s.CRY.ed story--The Spectre's Seven

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

rahwenn said:

now THATS a charming place to visit,hmmmm~you should put the cannibal village as a residence in your interactive site eh Kat.(I bet just loads of people would want to take up residence there..^^)
....whats this about sea monkeys, Raviel is kinda weird. Am looking forward to the next chapter...(stares at screen fixatedly)

Oooh, I hadn't thought of that! That would actually be a pretty cool area! ...If I could actually find screenshots that could resemble that, heh, heh. But I MAY be able to add that area to the RPG Board. And the Sea Monkeys too. ;D And what's up with the Sea Monkeys? That, my friend, is a secret.

[Asuka Was Here]

I loved it. It's funny, it's mysterious, and it has cannibalistic nutcases! What more could you ask for? But yeah, you should add the cannibals to your interactive site... as for screencaps, well, you could just take some caps of random scenes in the LG and then edit in some creepy red fog... wouldn't be too hard, at least not in theory...

As for the Sea Monkeys... I'm not gonna even ask (they were funny tho') ... but why, I must ask, does the quote in your signature reference "Sand Monkeys"?

~AB

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

Aurora said:

I loved it. It's funny, it's mysterious, and it has cannibalistic nutcases! What more could you ask for? But yeah, you should add the cannibals to your interactive site... as for screencaps, well, you could just take some caps of random scenes in the LG and then edit in some creepy red fog... wouldn't be too hard, at least not in theory...

As for the Sea Monkeys... I'm not gonna even ask (they were funny tho') ... but why, I must ask, does the quote in your signature reference "Sand Monkeys"?

~AB

Yay! You noticed my signature! Well, there are four breeds of monkeys (maybe more, if I can think of some) that appear in the story (or DO they? It could be Raviel's imagination...): Sand Monkeys, Sea Monkeys, Snow Monkeys, and Jungle Monkeys...but for fear of spoiling too much...I shan't say another word about it. ;D

Hmmm...that may work too...Take some silhouettes and edit them to have fangs and sparkly red eyes with red fog...I'll have to look up on that...::grin::

[Asuka Was Here]

Kat said:

Yay! You noticed my signature! Well, there are four breeds of monkeys (maybe more, if I can think of some) that appear in the story (or DO they? It could be Raviel's imagination...): Sand Monkeys, Sea Monkeys, Snow Monkeys, and Jungle Monkeys...but for fear of spoiling too much...I shan't say another word about it. ;D

Hmmm...that may work too...Take some silhouettes and edit them to have fangs and sparkly red eyes with red fog...I'll have to look up on that...::grin::

That's a lot of monkeys, Kat. You should include some guppies, too. (sorry, I have a bit of an odd obsession with guppies... and a bunch of associated crazy guppy-related theories, which I may post someday if anyone is ever curious enough).

But anyway, it probably would be too hard to do that sort of editing (well, maybe it would be for me... but that's a different story). I think you should go for it...

Oh, by the way Kat, I finally got around to start adding your fics to my site (took me long enough). I just put up Chapters 1 & 2 of Spectre's Seven (as well as the latest fanart I have recieved from you and rahwenn). I'm stopping now because it's getting late, but I'll add some more tomorrow if I get the chance...

~AB

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

Oh, there's more than that as far as breeds go. But that's for later.

Actually, about a week ago, I got bored (well, actually I had insomnia and THEN got bored) so I wrote the next chappy to Spectre's Seven...and then my brother wrecked my computer so it's on another computer while I'm here...writing on my other horrible compy. But once I get it back, I'll post it.

Yay! You posted them! Huzzah! I really need to get back on my own site. The RPG Board is almost up!

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

Disclaimer: Uh, yeah. Crane’s mine. Raviel’s mine. Sea Monkeys are mine. Ya know? ^_^

A/N: Just as I promised, this whole chappy is about Ryuho, Kazuma, and the rest of the gang. Huzzah.

Chapter Six--Checkmate

[/b]



When the faint traces of the moon that had showered through the small window in Asuka’s house had vanished, Kanami was the first to know. Now nearing around 3 o’clock in the morning, she had already left her warm bed, and plodded down the hall. Much to her relief, the door had been left unguarded and vulnerable.

The padlocks were unlatched and the doorknob slightly turned until it edged slowly across the floor and was held open, leaving the twelve year-old to peek inside. Gray and Sydney leaned against each other, asleep, bound to one another by thick ropes and dirty chains that Asuka had found in his garage.

Shutting the door soundlessly, the small girl tiptoed across the floor, her pale nightgown hitting against her knees. As she knelt down beside them, her chestnut hair cascaded around her shoulders.

“Gray,” Kanami whispered, causing him to stir slightly.

“What?” He answered, much to her surprise, without the least bit of grogginess. Apparently, he hadn’t been asleep at all.

