Chapter 32: Assassination Part 2
Meanwhile, Lenalee and the two Dai Li agents that are with her arrived at the caboose. "Here we are." One of the agents said as he placed his hand on the doorknob.
Before the agent could open the door however, Lenalee kick the agent's back. The second agent tries to punch her but Lenalee quickly dodges it and uses her other leg and kick the agent's face and sends him sprawling on the ground.
The other agent turned around and growls as he tries to punch Lenalee but Lenalee dodges it again and kicks the agent's chin with her knee, then kicks him through the caboose's door and the agent smashed into a bunch of wooden crates. The agent groans as he fell unconscious.
Lenalee then walked over to the agent, takes his keys with her legs. "Sorry guys, but I'm not gonna let you hurt my friends." She smirked.
Meanwhile, at the Faction submarine, The Brute frowns angrily as he looks at his watch. "Impossible, it's been 15 minutes but Long Feng and Cedric haven't reported to me that their mission is done." The Brute pointed out.
"What do we do now, sir?" The submarine's admiral asked.
"I'm going to join them." The Brute then draws out his sword and walks his way out of the bridge. "Tell one of your men to take me to the train."
"Yes sir."
Meanwhile, at the train's dining car, everybody was peacefully having their dinner and conservations, until Ricky, Allen, Ben and Wall-E stormed into the car.
Long Feng shot an Earth glove at them but Allen deflects the glove with his greatsword and the glove ended up smashing onto a nearby dining table.
The woman sitting at the table screamed in fright and it causes everyone in the dining car to scream and ran out of the car in panic.
Ricky, Allen, Ben and Wall-E ignored the screams as they fight against Long Feng and the Dai Li agents.
Wall-E uses his laser and zaps one of the Dai Li agents, sending him to another dining table.
Ricky grabs one of the dining chairs and tosses it at Long Feng but the Dai Li leader easily punches the chair and smashes it.
Allen grabs a bottle from a table and smashes it on one of the Dai Li agent's head, making him groan and slump onto the ground.
The second agent leaps onto a table behind Allen and jumps onto him but Allen quickly turned around and swings his Anti-Akuma arm at him and he swings the agent to the wall.
Ricky swings his Carsomyr sword at Long Feng but Long Feng dodges it. He then swings his Earth gloves at Ricky while Ricky quickly deflects them with his sword.
Long Feng thrusts his fist at Ricky but Ricky quickly jumps into the air and lands behind Long Feng. Ricky turns around and yells, "Finishing Touch!"
He swings his sword furiously and shot a whirlwind at Long Feng, sending him and the tables and chairs in the dining car spiralling inside it.
The whirlwind then sends him and the tables and chairs to the back of the car and Long Feng groaned.
Ricky, Allen, Ben and Wall-E went up to Long Feng but one of the Dai Li agents recovered and stood up.
Allen grabs Long Feng by the collar and lifts him up.
"Who hired you to assassinate us?!" Allen demanded as he glared at Long Feng. One of the Dai Li agents ran up to the heroes but Ricky quickly turns around and punches the agent in the face and sends him to the ground. The agent fell unconscious.
"I…I don't know." Long Feng uttered. Allen tightens his grip, making Long Feng yell. "It was The Brute!"
"The Brute? You mean one of the commanders of the Faction?" Ben asked, widening his eyes.
"Yes." A voice said. Ricky, Allen, Ben and Wall-E gasp as they turn their heads around and see the Brute standing behind them.
"The Brute." Ricky uttered.
The Brute turns to Ricky and immediately recognises him as the Templar because of his Carsomyr Sword. The Brute narrows his eyes as he said, "So, you are the Templar."
"Yes." Ricky frowns and nods his head. "I am Ricky Blade, son of Yoruichi Shihouin."
"I see. You know, before we killed your mother, she told us that one day, we will fall. I guess she was right after all." The Brute then draws out his sword, preparing to fight.
Ricky turned to Allen, Ben and Wall-E and said, "Guys, find Saber and the others, I'll deal with him alone."
"Got it. Good luck, Ricky." Allen nods his head. Ben and Wall-E nod as well and the three left the car.
Ricky turned back to the Brute and the two now stood face-to-face, ready to battle each other.
"We finally meet each other." The Brute said. "What do you say we fight together and let me see if you really have your mother's blood."
"Bring it on." Ricky narrows his eyes.
Ricky and The Brute then yelled as they both rushed forward to each other and clash their swords together.
The fight began with both opponents blocking their attacks. Ricky swings his sword at The Brute but the masked commander duck and tries to swing his sword at Ricky's leg but Ricky quickly leaps backward and lands on one knee.
