Chapter 4: Saving Anna
A/N: Please leave behind a comment! I would love some feedback on how my story is going. Is it too slow? Too much dialogue?
Also, please keep reading! I just wrote a scene a few chapters ahead and IT'S REALLY GOOD. No, seriously, like I'm really proud of it. Now I just need to write everything from here to that scene. I'm super excited! Please follow this story! I promise it'll be amazing, at least that chapter will be. And I follow through on my promises ;).
Warnings: Fight scenes! Funnn… They're from K: Side: Red so if you've read that, some of this may seem familiar.
October 18, 2009
The Red Clan, including Hana Kugawa and the 2 Usagis proceeded through the hospital. The Usagis kept an eye on the Red Clan, wary of their destructive power. I'm really surprised the Gold King let us do what we want. I didn't know Dresden Rex is such a powerful name. If Dresden sent me, then there must have been a reason. Ha. And I doubt that old man was clueless. He knew what was going on, but was "strategically" waiting for a move from the Red Clan.
The group headed towards the elevators in the back that would head towards the basement. When the Usagis placed their PDAs on the elevator, it denied them access. Even with masks on, it was clear to see the confusion on the Usagis' faces. This building belongs to the Gold Clan and as such, the Usagis should have access to it. However, their security clearance was denied as if someone knew that those close to the Gold King would come snooping one of these days.
"It looks like Anna-chan's in the basement after all, but I guess it won't be easy to get down there, huh… I think it'd be quickest to have someone tell us how." Tatara's relaxed voice carried over the group.
Izumo went "hmmm" and looked up at the ceiling. Right then, behind him from the shadow of the open door, a blue clansman who had his saber out attacked Kusanagi by swinging his blade down at Kusanagi's back. He was fast. He closed the distance by leaping forward, and the saber's blade was about to rip open Kusanagi's shoulder.
Without even turning around, Kusanagi flicked the butt of his cigarette *cough* cancer stick *cough* behind him. The lit tobacco came up front of the blue clansman's eyes, and the next instant the tiny flame expanded and swelled, sending him flying backwards.
"Those stupid blues. Don't even know how to communicate properly with each other. They're supposed to let us right through! If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get!" Misaki twirled his bat across his shoulders, from one side to the other.
"Ma ma, Misaki-chan, calm down. We need to get to Anna-chan as fast as possible."
"Don't call me that, baka!"
A man in a white coat who appeared to be a researcher had been peeking out of the room and trying to see what was going on when his eyes met with Kusanagi's and his shoulders shook.
Kusanagi moved his long legs and went right into the middle of the room. The man in the white coat jumped and readied himself, but then took a combat stance upon seeing Kusanagi approach. It was obvious Kusanagi was going to torture this doctor for information. Not saying he doesn't deserve it, but let's make things a bit quicker now shall we.
I skipped into the room and called out, "Wait a minute Kusanagi-san."
"Hi mister, I know you're a doctor, but I also know what you've been doing to the Strains who are powerful. You guys have been collecting them for your own selfish reasons right? What's their names, Pyrotechnic, Senkouki, and Grasshopper right?" The doctor first relaxed when I came in, thinking that I'm a harmless girl. After hearing me reveal some of their secrets, he tensed up and starting shaking.
"N-no one is s-s-sup-posed to k-know about t-t-that! W-who a-are you p-people?"
I grinned, satisfied by his answer, "your worst nightmare." At that, he promptly fainted. Wow, men these days. So weak. "Usagi-san, please put some handcuffs on this guy. I don't know how much he participated in those inhumane experiments, but he knows something about it for sure. Here, we need his biometrics, put his fingerprint on here while I scan his ID."
The Usagi proceeded to handcuff the guy while I dug into his coat pocket and produced the ID tag. The Usagi propped the guy up and placed his finger on the scanner while I held the ID up. The elevators opened and the rest of us proceeded into the elevator.
The Usagi who handcuffed the doctor stayed on the ground floor with Rikio and Shohei in case more blues went rogue and came after them. Hana, Mikoto, Misaki, Tatara, Izumo, and 1 Usagi headed down into the basement.
Apparently the elevator didn't even go all the way down. The further down someone went, the more dangerous and powerful the Strains kept there are. In order to get to the basement level, one would have to switch to a different elevator in the basement and would need a higher level key.