She smiled and reached down for the rope. “I’m going to get you out of here.”<br>
Gray jerked slightly. “What did you say?”<br>
“I have to,” She said, pulling back on the binds. “Kazu-kun won’t listen to me and Ryuho is just as stubborn. I know that you never did anything wrong.”<br>
“Well, I wouldn’t put it that way…” But when the older man glanced up, he saw the seriousness in her eyes. “Kanami…I don’t want you to get into trouble on account of us.”<br>
Her eyes softened and the ends of her firm lips melted into a gentle smile. “You’ve been very kind to me,” She told him. “You and Raviel and Sydney alike. This is the least I can do for you.”<br>
She continued to untie them, until her real barricade became the chains.

“You’ll never get those undone,” Gray muttered. “Just leave us and get out of here.” He was instantly silenced when she waved the key in his face. “Kanami…”

“Just a moment, Gray,” She told him, beginning to challenge the locks and chains before her. “Mr. Tachibana always hides things in the same exact place.”<br>
The man chewed on his bottom lip, and waited until the binds loosened at his sides. Shaking them off, he tapped his partner on the back until Sydney began to twitch.

“Kanami I don’t know how we’ll ever be able to repay you,” Gray told the girl as he helped the blue haired man to his feet. “Nothing we’ve ever done can be enough for what you’ve done for us. I would ask you to come back with us, but I know how much that Kazuma guy means to you. And I’m sure I can trust you not to give up our faces.” While Gray waited for his partner to slowly depart from his world of slumber, he kneeled down, gently holding the girl by her shoulders. “I’m sure we won’t be seeing each other again.”<br>
She removed his hands and shook her head. “I doubt that.” Then she began to usher them from the room, escaping down the hall and out the door. Being expert bandits, this was no problem for Gray and Sydney.

Kanami stood in the doorframe as Gray hijacked one of Asuka’s cars and he waved farewell before speeding down the road.

Not even ten seconds into their escape, a certain Shell Bullet Alter User had flung himself out the door and dashed down the street.

“What!? Waaaaaaaaa------it!” But it was too late.

His steps slowed, and his burning eyes fell back upon Kanami.

“Kanami…” He tried…tried to calm himself! However, they say that emotions rule over all. “What happened just now?”<br>
She held her tongue, her eyes lowering to the ground.

“Kanami!”<br>
Still no answer.

He towered above her, flaring, but somehow managing to hold back his anger, he just stormed past her and began to scream into the halls.

-----------------------------

“Get this,” Asuka said, reading the newspaper, trying to suppress all feelings at the moment. “Isaac Crane raided a village in the northwestern region, taking all citizens into custody, stating that the reasoning was justified as all residents were harmful cannibals…”

Urizane glanced up at him briefly, scowling. “Was that supposed to make us feel better?”<br>
“Kanami, how could you do that?” Ryuho’s stern gaze fell upon the girl. “What on earth motivated you to let the bandits go?” He was much better at keeping his cool than Kazuma, who spent the time now pacing back and forth outside the house.

“I…” Kanami fidgeted. “Ryuho…they weren’t bad guys…I really mean it.”<br>
“That wasn’t your decision in letting them go.” Ryuho told her, assured that he was right in what he was doing.

“Let it go, Ryuho,” Asuka said, his own eyes narrowing. “There’s nothing we can do about it now.”<br>
Elian sat at the table with Asuka, his feet swinging back and forth in the chair. “Asuka,” The normally shy boy began, “How long ago did Isaac attack that village?”<br>
“Uh…” Asuka flipped back to the first page. “Three days ago. Surprisingly that was the same day that third bandit took Miss Kiryu hostage.”<br>
“Perhaps he’s on to something?” Urizane suggested.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Ryuho said, standing. “We’d have to infiltrate HOLY directly.”<br>
Asuka’s eyes lifted from the paper. “Are you crazy? We’d be massacred in three seconds flat!”<br>
“We had no problem taking on Mujo.” Ryuho argued.

“But if you’re forgetting already, there were more of us, and people died on that mission.” Urizane mirrored Ryuho’s movements in standing. “I’m not saying that it’s a bad idea, but take all possibilities into consideration, Ryuho. What would happen this time that didn’t happen last time? Or will history repeat itself?”<br>
“It will inevitably repeat itself if we DON’T do anything,” Ryuho protested. “Mimori and the bandits, Isaac and HOLY…There’s just no way of telling what might really happen unless we try. It seems to me that Isaac is intending of running HOLY the same way Commander Zigmarl did. But whether or not the Mainland is manipulating him, that’s another story.”<br>
“So what about Miss Kiryu?” Asuka set the paper down and perched his elbows on the table.

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Ryuho said, giving the best answer he could.

