The last confrontation he remembered like this was 3 years when his mother wanted to know why his grades had been slipping and why he had numerous injuries on his body. That was the day he revealed himself as Zodiac Knight Draco. He knew his sister would be here, sooner and later, and despite their animosity swore a truce until all this was over. It was for the sake of their mother but when it was over, the evil Cat Knight would be up to her old tricks again and Ryuki would be ready.
"Why did you call me here to talk about, okaasan?" Ryuki asked, warily. He could never be sure what his mother could be thinking about and he dreaded that it could be something bad.
"I wish to talk to you, about your relationship with Jinx," Emiko admitted. Ryuki eyes widened with fear. Did Emiko not accept Jinx due to her criminal past? Did she want him to leave her? Ryuki knew he couldn't do that but could he defy his mother?
"What do you mean?" he asked, carefully.
Emiko gave him a leveled look. No emotion. It was all business. "You both have grown quite close and I think now is the time to speak with you about your father and I."
Ryuki blinked. His mother never talked about his father much. It caused too much pain for her. The only stories he knew came from his grandparents. Why now?
"Ryuki-kun, as you know, your father and I grew up together. We knew each other since kindergarten. Back then, we were quite close. We went to the same schools and made the same friends. We were inseparable." Emiko continued, "By the time we reached Junior High School, I had this massive crush on him. However…" she paused. "However, your father was the biggest idiot I ever met. He was totally oblivious to my feelings despite the clues I've been giving him for years. Not only that, he had his eyes on another girl."
Ryuki bit back a comment. How could his father had done such a thing?
Emiko continued, "I couldn't really blame him. I mean, I was too scared to tell him how I felt to his face. I guess it was partly my fault that I never grew the nerve to just tell him. But, we were friends for so long and I didn't want to lose that. So, I watched, painfully, as he pursued this other girl."
Why was she telling him this?
"Then, one day, I met with an accident when your father was on a date with this girl," Emiko said. "He left her and came to see me in the hospital. I needed a blood transfusion but unfortunately my parents were away. So, your father, offered his own blood. They tested him and he was compatible."
Ryuki continued to listen with great interest.
"I woke up a day later to see him asleep on a chair, leaning over the back, like he'd been watching over me. When he woke up, he was smiling, with tears in his eyes. I didn't want to see him like that but then I too began to cry. You see, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to tell him how I felt. That was the day your father told me how he felt."
Ryuki waited for the conclusion.
"He told he'd always loved me since we met. He was just shy. It wasn't that he was clueless, it was because he was unsure of his feelings for me. He'd always had feelings of friendship for me and it frightened him to see those feelings changed. He went after the other girl because he didn't want to think of me like that, but my accident forced him to rethink his decision and to finally tell me how he felt. I too revealed my own feelings.
"We began to officially date and realized that our friends had been betting on us to get together for quite some time, actually." Emiko giggled. "I guess everyone could plainly see that we were meant for one another."
Ryuki smiled.
"So, when your father and I turned 18 and were about to go to college, he proposed to me," Emiko finished. "Now, this is why I've asked you to come here." She reached into a pocket in her clothes and pulled out a small velvet box. Ryuki stared at the box and wondered what it was before he got the idea.
"Okaasan…is that…?" he began to ask as Emiko opened the box for him to see the content. There, lying on a small satin pillow, were two golden wedding bands.
"These were our engagement rings," Emiko said. "I want you to have them."
"But-but I couldn't," Ryuki said. He couldn't. They were a precious memento. They were a symbol of love his mother and father had worn on the day they got engaged.
"Yes, you can," Emiko said seriously as she closed the box and handed it to her son, who accepted it shakily. "I told you once before that I approve of Jinx and I wish for her to be my daughter-in-law. It's only proper that when you ask her to marry you that you give her one of these rings." She closed the box and handed it to her son. "These are the symbols and declaration of the love your father and I shared and I wish to pass them on to you."