At the moment, they would only be able to reach the floor with secret research rooms with a Level A clearance. It didn't appear as if the Usagi knew about these secret rooms with different clearances. Everyone in the elevator, except for Tatara and the King prepared for some opponents to be waiting on the other side.
Indeed, when the doors opened, there were a few Blues. But they didn't attack as the door opened.
One man in particular stood out as the leader of the Blues. His brown hair was slicked back and he looked to be in his thirties. He had quite a scary expression on his face as his eyes met Kusanagi's.
Kusanagi smiled bitterly, he spoke to the others without turning around, "Sorry.. Could ya go on ahead?"
"Kusanagi-san?" Tatara called out to him questioningly.
Kusanagi smiled and shrugged, "This guy's my buddy. I'm goin' to talk with him a little, so you guys go on and get Anna-chan."
The man in blue standing in front of them often frequented the bar, and it appeared as if those two were on good terms.
But that didn't stop either of them from holding back during their fight.
(Line Break)
The group continued down another elevator, but as the doors opened a loud thud was heard. The sound and blast from an explosion flowed in through the gap in the doors like a rapid river. Mikoto didn't tense up in the slightest, just simply canceled out the blast with the red aura that softly emitted from his body.
I felt the warmth comfortably slide over and engulf us in a protective barrier. It didn't seem to harm me or the red clansmen at all, but the Gold Usagi seemed uncomfortable and emitted his own Gold aura to shield himself from the blast.
As they stepped out of the elevator and onto the ground, a sharp blade whirled out of the lingering smoke from the blast. Misaki jumped in front of the group and blocked the blade with his baseball bat. Misaki attempted to grab the attacker, but the attacker was able to slip out of Misaki's grip somehow and jumped back a few feet. Misaki kept his eyes on the swordsman.
"That was close, that was close. I was about to get crushed to death all of a sudden" The attacker with a sword and movement like a grasshopper said while letting out a breath.
"Anyways, Grasshopper, they sure are making us go too far." Said a man with a small stature from the opposite side of the attacker. His hand held a powerful energy, and it was shining while letting off crackles that made it seem like it could explode at any second. This was probably the man who attacked them as soon as the elevator doors opened.
"Let us through. We have permission from the Gold Clan to arrest Kōshi Mizuchi." The Usagi finally spoke up.
The Strains ignored the Usagi. In fact, his words seemed to even spur them on. "Going too far was part of the job description wasn't it Pyrotechnic? There's no way they'd let us off for our crimes if it wasn't something dangerous." Said Grasshopper.
A large man whose body was wrapped in thick, armor-like muscles walked out of the smoke. He was a whole head taller than Mikoto. The big man laughed, letting off a sinister murderous intent, "M'name's Senkouki. M'heart's dancing, let's fight Red King."
The large man kicked off from the floor, his body flying straight through the air like an arrow. In the next second, he was facing Mikoto and he sent a strong uppercut at Mikoto.
"Heh…" Mikoto didn't even move an inch as he blocked the man's fist and smirked a bit. It seemed like he was enjoying this. He raised his arm with a light movement and threw off Senkouki's arm which was trying to break his barrier. The man's fist ended up being deflected into the wall, making a large hole.
"A Strain, huh." Mikoto commented lazily as he looked around at the ones surrounding them.
"I guess they're the dangerous Strains that are kept down here, huh." Said Tatara while tilting his head. "It seems like they've been told they'll be let free if they beat the Red King."
"M'different. They gave me the offer, sure, but the reason why m'here is cause the chance to fight with the Red King himself is a prize to me." As he said that, the large man's eyes sparkled like those of a child.
Grasshopper called out, "His crime's murder. He's also called 'Strain-killer.' He's a perv who can't have fun with anything but fighting strong people."
Senkouki, Grasshopper, and Pyrotechnician all readied themselves to destroy the Red King.
As they lunged towards Mikoto, Misaki jumped in front of Grasshopper, blocking his attack, "Hey, your fight's with me!"