“I think I’ll have to agree with Ryuho on this one.” Everyone jolted, slightly startled by Kazuma’s haunting presence in the door. “This Crane fellow is overstepping his bounds, and I don’t like it. I say we go there and make him wish he never met us.”<br>
Asuka and Urizane sighed. Evidently, they were the only ones there that had any sense of logic. And without Miss Kiryu, there was no way of making them recant their hasty decision.

“When?” Asuka found himself asking.

The Shell Bullet Alter User shrugged. “Why not now?”<br>
“Because you’re supposed to have a plan first,” Urizane told him.

Kazuma cocked his head. “You’re beginning to sound like Cougar.”<br>
“Well, maybe that’s because Cougar at least had more sense of logic, unlike you.”<br>
“Enough!” Asuka shouted, silencing the room. After a moment, Tachibana continued. “Seeing as Isaac isn’t going to wait around for us forever, I don’t see much of a choice other than going in there directly.” Asuka stepped out from behind the table. “There’s Ryuho, Kazuma, Urizane, Elian, and myself.”<br>
“And me,” Kanami piped up. Several pairs of eyes turned their attention to her and Kazuma snorted.

“Thanks, but no thanks. You’ve already been more than useful today. Besides, this is far too dangerous.”<br>
“Kazu-kun!”<br>
“Anyway,” Kazuma continued. “I say that Ryuho and I go in there and take care of Crane and his dogs. That way we can cause more of a distraction, allowing you three to go in and find all the captured Natives and Inners and then perhaps find out what the heck is going on here.”<br>
“That’s a good idea,” Asuka agreed and then the cynosure of his eye became Elian. “Elian, you can be my lookout. If I give Urizane a communicator, then you can talk to me while I infiltrate HOLY the other way.”<br>
“What?” Urizane was at a loss for words. “What makes you think that you’re gonna go in there all alone, Tachibana!?”<br>
“There aren’t enough of us to argue,” Asuka pointed out. “Besides, with all the attention that Kazuma and Ryuho are obtaining, it shouldn’t be a problem for me. And if Elian is my lookout, then I definitely won’t have anything to worry about.”<br>
No one liked that idea. Heck, even Tachibana wasn’t too fond of it. But how else could it work?

“I say that we prepare,” Asuka said and gestured to the watermelon man and the clone. “You two had better change back into your HOLY uniforms. That way if anyone spots us, it’ll take longer for them to figure out who we really are. I’ll go do the same.” He edged towards the hallway.

“But that’s how they were able to spot us in the first place,” Elian noted. “Those HOLY-S members could tell the difference.”<br>
A devious smile broke at Asuka’s face. “Anyone have some paper and tape?”<br>
Groans emitted from all over the room.

-----------------------------

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

Asuka drove the others to HOLY, with much protestation from Kanami, who begged to come along. But Kazuma would have none of it. His disappointment in her was so strong, it was enough for him to stay angry at her for a little while longer.

“Asuka…we’re going to get caught,” Elian pointed to the paper cutout of the HOLY-S badge that was taped on all the ex-HOLY members’ (excluding Ryuho) uniforms.

“Nonsense,” Tachibana said, not bothering to turn his head to the backseat. “Are you mocking my artistic abilities?” His attempt at a jocular mood was failing.

“I don’t think that that’s what they were talking about,” Ryuho said from over in the passenger’s seat.

The driver frowned. “Joy killer.”<br>
-----------------------------


“Hey Chief,” Kazuma leaned over the backseat, nearly blocking Ryuho’s view, and pointed to the polished new HOLY building. “So how are we gonna do this?”<br>
“I’d suggest dropping us off directly at the entrance,” The Zetsuei Alter User shrugged. “That way, you can find a safe place to camp out at while Asuka comes in from another way.”<br>
“All right,” Urizane bought that. “But the second we let you out, you’d had better start a commotion.”<br>
Kazuma sneered.

-----------------------------

“Commander!” Isaac Crane was tired. It seemed like every five minutes, he was being interrupted.

“Yes?” The new Commander rolled his temples with his index fingers.

“Intruders, Sir!” The HOLY-S member warned. “They’re coming up to the entrance right away!”<br>
“Identification?”<br>
“We have reason to believe that it is Kazuma and Ryuho, Commander Crane.” Isaac glanced up.

“They must’ve read the paper then.” Crane chuckled, his voice deep and hollow. “I figured they’d be coming to find their friends. It’s too bad that we were unable to locate Miss Kiryu and the bandits.” Crane stood up from his chair and glanced outside. “If it’s a battle they wish, then give it to them. But don’t kill them. I’d like to see them alive and…in person.”<br>
-----------------------------

“Annihilating Second Bullet!” The explosion was fierce, and even the Alter User of Zetsuei had to turn his head to avoid the oncoming debris.

As soon as the smoke had cleared, however, the Independent Alter was before its master.

“Zetsuei!” Ryuho called out.