Ryuki gazed down on the box curiously. He then said, "Arigatou, okaasan," before enveloping her in a hug.
"Take care of yourself, my little Ryu-chan..."
…End Flashback…
That had been before he chased after Scorpios/Asakura and ended up being killed as he was buried under rubble, only to resurrect as an Orphenoch. Sighing, he replaced the rings back into the box and then removed his own glove to stare at his own hand.
He could not give Jinx one of those rings. It wasn't because he didn't love her, far from it. He was absolutely crazy about her. It was because of his love for her that he couldn't show her the rings.
He was dying, he knew that. His DNA was starting to breakdown even more if the last few tests were any indication. He was relying on a DNA stabilizing serum but eventually that would start to fail too.
He couldn't give her one of the rings. If he'd died then it would be all that was left of him for her. He couldn't leave her that kind of pain. If he was going to die, he hoped that nothing would hold her back and she would move on.
He let out a tired sigh as he held up the box. He then placed it on his bedside table.
Just for fun, he had written down his friends' Kamen Rider names. The girls were easy to name since he named them after their Inzecters.
For Jinx, he named her Kamen Rider Scarab.
For Terra, he named her Kamen Rider Cutter.
For Blackfire, he named her Kamen Rider Fire.
For Renia, he named her Kamen Rider Red Locust (Punch Locust sounded weird to him).
Robin's name was also on the list. His Titan Gear resembled the Gear used by Faiz/Xander, Delta/Shinji and Kaixa/Selene. Since they were named after their Gears, the name Kamen Rider Titan seemed to fit him.
Today, he, Pluto, Blackfire and Jinx were going out on a double-date, to just hang out as two couples. He actually looked forward to spending some peace and quiet with Jinx. Blackfire and Pluto would obviously separate from them for some privacy. He knew them that well.
Sighing to himself, he stood up and went to his closet to get ready for the date.
Later…
The sounds and sights of the fair were in full swing as the four Titans arrived at the seaside fair which was going on. It boasted all sorts of rides, snacks, and attractions that would blow people's minds.
Draco and Pluto were there with their respective girlfriends, Jinx and Blackfire. The girls had heard about it and wanted to go. Jinx had never had a normal day at the fair and Blackfire had heard a lot about cotton candy from her sister. Despite knowing a lot about Earth, the elder Tamaranian hadn't tried the strange treat that Starfire recommended with a bright smile.
"Come on, Baby!" Jinx laughed as she dragged Draco over to the midway. "You can win me a unicorn!"
"Jinxy-chan," Draco sweatdropped with some laughter. He was going to do that for her anyway so she really didn't have to ask him.
"So, Yoshi," Blackfire smiled seductively as she dragged a finger across his chest. "Little sister told me about this wonderful treat called cotton candy. If you get me some…I think I can make a trip on the Tunnel of Love a little more love filled. What do you say?"
Pluto trembled slightly from Blackfire's seduction. All she really had to do was ask, but the way she could get his hormones churning without even trying was something that made her special. She wanted cotton candy? Well, she was gonna get some come hell or high water!
"Right away' mi'lady!" he grinned eagerly. "Let's go!"
"My hero," Blackfire giggled.
The two couples spent the entire day having fun at the fair.
Draco got Jinx a stuffed purple unicorn at one of the game stalls. All he had to do was knock down a few cans with a ball. He did it on the first try. Pluto, however, got hit when the ball he threw bounced off the back wall and hit him in the face.
The Haunted House was fun but they were kicked out when Blackfire accidentally blasted one of the props to pieces. Then there was the hall of mirrors where they enjoyed a good laugh while looking at the reflections. The hall of mirrors reminded Draco of the time he nearly lost Jinx. He tried to hide it.
They went on a few rides too and while getting snacks Blackfire got the soft sugary treat that Starfire had told her about. It was sweet and delicious! She actually gobbled the whole thing up.
Feeling daring, Blackfire wanted to try out the roller coaster. Pluto blanched as he gazed up at it, an unhappy memory in his mind and a horrible sensation in his stomach reminding him of what roller-coasters usually did to him.
