"Keitaro", Naru yelled as she ran to his aid. She completely ignored the fact that two powerful enemies were in striking distance. Her focus was a big mistake as Draconian's tail wrapped tightly around Naru's neck. Naru kicked in desperation as the appendage lifted her off the ground.
"So this is the one who caused him all this trouble", Draconian asked as he brought her face within inches of his.
"Yes, that is Naru Narusegawa", A feminine voice came from the figure dressed in black.
"Aww, such a pretty little thing", Draconian said as he gentle grazed a finger tip under her chin.
The hand transformed into the dragon's claw as the tip raked her chin. It still retained it's gentleness, but that didn't stop the fear for Naru.
"Please, let him go", Naru begged in a strained voice.
"My my", The dark figure said as she removed her arm from Keitaro's body.
Keitaro fell on his hands and knees as the enemies surrounded Naru.
"If I remember correctly, it was you who let HIM go", The cloaked woman explained. "That could be an understatement as well. I heard you pushed him away."
"N-No, that's not true."
"Really, that's hard to believe", She told Naru. "Is it true that you said things to him that were more hurtful than any bullet? Is it true that you treated him horribly? Is it true that you hit him..."
This person suddenly slapped Naru across the cheek.
"...Just like this?"
No one noticed as more of Keitaro's Demon Blood Marking began to form over his body.
The woman continued to lecture the captured Naru, "Naru you let him go a loooong time ago. We found him when he was beaten and shattered, and now we need him more than ever. I hate to break it to you, but you lucked out. If you want, you can still say good-bye, since you made no effort to last time."
Just for the sick, twisted fun of it Draconian tightened his grip around Naru's neck.
"Aw, what's the matter? Dragon got your tongue", The shadow figure asked.
"You", Someone whispered.
They had no time to move as Keitaro placed his strongest demon enhanced uppercut to the shadow person. Draconian moved in near slow motion as Keitaro grabbed him and pierced his shoulder with his knife. When Naru was released from Draconian's tail, Keitaro tossed him into a model of old samurai armor. Naru sat on the floor as she got a good look at Keitaro's form. The markings looked nearly tattooed onto Keitaro's skin. Adding to his menacing appearance was a dark energy surrounding his body. This was Naru's first time seeing Keitaro in this form. She wasn't sure if she should be scared or glad he had this power inside of him.
"It must frighten you to see me like this", Keitaro told without looking back to her. "I'll finish this as fast as I can."
Keitaro left Naru behind as he rushed to face his was very little Naru could do for Keitaro. The ERT was meant to counter things like these because they used to be one group. She didn't know any sword techniques like Motoko or Tokui did, neither did she have any special weapons like Su. From out of the blackness, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the scenery.
Keitaro's first target was Draconian, since he was the most ruthless threat. Every swipe and attack coming from Draconian was in a slow version for Keitaro. Just as he was about to breath fire at Keitaro point-blank shot, the Cheetah Demon hit his jaw upwards to shut his mouth. From the corner of his eye, Keitaro noticed as the masked woman tried to get in his blind spot. Draconian moved out-of-the-way as Keitaro caught her left fist, and she caught Keitaro's right wrist.
"It's been so long since we last danced together Keitaro", The enemy told him.
The pushed one another back to create some space between themselves.
"I wouldn't know, I can't tell who you are with that mask."
"You need to get closer", A third whisper suddenly motioned from behind Keitaro.
Keitaro was taken by surprise as two daggers dug deep into his femur's. He collapsed on the ground from the sheer pain of these serated weapons. Keitaro jerked the daggers out of his legs. As he did, he noticed the markings disappear from his hands. His adrenaline was wearing off. Not only that, his vision began to blur, he could hear his heart beating, and his throat was becoming dry. Being in the ERT, he know there was only one person who fought like this.
"Sorry handsome, your trump card is too good, we needed a handicap", Viperous said as she stood alongside Draconian and the mysterious woman.
Keitaro's body began to feel numb.
"My powers are draining faster than that time in the bar", Keitaro thought to himself. "I don't have a lot of time. If I can just finish them before my vision fades away, I can win."