“Come on Ryuho,” Kazuma said, continuing forward. “We’re supposed to be creating a DIVERSION here. Just stand back and let me take care of things.”<br>
The ruby eyes narrowed, thickening the crease above Ryuho’s forehead.

-----------------------------


“Ah, it’s perfect,” Isaac Crane pressed his gloved hands up against the windowpane. “Allow them access into HOLY.”<br>
“Sir?” The man asked, befuddled.

“I want to see how far Kazuma and Ryuho can get before they are torn down by the Puppetmaster.”<br>
-----------------------------

“What do ya see, Elian?” Urizane asked, him and the small boy perched on the top of a hill, overlooking HOLY. Asuka’s car was parked behind them.

“Well…It’s as Kazuma and Ryuho have planned,” Elian remarked. “All the sectors are clearing out instantaneously. Tell Asuka that he should have no problem wandering the halls now.”<br>
“Roger that,” Urizane replied, bringing the communicator on his wrist up to his mouth. “Tachibana, the kid says that you’re free to move about. He’ll be tracking your steps from now on.”<br>
-----------------------------

“Got that,” Asuka affirmed. “I’m moving towards C Hall now. Over and out.” Releasing the button, the user of Eternity Eight maneuvered down the halls fearlessly. As he approached the C hall elevator leading downwards, he halted, waiting to see if Urizane would talk to him.

Indeed he was right. “Elian says to go down, but avoid going up. If you’re getting on the elevator though, you’d better move it. You’ve got about thirty HOLY-S thugs above ya.”<br>
Nodding, Asuka smashed his hand against the down button, and climbed inside the empty elevator.

-----------------------------

“Is this what HOLY-S is all about!?” Kazuma roared. “Don’t make me laugh!”<br>
Zetsuei moved with great celerity around the HOLY-S troops, easily outwitting them as Kazuma fought off the adversaries from the east.

“Exterminating Last Bullet!” Kazuma plowed through the wall effortlessly, and continued into the hall, surprising more HOLY-S members than he could count.

“Zetsuei!” Ryuho held a hand out to his enemies, which were picked off smoothly by his Alter’s razor sharp ribbons.

“You’re nothing!” Kazuma thrust his hand through the wall again, allowing it to collapse violently before him.

-----------------------------

“I-Isaac, Sir! How long do we let this madness continue!?” Several members barged in through his door, panting heavily. “You tell us not to fight back, but at this rate, HOLY will be obliterated in minutes!”<br>
The middle-aged man had his back turned to his subordinates. “That soon? All right.”<br>
-----------------------------

“How dare they leave me behind!” Kanami paced back and forth in the room, angrily. Her small hands balled into fists at her side and she looked outside. Over the horizon was a small green van, heading her way. Throwing the screen door open, Kanami dashed outside, nearly tripping, and waved her hands frantically.

“Cammy! Cammy!” Kanami cried, and leapt in front of the car, which skidded to a dangerous halt.

The window rolled down and Cammy stuck her head out, her face as white as a sheet.

“Kanami! Don’t you know that you’re not supposed to throw yourself in front of a moving vehicle!?”<br>
The girl ignored the scolding and merely lunged against the window. “It’s Kazu-kun and the others! They’ve gone to HOLY to fight Isaac Crane!”<br>
“Fight!?” Cammy nearly had another heart attack. “Where’s Asuka!?”<br>
“He’s with them,” Kanami said, her voice rising. “Everyone’s gone there! Oh Cammy, something bad will happen to them, I know it! Please! We must hurry and stop them!”<br>
Quickly pulling the car out of neutral, Cammy motioned the girl inside. “Come on, get in!” Then she paused. “What about the robbers?”<br>
Kanami fidgeted. “Uh…well…”

“Never mind, we’ll talk about that later.” The older woman turned to look behind her, bringing the car into reverse, and then threw it into second gear, whipping the van around hazardously, and the two were off to HOLY.

-----------------------------

Asuka was already in the cells by the time that Kazuma and Ryuho had entered HOLY. He jogged around into a semi-circle, hugging the wall, and then stopped at a corridor. Forcing himself to breathe, he brought the communicator back up to his lips. “Navigator! Navigator! Where to?”<br>
A moment passed and then…<br>
“West! Elian says west and hurry! You’re about to be bombarded, Asuka!”<br>
“Nuts,” The Alter User mumbled and lunged into the western corridor, immediately sprinting. His heart dropped when he saw multiple shadows ahead of him.

-----------------------------

“Where did those come from!?” Urizane’s jaw fell agape as Elian announced the bad news. “Elian, I thought you said the western corridor was safe!”<br>
“It was!” Elian argued, his own reasoning too much to be true. He watched as ten HOLY-S members appeared in front of Asuka in a matter of seconds. “Oh no…Asuka…”

-----------------------------

“Navigator!” Asuka cried out into the communicator. “What is this!? I thought that you said it was supposed to be safe this way!”<br>
“Hey, it’s an intruder!” Asuka froze instantly as he was spotted.