"So, you wanna ride?" Blackfire asked Pluto as they looked at the rollercoaster.
"I think I'll pass," Pluto said, feeling queasy. He just had a large hotdog and didn't want a repeat of the last time he'd ridden on a rollercoaster.
"Baby?" Jinx asked her boyfriend, hoping he would be brave enough to ride with her. He shook his head. He wasn't in the mood.
"Not right now, Jinxy-chan. Gomen," he apologized. Jinx frowned.
"Come on!" Blackfire said. "Let's get on! We're not missing this!"
"Right!" Jinx said as she ran after Blackfire to ride the rollercoaster.
As Jinx and Blackfire rode the rollercoaster, both Knights sat down on a bench just to relax and started to talk.
"You had fun today?" Pluto asked his younger friend, the Dragon Knight.
"Hai, I did," Draco smiled but then noticed the troubled look on Pluto's face. "Something wrong?" he asked before jokingly adding, "Upset stomach or something?"
Pluto shook his head and said, "No, it's nothing like that." Mentally, he said, 'Should I do it? It's my mom we're talking about here. I know Leo would understand, but…' Pluto turned serious, "Ryuki…Leo…" Pluto began, "We've known each other for awhile now, haven't we?"
"Hai, I guess we have," Ryuki answered. "Over three years."
"Remember how we met?" Pluto asked.
"How could I forget?" Draco responded.
The day Draco first met Pluto was when Ryuki accidentally found his way into the Mirror World as Zodiac Knight Draco Blank Mode and saw a giant spider. Pluto later intervened and defeated the monster. When Draco tried to question him, Pluto irritably shrugged him off. That was before they were chased out of the Mirror World when Dragonzer, before it was contracted to Draco, attacked them.
Pluto had actually ordered Draco to hand over his deck, forget the whole thing and just return to his normal life. However, Draco stubbornly refused and kept the deck until he eventually contracted Dragonzer with Eri's help and instruction since she'd seen her brother do it. At that time was in possession of her own deck but hadn't made a contract with a Zodiac Beast yet.
Their second meeting hadn't gone so well. Pluto was about to be killed when this time Draco intervened, empowered by Dragonzer, and defeated the monster. However, Pluto then told Draco that the Knights were enemies and proceeded to give him a beating.
Pluto had the tip of his lance pointed down on Draco throat and was about to finish him off when Shadowcobra got in the way, resulting in a three-way fight that only stopped when their time in the Mirror World ran out.
"So much has changed since then," Pluto said, looking down on his hands. "But…there are some things that remain the same." He clenched his fists tightly.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked, concerned for his friend.
"It's my mother," Pluto admitted. "Her condition is deteriorating. The doctors can only keep her stable but eventually she'll…expire."
Draco became silent. He could somehow see what Pluto was going at with this. Pluto's wish as a Knight when he won this war was to revive his mother from her coma and maybe even use the wish to bring his father back from the dead. It was a long shot but it was what both he and his sister, Eri/Venus, had promised from the day they got their decks and became Zodiac Knights.
Pluto was desperate now, and his only option was…
Pluto didn't want to do this, but Draco beat him to the punch. "By the Code of the Zodiac Knights, I challenge you," Draco challenged, eyes cast on the ground.
The girls would soon leave their ride only to discover their boyfriends gone.
Pluto couldn't understand why Draco would challenge him out of the blue like that. As much as Pluto wanted to revive his mother, he suspected that Draco wanted the wish to become human again.
"You know you can back out," Pluto said to Draco as they stood in front of one of the message boards which had a reflective glass service.
"Formal Zodiac Challenge, Pluto," Draco said. "Once a challenge is made by the Code, there is no backing out. You taught me that."
Pluto remembered. He did. He looked at Draco. 3 years ago, Draco had just been a kid who got roped into this by accident. Now, he was a hardened warrior, a veteran. He had grown up and went through so much. The experiences he went through, both good and bad, had shaped him into the Knight he was now.
