Author's Note:

Things are looking grim... Truth be told, of all the story events I had planned, this one remained the most vague. Maybe its because it's gotta deal with loss in the for Amato, or maybe its because the revelation must be done right, otherwise the desired effect might be lost forever. Sigh.. Details, details...

Chapter 67: From Ashes

Inner Feelings.

We just had a stroke of luck, or maybe it was determined by the wheel of fate. All of us managed to scramble our way out of the creeping abyss that was the old husk of a building. With Dante, Johann and Vito I carried Sergio's convulsing body as fast as I could, with my shield weighing on the other hand. Only when we managed to go a bit of a distance away from the crumbling building did we finally lowered him down to the ground. As Mister Endoh's breathing slowly stabilized, the thought of the mission lingered back into mind...

"Doom! Crack!"

In the chilling wind outside, the sound of concrete smashing and breaking struck me. Instantly, the idea came into mind. The building's going to hell, here and now! In an effort to scout the perimeter around us, I turn towards the roar of steel...

"Amato!"

However, we all heard the voice screaming into the night as the quakes come to an end.

No!

My body moved before I knew it, ignoring all the pain, the throbbing that came with every step. Almost stumbling, I kicked down hard on the asphalt road as I ran. All the while, my mind was wrecked in a torrent of chaos. Amato? Did something happen to him? No, he was all right when I last saw him, I made sure of it before paving the way out the building.. So..! As the smoke and dust cleared, my heart sank when my eyes caught sight of Yoko falling on her knees.

Her back turned to me, all I could catch sight of was her shoulders shaking. Amato's nowhere in sight, and Yoko had her eyes pinned towards the pile of metal and stone that used to be the entrance to the building. I don't need to be a genius to piece together what happened. Moments later, I start to hear faint sobbing coming from the girl...

"Thunk!"

My heavy shield fell flat on the ground. I didn't even notice my grip slipping. For the first time in years I felt myself trembling so hard it's as if I'm losing control of my body. Reflex drives me to grit down on my teeth as my steps shuffled towards Yoko. A million thoughts burst through my mind, but none made it out as words. All I could focus on was Yoko and the pile of debris a few feet in front of her.

Badump.

How did this happen? It was supposed to be a simple search and retrieve mission, even if it meant coming all the way to Japan! Amato wasn't supposed to be in any form of danger! How could I have allowed this to happen?! Obstacles kept popping up, one after the other, complicating things! And in the end it led us to this one girl now sitting here before my eyes. So she survived instead of Amato? She sitting here while... while Amato's in there...crushed, broken and bleeding!

Hayashi Yoko, this is all your fault. If you didn't lead us all the way into this ruin of a building, Amato wouldn't have had any chance of being crushed at all!

As my steps stopped at Yoko's side, all I could feel was contempt. All I could think of was blaming her. But, with my trembling fists clenched tight, my body pushed towards the pile of debris instead. Falling on my knees, fire ran through my fingers as they started digging through the metal and stone. Just this once, I allow myself to give in to blind faith and the flicker of hope, as warm tears started blurring my vision.

Amato may still be alive!

"Sniff.. Amato.. What about your promise? You said you'd be right behind me... Sniff.." Yoko's words started echoing through my ears, their tone filled with guilt and regret. As my hands continued digging, tossing the whatever chunks of rock and stone I could manage aside, her incessant crying proved a mighty distraction. What happened to her steely disposition before? The very fact that she's breaking down like this fills me with frustration!

Badump.

"Please shut up, Miss Yoko! Amato's not dead yet! Stop grieving and start digging or god help me I will have you pay for what's happened to the Boss of the Zanna Famiglia!" As soon as I turned towards her I start screaming. What was initially the plan to comfort her turned into an unsightly lecture, with me venting out the poisonous thoughts I had in mind. When I realized what's happening, I could only bite down on my lips as Yoko's brow furrowed in disbelief.

With shaking steps, she wiped away her tears and dropped beside me, her hands reaching out towards the rubble. But, the piles seemed unending, one rock atop another, and soon my fingers twitched at the many cuts formed with every grip...

"Johann, Dante, get over here!" As desperation took over me, I found myself screaming for help. The longer we leave Amato under there the more dangerous it'll become! "Leave Sergio to Vito and come here now! We need to dig Amato out as fast as we can-!"