“Eh…drat…” Turning his face slightly to see the soldiers, he held out his hand, his body glowing mildly. “It’s not a good thing to be fighting here…”

-----------------------------

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

“What the heck!?” Kazuma glanced around, his adversaries retreating down the halls. “Where do you think you’re going, you weasels!? Get back here!” He began after them until Ryuho caught his shoulder.

“Kazuma, wait,” The green haired man said. “This is unlikely. Soldiers who give up their post? Something’s going down. It’s best to travel together now.”<br>
“Huh?” Kazuma whirled around. “Who are you to start giving me orders, Ryuho!?”<br>
But a small glint of light caught Ryuho’s eye. “This way!” And he brushed past Kazuma and rushed down the hall.

“What the? You loony! Don’t even THINK about leaving me behind! Glory hog!”<br>
Ryuho didn’t care much for the name calling, but at the moment, the light had mesmerized him. Something was there that should not have been.

-----------------------------


“Come on!” Asuka swung the Alter-like sword he had constructed using the Eternity Eight and smashed it against the head of one of the HOLY-S members. “If you’re gonna surround me, you could at least fight back!”<br>
But his opponents just got back up and continued to circle around him.

“I don’t get it,” Asuka mumbled, watching each and every one of them from out of the corner of his eye. “What is going on?”<br>
Then one of them lunged! And then another! Asuka twisted on his heel and swung the sword again, catching the first in the gut, and the second in the back of the calf.

“All right then, if you’re not gonna fight, then I’ll make you help me.” The sword disassembled itself and floated towards eight of the attackers. “Using mind control, of course.”<br>
But Tachibana was taken aback as the balls were repelled and clanked motionlessly against the floor.

“You cannot control what is already being controlled,” Another voice resounded down the halls. “It was a nice try though.”<br>
Asuka turned sharply, his throat immediately becoming dry.

A cold fog chilled him suddenly, and Asuka clutched his shoulders, his teeth chattering. “W-What…? It’s so cold…”

“I like the way you fight, Mr. Asuka Tachibana…” And then a black figure came through the fog, as though he had been created from it. In his right hand clanked a brass cane with a sapphire decorating the very top where his white gloved hand embraced it. He walked slowly, his dress shoes making a nice rhythm against the tiled floor and his velvet suit glowed slightly against the dim lights in the hallway which had strangely turned blue with the sudden coldness. The tails in the back of his coat swayed behind him, and with his free gloved hand, he tipped his top hat slowly to Asuka, smiling.

Asuka’s movements were curtailed instantly as the enemies that had ambushed him earlier began to rise up again and circle around him.

“You see, I already knew you were coming. This is not a battle. It was merely something more of entertainment. And I will hand it to you that you have entertained me. Very much indeed.”<br>
Asuka’s breath became much like his movements, slow and stiff. His muscles ached with the sudden tension, and his breath could easily be delineated, even through the fog.

Then the man stopped. “You strike me as, somehow, baffled. You didn’t really believe that it was this easy to best me, right? Perhaps it was this easy for Mujo, but I am no Kyoji Mujo.”<br>
“No…” Asuka could barely shake his head. “I know who you are though. Y-You’re Isaac Crane…aren’t you?”<br>
Isaac Crane threw his head up, and held his arms outstretched. “I see you’re already garbed up in your HOLY uniform. Welcome to the team, Asuka. With a little bit of refining, your power could easily exceed those of my normal subordinates.”<br>
“Refining?” Asuka remembered Mimori explaining this when he and her had first truly met in the Undeveloped Area. “How can that be!? There hasn’t been a single refined Alter in four years!”<br>
“Ah, but you see, I have full access now to any kind of refining I want.” Crane explained smoothly. “I have that kind of power, you know. Now do me the honor of coming along quietly, or else I’ll be forced to take drastic measures.”<br>
“It will be a cold day in Hell before I become one of your dogs, Isaac Crane! Eternity Eight!”<br>
The green orbs shattered into thousands of pieces, and Asuka could do nothing more but stare at the remains of his Alter, and what it had once been. Then he forced his eyes to turn upon the new Commander, whose own hand was outstretched, while the other remained relaxed upon his cane.

The Puppetmaster sighed. “Do we have to go through this every time?” And then he began to move his wrists in circles. “Get on the ground.”<br>
Feeling his muscles become abruptly weak, Asuka could not even resist the power slightly. Whoever this man was, Asuka held no candle to him.

Tachibana was on the ground in a matter of seconds, as though all gravity had been lost in the room. The flats of his hands burned ironically against the coldness of the floor and his knees were experiencing the same feel.

