Author's Note:
Well, not much to say today. Things have been going smoothly, although I may be piling up with things I'm responsible for. Well, I'm still planning out stories, arcs and chapters for this fanfic, so you guys don't have to worry about this ending anytime soon!
Chapter 26: Conflicting Thoughts
The sunlight felt cooling compared to the heat I felt coursing through my body, as it sweated out the workout I just completed. I couldn't rightly remember when this was, but from the heat, I assume it was during Summertime. I paced each step, pressing on to the soft, green grass, towards Kiera, who was sitting in a stone-bench a few feet away. That was when I saw Kiera do something I never thought her capable. She was smiling. Her smile was so.. bright, calming. It.. was beautiful. She seemed distracted, as even when I made my way past her and stood by her shoulders, she did not notice me. There was something about that image, of Kiera sitting in the middle of this green scenery, grass swaying, sunlight shining, that felt so serene.
That was when I noticed the picture she had in her hands. About the size of her palm,within the confines of the four, surrounding white edges was a picture of two people. Kiera, in her young age, with bright, green eyes and her golden-blond hair, shorter than now, looks really adorable, though I don't think I'll be saying that to her anytime soon. Beside her, holding her hands, was a boy with hair that shines just as bright. His scruffy look gives me the impression that he's pretty wild in terms of behavior, outgoing, perhaps?
At that time, I took a wild guess. "Uh.. Your brother, perhaps?" I casually ask out to Kiera. Kiera flustered her movements as soon as she realized I was where I was, and turned around to avoid my eyes. It looked like she didn't want me to see her happy like this. Well, that's fine, I'm glad to know she's not a robot.
"Ye-yes." The reply came a few seconds later, to my surprise.
"You must really like him. Does he... know about this Mafia stuff?" I didn't know why Mafia came into the subject, but it just pushed itself into my thoughts.
"Yes." Another short reply came from Kiera while her back is still turned. It was a weird moment indeed, talking together while we were sitting in that position.
"I love Big Brother. And I never want to see him hurt."
Those were the words Kiera declared after finally turning around a few minutes later. She had this smile on her face, so pure and innocent I never thought possible. I blushed a bit at her words, but soon realized how true they were.
Amidst the slight second of darkness, I heard the howl of the wolf again. Instantly, feeling and power entered my body, so fast it felt like my limbs would tear off my body. As if my senses exploded out, my eyes forced themselves open, bestial fury shown by my feral pupil, which now resembles that of a wolf. A twist with my left hand, I balanced my body and lifted it up with one hand, before pushing my self away with so much strength it was beyond anything I had before.
Apparently, my senses was right. At the moment I pushed myself away, a giant hammer, ornate designed with dragon and ram carvings, smashed right into where I was just lying at. The impact broke the stone wall and dug into the soil, with broken brick, soil and dust flying everywhere. As strange as it was, I could see his every movement, actions and even what I think he was feeling. I also realized that Fenris was already in my right hand, I must've reached for it instinctively before I slammed into the wall.
Kiera... How can he do this to you? How could he hurt you like this? The image of Kiera's smile gave me strength to accompany with my anger. I won't let that smile disappear!
"Haaaaaahhhhhh!" I yelled out as I landed, a tap on the ground was all I needed to launch myself sprinting towards Fionn. As that giant hammer came swinging, I let it come into contact with my leg, before quickly redirecting the strength towards the sky. "What?" Fionn exclaimed with a slightly surprised face as he witnessed what I did, and in that moment of weakness, I threw a punch with my right hand, Fenris grasped firmly. But, before it could connect, another giant hammer made its way into the trajectory, forcing me to pull back my hand before coming into full contact and sustaining damage. Jumping and backing off a few feet, I could see seriousness entering Fionn's eyes.
I had no time to recover from what happened, no time to strategize for what to do next. He came like a truck, ramming towards me as soon as my feet touched the ground. Twin hammers, each bigger than a head, swung around like they were made of cardboard. I could hear the stone cracking at his strikes and smell the soil and grass he knocked loose into the air. "Wrrraaaaagggghhhhhh!" Fionn came yelling, his eyebrow furrowed, a glare constantly shooting at me. All I could do was dodge.
So this is the White Titan. Yeah, I see how he got that title now. As opposed to Kiera's calm disposition and tranquil fury, Fionn's fighting style is one of primal emotions and pure power. Though it would seem like he has lost himself to anger, you can still see subtle moves and tactics being executed, even while he's roaring out. He's probably the only one that dual-wields hammers in these modern times.
"His name is Fionn."