My words cut off as soon as my eyes looked back.

There, Johann lay motionless, his shoulders drooped down as well as the rest of his body, hanging from the grip cuffed at the front of his collars. His jersey was almost entirely torn off, and a huge cut sliced his chest wide open. Innocenti stood amidst the fallen, with Sergio, Vito and Dante sprawled over the open ground. Only Aria was left unharmed, shaking by the extreme corner, her eyes wide open in shock.

How...? They masked their presence? I couldn't sense anything!

In that one second of distraction I pushed myself up only to come face to face with the other hunter. Koenig stared down at me with eyes almost devoid of light, his arm already in mid swing!

Crack.

"Thud!"

What started as a thick slab of meat smashing against my jaw ended with my back crashing against the stony road. The whole experienced left every inch of my body numb with my eyes blacking out from the impact. In darkness I struggled, only to have my joints creaking at the slightest movement, pain spiking out at every turn.

"Augh.. Hah.. No!" I can't help but deny what's happening. After everything we did, are we still gonna lose the second Legacy Arm? Is this mission gonna end up a failure? No, I can't allow that to happen!

And yet, no amount of wishing could alleviate the crunching pain amidst the sea of unfeeling numbness etched all over my body. Of course, my body was pushed over its limits over an hour ago, no way anything Vito had on him could have fixed me up whatsoever. As the shadows receded from my eyes, I opened up to the scene of Koenig trudging his way towards Miss Yoko, with Verde perched on his shoulder. In all futility, my arm creaked as it reached towards them...

"No, get away from her! Miss Yoko...!" Above all else, I don't want Miss Yoko to get hurt because of the Legacy of the Zanna Famiglia!

The thought lingered in my mind as my heavy eyelids started falling, my vision blurred and hindered as seconds passed. Exhaustion chewed at me as whatever feelings I had returned, pressing down on my shoulders. The last thing I saw was Yoko crying out as Koenig pulled her off her feet with one hand, crushing her on her neck, before everything phased out...

"It's not on her!"

That one line, ragged with annoyance, jerked me back into consciousness. That's right, I had been so occupied with Amato that I didn't realize it! Miss Yoko didn't have Kujaku anymore! The bright shimmering light emitting forth from the jewel of power was absent ever since we got out of the building! Wait a minute, that means...! In sudden revelation I pushed myself up with adrenaline, only to see Koenig now with the glare of a demon in his eyes!

"No witnesses." Casually, Verde tossed out the command, his eyes zipping all over the gadgets he had in his hands. As Yoko struggled in shock, tears flowing down the side of her cheeks, I watched as Koenig raised a dagger in his other hand, and sent it flying towards Yoko. The silver blade rushing to pierce her neck!

"No!" All I could muster in the end was a scream that was drowned out by the howling of the winter wind blowing against the sky of dawn...

Badump.

"Beep Beep Beep!"

"Shuuuuu!" Suddenly, a piercing hum resonated forth, pulsing from the pile of debris where the building used to stand. A faint light emerged, glowing stronger and brighter so rapidly the energy started pouring out through the cracks! And then, everything is swallowed up in an instant, back into its core...

"Kaboom!"

The next second we're greeted with an onslaught of sound and force as the explosion blew the chunks of stone apart, the force blowing the sand and dust into the air! Wherever there was no stone, fire raged, licking and spewing forth, the temperature in the air fluctuating, searing the edges of my skin in a second! From deep within the metal and stone, a humongous fireball chewed through the air, its orange flames flicker with a light pink tint. As it touched the sky, the fireball twitched as if it was alive.

By the time Koenig turned his eyes towards the light, it was already streaking down and crashing towards where he stands!

"Tch!" In swift reflex, he kicked to the ground and leaped back in an effort to dodge, tossing Miss Yoko into the air and straight into the path of the crashing fireball! In shock, I was left stunned at the sight. But, before I could say anything, Yoko disappeared into the flames, fire burning away at her skin as she was swallowed whole!

It was... strange, I wanted to scream, but there's something about the flames that calmed me down, and took away my fears...