On the other side, the Usagi sent a barrier at Pyrotechnician, controlling the crackling power bursts until it dissipated. "We may not be on the same team, Red King, but these Strains seem to have gone rogue. It's clear that Kōshi Mizuchi is a traitor and has been conducting illegal experiments without our knowledge. We always suspected something, which was why we constantly had surprise evaluations of the hospital, but we were never aware of this wing."
Mikoto ignored the Usagi and blocked Senkouki's charging fist again, and pushed away the fist he blocked. Senkouki spun as he went flying, but dexterously straightened his large body in midair and landed. Mikoto looked down at the palm he used to block. There was a small black abrasion on the skin. He smirked. He was having a lot of fun.
"Hey." While looking in the direction of the Strains, Mikoto spoke to Hana behind him. "Can you stand the heat?"
I stared at Mikoto, if he were to turn around we would be making eye contact. "Yes, don't worry about me. I can protect myself."
"Tatara. Can I?" Mikoto spoke again.
When Tatara was asked in that faintly cheerful voice, Tatara shrugged his shoulders. "... if you'll be with me when Kusanagi-san chews us out later?" He said that in a tone that had exasperation mixed in, making Mikoto laugh voicelessly.
The next instant, power shot out from his body towards Senkouki.
(Line break)
Anna shuddered and raised her head.
She had been trying to contact the slate. Even if her skin was burned or she was sunk into water, she was immediately healed.
"There won't be any scars left on your body. Nor will there be any after effects. Of course, you won't die, either. Right now, we're just giving you the stimulation you need. Your powers become more sensitive the more you've driven into a corner." Mizuchi said this with a smile on his face.
The water was nearly up to Anna's face. Until just a moment ago, it was above her head and stealing away her breath. In order to escape the pain of her body, Anna had been tearing her consciousness and senses away from it and sending them towards the tower's 'Slate."
Despite being a floor above, Anna could sense the fight occurring. Behind her eyes, she could see that Mikoto was smiling. Power that couldn't be contained within his body was spilling out as red light. Anna could sense the source of the red shine spilling out from his heart, a violet sea of red. The pure red magma boiled and twisted. She figured that anything that touched it would melt away in an instant, it was a terrifying red world.
"...pretty…" This one word escaped Anna's lips. The fearful red world, the world within Mikoto, charmed Anna. She felt safe, just like she felt when the strange lady's voice echoed in her head. Anna wondered where the lady went.
The next second, the ceiling in the corner of the room exploded into red.
(Line Break)
Mikoto suddenly stopped moving and glanced downwards. He went "hmph" when Senkouki was about to lunge at him again. Although Mikoto was about to take another hit from the front, his mood suddenly changed and he deflected the hit with his arm, grabbed the guy, and tossed him. The man twice the size of Mikoto went flying through the air.
Senkouki made a face after he was thrown and noticed Mikoto looking distracted and he spun around in the air to land. "Stop lookin' away, Red King."
"I'll leave things here to you." Mikoto addressed Misaki and the Usagi as he came to a final decision.
"Tatara. Punk." Even though they were in the middle of a battle, he spoke casually to Tatara and Hana.
"Yeah?" They both responded. Wait why am I responding to being called a punk!
Mikoto made a 'come here' gesture with his finger, without looking at them. Tatara and Hana made eye contact, their eyebrows drawn down in confusion. Despite this, they both approached Mikoto.
"Get ready."
"Huh?"
After Tatara and Hana stood on either side of him, without a single word of explanation, Mikoto focused his power directly below him. Red light full of energy spilled out from beneath them and hit the ground.
The floor beneath them broke like a chocolate bar when it was hit by Mikoto's power. A big hole appeared around them and the floor crumbled down to the hallway below. They fell along with it. Mikoto landed lightly, while Tatara and Hana managed to get down alright thanks to the small red barrier Mikoto put up around them.
As they looked up, they saw Anna trapped in the a water-filled glass container and people in lab coats standing frozen at their appearance. Angered, Mikoto sent out a pure red energy pulse that knocked the lab coats unconscious and broke the glass container Anna was floating in. Water spilled out onto the floor as the glass shattered.
"Anna!"
"Anna-chan!"
Tatara and I yelled out in concern, scared that she might have been cut by the glass.
Anna had slumped to the ground, coughing. Despite her coughs, she looked baffled by the ceiling abruptly breaking and the sudden appearance of Mikoto, Tatara, and Hana.