Ricky looks up and The Brute yells as he swings his sword at Ricky again but the Templar quickly blocks it in time.
Ricky and The Brute push their swords against each other with all their strength each one trying to overpower the other.
"When we kill your mother, she was screaming in agony. She was pathetic." The Brute said. He is simply trying to break Ricky's concentration.
"Shut up!" Ricky yelled, getting more furious. The Brute broke the stalemate by pushing Ricky back and prepared a special attack.
"Time for me to show you my power." The Brute then brings down his sword and smashes it onto the floor. "BUGENHAGEN!"
Ricky gasps as a huge wave of black energy rushes over to him. He tries to block the attack but the attack is too powerful to be blocked and the energy knocked Ricky back and the Templar skid across the ground on his back.
Ricky groans as he gets up but The Brute quickly jumps into the air and brought his sword down at him. Ricky quickly rolled to the right and gets up from the ground. He swings his Carsomyr sword at The Brute but the Brute quickly turned around and block it.
Ricky swung his sword wildly but The Brute kept blocking his attacks and The Brute jumps back and raises up his arm and sword, preparing to launch another special attack.
"MANEGARM!" He yelled and swings his sword three times, shooting three waves of black energy at Ricky.
Ricky blocks the first wave, but the second wave hits his arm. Ricky yells in pain as he grabs his injured arm and he yells again when the third wave hits his left legs.
Ricky kneeled on the ground and sees that his leg wound is bleeding furiously and blood is trickling down his arm wound.
'He's too strong.' He thought. He looked up at the Brute for a while, then quickly turned around and runs his way out of the dining car.
"What's the matter?! This battle is over already?" The Brute laughed. He charges after Ricky while Ricky runs for his dear life.
Meanwhile, Saber, Rukia, Will and Toph entered the cargo car. The cargo car is quiet…too quiet.
They continue walking until Lenalee entered the cargo car. "Guys!" Lenalee called.
"Lenalee?" Saber asked as she arched her eyebrow.
"Guys, it's good to see you again. Anyways, the Faction is here. They have come-"
"To assassinate us, we know." Toph said, rolling her eyes. Lenalee looked at Toph confused, then grins as she rubs her head.
"Aw, aren't you a cute little girl?" Lenalee cooed.
"Hey! Don't touch me! Only my brother Ricky can do that!" Toph snapped as she shoved Lenalee's arm away.
"Sister?" Lenalee said, completely confused.
"Long story." Saber chuckled. Everybody then stop what they are doing when Will holds up one of her rapiers.
"You guys go and find Ricky and the others. I'll stay here." Will said.
"What?" Saber asked alarmed.
"Don't worry." Will turned her head around and smiled. "I'll be fine."
Saber, Rukia, Toph and Lenalee then nod their heads, turn around and leave the cargo car. After the four girls are gone, Will turned her head back to the front and said coldly as she frowns,
"I know you're here…Cedric."
Cedric then jumps down from a pile of crates and lands in front of Will. "We finally meet again, Will." He smirked maliciously.
"So Cedric, you're behind this assassination attempt too?" Will asked calamly as she puts her hand on her hip.
"Yes, and now, let us finish our fight, once and for all." Cedric then draws out his swords and charges at Will. Will quickly blocks Cedric's attack, then leaps to her right and lands on a wooden crate.
Cedric swings his sword at Will. Will quickly jumps up and Cedric slashes the wooden crate that the girl was standing on seconds ago.
Will then lands behind Cedric, swings her rapiers and shoots waves of pink energy at Cedric.
Cedric turns around and widens his eyes in surprise as the waves hit him and sends him skidding across the ground on his back.
Cedric gets up and smirked, "I see you have improved while you were gone from my sight."
"I sure did." Will said.
"Then I guess you're finally a real challenge to me."
"Listen to me, Cedric. We don't have to fight. You have the power to end our rivalry here and stop what we're doing."
"You're right. I do have the power. The power to finish you off!" Cedric yelled. He got up and swings his swords wildly at Will again while Will quickly dodges and blocks the attacks. "DIE YOU LITTLE RUNT!!!"
Meanwhile, Saber, Toph, Rukia and Lenalee continue running through the train until they found Allen, Ben and Wall-E.
"Allen!" Lenalee yelled happily.
"Lenalee!" Allen smiled. The two ran over to each other and hugged passionately.
"It's good to see you again." Lenalee whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"I know."
"Guys, hate to break the love here, but Ricky is in trouble. He's fighting with The Brute!" Ben said.
Rukia gasped in horror. "No. It can't be."
Ricky climbed up onto the rooftop of the dining car. He then continues running while panting heavily, but he stops when The Brute lands in front of him.
