Chapter 14: Scarlet Dawn
The morning air was cold against Koaru's skin as he stood out on the hillside where the Scouts had been captured the previous day. He wore a heavy black jacket with the front half zipped, his hands in his pockets as he shivered in the pre-dawn atmosphere. The Tritus Crystal hung around his neck, visible from the folds of the jacket, sparkling as the sun finally broke the horizon, its rays scattering as they struck the gem. Removing his hands from his pockets, Koaru pulled out his cigarettes and tapped one free from the package before, after casting a quick glance around to ensure that no one else was around, lit the tip with a snap of his fingers. Replacing the pack into the depths of his jacket Koaru took a long drag from the tobacco stick, filling his lungs before slowly exhaling the smoke from his nose, watching it rise in the air, his body still shivering as the sun slowly warmed him.
"You're aware that those will kill you, right?"
Koaru turned as Tenshi borke the crest of the hill, staring at the cigarette ith severe distaste. Taking a second drag, Koaru freed one hand from his pockets and took the cigareete from his lips, holding it down at his side as he started back at Tenshi, exhaling slowly.
"You're aware that I started because of you, right?" he lied, feeling irritated at being called out so early and being lectured by the Knight.
Tenshi sensed the test in the words and challenged it, knowing that the words were not truthful. "No," he said, knowing that he could well be starting a battle with the Guardian again, "I believe that you sarted a week after Amy kicked you to the curb."
Koaru felt his temper spike at the Knight's words, and his muscles tensed in responce, his whole body preparing to atack Tenshi. The feeling of the Crystal bouncing against his chest reminded Koaru of the situation, and reminded him that he owed Tenshi. Now was not the time for them to try killing each other. That could be done later.
"Fine, you win," Koaru said, dropping the cigarette and stepping on it, killing its ember before walking over to Tenshi, both hands back in his pockets. "But now tell me what it is that you need me to do."
"I'm sorry?" Tenshi asked, confused at Koaru's words.
"You told me to prove my vow to you," koaru replied, slightly annoyed. "Tell me what I have to do."
Tenshi shook his head, chuckling. "You have to do nothing more than trust me," though even as the Knight spoke the thought of 'Like that's possible' floated through his mind. Looking to Koaru, Tenshi knew that he was thinking the same thing he was.
"Before anything else," Koaru said with a heavy yawn, pausing as he stretched with the inhalation before continuing, "is that we need to find out where that ass monkey in the purple armor took Amy and the others."
"I wish I knew," Tenshi sighed, turning to face the city, though his eyes looked beyond the buildings. "For as long as I've known Shiro, I've never been able to tell exactly how his mind works."
"What's your story with him anyways?" Koaru asked, stepping up beside the Knight, also staring towards the city.
"Shiro and I aren't from your System," Tenshi said, turning his eyes up towards the sky, gazing at the last few stars as they slowly faded from sight. "We're from a System roughly-"
"Spare me the directions home, just give me the details that I need to know," koaru interupted, holding his hand up respectively.
Tenshi grinned at the Guardian's words, slightly amused. "Very well. On my home planet I'm a Royal Knight. Shiro is an enemy of my people, and a great threat to our peace. My mission is to stop him by any means necessary."
"Fair enough," Koaru said as he nodded his head, inderstanding Tenshi's words. "But what could he want with Serena and the girls?"
"That's something even I don't know," Tenshi said, slowly shaking his head. "But still, for only being 16 he's very powerful."
"He's only 16?" Koaru asked in shock, his eyes widening at Tenshi's words. "He's younger than I am!"
"And he would make short work of you," Tenshi stated simply, turning his head to face Koaru, gazing him in the eye. "I'm not being stupid here; he would destroy you. Even I can't defeat him."
"What's he got that makes him so freaking powerful than?" Koaru asked, though his words held some mockery in their tone.
"He's Psychic," Tenshi said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "his mastery over that power is unparralelled. He holds authority over every medium of the earth, manipulating plants and rock. Worse, he can control others' minds. Or if he wants to make you suffer, he'll play with your mind." Tenshi stared at Koaru's now shocked expression, the fear that had entered his eyes at the words he had spoken. "I have sen warriors mightier than you fall apart, even kill themselves under the influence of his mind games. I'm warning you now; he's nothing compared to any enemy you have ever faced."
Koaru felt his hands shaking at the realization of the strength that this Shiro possessed. His powers outweighed his own in every aspect, and that fact struck deep into his soul, filling it with fear, dread and helplessness.
It made him feel more excited than he had ever felt in his life. Gazing Tenshi in the eye, the Guardian and the Knight smiled to one another before reaching out and clasping each other's hands in a firm grip; sealing the alliance.
The moment was short lived as the morning sky vanished in a flash of scarlet. Both warriors stepped back and shielded their eyes for a moment before slowly gazing out again. The morning sky had turned black, the formly white clouds now glowing blood red.
"What te fuck is this shit?" Koaru asked, taking a second step back, raising a hand to the Tritus Crystal.
"It's Shiro," Tenshi yelled, flashing bright white as his powers awakened; his long jacket whipping out behind him as he leapt into the air and took off towards the city.
"Hey hang on a second!" Koaru shouted as she started running after Tenshi before skidding to a stop, his heart pounding in his ears as a shiver ran down his spine. A bright red light was originating from the top of one of the skyscrapers in the middle of the city. "Just like my dream," he though with a shudder. Shaking his head sharply, Koaru closed his hand around the Tritus Crystal, snapping his eyes shut. "Now's not the time to be remembering stupid shit," he muttered to himself as his poweres awakened, the black flames roaring to life around him, shrounding his body in his black leather body vest, silver belt, black military pants and the long white jacket of the Tritus Knight, Kameharu resting against his back as the remainder of the black flames licked into the air before vanishing. "It's time to go to work," Koaru growled, smiling as he took off after Tenshi, his left arm twitching; its curse sensing the coming battle and wanting to begin the bloodshed.