The giant fireball smashed into the ground, but instead of dissipating in a wave of bursting flames, it continued burning, the cackle of its fire throbbing into my ears. In another wave of force pulsing out, a familiar presence reach out to me with its touch. As the flames burned out with a sudden gust of wind, the sight of the guy stepping out of it was enough for me to forget all my pain and bring a small smile onto my face.

"...Amato."

With Yoko cradled in his arms, Amato stands with the spiky ends of his hair now curled upwards, a single line of hair dyed pink. Despite his utterly ruined clothes, the bruises and cuts he had before is all gone, his skin now unblemished from head to toe! With a tilt of his head, his lazy eyes falls upon the hunter before him, and a wry smile stretched across his face...

"Heh, the Phoenix cometh." Chuckling to himself, Amato pushes his step forward, waking Yoko up from her daze. With confused eyes, Yoko looked towards the Amato with disbelief. But, she doesn't struggle in Amato's arms, instead resorted to watching the situation from where she was. Strange, there's something not quite right about his Awakening. With another breath, Amato then gently laid down Yoko on the ground beside him before fixing his eyes back towards our enemies, speaking out once more...

"Kujaku!"

All of a sudden, the name of the second Legacy Arm is invoked! Pulsing flames burned anew, roaring out from where Amato stand in every direction! Almost mystically however, the roaring flames would go out of their way around Yoko, never getting close enough to burn her. A bright red light now envelops Amato, as Kujaku's glow grows ever stronger, hanging alongside the Tear of the Fang. Instead of Fang, another word forms itself across the artifact's translucent surface:

TALON

Of course! Amato has entered his Second Awakening! No longer channeling the Spirit of the Wolf, he now bears the Will of the Phoenix, and holds the power of fire in the palm of his hands! I thought his body would have needed to adapt to the new power, just like what the records back in the Zanna Mansion entails, but it seems I was wrong.

He looks more than capable of controlling Kujaku already!

Shining with pride and presence, Amato, still looking as laid back as before in his second Awakening, took but one glance towards Sergio and the others before jerking his eyes towards Koenig. The man was silent, surprised and dumbstruck by what happened before him. Slightly perturbed, Amato now glares at the man with shadowed eyes...

"I am a man of my word, and a man of forgiveness." Despite the hostility, Amato surprised me with his words, and even more when he gave Koenig a bow. What exactly is he doing? All of a sudden, he breaks out of his bow abruptly, continuing his words.

"Leave now and all can be forgotten."

The sheer change in personality left me speechless, swirling thoughts crying out. Why is he doing this? Has Amato really dropped his guard before the hunters? After all that's happened tonight, he should have known better than to open himself like this! I taught him better than this! In the chaos, another voice drowned out my thoughts. Verde was the first out of the three to recover. Tinkering with his gadgets still, his words would serve as the spark, igniting the fuse!

"What are you two doing?! The jewel's around his neck, relinquish it from him!"

At Verde's beckoning, Koenig and Innocenti sprung into action, mechanical movements coupled with dead eye accuracy. In one swift motion, Koenig pulls out a metal longsword right out of his coat, its silver blade glistening in the dawn. All the injuries from before seemed to vanish in an instant, and taking a stance, the hunter pushed forward with a forceful thrust, the sword hissing as it lunges towards Amato!

"Amato, look out!" Driven by surprise, the words finally escaped from my lips. However, the guy that is the Boss of the Zanna Famiglia took a stance and only that, never moving from where he stood!

No, he's gonna get run through!

As the sword rushed to meet Amato's chest, I found my legs moving again. Scrambling forth, I hoped to block Amato from the blow. I don't want to lose him again! Alas, I was second too late, and stopped at his side as the metal tore at whatever remains of a shirt he had left!

"Skletch!" The sound of flesh being ripped hit my ears. Shuddering, I forced myself to look despite the part of me reluctant.

Badump.

The first object that came before my eyes was the tip of Koenig's silver blade, pointed upwards into the air. Trailing down, I was surprised to see no blood staining the metal. In fact, the sword didn't seem to have cut anything at all! So where did the dreadful sound came from? If Amato didn't get stabbed, then... Don't tell me...! At the end of the trail, my eyes stopped at the point where Amato and Koenig had clashed, their bodies smashed against each other. In silence, they stood frozen, unmoving, until Koenig's pupils went white. His eyes then burst open in a panic!