Draco glanced at Pluto, briefly remembering the first time they met and their first battle. He remembered how Pluto was once obsessed with defeating the other Knights in hopes of reviving his mother. Though Pluto hadn't told them, Draco had followed him and saw Pluto's mother. He could understand what Pluto was going through. He had lost a parent too.
They both brought out their decks in front of them, holding them out at the glass. Their belts formed around their waists.
"Empowerment of the Zodiac Dragon…" Draco began.
"Empowerment of the Zodiac Dog…" Pluto began.
"Henshin!" they cried in unison before sliding the decks into their belts. Their belts flashes as their bodies were engulfed by the energy. They then stood in their respective suits of Zodiac Armor. Without another word, they both dove into the rippling portal which would lead them into the Mirror World. There, no one would be able to interfere.
Jinx and Blackfire had enjoyed the ride greatly and were on their way to meet up with the boys again.
"OK, that was awesome!" Jinx said, fixing her hair a bit. "Too bad the guys missed it."
"It was OK, I guess," Blackfire said with a shrug. She was running her hands through her dark hair to straighten it out. They then reached the bench, but there were no boys waiting for them.
The two Knightriders sped into the area before braking. Their tops lifted up as their riders, both fully clad in their armors, dismounted from their respective vehicles.
Zodiac Knight Draco and Zodiac Knight Pluto both stood on the roof of a building, most likely a school, staring at one another.
"You ready?" the Dog Knight asked as he drew his sword. Draco nodded as his own blade slid out of the Dragauntlet.
"Hai," Draco nodded. He did issue the challenge.
"Give it all you got," Pluto said before he charged straight towards Draco, swinging his sword. Draco blocked with his Dragblade and sparks flew. Pluto swung again but Draco parried and then performed a strong front kick into Pluto's midsection. He then followed up with a right cross that sent Pluto sprawling. Draco would usually go and see if his friend was okay but he knew right now Pluto would not appreciate any sort of pity. They were enemies right now and enemies showed no concern for one another…even if they were friends.
Pluto sat up and sent lightning bolts at Draco and he got zapped in the chest. Sparks flew as the bolts continued to hit him and send him staggering. Pluto got up and charged and slashed Draco across the chest. He then sent a fist into the Dragon Knight's stomach and then attempted a slash but was pushed back by a psychic barrier. Draco then launched ice spikes and fireballs at him, forcing him to dodge them. Using the moment to his advantage, Draco then flew at Pluto and got him with a flying kick. Pluto was sent nearly flying off the building but his cape morphed into wings and allowed him to hover back onto their battlefield. He reached down to his belt and pulled out a card with a blue background and depicting a golden wing…The Survivor card.
Strong winds began to blow all around and Draco prepared himself, knowing something was about to happen.
Pluto's sword then morphed into a sword and shield combo, with the sword sheathed within the bat-like shield. The shield was equipped to his left arm. He then slid the card into the shield.
Draco was thinking, 'Takada…you sure you want to do this? Once you take a life…there is no turning back…is it worth it?'
He got his answer.
"Survive!" Pluto announced and his armor then changed into its Survivor Mode, covering more of his body, turning sapphire blue with gold trim and sporting a new cape split in two. He then drew his sword, which then lengthened as he charged at Draco. Draco dodged under a swing and then rolled away as Pluto brought the sword down on him. Draco then decided to level the playing field as he too drew a card which depicted a golden wing on a red background. Flames began to dance around him as his Dragauntlet then morphed into a blaster shaped like a dragon's head and the 'jaw' opened. He then put the card into the 'mouth' and closed the jaw shut. He then stood back up.
Pluto was thinking, almost regretfully, 'Ryuki…you are my friend…but right now…you are standing between me and my wish. Show me what you can do, my friend.'