“I suppose that I should say that, ironically, it HAS become a cold day in Hell,” The ends of Crane’s lips curled. “Therefore, you have a promise to keep, Tachibana. You are to become one of my dogs. And as a dog, you shall act as one.” Then Crane lifted his hand up. “Shall we leash you?”<br>
Tachibana turned his eyes away as a long, thick, rope was tied around his neck.

“Carry on then,” Isaac motioned for them all to continue down the hall. “I’ve other business to deal with.”<br>
Deprived of his dignity, Asuka was unwillingly pulled along beside his captors, his hands and knees moving involuntarily for him. Even his tongue had been restrained from speaking.

-----------------------------

“I lost sign of Asuka,” Elian’s eyes widened, terrified. “I can’t find out where he’s gone!”<br>
“What!?” Urizane mirrored the boy’s face and began to rip at his ponytail. “Dammi--”<br>
“Urizane!” The sound of a running motor interrupted his cursing, and both he and Elian turned back to see Cammy in her green van, Kanami strapped into the passenger’s seat. “Where is Asuka!?”<br>
“He’s inside,” Elian answered for his larger colleague. “But it doesn’t look good.”<br>
A lump formed in Cammy’s throat as her hands grew numb against the steering wheel. “…What?”<br>
“Let me go inside,” Kanami tugged at the older woman’s shirt. “Someone has to tell Kazu-kun!”<br>
“Kanami, you can’t!”<br>
“But I’m an Alter User,” The small girl protested. “And if we don’t tell Ryuho and Kazu-kun, something bad may happen to Mr. Tachibana.”<br>
Cammy did not like the thought of the small girl entering by herself.

“Kanami, your Alter isn’t fully developed though…”

“What are you two talking about in there!?” Urizane demanded to know.

“Please?” Kanami begged. “Please let me do this.”<br>
Reluctantly giving in, Cammy stuck her head out the window once again and leaned over to Urizane. “I’ll be right back. See if you can find my husband.”<br>
-----------------------------

“…Okay, so what’s this place again?” Kazuma asked, awed by the astounding commodious room that he and Ryuho had come into.

“They’ve really shaped up HOLY,” Ryuho noted, more to himself than to his rival.

“Never mind that, I’m gonna tear this place down.” Kazuma said, punching his balled fist into the flat hand of his Alter.

“You don’t have any bullets left,” Ryuho reminded him. “It would be better to charge down and try again.”<br>
Kazuma waited until Ryuho’s back was turned before sticking his tongue out at the other Alter User.

“I saw that, Kazuma.”<br>
Kazuma’s back straightened. “How could you!? Your back was turned!” Kazuma concluded that the snobby rich kid had eyes in the back of his head. It was the only fathomable (and yet slightly humorous) solution.

“For having eyes in the back of his head, he certainly could not detect me.”<br>
“Huh? Hey! I didn’t even say that…” Kazuma pivoted and then paused, his words fading. “…aloud…”

Ryuho directed his gaze to the same man, dressed in a black top hat and velvet suit. Bringing a white gloved hand up to his hat, he tipped it back slowly, the man’s ruby eyes tearing through the two Alter Users.

“Welcome to my humble abode, Kazuma…Ryuho…I see you’ve had your fun and games. But I’m afraid that that will have to end here.”<br>
“End?” Kazuma leaned forward, grinning from ear to ear. “I believe that my fun is just starting! So you must be Isaac Crane, right? You’re not even dressed like one of those HOLIES. Not bad, though, I must say. Your snazzy suit and all…”

Crane nodded slightly. “So you’ve heard of me? That’s good then. We can skip the introductions.”<br>
“But there’s just one thing I would like to know, Crane.” Ryuho said, stepping forward. “I want to know the truth! Who are you and what are your plans for the Lost Ground!?”<br>
“Such brusque questions,” The new Commander held out his hand. “Well perhaps if you best me in battle, I’ll tell you.”<br>
“Sounds fair enough to me!” Kazuma charged down and immediately brought back his Alter. “Shocking First Bullet!”

The impact came hard and the Alter User of Zetsuei was tossed into the wall like a ragged doll. Kazuma stood there, his body shaking. “…Did I…do that?”

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

“Kazuma! What do you think you’re doing!?” Ryuho staggered to sit up, broken plaster falling onto his head.

Kazuma the Shell Bullet whirled around to Isaac Crane, who still stood there, smiling. “I was aiming for you! What happened!?”<br>
“I suppose your aim is off,” The mysterious man said, circling around Kazuma. “Try again.”<br>
“Wipe that grin off your face!” Kazuma came like a flash, his arm winding back. “Annihilating Second Bullet!”

Then Isaac Crane disappeared before Kazuma’s eyes and Ryuho was again standing there. Arching back, Kazuma collided into Ryuho and the two slid roughly across the floor, burns forming on their arms and legs.

“Ryuho! Why did you shield him!?” Kazuma’s eyes flared up dangerously.

