I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORYLINE AND CHARACTERS YOU DON'T KNOW FROM THE MANGA/ANIME!
Chapter Sixteen
Fifth Moon
A fragment of memory lost in the gap between life and death…Is it something which will point the way to spiritual awareness? The silver-metallic gun cracked open, and my right arm metamorphosed. Our past, our people, out mother, the moment we were reunited with everything we ever protected, the light took Augusta. The Humanoid Typhoon, the $$60,000,000 Man, Vash the Stampede. This is the beginning of our past. This is the end of our journey.
"Does the sight of blood bother you?"
Mai looked up from the body that now lay at her feet. It had been her job to take out the man causing ruckus outside the restaurant but she hadn't been able to do it. After all the training she had received from her teacher and she still couldn't deal the final blow. Her teacher had to be the one to do it for her; again.
"It doesn't; I just couldn't...couldn't do it?"
"Acting like this isn't going to hold just yourself back. You're holding Rai-Dei back as well."
"I know that, Kyri, I just..." She looked up at her teacher. "My body just freezes."
Kyri had the right side of her head shaved short and left the rest hanging to her shoulders. A pair of crystals hung from her ears as her blue eyes glared in annoyance and disappointment. Dressed in a leather bodysuit of black and white, several straps held a Gunblade behind her.
"Then we'll just have to find a way to keep that from happening." Her eyes narrowed a bit as a child passed between them, chasing a ball. "There's your target; kill it."
"Target?" Mai stared at the other woman in shock. "You don't mean the child, do you?"
"That's exactly what I mean. This worthless race will be wiped out eventually so what's an early casualty or two?" Kyri's dark eyes seemed to burn into Mai's skin. "Or can you not even do that?"
"But-but it's a child, Kyri! Pick another target; someone older!"
Kyri glared at her student. "No. Your sentiment for the human race disgusts me, but then again considering that you are, in fact, human yourself, I can see why. I told you to kill the child; if you do that then I'll call an end to your training and send you after Rai-Dei and Midvalley. If not...I'll kill you myself."
Mai froze, staring at the older woman again. Did...did she really mean that?
Of course she did. This was Kyri, The Bladed Siren. She was Leader of the Gung-Ho Guns. Her ruthlessness rivaled that of her own sister; maybe even that of Knives'. She had seen her teacher kill someone for just looking at her.
"Make your choice, Mai. You or the child. You don't really want me to tell Rai-Dei that I had to kill you, do you? He'll be so distressed that he'll most likely attack me to get revenge for you; and then he'll die too. Can you really refuse it when you have the guilt of Rai-Dei's death on your shoulders too?"
Mai felt her anger rise. Kyri went as far as to threaten Rai-Dei...
She felt her hands tighten on the double bladed spear that she held. Squeezed until her hands hurt and bit down on her lower lip until she could taste the blood. As the child came running back, she squeezed her eyes shut and brought the spear down. She heard the sickening snap and then felt the blood land on her face. She didn't want to look but she forced her eyes open and tried to keep herself from puking. Her blade and pierced right through the child's face, the ball he had been holding rolling away as scream erupted all over the town.
She felt Kyri place a hand on her head. "That's a good girl." From the corner of her eye she watched her teacher pull out her own weapon, a pleased look on her face. "Now, let's take care of the rest of them."
"We need to get everybody out of here."
Vash's words brought Kyri out of her memories. With the arrival and Legato and the others, her past exploits were hitting her harder and harder than she wanted them to. She didn't want to relive it all but her past was coming back to haunt her. The closer the Gun-Ho Guns got to them the worse the results would be.
She glanced at her companion. "And just how do you plan on doing that?"
"Watch and learn."
Kyri blinked and just stood there, watching as Vash ran into the middle of the street, firing shots into the air. He struck a weird pose with his hand in the air as the people all turned to look at the two of them.
"My name is…Vash the Stampede!" It was hard to keep a straight face as the man beside her sounded so dumb. "Forgive the lack of warning, but it's time for my daily massacre! And if you don't believe I am the real thing, take a long, good look at me and start freaking out! Observe my red coat, my lovely blond locks, the adorable swordsman at my side," Kyri restrained from slapping a hand over her face. "And it you still then take note of my super, one hundred percent gunmanship accuracy!" He fired more bullets into the air…and that black cat fell out of nowhere onto his head again.
"You just have to follow us, don't you?" Kyri asked, lifting it off of Vash. It gave a happy mew at her.
"Stay here for a moment," Vash told her.