Keitaro reached across the floor and picked up whatever weapons he could find. In one hand was a large cleaver like sword, and the other held a heavy battle-ax. They were weapons more suited for Han that Keitaro, but one had to work with what they had. Keitaro swung these weapons like a wild beast. However, brute force wasn't getting him even a single blow.
"I've already memorized all you skills and techniques. Your moves are all 2D to me", said the woman in the black.
Keitaro grunted in frustration", Who are you under that mask?!"
Keitaro ditched his weapons, a strategy that completely caught his opponent off guard. With any last strength Keitaro had left in his body, he threw a falcon punch that caught her head to cock back. The hood flew off of this person's head. Who was behind the mask was a shock that exceeded over a million volts to Keitaro's mind.
"No...It...It can't be...", Keitaro stuttered.
At first Keitaro thought it was all a hallucination from Viperous's poison. However, the silky, long, black hair, the light blue eyes, the exact facial features all shouted, "Not A Hallucination."
"Masuka", Keitaro called her name. "...Masuka is that you."
"Yes Keitaro, it's me", Masuka told Keitaro with a smile that looked almost genuine.
This smile was a complete mistake to fall for. Masuka's fist struck Keitaro in the stomach with force to match his own. Keitaro was unconscious before he even hit the ground. Masuka smiled to herself with the success of taking down Keitaro.
"We have what we came for", Said Masuka as she knelt to lift Keitaro up.
Before she got too close to him, a bullet zoomed past her and struck the floor between her and Keitaro. All eyes looked back to the general area where the bullet came from. Up in the rafters of the temple was none other than the ERT's infamous sniper.
"Vas Happenin", Angel said in a joking manner.
Remembering back to the events before Keitaro took on both Masuka and Draconian, Naru was seized from the shadows by Angel.
"Angel", Naru said happy that back up arrived. " We have to hurry, Keitaro is in trouble."
"I know, Naru I need you do something for me", Angel said as he handed he his comlink and a silver cross similar to his own. "I need you to take this comlink and try to get in contact with the rest of the ERT. They'll know what to do."
"No", Naru tried to refuse. "Keitaro needs our help, we can both assist him!"
Angel forcibly grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her in closer to his face.
"Listen to me, you're a communicator not a soldier, okay! I'm the guardian angel, I always have a plan to save my team", Angel placed the necklace around Naru's neck before continuing. "I need you, to get our buddies here, and wear this cross at all times, understand."
Naru sniffled as if she was ready to cry before answering, "Okay."
"Good girl", Angel said as he patted her cheek.
Naru turned on the communicator as Angel grabbed his rifle. He turned back one more time to Naru.
"Naru", She stared at Angel for what he was about to say. "If I don't make it, tell Kitsune I love her...And tell Harry Styles I love him too."
That was the last thing he said before Angel ran to help Keitaro, and Naru tried to contact their back up.
Angel leapt from the rafter as Draconian's fireball narrowly missed him.
"Draconian, get Keitaro out of here", Masuka ordered.
As the dragon picked up Keitaro and took to the air, Angel put his eye sight through the scope.
"Not this time", Angel said before he fired.
The bullet nailed Draconian in the eye.
"Dragon's Eye", Angel shouted in victory.
Draconian dropped Keitaro and crashed right into Viperous. Now the only conscious people within the temple were Angel and Masuka. Angel cocked a fresh bullet into the chamber.
"Now it's just you and me Masuka."
Just outside the temple, Naru twisted and turned the different knobs on the comlink to try reaching out for help. There was a sudden crackling noise that shouted out, "Come In".
Naru tapped the lever and yelled, "Hello is anyone there?!"
"This is Shirai, Angel come in", Answered the voice.
"Shirai it's Naru!"
"Naru? Why are you answering Angel's comlink", Shirai asked.
"Shirai, they're fighting", Naru told them. "Angel and Keitaro are fighting the bad guys!"
"Where are you", He asked Naru.
"We're at the Oni-Zakura Dojo! Please, hurry!"
"We're on our way Naru", The wild dog assured her.
Angel still had his sights on Masuka and his finger on the trigger. They began circling each other while in speech.
"You really had us going there Masuka. Who would ever suspect the dead person was responsible for so much trouble."
