Chapter 18: The Last Minx
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to KOEI TECMO, TECMO and Team NINJA. I am not Yosuke Hayashi.
A/N: Okay, so it's been a while. I know I should have updated sooner, but my hours of sleep are more and more shortened. Juggling with my extramural and homework plus project = me, dead x_x.
I was quite inticed by the movie, Suckerpunch. It is a MUSTWATCH movie. (it looks like a MUSTACHE movie X)
I hope you're not too annoyed. Don't forget to R&R!:)
Hours passed as our heroes walked blindly into the thick, white fog. The journey and challenges were tiresome, but no one was as tired as Kasumi, as her pregnancy, even if it was just the first month. In general, even the energetic ninjas were exhausted. Their stamina was low, and they doubted that they could fight. They glanced at Hitomi, desperately looking for her eyes to change colour, for her to break into a run. Unfortunately, Hitomi's eyes stayed the same colour of bright blue.
Leifang huffed in annoyance, "this is ridiculous! Where is this Achlys girl? We've been walking for hours!" She complained. Ayane nodded in agreement.
"I know patience is a virtue, but it's been hours! Why isn't she running yet?" She pointed to Hitomi.
"I'm so sorry, everyone. I... I just..." Hitomi started softly, shoulders slumped, but Kasumi cut her off by placing a friendly hand on her shoulder, giving her a sympathetic smile.
"Don't apologise. We'll end up finding her," she said. Hitomi returned a weak smile, then nodded. She then caught Hayate's tired eyes, and her heart silently hurt. She was tiring him, and she didn't like it, she didn't like seeing him tired because of her. She walked to him and grabbed one of his calloused hand. It sent electricity and ripples of pleasure through her, but she didn't tell him that.
"Are you alright?" She asked softly. Hayate smiled weakly.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, I'm the one who's supposed to do that." He teased, ruffling her hair. She scowled playfully, before swatting his hand away again.
"You have an awful interest in my hair, I see." She teased. He quirked an eyebrow.
"What makes you think that?" The Wind teased back, poking her side. Hitomi laughed lightly.
"You keep ruffling it. It's kind of annoying, but I'm still wondering." She said, while he gave her a small mischievous grin.
"It's just an interesting colour of hair...I didn't know you liked bright blue so much, Hitomi..." He said. She squealed in terror and pulled down one of her strands. Indeed, it was still brown. She glared at him while he chuckled.
"Not funny." She pouted. Hayate was about to reply, when her eyes turned colourless. She broke into a run towards a strange green light. Some of the others groaned in satisfaction, muttering, "finally's" or, "it's about time's". They jogged behind her slowly, not wanting to spend their energies longer. As they arrived, the ninjas couldn't contain their gasps. Kasumi growled, taking her wakizashi in hand.
"Alpha-152." She snarled. The transparent green clone was indeed here, wearing a silk, green gown. But what was strange, was that she did not hold Hitomi, or had Hitomi's head in her lap. She was holding a little girl, who looked about four years old, with long brown hair reaching her waist, a short-sleeved white dress and bare foot, holding a teddy bear with a blue ribbon to her chest. All thought of attacking Alpha-152 dissipated when they realisation hit them like a ton of bricks.
"Is that...?" Eliot started, but did not finish the sentence. Bafflement, followed by more bafflement as Alpha-152 started talking.
"Yes, it's The Electus." Her velvety voice seemed to echo in our heroes' heads. Kasumi still glared at her.
"She's never seen you before, so I don't know why you have your natural form." She said icily. Alpha-152 glared at her, and in a moment, she seemed to transform. Instead of a translucent green skin, she had ivory skin. Her hair darkened, coming into a raven, glossy colour and instead of expressionless, no irises eyes, her eyes were now dark brown. Hayate's eyes widened.
"Mrs. Buchfink?" He asked softly. 'Kagome' smiled warmly.
"It's Achlys. I just look like her mother." Achlys said. Leifang frowned.
"This is not what I expected," She said, her frown deepening, "from Adara's description, you were this evil person who hated everyone and well...who's a..." Leifang trailed off, blushing. Achlys cackled.