The expression on Anna's face was a clear mix of surprise, and bafflement, and the look of someone who didn't know what to do. She wanted to stay with them, but knew that she also shouldn't. Mizuchi had brainwashed her for far too long, she didn't know what to do.
Hana, Tatara, and Mikoto all began to approach Anna.
"Get back, Red King." It was a voice filled with strong hatred. I looked up at the entrance way as we all turned around. There was a man in a lab coat, giving off a golden light from his body with anger in his voice. It was Mizuchi.
"So you're the guy who was gonna use a brat for stupid stuff." In contrast, Mikoto's face was expressionless.
In response to Mikoto, who looked relaxed, Mizuchi's fists shook. "Have you ever even thought about what you're drawing power from? You just enjoy your power without a thought… I suppose you're fine like that. King of destruction, king of violence, king who is but a mere flame to be snuffed out by the wind." He spoke with anger and insult clear in his words. "Don't get in my way. There's no way you, who just swings the power you gained around, would understand, but that Slate has the power to even change humanity's future. I am going to get near that Slate and discover that power… this experiment performed with Kushina's assistance is the first step towards that. This is something connected to humanity's evolution!"
Ah he must be talking about Dresden. Funny, I was the one who connected with what he calls the Slate, but who I know as Dresden Rex. He speaks about forcing these sorts of things and doing all of these horrible experiments in order to do what I did on accident. That this would somehow be connected to humanity's evolution. Well lemme tell you here and now, jerk, I will never be used for something like that and neither will Anna. The shadows on my face deepened as his words began to anger me. How DARE he do this to an innocent eight year old girl like Anna. This bastard is the lowest of the low.
Mikoto continued to look on with a straight face. Tatara looked up at that face out of the corner of his eye and spoke up, "You're not even listening, are you?"
"... my ears can't pick up on nonsense."
"How convenient." Honestly, Tatara wasn't surprised by the King's answer.
Mizuchi's face turned black with the color of anger, if Mikoto wasn't listening to him, he would order his pretty little Strain around. "Kushina, you understand, yes?"
Anna's shoulders shook when she heard Mizuchi's words. She weakly stood up.
"Return to that room. You have your work to do."
As though to tie down Anna whose feet were about to back up, Mikoto's eyes landed on her. "Anna."
Hana and Tatara quietly stepped to the side.
Come here. Hana's voice echoed inside Anna's head. You're safe now. We'll protect you.
"Anna." Mikoto repeated.
Before she could even think, her body had moved. She ran.
Leaving behind all of her duties, unease, fear, and everything else, she ran to the red that filled her world. As she ran, for some reason, she felt her eyes become blurry. How strange, she couldn't see well. What a shame, since she had such as pretty red in front of her. She ran straight into Mikoto and buried her face in his leg.
He caught her, "... don't strain yourself for not reason, brat." Mikoto's warm hands roughly petted Anna's head once, before he immediately took her by the collar and pulled her away. Like a kitten, she was held up by her scruff and shoved at Hana. "Take her."
Hana smiled, fussing over Anna and moving her white hair out of her face, "See I told you we'll come and save you. I'm sorry we're so late." That sounded familiar.
So she must be the one who I heard reassuring me when I was stuck here. Anna thought to herself.
Although Anna didn't feel the intense red aura from Hana like she did from Miikoto, there was something familiar about Hana's warmth. Anna snuggled in more as Hana held her in her arms. Anna could see the faint pink glow surrounding her body.
"Tatara, can you grab my red jacket from my backpack?"
"Sure, Hana-chan." Tatara placed the jacket on top of Anna, like a blanket.
(Line break)
From the large hole Mikoto made, Senkouki jumped down and stood in front of Mizuchi. The other two Strains were still busy fighting with Misaki and the Usagi.
"I understand, Red King. You have great power, but because of its immensity, you cannot use it without limit when someone you cannot harm is in the same place." Mizuchi laughed at Mikoto. "In addition, you're really bad at dealing with it. The same as the previous red king… you're a clumsy man."
Mikoto smiled fearlessly. It was a dreadful, but pleased smile.
Tatara looked up at him with his own wry smile. I could barely contain my laughter, because I didn't want to shake Anna who was getting comfortable in my arms.
