Chapter EIGHT

"No way." Gunha repeated.

Heart Jack growled, then flew towards them. The three level fives got ready to defend themselves when Yoru leaped in front of them. She crossed her arms, and a barrier of black energy appeared. When Heart Jack crashed into it, the barrier exploded.

Mikoto raised her arms to shield her face. When the dust cleared, she looked back up.

Yoru and Heart Jack were fighting. Yoru's fists were lit up with black electricity, and she landed a sharp blow to Heart Jack's side. Heart Jack spat, and kicked, which Yoru dodged gracefully.

Mikoto couldn't tear her gaze away. The usually loud Gunha was quiet and even Accelerator seemed surprised.

"A human weapon..." Mikoto whispered.

Yoru dodged each blow aimed at her, then darted in deliver on of her own. She did this so gracefully, with not a single misstep or flaw to be seen, as if she was born to fight, born to kill. A killing machine, which could transform its arms into swords and summon the black elements. There was no way Heart Jack could win.

Heart Jack lay on the floor, breathing heavily. His hands were shaking, but he managed to link his fingers together. He then started to chant something. Yoru stared at him, and froze. Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth. A second later, Heart Jack burst into flames, and exactly at the same time, a magic circle appeared on the ground around Mikoto, Gunha and Accelerator.

Mikoto gasped at the sudden burst of heat. Her energy seemed to be sucked out of her body, and her legs nearly collapsed. The grass in front go her burst into flames, and she yelped.

Accelerator grabbed her arm and dragged her backwards. The three level fives stood back to back.

Someone roughly grabbed the back of Mikoto's shirts making her choke.

Suddenly, the ground seemed to disappeared from beneath her, and she felt a sensation of riding a roller coaster that was out of control, and she scrunched her eyes shut.

A few seconds later, she felt herself being dropped roughly onto the ground, and she opened her eyes. She closed them only instantly due to the dizziness. She opened them again after a few more seconds, and she sat up.

Accelerator was lying beside her. He sat up and groaned.

Gunha was still on the ground, eyes open. "That took out a lot of guts." He muttered.

Mikoto noticed Yoru lying on the floor next to Gunha. Unlike them, she looked limp and lifeless. Mikoto quickly crawled over to her, and moved her hair out of her face. Yoru was breathing faintly but surely.

Accelerator and Gunha crowded around as Yoru slowly opened her eyes. "Are you ok?" She whispered.

If the situation was not so scary, Mikoto would have laughed. "We should be the one asking you that." She said. "Are you okay?"

Yoru nodded. She sat up with the help of Gunha. "I'm so glad I got there in time. If I hand't, you would all be dead."

"What was that...thing?" Mikoto asked.

"The thing Heart Jack used?" Yoru asked. Mikoto nodded. "That is a spell literally called the Last Resort. Its a spell most use when they are cornered. The spell uses every remaining living energy in you to cast a spell that will kill a hundred percent if you're caught in it." Yoru gasped. "Once you use the spell, you die."

"All these spells you learnt, that must have taken a lot of guts." Gunha said halfheartedly.

Accelerator massaged his temples, then switched off his collar. "Good thing my collar lasted." He muttered.

"How did you get to us so quickly?" Mikoto asked.

"The spell I used is called Shadow Jump. All shadows are made of one ball of darkness, and are connected to one another. Since they are connected, I can travel from one shadow to another. But traveling alone takes a lot of my energy, and carrying three people takes way more. I only use it when its necessary." Yoru said. She coughed, then winced in pain.

Mikoto suddenly felt the weight of the recent fight crashing down. She could feel the sting of a pretty deep wound on her arm. "For now, we need to rest." She decided.

Yoru nodded. "I suggest we stick together."

"My place is pretty far, and the dorm supervisor doesn't like letting people that are not from our school in." Gunha said.

"My place is out, because Kuroko will be back, and Accelerator and Kuroko have an...er, issue." Mikoto said, and Accelerator glared at her.

"I sent Yomikawa and brat to where Yoshikawa and Wrost are. Apparently, their on a shopping spree." Accelerator clicked his tongue and looked away. "You can come to my place, but just this once. I'm not going to spend my time arguing with weaklings like you."

He stiffened when a stinging cut appeared on his left cheek. Yoru held her sword against his cheek. "You call me weak?" She asked.

Accelerator smirked. "So, what if I did?"

Yoru growled, and she looked like she wanted to lash out at Accelerator. Before she could, Oracion hissed. Yoru growled, but sat back down. She let out faint "Tch.", and looked away.

Gunha sighed in relief.

"We should go." Mikoto said. "With all the commotion and sound, people are bound to come looking." Accelerator stood up.

Mikoto tried to stand up, but her her legs gave way, and she let out a soft gasp. A firm grip on her arm stopped her falling forwards. Accelerator stood over her, his hand on her arm. He waited until Mikoto managed to catch her balance, then let go.

"Thanks" She said. Accelertor nodded curtly. Gunha helped Yoru to her feet. Yoru was leaning heavily on Gunha's shoulder, her eyes just barely open.

Gunha slung Yoru's arm over his shoulder, supporting her. They quickly made their way away from the river, and Accelerator set a quick pace back to his apartment.

Accelerator opened the door and let everyone in. Gunha placed Yoru onto the bed, and she instantly curled up, snuggling into the blankets.

Accelerator tossed a roll of bandages to Mikoto, and slumped down onto the couch. Mikoto borrowed the washroom and washed her wound. She then wiped it clean and wrapped the bandage around it.

Yoru was out for the rest of the day. Mikoto had called Kuroko to tell her that she was spending the night with a friend. Kuroko had thrown the fit on the other side of the phone, but had finally agreed when Mikoto had promised to go shopping with her next time.

Gunha didn't have much luck, and he had slammed down the phone receiver when his dorm supervisor had began yelling. He smiled weakly and muttered. "I'm fine. My dorm supervisor has way more guts than me."

Mikoto smiled.

It turned out that there was noting edible in Accelerator's fridge. Gunha had offered to go buy something but Mikoto had stopped him. Finally, they settled on delivery.

Mikoto ordered some food from a random store in the phone book. An hour or so later, the food was delivered and the three level fives gratefully dug into the pizzas.

So, how was that?

Don't forget to review. The votes for pairings are still ongoing. Vote at the poll on my profile, PM me, or just post as a review.

Poll results so far:

Mikoto x Accelerator: 17

Accelerator x Yoru: 8

Mikoto x Gunha: 6

Gunha x Yoru: 2

Other:1

Story ideas are welcome!