"A bitch? You can say it, child." She said with amusement, rocking little Hitomi in her lap.
"I know...I just...you look a lot like Hitomi's mom, and...well..." Leifang trailed off again. Mrs. Buchfink had a strict rule about cursing in her house. The Chinese beauty had received a twenty minute lecture from the older lady. It is improper and unnecessary, she had scolded, and completely unladylike.
"But why did Adara call you and Acantha that then?" Andra asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Adara hates me. The only reason why she thinks I shouldn't be trusted is because I'm the most powerful, and she's the weakest. Acantha's the bitch. She wasn't supposed to give you two challenges, and afterwards, she drained all of your energy out, that's why you're so tired." She said. The small party gaped at her in shock. Angrily, Leifang stomped her heel.
"That little-..." She stopped, seeing Achlys's glare, "I mean, why? Why would she do that?!" She asked, outraged.
"She was bored," Achlys shrugged, "us Muliercula always are. Adara at least wasn't being stupid, and gave you the piece of the Map without a question. She's too weak to create a challenge by herself. Acantha, however...you know." She muttered.
"What is the next challenge?" Hayabusa asked for the first time. Achlys smiled, before returning to her Alpha-152 form again. Mei Lin floated towards her and landed towards the small cloud. She sighed contently, snuggling into it.
Eliot sent the minx a glare, "you won't do anything to her, will you?"
Achlys didn't smile or show emotion, "of course not. I will just let her rest for a while." Eliot sighed in obvious relief. Little Hitomi stirred, as a cloud brought her back safely into Hayate's arms, where she grew back into twenty-year-old Hitomi. Achlys disappeared, just as Hitomi's blue eyes met Hayate's brown eyes.
"Oh, in Freya's...why am I always so tired?" She said, yawning loudly. The group laughed lightly, but all died out when the fog melted into something. Kasumi's eyes widened, the subject of her nightmares every night. The place she hated with a passion.
The M.I.S.T Laboratory.
It all happened in slow motion, but clones, multitudes of Alphas similar looking to the four ninjas appeared. Kasumi green. Ayane purple. Hayate white. Hayabusa blue. Hundreds of them appeared, walking towards them with their expressionless expression. Although, the message was clear; they were here for the kill.
Saccra Terras
Gwenwyn sighed and threw her bow down in frustration. Her aim wasn't just the same, and she was just distracted. Andra was gone longer than she thought, and the young red-head missed her terribly. It just wasn't the same without her sarcastic comments and narcissistic laughs.
Dante, her other best friend, glared at her, "focus, Gwen!" He spat. Gwen sent him an icy look.
"I'm worried about Andra! It's been longer than three days! I mean, she said, "meet her, train her, help her, leave her"! And she said it wouldn't be long." She pouted . Dante sighed, walked to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Gwen, you have to stop worrying. Andra is The Huntress. I mean, she made it to the portal in the Proelium Terras. She isn't called Andrelina B. Carter for nothing." He said, stroking her vibrant red hair. Gwen closed her eyes, calming down. For her, Dante had the best hugs. But the worry over Andra's life was getting harder to contain. She just wanted to go and jump in the portal. To find her. But she knows Dante wouldn't let her.
She sighed into his chest, "I feel so stupid." She mumbled.
Dante rolled his eyes, "you're not, ama." He responded softly. Gwen smiled at the nickname and pulled away from him.
"Come on," she said, picking up her bow, "I have to get at least five targets before I can go h-..." She was abruptly cut off by screams and howls, coming from the village. Gwen sent a knowing glance to Dante, who looked just as terrified.
A scream confirmed their fears, "Daemones sunt tergum! Currere! Daemones sunt tergum!" The demons are back! Run! The demons are back!
"Gwen," Dante said quietly. Gwen looked at him with an expression that said it all; she didn't want him to go.
"No." She said firmly, shaking her head, "you're not going again. You're not risking your life for a leader that doesn't care!" She yelled. Dante ran a hand through his dark brown hair.
"They need me down there-..." She cut him off.
"No! You're fine here! You're not leaving me again!" Hot tears spilled on her cheeks.