Kiera's voice woke me into action. The memory of her cute, normal reactions and emotions only serve to fuel my anger. I dodged one of his swings by bending back, keeping my eyes on him at all times. The next second, I hear Kiera cry out in pain, all in my mind. "Yaaarrrrrgggghhhh!" I sceamed out without even knowing it, turning and giving him a reverse roundhouse kick, way faster than any kick I gave before. "Thud!" The kick connected, much to Fionn's chagrin. It seems he never expect me to hit him. "Swoosh!" One of his hammer came swinging, with me barely dodging it by a hair's length.
"Grr..." A growl so loud I could hear it by my neck came from Fionn's mouth.
"He's so brave, strong. He never gives up, and he always stood up for me when I got bullied."
The memories continue, the serene scene almost makes me want to forget about this fight. Then again, I could see in my mind, the hammer, Fionn's hammer, swinging down at high speed. Next, the cry of pain, and the crunching of bone and flesh. I could feel power welling up from my anger. I couldn't help but wonder, is my emotions affecting my Awakening? It seems that way. "Fiiiioooooooonnnnnn!" I scream out once again, throwing another roundhouse kick, swing my leg to crash into his face. Fionn, unexpectedly, stumbled as he dodged. Something seems to be happening with him as well.
Back there, near the hole I busted, Lord De Luca and Sergio stands watching. "Amato!" Sergio shouted out to me, trying to make his way across, before being blocked by Lord De Luca. "What are you doing? He's your son, right? Stop him!" Sergio's cries only fell on deaf ears, for Lord De Luca did nothing of the sorts.
"He must end what fights he starts. He must already realize the consequences when he threw that first punch." Sergio face showed confusion at the sound of those words.
"I.. can't just watch him like this..." Sergio muttered, gritting hard on his teeth. "Darn it, weakness..." Sergio muttered under his breath, gripping his hands into a fist. Sergio's own despair catches Lord De Luca's eyes, as the two continue watching the fight.
"He's powerful too! He was the one who taught me how to wield my shield!"
At that sentence, Kiera turned around, her smile so bright, unlike any thing I've seen before. But soon, that too dissipated. In its place, was new, more frightening image. Fionn stood with his hammers, while Kiera fell to the ground, covered with wounds and blood. She could not fight back because of her love for her brother. I know it is all in my imagination, but who is to say whether their next meeting may end like this or not? I even feel myself squinting my eyes, avoiding the image in my mind. Though, I cannot deny that it didn't give me strength. "Arrrgggghhhhh!" Once again, I roared and howled like an animal, throwing a side kick towards his shoulders. "Crack." The sound erupted from the impact as my foot struck his hammer. I couldn't feel any feeling from my foot after that, or maybe I was just too angry to feel it at all.
"Ugh.." Fionn gave out after the strike, pushed back from the force.
Suddenly, the arm wielding the hammer that struck my foot, his right arm, started shivering. So hard it was, that I saw him drop his hammer to the ground and fell to one knee. I think I could also see his muscles giving off convulsions. "Huff... No way!" Fionn cried out, his eyes wide with anger, or maybe fear. He looked at me ike I'm some kind of monster. "Attacco di Squalo?" He asks out, confusion in his tone.
"What?" That vague response was the only word that came to mind.
"You figured out the technique instinctively? That impossible!" Fionn yells out, now sounding more desperate than ever.
Of course, I didn't care for what he was saying, and I'm not about to give up this opening. Closing in on him, I raised my right leg to drop an axe kick down on his neck. I was planning to put everything into this strike.
"I love Big Brother. And I never want to see him hurt."
That one line made me doubt my action, and that was probably a stupid move. "Huff.. Puff..." I was breathing fast, as the conflicting thoughts clouded my judgement. Kiera. Should I really be fighting her brother? By then, I already backed away a few steps.
"Amato! Look out!" I only snapped back to reality as I heard Sergio's warning, that was when Fionn swung his left hammer at me. I tried to dodge, but I was too late. "Crack!" The sound rang through my bones as I was struck in the stomach. I could feel my muscles oozing blood while pain shot out from the area to the rest of my body. I fell to my knees, arms wrapped around my stomach.
"Ah, I see where your training's gotten you now." Fionn mentioned casually, strangely regaining his composure. "Looks like it's a mistake for you to come here today..."
"Fionn, stop!"
Her voice, so clear and familiar, drew each and everyone of our eyes. I turned my head to see Kiera, slowly walking into the garden through a fence door. She showed confusion and sadness in her eyes, not a good sign. "Please, don't hurt Amato anymore..." Kiera's face shows that she had given up. No, she's just gonna get hurt even more!
"Kiera..." I called out with what's left of my voice, as the two sibling got closer with each step.
Oh, well how was this chapter? I have to admit, I'm kinda afraid of how unbelievable this whole ordeal is. I hope it is, and if not, I hope it's at least tolerable. Look out for the next chapter and the end of this arc!