"No," She shook her head, placing a hand on her Gunblade. "I can help. You get one side, I'll take the other, and then we meet back here after they're all gone, deal?"
Vash was silent for a moment before giving a nod and turning to run off from her, firing more bullets into the sky. She could hear his voice echo all through the city.
"If you don't want to die, get 100 iles away from this place as fast as you can and live happily ever after!" And the people scattered.
Kyri set the cat down and ran at the people as well, slicing the chairs here and there and firing off a few harmless rounds herself.
It had been two weeks since the events at Jeneora Rock. After Kyri and Vash met back up and discussed things, they left the others behind that night. Meryl and Alexia both wanted to follow after them but Milly and Alexander were able to talk some sense into them; at least that's what Kyri was thinking. To be honest she had rather enjoyed Alexia's company. It felt, for a while there, that she had her sister back. She wanted more than anything for her and Vash to be able to just settle down somewhere and not have to worry about any of this fighting or killing anymore but it seemed that neither Knives nor Kyra were going to give up. And that is what brought the two of them here. Legato had sent them a message, telling them to meet him in Augusta City. The city that they were currently helping the people to evacuate from.
"That's the last of them." Kyri sat across from Vash, petting the cat in her lap as he crossed off the last area of the now empty city. "Why couldn't that nihilistic jerk have picked a better location? I used up all my energy just chasing people out. I'm pooped."
"I have a feeling that this was that woman's choice," Kyri told him, seeing Eryn the White Queen in her mind again. "We only spoke for a short while but I get the feeling that she's quite the troublemaker to come up with a plan like this. Perhaps exhaustion from us is what they were shooting for."
"That means that something really bad is about to happen then."
"It seems so." Kyri let the cat go and stood up. "I wonder who'll they'll send this time."
"Why so excited about it?" Vash asked, moving after her.
"Not excited. Just ready to get this over with. I have donuts to make, remember?"
Vash's eyes lit up happily. "Really?! You mean it?!"
"Have I ever lied to you, Vash?" Kyri asked him. "After this is all over, I'll grab one of kitchens. I'm sure they won't mind."
"Oh yes!" Vash began to dance in the street. "Yes yes yes yes! I love your donuts! I can't wait! I-" Vash fell silent and froze in his steps.
Kyri glanced at him. "What is it? What's wrong?" Vash, moving his hand to the back of his neck, gave a horrified look when he brought blood back with it.
"Blood?" Both titled their heads up together and were shocked to find the bodies of Monev and Dominique hanging above them on one of the buildings.
"They killed them," Kyri blinked.
"Who? Legato?"
"It had to be. Either him or one of the other Gung-Ho Guns."
"Bing, we have a winner!" The voice made the duo turned to see a man standing behind them, a mask on his face and some type of ball round his body. She didn't remember this guy from the Gung-Ho Guns; must have joined after she left. "Do you like my little decorations? In this game, losers don't get to go home. They go to Hell." Kyri gave a snarl and grabbed her blade, ready for him to try and attack.
"Did you kill them?" Vash demanded.
His question was ignored. "I am the fifth Gung-Ho Gun, E.G. Mine!"
"Did you kill them or not?!"
"Damn, you're noisy…what if I did, chickenshit? You don't seem to want to kill anyone, so someone had to step up and cover your ass! And besides, the two of you have already fallen into my court." He flexed the wires on his fingers.
Vash narrowed his eyes. "I've never heard such a rotten script."
"Just wait," Kyri commented. "I'm sure there's more to come."
Vash would have smirked in another situation. "So, you're telling me that the two of us only have two choices. To die or let others die?"
"Whoa, cowboy," Mine glared at the blond. "Don't be so hasty! Only one more has to die. Just stand there like a good boy. After I take you down it'll all be over!"
E.G. Mine flexed his fingers again and spikes shot out of his little outfit. Kyri whipped out her blade and knocked them all aside, leaving Vash to move up beside the other man, his gun pointed under his chin.
"What?!"
"Tell me," Kyri moved forward. "You said that only one more had to die and it's apparent that you meant Vash. What exactly are the orders for me?"
"Nah-ah-ah, you didn't say the magic word."
Kyri and Vash only had seconds to take in sight of the brown haired woman before a large sand whirl made them move out of the way.
"What's going on?" E.G. Mine demanded. "You bastards are trying to cut in on my action!"
"Piss off, ball-boy," Mai waved her hand, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You should be thanking us."
"Had I kept my blade sheathed, you would have been knocked senseless by your Humanoid Typhoon there." Rai-Dei began.
"Say what?"