"Survive!" Draco called as the flames engulfed him and then changed him into his own crimson and gold Survivor Mode. He then got ready with his Dragblaster as Pluto rushed at him. Draco dodged the swings and then used a vicious uppercut to send Pluto staggering. Pluto got back into the game and swung again at Draco and the Dragon Knight rolled out of the way. At the same time said Dragon Knight had slid a card into his weapon.
"Sword Vent," he called under his breath as he kneeled and a blade appeared on barrel of his weapon. He stood back up and charged at Pluto again, turning it into a sword fight once again.
Their weapons clashes, sending sparks flying as they blocked each other's strikes. Pluto got a hit on the shoulder but he too got a hit when he stuck Draco in the chest. They then locked weapons but Pluto proved to be more determined as he was able to push Draco against the railing. He pushed harder, attempting to push the Dragon Knight over. Draco's feet dangled over the floor as he was forced to lean backwards on the railing.
"Can't…lose…" he struggled as Pluto continued to push. He pushed back. Summoning the Ox power, he then shoved Pluto back and then punched him hard in the chest to send him flying. "If you take a life now, you can never go back!" he shouted at Pluto. He was speaking from experience.
"We have no choice!" Pluto shouted back as he got back to his feet and slid a card into his sword before sliding it back into the shield. "Shoot Vent!" His card reader then turned into a crossbow and he fired at Draco. Draco was able to dodge the first shot but the second shot sent him to fall over the railing and on his back on top of the roof of a lower structure connected to the building where they had been standing on.
Draco drew a card, his Trick Vent, and slid it into his card reader. "Trick Vent!" he called as he stood up and two Draco cloned appeared flanking him. The trio then leapt up and back onto the battlefield.
Pluto was surrounded but decided to make it a fair fight. He drew a card and slid it into his reader. "Trick Vent!" he called out as two Pluto duplicates appeared too. The clones battled their counterparts as the originals battled each other once again.
Swords clashed as powers lashed out at one another. Neither party wanted to give up. This was their fate! They had to fight! They had no choice!
Pluto pictured his mother's face as he fought. Each strike brought up a memory of her for him and reminded him of why he became a Knight.
Draco could feel the emotions Pluto was putting into his strikes, but like Pluto he was not going to give up without a fight. He punched at Pluto who countered with a lightning bolt and a stab to his chest. Draco slashed at him with his blade and continued to attack his friend with the ferocity that would most likely have come from Ifrit.
The two Knights cried as they fought one another, never letting up…
Sparks exploded from their intense battle.
Only one of them would survive this fight to the finish.
Jinx and Blackfire, meanwhile, had been looking around everywhere for their boyfriends. They arrived in a clearing after being separated for awhile.
"Did you find them?" Jinx asked the alien girl.
"No," Blackfire shook her head. "Where are they?"
"You don't think they're…fighting a monster, do you?" Jinx asked, worriedly.
Blackfire replied, "I don't think we need to be worrying about a monster right now. I think we have to worry about them more."
"Why?" Jinx asked. She knew something was up. She asked but she wondered if she wanted to know the answer.
"I accidentally read one of Takada's e-mails," Blackfire confessed. "And it said that his mom is getting worst."
Jinx gasped. "No…but that means." It finally clicked. "We have to stop them!"
"How?" Blackfire asked. "They are probably in the Mirror World where we can't follow them and they know it. All we can do now is wait."
Jinx still didn't like it.
Draco was growing tired. He was starting to feel the breakdown happening again. Ignoring it, he slashed at Pluto who leapt back only to be blasted by a fireball. Pluto's chest was scorched by the intense flames Draco had produced.
Changing tactics, Pluto sheathed his sword and morphed his arms into gattling cannons. Aiming, he fired multiple shots at the Dragon Knight in rapid succession, forcing Draco to use his teleportation powers to dodge. He switched weapons and morphed his arms into plasma blades. He slashed at Draco but the Dragon Knight was quick to slide a card into his card reader.
"Guard Vent!"