“I…I didn’t!” Ryuho argued. “I was on the ground back there!”<br>
“You two can’t even get your bearings together,” Crane laughed, stepping in behind them. “Come on now, is this the best you’ve got?”<br>
“Zetsuei!” The Alter materialized behind Crane, a single ribbon attempting to strike from behind.

Kazuma watched as the ribbon missed Crane completely, coming around his side, and swept Kazuma to the other side of the room.

“Very good, Ryuho,” Isaac said to the gaping boy, who, no doubt, could not comprehend why his Alter had worked against his orders. “Pay back for earlier, right?”<br>
“Ryuho, stop screwing around!” Kazuma coughed, blood pouring from his lip.

“I…It wasn’t me!” Ryuho cried, and stumbled to his feet. “I was aiming for Crane!”<br>
“You both are pitiful sights,” The man stepped backwards, and laughed. “Shall I tell you what’s wrong?”<br>
“Don’t bother!” Kazuma balanced himself and looked to Ryuho. “Exterminating Last Bullet!”<br>
“Zetsuei!”

Pinned in between both Alters, Crane did nothing but stare out into space as the Master of the Shell Bullet sped towards him and the Independent Alter endeavored to attack him from the other side.

Both blows came hard, and Kazuma was heaved to the ground as the form of Zetsuei was shattered and landed uselessly in a broken heap upon the floor.

Ryuho held the wall behind him for support as his rival lay broken on the floor, the wind knocked from his lungs. They still had not even touched the man.

“I’ve tired of you two,” Crane pretended to yawn, flapping a hand to his mouth. “So now, I want you two to finish each other off for me.”<br>
“I’d be dam--OOOFF!” Kazuma was pushed back to the ground as Zetsuei, who had reconstructed itself, tackled Kazuma from above. “RYUHO!”<br>
“K-Kazuma…That wasn’t me…” Ryuho said, before a blurred body undertook his own and he, too was flung to the ground, Kazuma above him this time.

“Ryuho…” Kazuma whispered. “I swear that wasn’t me…”

“It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” Crane sang out, wandering around the two. “Of course it’s not you. It’s NEVER you.”<br>
“I’m beginning to believe you now, Kazuma,” Ryuho whispered back. “This man…he is no ordinary man…”

“He has to be an Alter User then!” Kazuma’s face wretched back to Crane’s, hate filling his eyes. “He’s playing us against each other!”<br>
“It took only so long to figure that out?” The Puppetmaster asked smugly. “My apologies. I hadn’t meant for it to happen so quickly. Well then…” And then a flash struck his mind. “Another Alter User?” He stared down at Ryuho and then looked back up at the Shell Bullet Master, then waved his hand, watching Kazuma crash to the ground on top of the Zetsuei Master. “I’ll be back to deal with you later.”<br>
-----------------------------



Cammy came back to the hilltop, Kanami gone from the passenger’s side.

“Where is she!?” Urizane asked, horror seizing him.

“She went inside looking for Kazuma.”<br>
“Urizane!” Elian broke through, and his wide eyes overtook him. “Kazuma and Ryuho are down!”<br>
“Are you kidding me!?” Urizane stepped backwards. “That’s impossible! It’s Kazuma and Ryuho!”<br>
Elian disengaged himself from his Altered Bubble and began to rush down the hill.

“Elian!”<br>
“There’s no one there now! We have to get them back before ‘he’ does!” The boy called back.

Rolling his eyes, Urizane instructed Cammy to stay put as he followed closely behind Elian.

-----------------------------

“Looks like no one is home,” Raviel said as Mimori stepped out of the car. “It’s a good thing that ship came along and gave us this nice rental car.” He grinned.

Mimori looked back at him, disgusted. “You stole it.”<br>
“Oh, that’s right, huh?”<br>
“Listen,” Mimori leaned her head back into the window. “Just get out and talk to them. I’m sure they’ll come back soon and we can work this mess out.”<br>
The smile disappeared from the bandit’s face.

“I’ve seen the way you work, Raviel. I know you’re not a bad guy. If you were, you would’ve abandoned me that night instead of coming back for me.”<br>
“I can’t.” Raviel shook his head. “And I’m only letting you go because now we have some new info that may put Crane behind the slammers. I’m trusting you to only walk away telling them that and not that you’ve seen my face. Besides, I need to get back to my comrades.”<br>
“Raviel!” She interrupted.

But he interrupted her right back. “I need to get out of here,” He said. Then, resuming his normal demeanor, “Maybe we’ll see each other again, no? And hey! You’re a scientist, right? Do me a favor and conduct some research on those Sea Monkeys, will ya?”<br>
She stepped away from the car and he took off, leaving her behind.

“Idiot…” She mumbled and retreated into the house.

It was true. Everyone HAD vanished. Mimori checked every room before looking outside to see both vehicles gone. She prayed that they weren’t still out looking for her.