Kyri froze as Mai's brown eyes locked onto her. Rai-Dei looked at her too but with a more friendly look. Mai's eyes were full of hatred and pain; and betrayal.
"Well, now it's getting interesting. It looks like you're the favorite." Vash commented, not noticing that both of the newcomers were staring at the woman beside him. "What's your name?"
"Forgive my lack of manners," The man took the hat off his head, moving his gaze towards Vash. "I am the ninth Gung-Ho Gun, Rai-Dei, the blade of Jigenzan-itto School!"
"And I am Rai-Dei's wife, you can call me Mai the Whisperer." The woman replied. "We may not have met but we know all about you, Humanoid Typhoon."
"We hold no personal grudge against you," Rai-Dei continued. "But I wish to engage you in Shi-Ai."
"Shi-Ai?" Vash repeated. "What's that?"
Rai-Dei pulled a card out and showed it them; it held Japanese writing on it.
Vash pulled a face and waved his hand. "I can't read that."
"A Shi-Ai is a death match, Vash." Kyri told him.
"Your woman is smart," Rai-Dei commented. "A fight to the death."
"This is who you left us for?" Mai's voice was hard; angry. "You left us behind, betrayed us, for this...this idiot?!"
"Mai..."
Vash cocked a brow. "What is she talking about?"
"And you want to tell me that he doesn't even know?!" Mai's angry just rose and rose. Rai-Dei placed a hand on her shoulder but she brushed it off, her eyes wild and locked on Kyri. "Does he know nothing!?"
"Mai, I-"
"I don't want to hear your excuses!" She cut the other woman off. "You were supposed to be our leader! You were supposed to lead us to the new world with Knives and Kyra! You were ruthless! Murderous! Perfect! And you threw away all that perfection for this...this!" She thrust a finger at Vash. "You're not worthy to even carry the name of the Gung-Ho Guns leader! You've not even worthy to be known at the Bladed Siren anymore! You're not worthy to be Kyra's sister!"
Vash could only stare at Kyri as the woman closed her eyes, her face blank. He knew that she was known as the Bladed Siren but he knew nothing about her being the Leader of the Gung-Ho Guns. Had that Legato taken up the role after she started traveling with him? How was she even the leader in the first place?
No, Vash didn't have to ask that; he already knew that answer. He knew that answer the moment he saw her for the first time after so many years. He remembered that dead look in her eye; the smell of death and blood followed her faithfully. It had hurt him to see her that way, to see what his brother and her sister had turned her into. He had tried so hard to change her over the years; so hard.
"I would have followed you anywhere," Mai's voice shook. "You were my teacher. I trained under you. I idolized you. It's because of you that I met Rai-Dei. You beat me and sculpted me into what I am today, what all we Gung-Ho Guns are, and then you tossed us aside like trash for this blond idiot! I can't forgive you; I won't forgive you. Sylvia and Eryn and the others all want you to come back to us but I want nothing more than your death, traitor!"
Vash took a step in front of Kyri, his face set with a frown. Kyri had yet to open her eyes again, just standing there in silence.
"So, you two are playing along with Legato's little farce as well?"
Rai-Dei smiled. "I would happily walk the path of carnage for the mastery of Bushi-Do."
"What?"
"I refer to what is only visible from the edge of the deathly abyss. I know you have seen it. Both of you have." Rai-Dei continued.
"There's nothing there to see," Vash told him. "Only fear."
"Even so, I also wish to experience that mental state!" the man looked at Kyri. "You promised you'd let me see it one day, Bladed Siren. I ask that you fulfill it now."
Kyri finally opened her eyes but only after E.G. Mine had shot spikes at Rai-Dei; the swordsman cut them down like they were paper.
"Come on, now! It's my job to dice this guy!"
"Laughable," Rai-Dei replied. "It would appear you didn't hear what I told you earlier."
"You're right, I didn't." At that moment the ball fell from the man's shoulders, shocking him.
"Your match was already over. His fast gunmanship! Words fail to describe its greatness! That man was never an opponent to be humbled by you, nor is the woman! You are completely out of your league; on both sides! Although I think you may have served to amuse them." Mai's lips began to move but her voice never flowed out. Kyri stood there, knowing what the woman was doing when E.G. Mine fell over, blood pouring out his ears and eyes.
"You slime," Vash growled.
"Yes, let it burn within you," Rai-Dei told him. "I feel it burn and fester. The angry aura released through your every pore makes my knees shake! That alone makes my trip to this place worthwhile. It is the source of my dearest pleasure."