Dragonrizer roared as it flew into the battle zone, encircling Draco protectively after smashing Pluto away with its tail. The Dog Knight tumbled over the floor before he got into a kneeling position. He sent a wave of electricity at the dragon who then roared in pain. Pluto was then smashed by a telekinetic blast to his shoulder which shattered his shoulder guard. He drew a card and slid it into his own card reader.
"Blast Vent!"
Darkraider flew into the scene and the turbine in its winds spun, creating gale force winds that were pushing at Draco. His feet dragged against the surface of the floor but he was able to grip a card and activate it.
"Shoot Vent!"
Dragonrizer growled as it stood behind its master, catching him with its body. Draco was pressed against Dragonrizer due to the gale but was able to aim at Darkraider. He fired a targeting laser and Dragonrizer shot a fireball dead centre at Darkraider. The armored bat screeched in pain as it received the attack, halting the wind it had created.
Both Draco and Pluto looked at each other one last time before drawing their final cards. These cards bore their symbols, gold and flanked by wings in the background. They took one last glance at each other before activating the cards.
"SURVIVOR FINAL VENT!"
Darkraider screeched as Dragonrizer roared before their Knighs mounted them and charged right at each other with great speed.
The two then heard groaning and Jinx's eyes widened as she saw Draco, out of his armor, staggering onto the grassy clearing. He collapsed onto his knees and fell on the grass. "Ryuki!" Jinx screamed as she ran towards him. She saw he had a number of injuries on him, mostly cuts and bruises. "Are you okay? Speak to me!" She could see his Orphenoch flames starting to heal him.
Blackfire's eyes widened as she saw Pluto, without his armor as well, walking in her sights. He didn't sport the same wounds on him because of his invulnerability but she knew he was hurt too. He collapsed out of exhaustion before Blackfire ran towards him.
Both Draco and Pluto woke up in the Tower infirmary. The Dragon Knight's wounds had healed while Pluto had recovered from his fatigue. Right now they were under the scrutiny of their two girlfriends as well as at their mercy. They didn't look too happy with them.
"What were you two thinking ditching us like that!?" Blackfire yelled at Pluto.
"Yeah!" Jinx agreed. "We're your girlfriends for crying out loud!" Jinx grabbed Draco by the arm. He winced but Jinx ignored it as she dragged him out of bed for a private 'chat'.
Pluto was shrinking in his bed as he gulped at the glowing glare his alien girlfriend was giving him. Not much could scare someone who was invulnerable but right now Pluto thought that maybe he should've stayed unconscious.
Blackfire calmly reached up to a curtain which was sometimes used to separate patients and give them privacy should they need it. Without saying a word she pulled it along until she and Pluto were hidden from sight. Both Knights knew that they were in for it now.
Pluto & Blackfire…
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Blackfire shrieked as she glared at Pluto, her violet eyes glowing brightly.
"I didn't have a choice," Pluto defended. "Draco was the one who challenged me…"
"I don't care who challenged who!" Blackfire snapped. "The point is that you were fighting one of your best friends and got hurt! You could have died!"
"I knew the risks, but…" Pluto tried to speak.
"No! Don't start!" Blackfire shouted back. "I've heard about that wish and Zodiac War crap too many times to count now! I know what you want to wish for and I know that she's getting worse!"
"Huh?" Pluto blinked. "Did you-?"
"I did see that message," Blackfire nodded. "I know you want to save her, but I just don't want to lose you."
Blackfire started shivering as she began to cry. The tears were running down her face and made her mascara run. She was struggling not to, but she was fighting a losing battle with that.
"I just got my life turned around," she sniffed. "But you're the one who makes it worthwhile. You make me feel so happy and when you look at me I can forget about all the terrible things I've done. If I lost you I might as well be dead."
Blackfire then gave up her battle and broke down sobbing. Pluto was quick to take her into his arms and hold her and let her cry. It was breaking his own heart to see her cry and know that he was the source of her distress.
