Chapter 89

Tomo panted slightly as she hid behind the sand dune. She was surprised, as a few days earlier she was certain she had destroyed it when she had been punched through it. But she had suddenly turned around to find it back in place, seemingly exactly the same as it had been before impact. That was far from the strangest thing about this place.

"Urgh, I feel like I've been fighting here for ages," groaned Tomo as she stretched out her arm muscles. She hadn't slept since the fight had started, yet oddly felt very little fatigue. But then again this was a very strange place.

She turned toward the little fox demon fragment that had been with her from the beginning.

"How long have I been fighting?" she asked. "It feels like forever."

"Well I can't be specific auu~," said the demon, "But it's been at least two weeks."

Tomo eyes widened in shock and she spluttered slightly. "T-two weeks? But I haven't slept or eaten anything! I've only drunk some water once! I've been here two weeks? How long was I here before then? Would my friends have forgotten about me?"

"I doubt that," replied the demon. "I cannot tell how many of your days we have been here auu~ but I can say time here passes at a different rate to that of the real world. It can vary at times, but I would predict barely a day has passed by in your world."

"Well that's good news isn't it?" asked Tomo.

"Only if you can actually win. Then you can get out of here."

"Win?" asked Tomo. "I've won before. The hero always wins right? Right?"

"Perhaps auuu~"

"You need to read more stories. The good guys always win."

"I cannot read any more stories then I have, I've been inside you your entire life."

"Well I'm sure the others will do fine, but I bet having Tomo come along to help out will tip the scales," said Tomo clenching her fist and grinning.

"Why? What are we measuring?"

There was a momentary lull in the action as the two groups saw each other, almost as though each was trying to comprehend what had happened. Yomi was the first to react.

"We're almost there right?" she called out.

"That's right!" shouted back Chidori.

"Then get going…I'll try and hold them off for a while."

"That's crazy!" said Fuka as the group of mercenaries started their charge with a roar.

"This is all crazy," replied Yomi as she turned away and charged. She was surprised to see Kagura race in front of her, charging towards the enemies.

"Yomi's right! You lot go on, the more people the better!" yelled out Kagura as she met the mercenaries and knocked one out with a punch. Yomi smiled and ducked a sudden attack only to watch the man fall over. Just behind her stood Goro. He said nothing, but charged at the next man.

"Thank you," said Sakaki quietly as the rest of the group continued on their way.

"Hey, is three against nine really that fair?" called out Yukari as they ran towards their destination.

"If you want to, you can go back and help them out," said Kimura. Yukari glared even though she was in front of Kimura.

"There's no way I'm missing this!"

Kaorin ran alongside Sakaki, just about keeping pace.

"Is it really a good idea to bring them along?" she asked. "They don't seem to be taking this seriously."

"I'd rather do this with them, then without," said Sakaki in quiet reply. "They did teach us…"

Chidori continued to lead the group, running faster than the others. She didn't care much about this missing Tomo person. She was slightly concerned about what Takino had planned, but she was more interested in finding Sen and killing him. Until that moment, until she had his blood on her hands, everything else was a lower priority.

Just as Takino had started to lead the group into the building, they were surprised by the sudden arrival of Hoxha and two of his men. Takino and Kagesaki stared at the trio with some suspicion, but Kline took a step towards them.

"So Hoxha, you want to come with us do you?" he asked. Kagesaki remained suspicious. He hadn't heard Kline sound that friendly before. It sounded wrong, and in a way almost patronising, as though talking to a child.

"We'll accompany you on your journey," said Hoxha. "The diversion is working well, and those villains are being held at bay."

"A skilled fighter such as Hoxha would surely be a good thing to have?" said Kline turning towards Takino. "And he has other trained fighters with him too."

"That would be a positive," agreed Takino. "And Kline has said many good things about you."

"Where are the rest of you?" asked Kagesaki pointing.

"They are back there fighting to the best of their abilities!" said Hoxha indicating behind him.

"Hey, why is there a giant ice cube here?" asked Farkas poking the slab of ice wrapped with bandages. Shuzo gave him a fierce look.

"Don't touch that," he hissed.

"S-sure you know this better than I do," said Farkas laughing nervously as he took a step backwards.

"Perhaps those two should stay here to guard the entrance," said Kline, trying to sound as though he had just come up with the idea, even though he had intended for it to happen ever since their arrival. Hoxha was a truly skilled fighter, but the others would just get in the way. Costa looked proud as the suggestion was made, keen to help in any way he could. Farkas however looked almost terrified at the proposition.

"Perhaps I should come and help, just in case," said Farkas. "We have worked together for a long time haven't we?" he asked, looking desperately towards Hoxha. Hoxha smiled:

"That we have."

"I will be pleased to stand guard by myself," said Costa.

"Fine," said Kline sounding bored.

Tomo charged from behind the dune, leaping through the air and smashing a punch square into the face of Strength. The figure looked shocked at the power of the attack as he flew down into the sand below, sand exploding upwards as a massive crater was formed. Tomo landed back on the ground as the sand began to fall, like an irritating rain storm. Tomo looked down at her fist in surprise.

"Well that's pretty cool," she said to herself.

She was about to say something to the healer fragment when the hand of Strength shot up from beneath the sand. Her face dropped slightly as she watched the arm follow it, and then the opponent pulled himself up from out of the sand.

"Oh come on…"

"That was a pretty good attack I'll admit," said Strength with a smile, his face a large bruise. "I dare say you're quite a bit stronger then when we first started this fight."

"Well I don't feel weaker," replied Tomo.

"I think this battle is almost over."

The two struck at the same time, fists hitting fists. Strength ducked underneath another attack, and came up to attack, only to catch Tomo's forehead to the face. The girl smirked as he stumbled backwards. He attacked again but in mid-blow Tomo reached out and grabbed his wrist, flinging him over her shoulder. The smaller healing fragment of the demon ducked out of the way as he landed with a whump!

"Sorry about that," said Tomo.

Once more Strength stood up. He now took ragged breaths and stepped forwards with a limp. Tomo didn't give him an opportunity to attack, and instead ran towards him. Halfway there she leapt through the air and smashed a kick into his chin. He crumpled down to the floor.

This time he didn't stand back up.

"Very well, I admit defeat to you," he said with a look half of anguish and half almost joy.

As sudden as he had arrived he vanished, turning to silver and gold coloured bubbles before disappearing completely. Tomo felt an odd tingling sensation pass throughout her body, particularly along the spine. The sensation stopped abruptly and as Tomo stood there she felt something. She felt stronger. She glanced down at her fists, healed of the battle wounds.

"Cool."

As Tomo spoke she became aware of a shadow passing over her from the dune in front of her. She looked up to see a beautiful looking women stepping down towards her.

"Huh…?"

"You didn't think he would be the only one to have a problem did you?" she asked brushing back her hair.

"What are you?" asked Tomo.

"You can call me Speed," said the female fragment. "I think a change of scenery is in order," she said and clicked her fingers. The desert melted away to be replaced with an icy field. Tomo went to start shivering but suddenly noticed she felt no cold.

"So I have to defeat you too?" she asked. Speed nodded. "Well I feel stronger, so this sho-," Tomo was interrupted as in an instant Speed met her and kicked her away. Tomo slid across the ice, reaching out to try and stop herself. Just as she brought herself to a stop Speed appeared again, a mere flicker of a shadow, kicking Tomo back again.

"This could be difficult," groaned Tomo as she tried to stop herself again.