"Guargh!" His howling scream pierced into the sky as he wrenched himself free! Even as he leaped back, his balance was compromised, and the undying hunter from before crashed on his back. At this moment, Verde fell off his shoulder as well, face-planting onto the asphalt road. From where I stand I saw red flowing from his abdomen, the skin and flesh torn and mauled open! The very sight was so sudden I couldn't help but shoot a glance back towards Amato...

There he stood, with a boastful look on his face as fire danced from his fingers, taking on the shape of a claw. Wherever the fire didn't touch, the skin was smeared crimson.

"Too bad." With a sadistic smile, Amato casually tossed out the remark as he flicked the blood off the palm of his hand. The very sight is so contrasting against his usual persona I feel a shiver down my spine. "Did you really think yourself quicker than me? No mere swordsman can match my speed!" Breaking into praises for himself, Amato took only a second before pushing himself into a stance once more, his claws primed and ready as Innocenti lunged at him with a flurry of attacks. The air hissed as his chisels sliced through in a storm!

"Kashink! Clink! Kashink!"

It was unlike anything his initial Awakening could have mustered. Gone were the burst of strength and reflex, now replaced with pure precision and unmatched speed so fast the movements blurred before my eyes! It looked as though dodging the slashes flying at him at an insane speed was nothing but a triviality. Amato zipped to the blind spot of every single slash, and when Innocenti's movements slowed for just a split second, he dived right in!

"Skletch!"

His fire claws burning bright, Amato would plunge his arms into the flesh of the enemy and ripping his hands out before Innocenti could even react. As the same sound shot out, Innocenti's movements would stagger, and in his desperation he would throw his arms out in an attempt to strike Amato.

"Augh!"

In perfect, rhythmic flow, Amato blocks the attacks before returning with his own, all within the time span of two seconds. First he dug into his chest, then he severed his hamstrings before finally clawing into his shoulders, all while bearing the same arrogant smile on his face! Stumbling back, Innocenti could do little but cry out in pain with every attack! It became less of a fight and more of a predator playing with its prey. The painful sight sent droves of questions into my mind, each screaming for an answer.

Is this... really Amato? Does he realize what he's doing? Is this the work of the Legacy Arm? Does the personality change means that the influence of the Armament is overpowering Amato's persona? Or is this really what Amato wants, from the bottom of his heart? I can't say anything because nothing seem certain. Even Yoko could do little but stare from where she sat.

With a toss, Innocenti is sent crashing against Koenig, his body now riddled with wounds and blood all over. As the two of them struggled for air itself, Verde only shook his head in disappointment. Without the slightest concern for his acquaintances, his baby arms dig into his pockets before his sharp eyes widened in shock as if noticing something! Following his line of sight, we turned to Amato standing at the exact spot where he was before. The only thing different was the gigantic fireball now building up above his head!

"Not only did you ignored the graciousness I offered, but you dared to raise your weapons against me?!" All of a sudden, Amato shot out his warning, the words ending with a scream. I don't think I've ever seen him this mad before. Massive, volatile energy swirled above his head with each passing second. One could feel the pulsing of light and heat getting stronger by the touch of their skin alone!

"Damn, looks like I'll have skip ahead to field tests..." Even in shock, the Arcobaleno impressed me with his calm comment coupled with his steady hands. From the depths of his pockets came a small, box-like object, riddled with bolts and screws all over. In its center was a most prominent opening about the size of a ring.

However, the distraction is quickly ignored in the face of the gargantuan ball of fire going critical at a single, pulsing wave of force!

"Know your place, you wretched hounds!" In a sudden burst of anger, Amato's scream pierced through the air as fire ravaged towards Verde, Innocenti and Koenig at a mere flick of Amato's wrist!

"Roar!"

This is it! Even though Amato's new Awakening left me shaking with confusion, it would be a boon if this attack connects. We would finally complete what we set out to do. Certainly, I don't expect Koenig and Innocenti to get back up after this. Excitement coming over me, I stood there watching with anticipation, my fingers curled into tightly knotted fists as my fingernails dug into my flesh. Awaiting the end to this long and painful night...

"Fwoosh!" Wind scattered as the fire smashed into the hunters, the orange flames dancing as the edges spreads, engulfing the spot in an instant! There was no sound, no cry, just an eerie silence as their visages were swallowed whole.