"I don't want to see you suffer like this," she sobbed. "I may have been banished from Tamaran, but my sister is empress so I'm sure we can find something to help your mother. We must have something."
Pluto felt his breath stop in his throat. Was it that simple? He was friends with aliens and they had completely different technology. Surely they had something that might help. Was he alone for so long that he really didn't know how to ask for help even when he desperately needed it?
As he pondered that question, he continued to hold his girlfriend who continued to cry into his chest.
Draco & Jinx…
"What were you thinking, Ryuki?!" Jinx snapped. "What on Earth made you challenge your own friend?"
"Well," Draco flinched under his girlfriend's gaze. "He told me that his mother's condition was getting worse. I figured if we fought and one of us won then the tournament would come closer to ending and if I lost then he would be that much closer to saving her."
"Baby, that's insane!" Jinx cried out. "You're life is already short enough. Why are you trying to make it shorter?!"
"But, Jinx, she'll die if we don't do something!" Draco cried.
"Then try to find another way!" Jinx snapped, her eyes getting watery. "God, I'm already scared I'm going to lose you to that damned Orphenoch flaw. We're trying to find the Orphenoch King, but I'm scared that we're going to be too late!"
"Jinxy-chan," Draco frowned. He could see that his girlfriend was on the verge of shedding tears. He was quick to take her in his arms and tried to comfort her.
"I don't want anything to happen to you," she sobbed. "I love you."
"I love you too, Jinxy-chan," Draco whispered as he continued to hold her in his arms as she sobbed into his chest. "Gomen."
Later that night, Mortuary walked out of his room and towards the common room. He was dressed in his civilian clothing which consisted of a black t-shirt, faded blue jeans, black and white sneakers, and black wristbands. He also had his Red Wolves jacket slung over his shoulder. As he exited the common room, he looked to see if anyone was around to see him leave. Out of one of the hallway doors Draco peered his head out to watch Mortuary leave. He decided to follow him since Mortuary had been acting rather unusual today. Just when he was about to follow again he didn't noticed the dark figure behind him.
"Hi, Leo," The figure spoke.
Draco jumped before turning around to see Renia standing behind him with a bright grin on her face "Jeez, Ren! You scared the hell out of me!" he shouted. Draco had recovered from his fight with Pluto but not totally unscathed. The tongue lashing he'd received from his girlfriend had not been pleasant. The angry look on her face and the words coming from her mouth were still deeply rooted within his memory.
"Oh, my bad." Renia said. She then decided to ask "What are you doing sneaking around anyway?"
"I'm following Mortuary. He's been acting weird today. Haven't you noticed?"
"Not really, no. I thought he just acted weird all the time." Renia paused for a second. "Well what do you think he's doing?"
Draco just shrugged, "Maybe he's going on date?"
Renia's eyes widened in panic, "He couldn't be! This is Craig we're talking about. He's pretty much as anti-social as they come." She was really hoping it wasn't a date.
"Well we're not gonna find out by just standing around. C'mon," Draco said as he dragged Ren by the wrist.
"Where are we going?" Renia asked
"The roof. We can watch him from there," Draco answered as he led on.
Mortuary walked out of the Tower doors and saw Terra sitting on the rocks by the water. Terra noticed him walk up behind her.
"Hey there," Mort greeted.
"Hey," Terra greeted back. "So ready to go?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Mortuary answered meekly, he was kind of nervous to run into his old team again.
"You'll be fine," Terra smiled to reassure him. She then summoned up a boulder from out of the water and beckoned to Mortuary. She stood on top of the boulder waiting for her former leader.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this flying rock stuff," Mort said as he climbed on.
"Alright, now hold on," Terra warned as she raised the boulder into the air.
Mortuary shut his eyes then wrapped his arms around Terra's waist. Terra turned her head back to look at Mortuary. After a few seconds he spoke up "You know how I am with heights."
Terra shook her head. "You know for a guy called 'Mortuary' you sure have a ridiculous fear."
"Just drive," Mortuary said in defeat.