The Brute smirked evilly behind his mask as he said, "I should have known. You're weak. Just like your mother. BUGENHAGEN!"
He brings down his sword again and a wave of energy rushes toward Ricky.
Ricky jumps up and draws out his Carsomyr, "THUNDERBOLT!"
He shot a bolt of thunder at The Brute but the Faction commander easily deflects the attack and shot another special attack after Ricky lands on the ground.
"HAKUSHAKU!" The Brute aims his sword at Ricky and shot a huge and powerful blast of black energy at Ricky. The energy hits Ricky and the Templar yells in pain as the blast sends him stumbling onto the ground.
Ricky breathes heavily as he tried to stand up. His head is now bleeding and his shirt is ripped and torn. His arm and leg wounds continue to bleed. He shakily got to his feet while The Brute laughed evilly.
"Too bad you're still just a weakling. But it's time to finish you." The Brute aims his sword at Ricky again. "Time to join your mother. Time to die! HAKUSHAKU!"
The Brute shot a huge and powerful blast of black energy at Ricky again and Ricky shuts his eyes tightly, preparing his fate.
But suddenly, a figure lands in front of Ricky, swings her sword and creates a huge wall of ice to defend the Templar. The blast destroys the wall of ice, but the wall has defended Ricky and the figure.
Ricky snaps his eyes open and sees his saviour. It was Rukia Kuchiki.
The Brute gasps and widens his eyes in surprise. His servant didn't die after all.
"Master." Rukia whispered as she looks up at him.
"Rukia. You didn't die after all." The Brute said in amusement.
"Master. I'm sorry that I've failed to kill the Templar." Rukia lowers her head.
"It's alright, Rukia. At least you're alive. Come back to me, Rukia. And we'll finish the Templar once and for all."
Rukia gasps and glances at her master again. Is her master forgiving her?
"Come back to me." The Brute said again. Rukia was now shaking and tears were coming from her eyes. She walked forward slowly, her movements jerky and uncertain.
"No, Rukia! Don't listen to him!" Ricky yelled. Rukia stops walking and turns around and glanced at Ricky. "He doesn't feel anything towards you! He sees you only as his tool! If you were like a daughter to him, why has he shown such disregard for your feelings and well-being? He doesn't care about you Rukia, I care about you!"
Rukia is now stunned. She doesn't know what to do next.
"Rukia, why do you believe him over me?" The Brute said soothingly. Rukia turns back to her master again. "Remember what you said to me before you join the Faction? You said that you were betrayed by your Shinigami friends when they exiled you. You have no where to go so you have to join me. I cared for you ever since you join the Faction."
"No! Rukia!" Ricky yelled.
"And if you continue to stay with the Templar, who knows? He will end up betraying you just like what your Shinigami friends did!"
Those words have struck Rukia with full force.
"No Rukia! Don't listen to him! Of course I'll never betray you! Don't listen to what he say! RUKIA!!!" Ricky yelled again.
"Come back to me." The Brute continued. "You can redeem yourself. You only need to eliminate the Templar."
Rukia's eyes widened. She looked back and forth between Ricky and The Brute, her eyes wide. She began hyperventilating, the stress from all of this too much for her to handle. She was duty-bound to serve The Brute, but she loved being with Ricky and his friends too. She didn't know what to do. Should she do as her master said and attack Ricky, or should she help the Templar? She had served The Brute for so long, it felt impossible to go against him. Yet she also admires Ricky and enjoys the times she had with him and his friends. Oh god, what would she do! She was so confused and scared over what to do. She drops her zanpakuto and gripped her head, her eyes wild and her breathing heavily.
"Rukia! Please! Come to me! Don't join the Faction again! You're a Shinigami! And Shinigamis aren't evil!" Ricky called to Rukia.
Rukia gasps. Ricky's right. She may be an exile, but she's still a Shinigami. She looks at Ricky one last time, then closes her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She said. She then quickly picks up her zanpakuto and yelled, "Tsugi No Mai Hakuren!"
She shot a blast of ice at The Brute! The Brute widens his eyes in surprise and quickly swings his sword to destroy the blast of ice.
"Rukia…"Ricky smiled. Rukia turned her head to Ricky and smiled back.
"RUKIA! What are you doing?!" The Brute hissed. Rukia turned to the Brute and glares at him.
"I'm sorry master. I may have been banished from my nation, but I'm still a Shinigami." Rukia said confidently. "And Shinigamis fight for justice!"
END OF CHAPTER
Ryo: Alright! Rukia has finally gone up against her master! What will happen next? And what about Will and Cedric? Stay tune for the third and concluding part of Assassination! Read and review!