"Sigh... It's finally over..." As the flames left me entranced, the words finally slipped out by accident. Before I know it I'm already relaxing my soldiers as the sound of matter breaking down in the face of intense heat popped into my ears. Amato, in a rare moment of silence, had his eyes pinned on the flickering flames, his mind in deep thought. The haunting smile before had all but vanished, as he now bears the light of caution and wonder in his eyes...

Suddenly, the fire stifled, the rampant flames increasing in speed as they're gathered into a hellish vortex right before our eyes! As the wave of fire was devoured, vanishing down into the eye of the vortex, Verde's sharp eyes came into sight, staring right at us through his thick, disheveled green hair. As the orange light of fire vanished from our sights, the small, metal box in his hand pulsed with power, a glaring light shining forth!

"I don't believe it.. did.. did that box all but absorbed the fire?!" Disturbed by the fact that Verde still such a trick up his sleeve, my eyes shot a glance towards Amato only to catch sight of him already starting his assault anew, fire molding into claws around his arms once more! But, it was not a moment too soon, as Koenig and Innocenti had scrunched themselves up from the ground, their weapons raised once more!

As Amato rushed them, Verde dodged out of the way only to turn his attention to the box throbbing in his hands. It's... getting faster?! The powerful impulses blasting out in intervals could be felt even from where I stand, but.. at the rate it's going, it's.. anything but normal!

"My god, it's overloading! The flame's going nova!" As his arms trembled as if reluctant to hold on to the box, Verde screams out in extreme panic, no longer bearing the inhuman calmness from before. Immediately, the term set my mind ablaze! I don't know what that thing is, but if what Verde is saying is true, we're looking at an explosion almost ten times bigger than that fireball from before!

I need to do something! Isn't there anything I can do to help? If nothing's done, everything here, up to a ten mile radius, is going to be reduced to nothing but ashes!

As my eyes flew to my shield, towards Aria and even the hunters however... my mind birthed no solution...

"Amato!"

In the end, in painful hopelessness I could only scream out his name as my eyes fell on him, tired and resigned to the inevitable fate. As soon as that pink strand of hair came into sight however, Amato burst off into a mad dash, sand and stone flying as he closed in on Verde with deadly focus! No longer laid back like before, the earth trembled with his every step, literally vanishing from where he stood and re-appearing at where the hunters were in a split second!

As his claws reached out towards them, Koenig and Innocenti were too slow to even react. However, the fire surrounding Amato vanished just as his fingers grabbed hold of the box, leaping away from the three as soon as he took it off Verde's tiny little hands. As he drew a good distance away from us all, I could see a hint of nervousness in his eyes before he pushed it all away...

With a single wave of force pulsing out, the ground he stood on blew apart as Amato launched himself straight up into the sky! Faster than a speeding bullet, I watched as flaming wings sprouted forth from his elbows before he got too small for my eyes to follow.

"Kiera, what's he doing?!" All of a sudden, Yoko's voice pulled me back. As I struggled to stand, all the pain creaking still, Aria and Yoko scrambled to my side. Despite my wavering vision and a huge sense of nausea, my eyes turned back to the skies as I focused to pinpoint where Amato currently is. He's floating among the clouds, holding the box close to his heart...

No... Don't tell me he's..!

"He's planning to... take in the explosion... into his very being! He's going to negate the nova flare!" The thoughts were screamed out as soon as they came to mind. And they no doubt left the three of us extremely worried. Even the hunters stood bewildered, confused at what they should do next as their eyes can't help but lingered up towards Amato...

And then, as if the clock had no time left to spare, everything went silent as the light from the box vanished...

"Kaboom!"

The roar of the explosion hit us hard, the force crushing down on my shoulders. It wasn't just something we felt, before our eyes the flare went off, huge waves of fire and radiation blowing out at an intense rate! The light was so bright I couldn't help but shift my hand to shield my eyes from the glare. However, the next second came and the explosion came to halt, the fire now flickering with every burst. When the back of my hand moved away from sight, I squint my eyes only to see the waves of fire in the sky seeping towards Amato!

"Grraaauuugggghhhh!" As the light and energy flowed through his body and into Kujaku, the edges of Amato's skin started to burn. His grunts of pain soon escalated into a piercing scream, as huge bruises and blackened burns littered across his arms! Mere seconds was all it took for Amato to completely devour the nova flare, leaving the skies clear as the last of his shirt was burned off.

