SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 3 out, this is Chapter 4 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.
Chapter 4: Echo of the Heart! The Cry of Haruto!
"I wonder where Haruto is." Koga sighed as he and Subaru walked through the streets of Japan.
"You're telling me you don't know where he is?" the younger Steel Saint whined.
"I'm sure he's in Japan." Koga was confident. "What's gotten into you?" he demanded, Subaru kicking him to the ground.
"Idiocy has its limits!" Subaru snapped. "We are looking for him with no information other than his name? Haruto?" he spotted the poster on the wall. "Is that the Haruto you're looking for?"
"Don't even bother." Kikyo voiced, stepping out from the shadows. "That dumbass won't budge."
"Wait, who are you?" Koga asked, both Saints went into defensive mode.
"A friend." Kikyo replied. "And hopefully a comrade-in-arms. Look, I can show you where he is if you two think you can convince that idiot. We're here." She announced, stopping before the performance area.
"See?" Kikyo rolled her eyes. "What did I tell you?"
"What should we do, Koga?" Subaru asked, the pair having been rejected by the Wolf Saint. "Do we give up and leave?"
"We risked our lives!" Koga snapped. "To protect the love and peace on Earth!"
"You'd better stop shouting." Kikyo advised, the passers-by stopping in their tracks to look at them.
"Out voice can't reach any one, can it?" Koga sighed. "We fight without anyone knowing. And then disappear into history."
"Let's get going." Koga walked off, having arrived at the concert venue the next day. "Haruto has his own way of living. Pallasites!" he stopped, the troop of Pallasites appearing before them.
"Why are they here?" Kikyo frowned.
"Will we fight?" Subaru grinned.
"No choice then." Kikyo shrugged. "Vesta Guardian Power!" her winged star-shaped transformation talisman started burning ruby red and the priestess transformed into her Goddess Guardian form in an inferno wall, just as the two Saints donned on their Cloths. "Burning Arrow!" she released a wave of fiery arrows at the Pallasite grunts surrounding the group, Koga and Subaru taking out the others in a spilt second.
"No way!" in the trees, Hati recognized his opponent. "Pegasus, the slayer of gods. I didn't think you were still here. Oh well, I'll kill him before defeating the wolf." Cornering the two Saints with his kunai circle, he knocked the two boys to the ground. Pulling out two kunai, he took out the pair before they could act.
Tossing an ofuda before her, Guardian Vesta posed with a fire arrow on her flame bow. "Vesta…" she pulled her bow taut. "Flame Bird!" she released the arrow, the flames engulfing the ofuda and the phoenix-shaped fire bird sped towards the Pallasite before he could do further damage.
"Why can't we hit him?" Subaru complained, Hati having dodged the attack.
"Looks like he's predicting our moves." Koga realized.
"That is my strength." Hati chuckled from the trees.
"But we will not lose to him." Guardian Vesta swore.
"He is weak." Subaru agreed. "We will not lose to him."
"Let's have some fun." Hati grinned.
"Flame…" a trail of fire swept before the Fire Guardian's gloved hand. "Wave!" she let loose the fiery wave, giving Koga and Subaru the opening they needed.
"No matter what you plan, the result will be the same." Hati grinned, dodging the fire arc and easily side-stepping Koga and Subaru's punches. "I don't need to open my eyes." He taunted. "My ears can hear any noise, no matter how small. I can hear. When you flex your muscles before an attack. Even the sound of your bloodstream. So, I can predict your movements through sound. What?" he mocked, slashing the two Saints. "Your heartbeat is increasing too." He jeered, taking out the pair simultaneously.
"Magma…" Guardian Vesta prepared to call out her next attack when Hati was before her in an instant. Since when… the Fire Guardian was shocked at the Pallasite's speed, Hati sending her flying off with a kick.
"After Koga… even Kikyo's Cosmo has disappeared." Haruto stopped in the middle of the performance. Kikyo, are you calling me to battle? He wondered, abandoning the stage and heading towards the battlefield. Are you saying you need my help?