"It was a pretty brilliant idea. With me out of your sights, it was easier to sneak through your system with codes that didn't look foreign."
"Yeah it was a pretty good idea", Angel complemented her. "The question is, who's idea was it, and why did you choose to go along with it?"
"My employer has his own reasons", Masuka told him. "My reasons however, are a little different. This world makes different decisions, and they choose different paths. The path I chose is one that can open many paths for others."
"What kinda path have you opened up for others", Angel questioned.
"A path that gives you the chance to be more than what we believe we're limited to. From government, to thinking, to even the path of evolution. We've opened up all these other paths. Just look at the path you've taken. Don't you wish there was another path to choose from?"
Angel paused before answering her question.
"I didn't need another path, because I got a second chance to continue the path I chose."
Angel fired his rifle at Masuka. The bullet however was countered by Masuka's energy field. In the end, the shot wasn't meant to kill, it was meant to distract. Angel rushed to an unconscious Keitaro. Unknown to anyone else in the world, Angel filled his hand with a white electrical current. He tapped his palm against Keitaro's pocket, literally placing the electricity in Keitaro's pocket. It seemed all for nothing as Masuka tackled Angel into a wall.
"You should have stayed in your perch Angel", Masuka warned him. "There's no use for a soldier that can't fight in close combat."
Masuka said as she squeezed Angel's throat.
Angel gagged, "You're right...Masuka...But there's a time, in ever man's life...When he must...Take a stand...Against people like you!"
Angel lifted his arm, and yanked off the silver cross that dangled around his neck. There was a slight pause, then it began. A white ray of electricity surrounded his body that was brighter than any search light.
The light caught the attention of Naru as she peered in through the hole in the wall. It was too bright to see what was going on exactly, but she heard Masuka cry in pain as the electricity touched her arm. It was clear that Angel's power was harmful to her. Taking advantage of the situation, Angel placed three punches and an uppercut to Masuka's body, sending her across the room. Masuka squinted as she tried to look at Angel.
The light was getting brighter and brighter, almost unbearable to the naked eye. Angel's back gathered most of the voltage. The energy formed into two white angel wings made of pure electricity. The wings flapped as he readied a final attack.
"Masuka", Said Angel, "You chose the wrong path!"
Angel took flight towards Masuka as he gathered as much electricity as he could into a single punch. As it made impact, the eruption exploded into an overwhelmingly bright aura. Nothing could be seen for the next minute and a half. The electricity soon died down. Falling almost in slow motion, was Angel's cross. The metal clanked onto the broken floor before disappearing to dust in the wind.
"Well, now that was a close one", A menacing voice said as they stepped on the dissolved cross.
"It sure took you both long enough", Masuka commented as she shakily stood up.
"Hey you weren't the one takin on all that electricity", Neon said as he shook his hands free of the pain.
"His electricity rivaled mine in that form", Zeus said looking at his palms.
They were slightly singed from the power of Angel's blow. However, that didn't stop him from picking up an unconscious Draconian and Viperous. Neon picked up Keitaro's wounded body as he followed the others. Once outside, he noticed Naru passed out along the path.
"Hey Masuka, what do you want to do with this one", Neon asked.
"Leave her", Masuka ordered. "She is of no use to us."
Not caring about Naru's well-being, Neon readjust the way he carried out Keitaro. They never noticed how close Keitaro's hand came to touching Naru's at that time. As close as it was, the gap only got bigger as the separated.
Wow, I can't believe I had time to post up another chapter in the same day! Everyone, this officially makes chapter fifty of "Love Hina: A Different Path"! I want to thank everyone for supporting this fic, especially "Samhan". If it wasn't for all of you, I would have given up on this fic a long time ago. (Round of applause for all of you) With this chapter, it tells who exactly the masked woman was. Some might have already guessed who it was, but I hope I still surprised some people. This was a tough one to write for me, since I get pretty attached to my OC's. I used a bleach reference when Naru saw Keitaro in his demon form, to the time Orihime saw Ichigo in Hollow Form when he fought Grimmjow. So many more theories as to what will happen next. I'll write them out if you all comment, like, fav, etc. Till the next update!