But perhaps it WAS good that they were all gone. Raviel was right. They couldn’t understand a criminal’s mind. After all, look at all the trouble that had gone on between Kazuma and Ryuho. If Mimori went to confront Crane directly, then perhaps she could get him to step down, knowing what she did about him. And if she needed to involve her parents, then perhaps it was the only thing that she could do.

She ran to her room, looking for her old HOLD uniform, and quickly changed, figuring that it would be best to let Crane know that she, herself, was once associated with the mighty HOLY. She would go to the city by foot, which wouldn’t take long, as Asuka DID live right on the edge of the wall. The Lost Ground would depend on her decision now.

-----------------------------

“Kazuma! Ryuho!” Elian and Urizane each took an Alter User, who both were unconscious.

“Good,” Urizane breathed. “They’re both alive.”<br>
“Quickly, we have to get them out of here.” Elian said, pushing Ryuho to the heavy man.

“We can’t leave! Tachibana and Kanami are in here!” Urizane threw Kazuma over one shoulder and took Ryuho underneath his other arm.

It was true, undoubtedly, and Elian stood up, his Alter forming over him.

“Still no sign of Asuka?” Urizane asked, adjusting his weight to balance Kazuma and Ryuho’s.

“…No…” Elian mumbled.

“And Kanami?”<br>
Again Elian searched, and all air was lost to him.

-----------------------------

“Kazu-kun? Kazu-kun?” Kanami slowly padded through the halls, somehow the air began to chill without her knowing it.

Then she halted.

“Run, run, as fast as you can…”

Kanami looked up, the shadow of a man lingering over her.

“Hello, Cupcake.”<br>
-----------------------------

“Crane has them both!?” Urizane and Elian retreated from HOLY as fast as they were able. “Can’t we go after them too!?”<br>
“And what do you think that WE can do by ourselves!?” Elian argued, following behind the watermelon man.

Urizane did not respond; Cammy did all the screaming.

“Where are they!? Where is Asuka and Kanami!?” Cammy jumped out of the car, grabbing Ryuho from Urizane’s arms.

“HOLY!” Elian motioned to the front entrance where swarms of HOLY-S officers came nearer.

“They’ve spotted us!?” Urizane looked down at Elian. “Best not to leave any evidence behind. You get in the car and I’ll take Kazuma in the other.”<br>
Arguing was senseless at this point.

-----------------------------

Crane was found back at his office, not caring one way or another that Kazuma and Ryuho and the others had escaped. They would be back for the hostages, oh yes. Yes they would be back.

Asuka, now locked in the cells below D Hall, was waiting for a verdict from dear old Crane, and the small girl…well…Isaac had kept that little bit a secret. Now waiting for the repairs to his precious HOLY interior, Crane wiped the beads of sweat from his face.

Three hours ago, the entire building had been in an uproar. But now, it seemed like nothing ever happened.

Which was the way Isaac liked it.

But he did not relax long, as one might find, when over his loudspeaker came the voice of a male security guard.

“Commander, there is a woman here to see you.”<br>
“Doesn’t this woman have a name?” Crane lifted an eyebrow.

“She refuses to give it Sir. What will you have us do with her?”<br>
“I’m tired of all the hostilities around here. Please, go right ahead and send her in.”<br>
The man did not wait long before the door opened, and a raven haired woman walked in. Crane, who was taken aback just slightly, offered her a smile.

“Commander Isaac Crane, my name is Mimori Kiryu and I’d like to have a word with you.”<br>
‘Like a lamb to the slaughter…’ Crane’s smile widened. “Of course. Take a seat.”<br>
-----------------------------


Gah! Mimori! You fool! Ah, oh well. It’s all apart of the story anyway. ^^’ Ya know, it really DOES make sense as to why Crane is stronger than Ryuho and Kazuma, but that’s for later.

May the Sea Monkeys rule!

Kat

[Asuka Was Here]

That was really good! But poor Kazu-kun and Ryuhou! They beat each other up. So sad. And Mimori truly is an idealistic idiot sometimes. Oh well.

Can't wait for the next chapter ^_^
~AB

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

Aurora said:

That was really good! But poor Kazu-kun and Ryuhou! They beat each other up. So sad. And Mimori truly is an idealistic idiot sometimes. Oh well.

Can't wait for the next chapter ^_^
~AB

Oh boy...does she have a surprise waiting for her. ::shakes head:: Guess it happens to the best of us.

Once I get somewhat farther on my s.CRY.ed Christmas piccy, I'll be finishing up the next chapter. I'm about halfway done with it.

[rahwenn]

but somehow it seems to happen to Mimori more than most~she is waaaay to naieve.
any explanations for the monkeys in the next chappy?

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

rahwenn said:

but somehow it seems to happen to Mimori more than most~she is waaaay to naieve.
any explanations for the monkeys in the next chappy?

Well, