Chapter 23: The Final Match: Tony vs. Shin!

Yo! I do, in fact, love the old funi dub XD I loved putting motivational Tony in XD Sir One, Sonic's the name and speed's my game! Wait... No, the first isn't true, but still! Just because I update faster then you can review doesn't mean you shouldn't review anyway! Gotta read faster, faster, faster faster Sir One! Glad I inspire, that's an incredible compliment! And Edge, I have absolutely no problem with you referencing my story, references like that are probably the only type of compliment I hold higher than hearing I motivated someone to write! Considering other writers motivated me to start, it's amazing to hear that I'm doing the same. So thanks everyone for the high praise! It's things like that that allowed me to update this quickly! Hope you enjoy!

Meeting up

As the three groups converged at the entrance, they all greeted each other.

"Hey guys!" Konata shouted with a smile.

"Hey girls, hey Otō-" Masutā started. He was silenced quickly by a look from Tony.

I'm still angry at you so shut up! It basically said, fury apparent in his glare. It didn't surprise Masutā, but it did catch him off guard with how violent his little brother could make a simple look without changing it's appearance. What did surprise Masutā, however, was that Tsukasa, who had been looking at Tony, was suddenly unsettled herself. It was almost as if she understood.

Otōto,I'm sorry but- Masutā tried to apologize. It was met with nothing but hostility.

Don't. Tony looked back. Masutā realized that he needed to leave Tony alone for a little bit. He sighed.

"Kan-kun!" Tsukasa shouted.

"Hm?" Tony was taken from his staring contest.

"The match!" She reminded. "Good luck Kan-kun!" She shouted as Tony turned.

"Dang, of course! Thanks Tsukasa!" Tony ran in.

"Name?"

"Ryū Tora no Kami."

"Opponent?"

"Shin."

"Correct. Good luck Ryū, I know you can win!" The person reassured him.

"Thanks." Tony smiled. He walked in to hear Akira already announcing their match.

"This is it! The moment you've all been waiting for! The fight between Ryū Tora no Kami and Shin! This promises to be an epic match, each fight these two have been in has been mostly avalanche victories! So, what happens when two unstoppable forces collide? Let's find out!" She announced as the two entered the arena.

The Final Match!

Tony walked into the ring to face his final opponent. He saw Shin with his usual smirk, face wicked.

So, I'm finally going to fight Shin, eh? I wonder what's up... Tony thought.

"Let's make this an interesting match why don't we Tony?" Shin smiled.

"Some friends call me Tony, but I don't know you and you're not my friend." Tony said, slightly uneasy that this man knew his name.

"Very well then Kanpeki. Still, let's have some fun." Shin smiled. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready." Man, with everyone else, I had some sort of idea of their strength. This guy though... He scored a 495 and looked like he had just tapped it. I have no idea of his capabilities, he scored almost as high as I did. Only off by 5 points... Tony thought. "So then. Tell me how you know my name." Tony demanded.

"I know many things." Shin said. "You're absolutely sure that you are ready? If you need more time, you need only ask. I won't fight you unless you're at 100%."

"I'll find out. And yes, I'm completely ready. Honorable of you to ask."

"You will."

"Are the fighters ready?" Akira shouted.

"Ready!" They both shouted.

"Fight!" She ran out of the pit. Tony ran up and threw a punch, Shin catching it without apparent effort. Shin himself punched at Tony, who caught it. Tony kicked into Shin's stomach, throwing him across the pit. Shin landed on his feet, looking none the worse.

"You're resilient." Tony commented.

"You don't know the half of it." Shin replied.

"Then this will be interesting."

"I would hope." Shin said, starting the combat this time. He dashed up and kicked at Tony, who ducked under it.

"Shoryuken!" Tony sent an upper cut past Shin's leg. However, Shin saw it and used the one leg still on the ground to propel him through the air, dodging Tony's strike. Tony launched towards where he knew Shin would land and started to punch with a considerable amount of his strength. He went so that he would get there the second Shin landed. Shin set foot on the ground to see Tony slightly more than an inch away and speeding closer. Shin suddenly turned out of the way, faster than anything Tony had seen in the tournament thus far. Tony's momentum kept him shooting past as he almost fell flat on his face. Anyone watching at home would see Dan Forden come from the lower-right corner of the screen.

"Toasty!" He shouted.

"Whoa. You're fast." Tony commented as he barely managed to keep vertical.

"I know. Let's just say I'm blessed." Shin smirked.

"Hmm..." Does he have some covenant with a god? He's not even winded. Tony observed.

Shin ran faster than Tony could react and punched him in the face, sending him crashing into a wall. Tony felt his jaw, it almost feeling broken. From one punch? Tony thought in wonder. Alright then! He threw himself off the wall and attacked Shin, landing a kick and leaving a nice bruise on Shin's arm, Shin having attempted to block it. Tony used the sudden stop to propel his other leg into Shin's head, sending him several feet away. Shin, however, got back up as if he had merely tripped.

"Let's stop kidding around. I know you haven't been trying your best and you know that I haven't been trying mine." Shin shouted.

Damn, seen through that easily, eh? Well then... Tony figured he would end up having to try his best. "Very well." Tony shouted back. He clapped his hands together. Shin smiled and jumped backwards, his feet hitting the wall behind the crowd.. Holy crap, that was far, maybe a hundred yards or so... He's got strength, speed, an enormous energy reserve... Crazy...

"Let's go!" Shin shouted, pushing off the wall and speeding to Tony, fist drawn back.

Is he crazy? If he were to miss, his fist would go right into the ground! Tony thought. "Sorry! But I intend to win this fight!" He shouted. Hachiman! He shouted in his mind as Shin's punch landed. Dust rose dramatically.

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Back to the fight

As the dust settled, Shin looked to the ground where his fist had hit. It was broken and crushed.

"He's gone?" He muttered in surprise. He hadn't seen where his opponent had gone.

"You're slow!" Tony shouted as he appeared behind Shin, landing a strong kick to Shin's back. Shin was sent across the arena, barely righting himself before he hit a wall.

"What's this?" Shin landed on the ground, coughing a couple times.

"You should be proud of yourself, only my brother has pushed me this far in battle before." Tony said, his voice changed. Shin seemed more surprised then anything. Tony was surprised to see the voice change didn't seem to effect him at all.

I hadn't expected this much of an increase in his abilities. I must see how far he can take this... Shin reasoned. He smiled. Tony rushed and punched at Shin, Shin catching it again. This time, however, Tony spun in the air and disappeared. Shin spun around and threw up an arm to catch Tony's kick, the latter disappearing again. He came back into vision only long enough to strike Shin in the stomach before vanishing again. He reappeared several feet away, slightly out of breath but otherwise fine. "You're pretty fast."

"You like that one, huh? I call it Flash Step." Tony smirked.

"I know. It's one of my favorite techniques." Shin commented.

"Your favorites...?" Tony muttered in surprise. Shin disappeared, much to the surprise of Tony as he took a punch in the face strong enough that there was momentum to bounce off of the ground and back onto his feet again. This changes things!

"How long will you last?" Shin smirked as he vanished. Tony growled as he disappeared along with Shin this time as exclamations escaped the entire crowd other than the four girls and boy who knew Tony. There was a loud shock wave as Tony and Shin appeared again, only for a second as two fists collided. Then they were gone again. This type of fighting continued for a minute until, abruptly, Tony caught another punch in the face while the two were in the air, sending him into the ground, the ground crushing around him. Shin landed and dashed towards Tony as he got up. Seeing Shin almost on him, he threw a desperate punch that sent Shin into the group of empty seats.

"Did I get him?" Tony wondered aloud. Shin stood and noticed some of the weapons near him that Akira had thrown into the ring in the previous matches. He picked up a wide rapier and jumped, his feet touching the ceiling. He pushed off towards Tony before he could dodge. By nothing but instinct, Tony caught the metal weapon thrust at his heart. The momentum of Shin's speed, however, sent him crashing back into the ground. Tony was barely able to keep hold of it as Shin pushed.

"Not good!" Tony shouted as his hand quaked.

"Kid! Ouji!" Masutā shouted in alarm.

"I know!" Tony shouted back as he started to take a deep breath, filling his lungs to complete capacity with air.

"Cover you ears!" Masutā shouted to the girls.

"What?" Kagami asked, her attention attempting to not waver from the fight.

Ultra Sonic Level REACHED!

"COVER YOUR EARS!" He yelled. They covered them just in time.

"HOWLING VOICE!" Tony let loose a powerful roar that shook the very foundation of the building itself. The sheer volume was overwhelming, seemingly strong enough to throw a car. And that's from the girls' point of view from more than ten yards away and covered ears. Shin's face was contorted in pain as he kept pushing. As his ears started bleeding, his strength faltered for an instant. Tony saw his opportunity and kicked Shin away. Shin landed ten feet away, merely laying there.

"He got me." Shin sighed, disappointed at being repelled. Not surprised, just disappointed. Tony got up slowly, breathing heavily. His vision blurred slightly for a second as the effects of Hachiman started to take their toll. He started into a coughing fit, covering his mouth with his hand. When he drew his hand away, he saw what he had feared covered and was dripping from his hand. Blood.

"After that, you shouldn't be able to move..." Tony commented to no one in particular, his voice fluctuating between Hachiman and regular. Needless to say he was caught off guard when Shin started to get up. By this time, Shin was breathing heavily, though not as heavily as Tony.

"It's over." Shin shouted as he jumped in the air again and landed on the still-stunned Tony, one arm on his throat, the other in his stomach. As they landed in the ground, Tony coughed up blood again. "So. Is this your limit?" Shin asked, pushing harder as Tony's consciousness flickered. "It would seem you aren't strong enough."

"What.. do you.." Tony tried to ask.

"I'm willing to bet your friends will suffer the same fate as that other one, what with your inability to protect them." Shin said. Tony perked up instantly.

"What are you..." Tony barely managed to whisper.

"What was her name? Sarnia?" Shin shouted mockingly. Tony's eyes flared in intense rage. The sheer hatred emanating from him was palpable. Shin brought his face closer and started whispering. "Ah yes, her. Maybe I'll send little Tsukasa to meet her in the afterlife as well. I'll make sure her's is an especially long and painful dea-"

"... I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Tony screamed, dazing Shin from the sheer volume of his voice. Tony threw a punch that had Shin crashing through the roof. He fell back through the hole made by Recoome's Eraser Gun and landed, his mouth bloody. He got up to see Tony standing on nothing but pure rage, trembling in fury. His voice was almost demonic, sounding as if it were going to attack Shin itself. "Welcome to the end of your life. And I promise it will hurt." Tony said as he disappeared. Shin's eyes widened as he couldn't follow Tony's movements. All the sudden, there was a sharp pain in his right arm as he was sent into a wall. He landed back on his feet to see nothing. Shin felt his arm to find it was completely numb. Shin looked around, but didn't wait for more then an instant before he took a heavy blow to the stomach. An uppercut sent him through the air, his jaw in searing pain. As he neared the ceiling again, he received a kick in the back, Tony pinballing from the ground to the ceiling and back again. It was more than a minute of this, Shin taking hard hits every second or so. Tony landed and slid a few feet, coughing up blood, completely out of energy. He has insulted my friends! Insulted my past! THREATENED TSUKASA! He screamed in his head, rage pouring through his veins and giving him strength. Shin was, at the moment, falling through the air. As he was about to land, Tony yelled "Fist of the Fighting God!" as Tony rushed up with all his remaining strength in his right arm. Shin hit the ground and bounced just the right distance up to catch Tony's power-punch. Tony kept with him until he was smashed into the wall that had the seats Shin had been thrown into earlier, the, fortunately empty, stone seats behind it also being caught in the intense blow and crumbling on top of Shin. Tony jumped back afterwards.

"Done..." Tony gasped for air as he fell to his hands and knees, completely drained of energy. Shin was silent. "It's finally over..."

"Winner! Ryū Tora no Kami!" Akira shouted as a team ran over to where Shin laid. Before they could arrive, however, Shin pushed his way out. Tony saw this and blinked several times, dumbfounded.

"Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me! You're still alive?" Tony yelled. The girls and Masutā's jaw dropped.

"He's... still alive..." Konata mumbled.

"How?" Kagami asked Masutā, hoping for an answer. Masutā shook his head.

"He's... incredibly tough." Masutā mumbled.

"Do... Do you want to continue?" Akira asked.

"No. I am disqualified for using a weapon, am I not?" Shin asked. "It was hardly an honorable thing to do."

"Oh-Okay... Then the fight goes to Ryū Tora no Kami..." Akira said. Tony collapsed, laughing as a medical team rushed over to him. Masutā and Tsukasa both jumped the wall, however Masutā had to catch Tsukasa as she would most likely have broken something from the fall otherwise. She hadn't thought that through. Kagami, Konata, and Miyuki all started running to meet him. Tsukasa ran over to Tony, but Masutā walked over to Shin.

"Hey. What's your real name?" Masutā asked. "And how the hell are you so strong?"

"All in good time Masutā. I'll explain it all later. By the way, I'll be visiting Kanpeki once more." Shin said calmly, walking out of the pit.

He walked out too smoothly. Something's off about him. I need to find out what. As for now... Masutā said as he looked over to his brother. Tsukasa was crying by Tony's side as the medics brought over a stretcher. She got up and walked with the medics as they started to leave with Tony. He was muttering something that only Masutā heard as they were walking.

"I got him bro. I got the money. I... can buy... the neck-..." He muttered before losing consciousness. Masutā closed his eyes.

That's what all this was about... The hospital bill will probably be more then that damn necklace... Masutā sighed as the other girls ran in.

"Is he okay?" Konata shouted. Masutā shook his head.

"Nothing a visit to the hospital won't fix." Hopefully. Masutā added in his mind. He looked over to see how Tsukasa was holding up, but she was gone, along with Tony and the medical team. Whoa, we better move! He thought. "Let's go!" He shouted, eliciting a response to the affirmative from the girls. They started running towards the exit. As they ran, Kagami's and Tsukasa's phone started ringing. They answered to hear Matsuri and Inori's voice.

"Tsukasa, is Tony okay?" Inori's panicked voice came over Tsukasa's phone.

"He's really hurt! The doctors say they can't be sure about anything until they get him to Umehara Hospital!" Tsukasa said as the ambulance she was currently in raced down the road. "I have to get off the phone, they said I shouldn't be on it when I'm in the ambulance!"

"Okay, bye Tsukasa!" Inori shouted. She looked over to Matsuri see she hadn't had any luck either.

"All I figured out is that Kagami and the others aren't in the ambulance, they must have gotten left behind. Only Tsukasa made it." Matsuri said.

"Mom, let's go pick them up and get them to the hospital!" Inori shouted, but she saw Miki already had the keys and was headed to the door.

"Way ahead of you!" She shouted back, and they were out the door, leaving Tadao in his room where he had been the entire day and night.

Back to the group

Masutā and the others got out of the area after a few minutes to find the street vacant of any medical vehicles.

"Damn! I guess they're gone already." Masutā punched his hand. Kagami and Miyuki were slightly out of breath already, and Masutā knew they couldn't take a run to the hospital. Okay, so how do we figure out which hospital they're at and how do we get there... He started racking his brain. After about a minute, they heard a beep. They all looked into the road to see a car speeding down the road, the Hiiragi women in it.

"Hey! Hop in!" Matsuri shouted out the window as the car came to a screeching halt.

That works... Masutā thought, smiling at the convenient ride as the group piled into the car. It was cramped, but they fit uncomfortably. "How do you know which hospital they're at?" He asked.

"I called Tsukasa and she told me." Inori said. "We're going to Umehara Hospital."

"Same place as Tsukasa..." Kagami mentioned.

"Yeah." Konata said. They arrived and the group and Hiiragi's piled out of the car and ran in.

"Hey, it's you!" Kagami shouted as she saw that the desk clerk was the same as when Tsukasa was brought to the hospital.

"Oh yes, I remember you. You've come to see your loud, scary friend I assume?" She asked.

"You assume correctly, can you tell us where he is?" Kagami asked.

"He's being examined by the doctors, so unfortunately he's not allowed visitors." The lady said. Kagami looked around.

"Where's my sister? If he isn't allowed visitors, she must be waiting somewhere, right?" Kagami asked.

"Well, we sometimes allow spouses in so they can see their spouses as soon as they wake up. I understand now why he was so concerned to see her as soon as possible last time." The woman said.

Spouse? Did Tsukasa say she was Tony's wife? Kagami giggled in her head. "Do you allow relatives and in-laws?" Kagami asked.

"I would, but two extra people were-"

"Wait, two? Who else is here?" Kagami asked.

"A bald man came in before your friend arrived and said he was waiting for him." The woman explained.

"And how did HE get in?" Kagami asked.

"He was... very convincing." The woman got a glazed look in her eye for an instant before returning to her more professional mood. "Anyway, if you would like to wait over in those seats, I'll inform you the minute your friend is permitted to see friends." The woman said, pointing to a group of seats at the wall. Kagami sighed. "Don't worry, it shouldn't be very long before he's ready, maybe ten minutes or so." The woman reassured them. They all went and took a seat.

"So you seemed to do all the talking, huh Kagamin?" Konata said as they sat down.

"Yeah, so what?" Kagami asked.

"I dunno, it just seemed like you got all the lines in that little dialogue..." Konata commented.

"Stop talking like this is some kind of story!" Kagami shouted.

"How the hell did Shin make it here before even the ambulance after that fight?" Masutā wondered aloud. Everyone present seemed to ponder the question. "I mean, I doubt even Otōto could get here that fast, even at full power." He said. They remained wondering exactly how the man had accomplished such a feat. Apparently, they were thinking a while.

"Hello? You're friend is ready. For convenience's sake, he's in the same room as your sister was." The woman called from the desk.

"Oh, thank you!" Kagami shouted. They all walked to the room and saw Shin leaning cross-armed on a wall outside the room. "How did you get here?" Kagami asked.

"I'm very fast." Shin said.

"For that matter, how the hell are you even still alive?" Kagami asked.

"I'll explain later." Shin waved them off dismissively. "For now, I know you want to go see him."

"Actually, I think I'll stay out here. I'd like to talk with Shin." Masutā said, staring at Shin.

"Yes. I think that would be fine." Shin agreed, looking at Masutā. "But the rest of you want to go see him."

"... Yeah, that's true." Kagami stared at him as they all entered the room. Tony was in a fullbody cast with Tsukasa by his side in a chair.

"Hey guys..." Tony tried to wave. He winced in pain.

"Don't move!" The doctor shouted at him.

"How is he doc?" Konata asked.

"He has multiple fractures and damage all over his body. Most of his muscles are torn and many of his bones are either splintered or broken from the massive exertion. A god would be hard-pressed to heal this boy." The balding doctor said.

"Wait, so he's not going to recover?" Konata asked, fear in her voice.

"He will, but it will be a long and painful recovery. Plus, he will more than likely never be as strong as he once was." The doctor sighed.

"But it was just one fight!" Konata protested.

"This isn't some crappy story where the writer can just pull some divine ass-pull and save the boy, there are consequences to exerting the human body that much! He'll be lucky if he can ever move without assistance again!" The doctor shouted. He realized he had let himself get out of control and calmed down.

"..." Tsukasa had remained silent the entire time. Kan-kun, were you really that mad at him for insulting her? She wondered sorrowfully. She was about to give up any chance to ever be with the boy. It almost made her cry.

"The worst injuries by far are in his hands. It was as if he punched a steel wall at extreme speeds!" The doctor said. Tony chuckled a bit.

"Yeah, true enough. Shin's chest was probably the hardest thing I've ever hit. And I've punched the ground before." Tony said, cracking a smile through his pain.

"Speaking of which, he's outside." Kagami said.

"He is?" Tony asked, a bewildered look on his face.

"Yeah." Konata confirmed.

"I inspected him over when he came in and told me he had just been in a fight. He seemed almost none the worse for wear." The doctor said. Tony blinked a couple times and burst into laughter.

"What the hell is he?" He laughed, causing him a bit of pain. "Ow! Ow! Ow. Hurts to laugh." Tony quieted down.

"I told you not to move! That includes keeping the talking to a minimum!" The doctor shouted.

"What's your name doc?" Tony asked.

"Doctor Zimmerman, why?" The man asked.

"No reason, you just look like someone from an American T.V. show that ended some years ago is all." Tony commented.

"Well no matter who I look like, you are still supposed to remain immobile." The doctor reiterated, Tony's attempt to distract him failing. "Your friends may stay, just don't exert yourself anymore then is necessary."

"Gotcha Doc, thanks!" Tony smiled. The doctor left. "Sit! Sit!" Tony insisted. He would have gestured, but such a feat was beyond him at the moment.

"Tony, we need to talk." Kagami said sternly. Tony gulped.

"Regarding?" He asked.

"About Sarnia." Kagami said. Tsukasa's eyes widened a bit. "You've gotta tell us Tony, you got seriously hurt today and she keeps coming up! Please... Tell us your story..." Kagami pleaded.

"..." Tony seemed to be contemplating all that had happened. He sighed. "She was my first love."

First? "Tell us about it." Kagami leaned in a bit.

The Past

"Me and Sarnia... We were inseparable. I dare say that she was probably the most important thing in my life back then... If she had said she truly wanted me to die, I would have slit my throat the next instant." Tony recalled.

"Isn't that a bit much? I mean, you were still really young, you know?" Kagami commented. "I mean, you couldn't have really been in love, could you?"

"I think you've underestimated this girl's importance to me. I had no social life. My parents, though nice in life, died. My brother was ruthless. The only time I ever felt truly happy or at peace after my parents died was with her. Were we in love? It doesn't matter. She meant the world to me. Besides, it's not like we had raging hormones or anything..." Tony snickered sadly. Tsukasa could already feel herself tearing up. "If you're truly interested in my story, you should listen from the beginning at least."

"That's what I was hoping for." Kagami smiled. Konata recognized it as her smile that was supposed to tell the person she was completely honest and pure. It usually had the additional effect of making Konata blush.

"It was about a year before I met Sarnia. My brother's training was hell, my school life was terrible and my parents were my only sanctuary. They were always there when I needed something, whether it be protection or something as simple as a hug. They were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Every day when I left for school, I would say "I love you! Be safe!" and then I would leave. One day while I was at school, the other kids were being especially cruel. They tried to not let me know what they said, but I could hear. Kanpeki, the weird kid. Kanpeki, the kid with no friends. Kanpeki, the freak. I walked home that day on the verge of tears. I arrived back home to see police cars. There was a man being taken out of the house, thoroughly beaten. He had red eyes, I assumed the beating had caused his eyes to become bloodshot. The police said he had broken in to steal things. I walked in my house to see Masuta. He looked so sad..." Tony stopped for a minute, his voice cracking. He took a deep breath before continuing. "He said 'I'm sorry Ototo... I wasn't there.' and I got scared... I looked around to see things broken... My parents laid on the floor... Dead..." Tony stopped again, tears gathering in his eyes. "The one day I didn't tell them I loved them... For them to be safe..." Tony felt a tear escape his eye. "After then, my life became a spiraling torrent of pain and misery. My brother was relentless. I know he was only trying to help, but it was torture. The entire school had something new to talk about now. 'Hey Kanpeki, I'm sorry to hear about your parents.' The teachers would say. 'I guess that makes you an orphan now!' the kids would laugh. I had a new title. Kanpeki, the orphan. The teachers tried to stop it, but the kids found no end to the entertainment they garnered from their new name. They all were constantly reminding me of what happened, no matter what. They felt it necessary to make me relive that day as I slept every night. I hated it. I hated it so much..." Tony trailed off, crying. The four girls, meanwhile, had followed suit and were all crying.

He hasn't even gotten to her yet! Kagami thought in a panic, hoping there wasn't too much. She might end up breaking down if there was.

"My life was utter misery for the next year. The other students loved teasing me about my parents, or lack there of. Big bro didn't help with his slaughter that he called training. Quite frankly, life sucked. Then Sarnia came. She found some way to break me from my shell and show me the first bit of kindness not from my parents in my life. No matter what happened, she was there." Tony smiled as he recalled her.

"Tell us about her..." Kagami urged.

"That girl was something else. There was only one school in our area, maybe within about a hundred mile radius. She never attended. Yet, she seemed to know everything there was to know about everything. Maybe it was just because I didn't know as much as I do now, but still." Tony laughed.

"Well maybe her parents taught her?" Kagami suggested.

"Nah. She was as much an orphan as I was. Maybe that's how she knew how to get to me. She had no siblings. Hell, I didn't even know where she lived, she would never let me see. I kept asking and asking, but she refused to tell me!" Tony laughed as he recalled the memories.

"What did she look like?" Konata asked, this having been cut out because the mall had closed.

"You really wanna know?" Tony asked with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah!" Konata urged.

"Roses had fist fights to see who could smell like her. When she laughed, three nightingales went out of the business. Her wit was sharp enough to shave with. As for looks, she was beautiful. At least in my eyes. Her hair was a crazy color, much like all of yours. If I remember correctly, it was salmon with just a touch of burgendy. That's testament to how much I liked her that I don't mind using the word "Burgendy" like that." Tony laughed. "Maybe it's just a little obsession, but she musta been pretty to other's too."

"Hmmmm... How were..." Konata tried to think of a way to phrase her question. Tony sighed.

"Her's were probably still bigger than yours." Tony said, easily reading what she was trying to say. Konata got a frustrated look.

"Well, at least mine are a status symbol..." Konata pouted.

"Hehe, there's really only one couple I've seen that would probably be harder to split up forever then me and her. And that's slightly debatable." Tony said as his eyes flickered between Konata and Kagami. Miyuki giggled a little.

"So... What happened?" Kagami asked reluctantly. This was turning out like one of her novels, and she didn't think she would like the ending.

"... One day I decided to skip school for the day and hang out with her. She told me not to. Said my education was important. I felt like she was my mother for a minute..." Tony chuckled sadly. "I dismissed it and cut class anyway. I convinced her to go to the movies. It took half an hour, but I convinced her... We went and I paid for our tickets. As we walked through the snack line, a masked man walked in... With red eyes..." Tony stopped. His throat was closing itself in from emotion. Tsukasa put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to her as she smiled. He took another deep breath."He walked in and told the lady behind the counter that he wanted all the money in the theater. He said he would kill people if she resisted at all. To prove his point..." He took a deep breath to regain his composure. It had been easier when he was only talking to Tsukasa, if only infinitesimally. "He shot Sarnia... She died there and it's all my fault." Tony cried, tears flowing freely from his face.

"You can't blame yourself for that! You didn't hold the gun and you didn't pull the trigger!" Kagami reasoned with him, trying in any way to make him feel better.

"Can't you see? She begged me not to skip school! I didn't listen! She didn't want to go to the movies! I didn't listen! If it hadn't been for me, she would have never been there! She... might still be alive today..." Tony yelled, making no visible resistance to his sorrow or tears. He knew there was no point. None of the girls had been able to maintain an iota of their own composure, each crying at the story.

"That's... so sad... I can't believe you had to live with all that..." Kagami cried.

"Mehe... and that's not even the end..." Tony muttered with closed eyes.

There's more? How could he have... Kagami thought in disbelief. He seemed to have gone through so much already.

"A part my brother doesn't know. I almost killed myself because of all that. I had finally acquired some shred of security... and it was taken. I was ready to end it. I would have too, but something stopped me." Tony said.

"What happened?" Konata said.

"I did end up cutting myself when I knew no one would find me. It was a massive slash to my wrist. I blacked out from blood loss, I'm guessing. As my vision faded, I heard her. She looked on me bit sadly and simply said three words, though it may have been three worlds of importance to me." Tony sighed.

"What did she say?" Kagami asked.

"'Let it be.' I woke up to see-" Tony paused here to show them his wrist, which had a large scar on it. "-my wrist was healed. I was still in the same place I blacked out at, but I didn't feel the effects of blood loss anymore. It was then I made a decision. I would become stronger. I made Masutā intensify my training. I swore an oath that I would get strong enough to protect those dearest to me. And it was years before I met anyone who fit that category." Tony finished. He turned to the girls. "Well. Now you know my story. What did you think?" Tony asked them. The puddle of tears under each of them was testament enough to their feelings on the subject. Kagami started thinking fiercely about everything Tony had said. She came to a powerful realization.

"Hey guys... I wanna talk to Tony." Kagami said. "Ya know, alone."

"Why?" Konata asked.

"Don't worry about it Konata, I just wanted to ask him something personal." Kagami said.

"Well, okay. I'll cya then..." Konata and the other girls walked out.

"What's up Kagami?" Tony asked as soon as the girls had left.

"Sarnia... Is she why you've refused to date Tsukasa?" Kagami asked. Tony nodded with a sigh, looking sad. "Ah... Then... you're worried about betraying her, aren't you?" Kagami asked. Tony sighed again as he nodded. "I don't think that's possible..." Kagami said. That comment caused Tony to give a look of confusion.

"And... how do you figure that?" He asked.

"You did love that girl, that's obvious, but... She seemed more of a motherly character to you, you even commented on how she felt like your mother at times. She loved you and cared for you like a mother would. She listened to your problem and helped you through them, like a mother would. She was concerned for your future-"

"Like a mother would be..." Tony smiled.

"Exactly. You two loved each other, yes, but I don't think it was in a way that dating Tsukasa could count as betraying Sarnia..." Kagami said with a smile.

"You think so?" Tony asked, his smile growing.

"...Yes. Yes I do." Kagami said.

"Well... You've certainly given me something to think about Kagami." Tony said. Maybe... I don't know. Maybe I can give a relationship with Tsukasa a chance. Tony thought.

"I'm glad. I'm looking forward to what you decide." Kagami smiled, practically knowing what Tony had been thinking.

"Me too.." First I've gotta get her to fall for me though... Perhaps she would like that amulet... Tony thought with a smile. Before any more could be said, there came a knock at the door. "Come in!" Tony shouted, but winced in pain. Shin entered.

Luckier Channel

"Luckier~! Channel~!" Akira shouted. "Hiya luckies! I'm Akira Kogami, your navigator!"

"And I'm Minoru Shiraishi, the assistant!"

"It looks like Kan-chan is in a lot of trouble! I hope he's going to be okay..." Akira said in a worried voice.

"I'm sure he'll be okay. More importantly, what does Shin want?" Minoru asked.

"I dunno... This is getting me all nervous and jumpy!" Akira shouted.

*Music Tone*

"I guess that's all the time we have for today! I'll see all of you next time! Bye-nii~!"

"..."

"I'm actually a little worried about him... I hope he gets better soon..."

"Don't worry Akira, I'm sure he'll be okay."

"I hope so."

*End*

Aftersection

I have the next 2K words typed out. Just putting it out there. In other words, I'll probably have the next chapter pretty soon. I think. It all depends on what happens in the next chapter, I think I've got a pretty good idea though! Please tell me what you think about this chapter and I'll see you all next time!