Kyri finally moved, stepping out from behind Vash. "I'll grant your wish, Rai-Dei."
"What?" Rai-Dei raised a brow. The look of joy that sat on his face tugged at her heart. "Truly?"
"Oh, I don't think so," Mai glared at her. "You're mine."
"I'll take you both, then." Her words left Mai speechless as her husband did a little dance of joy.
"What are you doing, Kyri?" Vash asked her.
"She's right," She replied. "I am the one that turned them into Gung-Ho Guns. I am the reason why Rai-Dei longs for what he does. Their lives are faults on my part; I turned them into what they are now."
"Kyri..."
"Rai-Dei wields a Gunblade as well, though a bit different than my own," Kyri told her companion as she reached behind her and drew the said Blade from it's holster. "And Mai wields a double-bladed spear. If you see Mai's lips move but hear no words then avert eye contact. She can kill you with her whispers but only when making eye contact."
"Really?" Vash sounded shocked.
"I think you're mistaking something here," Mai growled. "You are mine, traitor, not my husband's. I'll be the one to take care of you; let's leave the men to themselves."
Rai-Dei gave a sigh of disappointment and scratched his head. "I'd better let her do what she wants, so that leaves you to be my opponent, Humanoid Typhoon."
Kyri glanced at Vash and he gave her a nod, telling her that it was okay. She gave a nod back before moving out of his way as he pulled out his sunglasses and put a tighter grip on his gun.
"You don't know how long I've dreamed of this," Mai continued, her spear gripped tight in her hand. "How many times I've seen your face in my dreams, crying in agony, just like all those people you made me kill."
Kyri closed her eyes again for a moment. "You came to me, Mai, to learn to be strong. You joined of your own freewill. You knew what we were, what I was, so your blaming of me on those you have killed-"
"Oh, I'm not blaming you; not at all. Consider this my thanks. By killing you I will have surpassed the nightmare; my longing to be you. I will take up your title as the Bladed Siren and continue on your teachings. You're the only obstacle in the way of my dreams, now."
Kyri stared at the other woman in shock. "That's what you want? This is what it's always been about, isn't it? You killing me is your way of surpassing me."
"That's right; it always has been." Mai readied herself. "Now, let's make that wish come true, shall we?"
The other woman stayed still, eyes closed once more. Mai wanted to kill her to surpass her. She wanted to fight the Bladed Siren, to kill her, and she wouldn't stop until she succeeded; Kyri had taught her not to. She didn't know how strong Mai had gotten over the years but she had no doubt that as long as she held herself back like Vash wanted her to that this battle was going to be long and bloody. She'd rather just get this over with as fast as possible...
~We scream
We Shout
We are the Fallen Angels~
"Are you sure it's a good idea to follow me? It was very clear that they wanted us to leave them alone."
"Aren't you worried about them Alexander?"
"Of course I am," The young man gave a sigh. "But there's no doubt in my mind that the two of them will be just fine. Think about who you're talking about."
"I know who they are but I still worry," Alexia told him. "I…I can't help it. If I were to leave them behind at a time like this…I don't think I'd ever forgive myself."
Alexander went to make another comment but the sound of crashing grabbed his attention as a building collapsed towards the center of the city.
"What is that?" Meryl asked.
"Whatever it is, it's not good," Milly replied.
"It can only be one thing, you idiots." Alexander growled.
"We've got to help them," Meryl went to move but Alexia caught her thomas' reins.
"If it is Vash and Kyri, then they're most likely fighting one of the Gung-Ho Guns again. You and Milly will just get killed in going anywhere near the fight. You two need to get out of here. The two of us will go and help them."
"We will?" Alexander asked his sister.
"You will?" Milly echoed him.
"We can't just leave them alone.. I know they're strong but these are the Gung-Ho Guns, Alex!" She told her brother.
"Exactly! What can we do against them? We're just a couple of Bounty Hunters, Alexia! We aren't warriors that have trained for this kind of shit! We'll die!"
"So could they! They're our friends, aren't they?"
Alexander gave a curse and glanced at Milly. "Get Meryl out of here. Now."
Milly nodded. "Be careful, Alex."
"Yeah," He hung his head as the two women left him and his sister behind. "If we die, Alexia, I will make your afterlife miserable for all eternity."
The sound of gunshots and the sight of buildings crashing from the middle of the city made the twins rush for that area, but they came to a stop when a woman's screaming echoed around them.
"Is that Kyri?" Alexia demanded, looking around.
Alexander narrowed his eyes. "No, it's not."