Mikoto spoke without even looking sideways at Tatara. "Stop me."
"Gotcha." Tatara replied with a fitting casualness to that request, which was said in the tone of someone asking to be woken up in half an hour before taking a nap.
Mikoto took a step forward. At his feet, sparks scattered. From his body, red light flowed out like rising steam. His eyes took on a tinge of redness, and white canines peeked out of his grin. "I'll burn you all up, down to every last drop of blood, bone, and ash."
The building shuddered with a thud as light containing red heat spilled out of Mikoto's body like the sun.
At this point, Mikoto's aura would normally incinerate everything around him, except for Tatara who has his power and Hana, due to her powers. In particular, he seemed to have forgotten about Hana not being a part of their clan. His sanctum was on the same frequency as hers, and he could feel that his power wouldn't reject hers as foreign. That somehow, she was a part of his clan, or had the ability to be. His fire, what others see as his fire of destruction, is actually a fire of providence. It wouldn't harm Tatara, Hana, or Anna.
As he fought with Senkouki, he would inflict heavy injuries on him. Singing his skin, burning off part of his body, etc. But Mikoto frowned. There was a gold aura surrounding Senkouki, and whenever he was injured, his body would return back to its physical peak, as if there was no battle being fought.
"The 'talent' I had drawn out by the Gold King is healing and regeneration." Mizuchi announced in a low voice, sensing Mikoto's frustration. He then turned his eyes onto Senkouki as though viewing a thing. "But don't rely on me too much. Avoid unnecessary damage to your body."
The battle continued on and I watched as Mizuchi began to tire. Before long, he was completely soaked in sweat and shaking as he continuously recovered Senkouki's body. He was breathing harshly, his eyes were sunken, his hair was in disarray, and he seemed to have aged a decade or so. The golden light he let off would sometimes flicker like a dying lightbulb.
Suddenly, he stared at Anna as though he still wouldn't let go of clinging to her despite the situation. "Kushina! Don't betray me! You will become king. I will become your first vassal! I will serve you, support you, lead you, and eventually force you up into the Gold King's position as manager of the Slate!"
Anna looked back at Mizuchi silently. At his pitiful form.
"Weren't you prepared to become King for Honami Kushina's sake?!"
When Mizuchi said Honami's name, Hana's arms, which had been holding Anna protectively, tightened. Tatara reached over and placed a warm hand on Anna's hand.
"Don't waver, okay?" Tatara said that to her in a soft voice that didn't suit the situation. Anna nodded her head a bit.
"Okay."
Leaning up against Hana, Anna could feel her tenderness and kindness. With Tatara's hand on her head, Tatara's feelings of calm radiated from him to her. With their feelings, Anna's heart was also able to steady itself.
Mikoto and Senkouki continued to fight, their forms looking as if they were dancing. Eventually, Mikoto dealt the final blow to the Strain.
To Mikoto, the flow inside him that had been held by a chain kept escaping as he had let his bonds loosen. It felt nice to let it go. It was his freedom. The red light wrapped around Mikoto's body and changed it into a flame with physical power. The floor was becoming like a red sea, filled with Mikoto's fire. It kept going and going and going, even when he defeated his opponent.
The walls turned to ash in response to the ridiculous heat, the metal door began to melt, and the ceiling burned and fell. Mizuchi stared at Mikoto with a twisted expression and shouted, "Are you going to destroy everything, Red King? You'll destroy yourself!"
Destruction.
Mikoto smiled faintly. What a beautiful concept.
Right then, something cool was pressed against the center of his back.
"King."
It was Tatara's palm. Even within this situation, he called Mikoto's title with a serene voice.
Maybe Tatara's hand was cold, or perhaps Mikoto's body had heated up too much, or perhaps it was both. Thanks to that hand's feeling and temperature, a calm came upon the crazed power within his body.
Lmk if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes. I proofread this on my own, I don't have a beta, so I'll probably make a few mistakes. And there are only so many times a writer can read his/her story until it gets annoying. Also again, this is all based on the spinoff K:Side: Red. Not my work, not claiming for it to be, just me writing Hana and her actions into the situation.
S/O to vanessaforeverflower and kitkatalvarez for the follow/favorite!