As his eyes blanked out, we could do little but watch as Amato falls! Accelerating at an insane speed, he barely woke up right before he crashed into the earth, sprouting his wings of fire once more and floating his way down to the ground.

"Thud!" To my surprise, the wings were extinguished as soon as Amato got to about a few meters above ground level, leaving him helpless as he smashed face first into the ground!

"Amato!" We cried out in part surprise and part relief when we saw him fall, pushing our way towards the crater where he crashed. However, my injuries made the few steps forward a challenge. "Huff.. Hah.. Hah.." My eyes fell to the ground amidst the sound of my own heavy breaths. Don't think I'll be able to keep this up much longer. Brushing away the beads of cold sweat, I push another step forward as my eyes shift back up towards Amato...

Only to see Koenig over him, Innocenti at his side! "Hah.. Hah.. Hah.." With broken arms, he tore at Amato, crushing on his windpipe as he pulled him off the ground. Even with his consciousness returned, Amato could do little to free himself, his hand holding back Koenig's fingers from completely suffocating him!

"No, get away from him!" Yoko started screaming, but in the end was left frozen. Without Kujaku, I don't expect her to have any form of offense against the hunters. As the grip tightened ever so slightly, Amato's eyes twitched in suffering as his arms fell limp...

"Stop, Koenig, release him. The experiment's done!" A sharp command rang into our ears at the last second. At the words, Koenig contemplated for but a second before tossing Amato aside. Verde stepped back into the picture, still drenched in sweat from the fiasco before.

"Are you sure we can we leave the witnesses alive?" Koenig asked out as Innocenti withdrew his weapons, brushing the dust, sand and blood off of his body.

"If he didn't absorb that nova flare from before, we would've been wiped out along half of the city! He earned this favor..." Mercy from the Lightning Arcobaleno was a huge surprise, but when the words left Aria grinning from ear to ear, I did little to question. Turning back to the sky, Verde's calculating look returned almost immediately. "The flame from that jewel was... too raw, unrefined... destructive." Comments about their experiment broke the welcome silence brought on when the fights stopped, with Koenig and Innocenti focusing their attention towards Verde as they listened attentively.

"It seems the Boxes won't be ready as soon as we hoped..." As he hopped upon Koenig's shoulder once more, we stared in silence as he turned his eyes towards where Sergio laid unconscious. "But... I know where we can find a more refined power source."

"Hah.. Hah.. Hah.."

As the three turned and left, disappearing into the shadows after exchanging information, Amato struggled before our eyes as he got up on his two feet, his body convulsing hard. At the sight, I felt my own pain dwarfed, and pulled him arm over my shoulders. At my silence, Amato only got more and more agitated. But as we turned towards Yoko and Aria, a spike of pain threw me off balance, my vision tumbling down!

"Whoa there!" All of a sudden, a familiar voice called out to us from behind, as gentle arms stopped me from the fall. It was Sergio who caught me, sharing the weight. His fingers pointing, I saw Johann, Vito and Dante staggering behind me, but alive! The very sight immediately put a smile on my face.

"I'm sorry, Kiera. This is unsightly. I guess I'm not as strong as I thought I'd be..." With his head down, I listened as Amato berated himself, mumbling out the words. Of course, I didn't agree with him at all!

"No, you did great, Amato!" With a smile, I could feel my cheeks flushing as I gave out the praise. As we joined back with the others, as they caught hint of my voice, it only got that much more difficult to speak! Pushing back the jitters, my mind raced for a the proper sentence!

"You were spectacular, the beacon of light that gave us the right to stand with you right now!"

And with that, our objective was met. We have secured the second Legacy Arm. We have fended off the hunters that coveted our prize.

The mission was a success.

The climax to this arc is finally done! I hope you guys enjoyed it, as well as the journey leading up to it! I really want to know about your thoughts on the story, my writing, anything you wanna say really! Just write it all down in your reviews, no reviews in the recent updates made me a sad panda. What's going to happen now that the Zanna Famiglia has reclaimed another piece of their Legacy? How will Amato's life change from here on out? Keep your eyes out for the next chapter to find out!