Terra just chuckled and kept the boulder flying.
When Draco and Renia arrived at the roof they looked around to see any sign of Mortuary. They didn't see anything on the Tower grounds. Draco kneeled down to get a closer look but still couldn't see him. "How did he get off the island so fast?" he asked himself.
Renia looked around and saw something close by. When she noticed what it was her jaw dropped. She tugged on Draco's jacket and when he turned around he saw Renia's face in a state of shock. "What is it, Ren?" He asked in concern for his young alchemist friend, who simply pointed at what she saw.
"You said he might be on a date, right?" Renia asked.
Draco gulped, "Only one way to find out." It was then that Draco and Renia rushed to the garage and mounted the Jet Slinger. Renia cast an invisibility spell and they sped off after their fellow Titans.
Terra and Mortuary reached their destination. The area was too quiet and they started to suspect something was up. Both Titans opened the warehouse door as quietly as they could. As they walked in they noticed all the lights were off. Mortuary pulled out a small flashlight from his utility belt which he happened to bring along with him. He shined it around his and Terra's perimeter but still saw nothing. Suddenly a single light above them turned on. Terra and Mortuary were instantly back to back, ready for whatever came.
A shard of ice shot out at their feet but both Titans were able to dodge it easy. Mortuary didn't notice a new attacker was standing behind him. The unknown enemy tapped him on the shoulder. As soon as Mortuary turned around his face almost made contact with a fist. More fists kept coming and it was getting harder to keep up. Mortuary was ready for the next one as he caught his attacker's arm and threw him over his shoulder.
Terra was also being attacked by an unknown foe. The attacker had been shooting a mix of fireballs and lightning bolts at the Titans' geomancer. Terra was tempted to call her Inzecter but decided against it. That thing was only for dire emergencies. Terra could tell the attacker's position was atop a stack of crates so she made the ground underneath jut out and topple them. Terra's enemy jumped off the crates just in time and landed gracefully on the ground. Terra prepared for the next attack as her adversary jumped from out of the shadows and…..hugged her?
"Tara!" The attacker squealed and was revealed to be young girl about the age of 15.
"Cassy?" Terra asked as she looked down at the girl who called her name.
"The one and only," she (Cassy) answered back happily. On closer inspection Cassy had medium length brown hair tied up in two pigtails and her green eyes brightened up with delight. She was dressed in a black and red school girl uniform with a red skirt and black shirt. She also wore black shoes with red knee high socks and gloves. The Red Wolves symbol was visible on the back of her shirt.
All of the lights in the warehouse flashed on revealing two others; one female and the other male. The female in terms of appearance had long black hair that reaches to her lower back which has some blue streaks in it and blue eyes. She wore the same Red Wolves jacket as Terra. Underneath the jacket she wore a black tank top. She also had on black leather pants with a blue stripe on each side. Ashleigh also wore black boots and gloves that also had a blue stripe on each making the middle and ring fingers blue.
The male had short slicked back brown hair and brown eyes. Andrew also wore round glasses. In terms of clothing he wore a black collared shirt that had the Red Wolves symbol over the right breast with black slacks and shoes.
Mortuary looked down at the young man who had attacked him. He had parted blonde hair and blue eyes, he was a bit short but of a muscular build. The tattoo going down his right arm said "Dead by Dawn" as a warning to his foes. He was dressed in a black football jersey that had the Red Wolves symbol present on the sleeves. He also wore black shorts, red sneakers, and a red beanie.
Mortuary smiled as he reached out his hand to help the young man up. "Need some help there, Billy?" He asked.
To Be Continued…
OK, that's the chap. Mort and Terra go and meet their old crew but don't know they've been followed by the Knight of Dragons and the Crystal Alchemist. Wonder what will happen next?
The Draco VS Pluto fight was inspired by the fight between Kamen Rider Ryuuki and Kamen Rider Knight from KAMEN RIDER RYUUKI the series which inspired me to write this fic in the first place.