"I have to!" Dante yelled back, "I have to protect our lands!" Gwen slapped him. Hard.
"Then I'm going with you! I'm going and you're not stopping me!" She tried to walk to the village, but Dante grabbed her arm, spun her around and pressed his lips to hers. Gwen replied the kiss furiously, before shoving him away.
"I'm still going with you." She said, stomping away from him. She did not notice the demon that dangled from the tree branch. Dante's warning cry just reached his lips when the demon jumped on Gwenwyn, straddling her back. She cried out in pain when his sword of electricity hit her back.
Daemonum Terras
Shade entered the room where Kokoro was soundly sleeping. He sat on the bed, staring at her face. Reika. His heart painfully squeezed. He wanted to apologise for hurting her, for hurting Reika. But instead, he pushed the small raven bangs out of her face. He wondered if she had a family, a brother, a sister or even a boyfriend. The young demon rubbed his face. He was pathetic. An incubus in love. After two days of seeing one girl.
Kai was right. Incubi were repulsive kinds.
"Are you assaulting her again?"
Topaz's soft voice brought him out of his miserable thoughts. Shade sighed.
"It's been two days, Topaz. And I think I've already fallen for her." He said, staring at his knuckles. Topaz sighed.
"Kai could kill you for that, you know human-demon love is not allowed. Remember what happened to Reika?" She asked sadly. Shade's jaw clenched.
"Reika was a succubus. Daray hated love. That's why he killed Mother. That bastard only needed her for a heir, and that was it. Kai and I grew up without a mother, only with his whores. Not that I complained, but Kai hated them. He barely got out of his room since she died. I still can't believe he killed him only at eighteen. Then he just kicked me out. That bastard kicked me out," Shade rubbed his face, "I don't hate him, though and I hate it. I hate that I can't even fucking hate him because he's my brother. We were in those tribulations together. We understand what we're both going through," Topaz frowned, but he didn't stop, "he hates me because I'm a reminder that his...that our mother loved. She cared. And now she's fucking dead. Reika, I loved her; she loved me. We loved each other. And now she's also fucking dead. My real mother, I don't know her, but I still love her. Daray told me he killed her. Everyone I loved is dead. Buried. And now I'm scared. I'm scared out of my wits because if I fall for her...for Kokoro, I'm scared she'll die. I'm scared that he'll kill her. I'm scared that my brother will kill her, because I think love her," He chuckled bitterly, "not that I'm the only one of us."
Topaz frowned a little deeper, "what?"
Shade started laughing. It was humorless. It was cold. Topaz shook her head and left the room, disturbed by the incubus's hysterical laughter. Shade did not stop laughing, not even as he talked to Kokoro.
"Thirsty dogs for love," he said between chuckles, "we demons are such fools, we're more foolish than humans! Even our leader, our king is a fool. Now who must we follow, huh, sweet Kokoro? Who on this land is not a fool?!"
With that, he left the room, still laughing hysterically. He did not notice Kokoro being awake while he confessed his love for her, his story, and his anatomy about demons. Her heart fluttered as she thought of his words.
'He loves me. A demon's in love with me. Oh, Kami, this is so crazy...' She thought with a sigh, before her eyes closed, and her mind was intruded by dreams concerning her, Shade, holding of hands and small kisses.
The mind is a trick master at its best.
A/N: That was slightly hard to write. Shade is a disturbed mind, and well...I'm not.
ALPHA APOCALYPSE! WILL HITOMI AND HER FRIENDS DESTROY THEM?! WILL SHADE EVER CONFESS HIS LOVE FOR KOKORO IN PERSON?! WHY HAVEN'T WE HEARD OF KAI AND HOW HE'S DOING?! WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO GWEN AND DANTE?! WANT ME TO CONTINUE? KEEP REVIEWING.
P.S: I am a first French speaker. My English and spelling is not perfect, but I'm trying my best. I might have to stop this story since you stopped reviewing altogether. Please don't stop!:)
Don't forget to R&R!:)
Random question!: Are you team Daemon, or team Electus?
Or maybe Team Kai or Team Shade? :)
Again...don't forget to R&R!:)