"What?" Hati taunted the fallen trio, stepping on Guardian Vesta's brooch. "I can't hear you. It seems that Pegasus, killer of gods, is not as strong as they say. It's time to deliver the final blow and take the Fire Guardian's power to Pallas-sama. Finally, the arrival of the wolf?" he mused, hearing Haruto's footsteps. "You've got great moves even without your Cloth." He noted, Haruto grabbing the kunai in mid-air and went on the offensive. "Your blood pressure shows that you're impatient." He added, dodging the swipes. "Killing the wolf without his Cloth is no fun." He snorted, taking out the unarmed Wolf Saint. "So, will you put it on? 'Chrono Delayed'!"
"Thermal Barrier!" Guardian Vesta barely managed to summon her flame shield to block off the time-stopping attack. "Better late than never, huh?" she joked.
"What did you do?" Haruto glared, kneeling by her side.
"So, now are you in the mood to put on your Cloth and fight?" Hati jeered. "Or do I have to target your little girlfriend here?"
"Unforgiveable." Haruto hissed.
"Haruto's Cloth stone." Koga gaped at the shining crescent-shaped emerald earring. "Haruto's Cloth." He breathed, the Wolf Saint donning on his new Cloth.
"Interesting." Hati snorted. "You've finally decided to wear your Cloth."
"Wait!" Haruto barked, the pair taking the fight to the forest.
"It seems that your speed has increased greatly with your Cloth." Hati noted, blocking off Haruto's punches in mid-air.
"Rolling Stone!" Haruto released his rock spiral at Hati, having sent the Pallasite down with a punch to the cheek.
"Awesome." Subaru gawked.
"That will not be enough to stop me." Hati chuckled, dodging the flying rocks.
"He escaped this technique with only the sound?" Haruto gasped. "No," he corrected himself. "If I can seal his hearing…"
"How about I show you my special technique now?" Hati asked. "Bloody Rain!"
"Haruto, are you okay?" Koga asked, the Wolf Saint fell from the kunai rain.
"Koga, do you still have power to use your fist?" Haruto inquired. "I'm asking if you have to strength to stand up?"
"If you will stand up, so will we." Koga agreed.
"It isn't over yet." Subaru concurred.
"I'm still not out for the count yet." Guardian Vesta got back to her feet.
"I didn't think they could still rise." Hati admitted. "But…" he drew out two larger kunai.
"I'll seal his hearing." Haruto explained. "You finish him off at the moment."
"But how will you do that?" Koga wondered.
"He's coming." Guardian Vesta warned.
"Echo, my cry!" Haruto let loose a wolf howl.
"My ears!" Hati wailed. "That sound. That sound…"
"Now, Koga." Haruto gave the cue.
"Pegasus Ryusei Ken!" Koga released his attack.
"He stopped Pegasus Ryusei Ken with his bare hands?" Haruto was stunned when Rhea blocked the attack.
"You…" Hati was shocked at his rescuer. "Why would someone like you come here?"
"Is this the famous Pegasus Ryusei Ken?" Rhea wondered. "I am Rhea, Pallasite Second Class. I wanted to see your technique closely, Pegasus Koga, the slayer of gods. It would also be interesting to fight you here. But, out of respect for the Goddess Guardian, we'll stop for now. Until we meet again." He bade the group farewell, opening a portal under his feet and taking Hati with him.
"What's this?" Subaru snapped. "Running away? Come and face me!"
"Koga, who are they?" Haruto asked.
"They are Pallasites." Koga replied. "The new enemy of Athena."
"They're also the reason why I awoke as Guardian Vesta." The Fire Guardian added.
"Wait," Haruto looked at her. "So, they're the enemy Vesta warned you of."
"Yes." Guardian Vesta nodded. "Because a Goddess Guardian is needed to defeat another Goddess Guardian."
"Come on." Haruto voiced. "Where is Athena?"
"Will you join us?" Subaru beamed.
"My constellation is the wolf." Haruto replied. "I am Wolf Haruto. I am a Saint who protects Athena."
"So, how are you going to explain this to them?" Kikyo thumbed the stage behind them, having reversed her transformation in a flash of red.
"Good question." Koga agreed.
"I'll think of something." Haruto shrugged.
"Why doesn't that assure me any?" Kikyo sighed, already feeling a migraine coming on.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.