The screaming continued, the agonizing noise making the Twins sick. It was unlike anything that they had ever heard before; it was something that neither of them wanted to hear again.
And then it stopped. The sudden silence, outside of gunshots that could be heard a little further away, was enough to send shivers down their spines. Then came the sound behind them. It sounded like something was being dragged across the ground. Both of them turned to see Kyri moving towards them, a frown on her face, eyes closed, as she held her Gunblade in one hand and dragging a body behind her with the other.
Alexia let out a horrified gasp at the bloodied body. Whatever it had been before it was nearly unidentifiable now. The only way she knew that it was female anymore had been from the screaming she had heard.
"Kyri-" Alexia went to step forward but Alexander placed a hand out, stopping her as she glared hard at the other woman.
"Mai the Whisperer," Kyri's voice sounded strange. It was so lifeless and when she opened her eyes they looked just the same. She didn't know what scared her more, the look that Kyri wore upon her face when she went to kill Neon on the train or this look before her now. She had paused feet from the twins, just staring at the ground as blood dripped from the body and her weapon. "Number 14 of the Gung-Ho Guns and eighth strongest. Third student under the Bladed Siren. Before training her dream was to be a teacher but let the man she loved change her mind and lead her down this path. Her first kill had been a child, eight years." Kyri's eyes widened and a psychotic look appeared in them know; the twins wouldn't be surprised if she started laughing like a maniac any second now. "The pain and anguish on her face when she was covered in the child's blood was beautiful!"
Alexander frowned, his gaze hardening even further. He had a hypothesis on Kyri for a while now and seeing her like this made him believe that his thoughts were true. Kyri and the Bladed Siren were two different people, just locked in the same body. With Vash around, Kyri was the dominant role but that didn't keep the Siren from fighting to break free. What they saw before them wasn't the woman that would make donuts and cut jokes. This was the woman that was known to have slaughtered thousands of people. The Humanoid Typhoon was the only wanted person to outrank her in bounty but from what he had seen so far, she was the more terrifying of the two.
"Kyri," Alexia called out to the woman again and those eyes lifted to them. None of them moved for a moment, Alexander ready to reach for his gun. If Kyri attacked them then he knew they would die. He would try to by his sister enough time to get away; the get to Vash.
And then the look left her. Kyri's eyes returned to normal and she closed them with a sigh, and trace of murderous intent leaving her.
"I thought we told you to stay away."
Alexander gave a silent sigh of relief as Alexia gave a guilty giggle. "Well, you know us; we don't follow orders very well."
"Apparently not." As if realizing that she was dragging Mai's corpse behind her, Kyri dropped it and flung the blood from her blade, sheathing it as she brushed her hair out of her face. "Are the other two here?"
"They came with us but we made them turn back and leave. It was too dangerous for them here."
"It's too dangerous for either of you. I don't know if Mai and Rai-Dei are the only ones-"
The woman's words were cut off by a huge, bright light that began to appear up from the center of the city.
"What the hell is that?" Alexander asked.
"Vash!" Kyri looked at it in horror. She had seen this before. Why? Why now? "You two, get out of here as fast as you can! Now! Get far, far away!"
"What is it?" Alexia called after her, but Kyri was already gone, leaving them alone. "What is it?"
"I don't know what it is, but I'm going to do what Kyri said and get the hell out of here!"
"But-"
"She and Vash will be fine! Let's go!"
Kyri was glad that the twins listened to her. Now she wouldn't have the fear of them being hurt or worse held over her head. Now all she had to do was worry about the man she could hear screaming.
"Vash!" She cried, entering the area. Vash was crying in fear and pain as his right arm transformed into that blasted gun that had destroyed the city of July, Rai-Dei standing across from him. "You fool!" Kyri knocked the Gung-Ho out of the way and slid down beside Vash. "Vash!"
He couldn't look at her, his eyes squeezed shut. "I can't…I can't stop it, Ki! I can't stop it!"
"Vash," She didn't know what to tell him. She didn't know what to do. She hadn't known last time, either. What could she do? The only one that could stop this was…
"What the hell is that?!" Rai-Dei cried.
"You have to get out of here! Run! Run away!" Vash cried. "Ki, you have to run too!"
"I'm not leaving you, Vash!" She told him as he stood to his feet. "Not like last time! I can't do that again!"
"But-you could die!"
Kyri bit her bottom lip and grasped the bottom of the glowing gun, shoving his arm upward. "Then at least it'll be with you!"
Vash went to argue but the gun went off, obliterating everything in the city to rubble as a large hole was blasted into the moon.
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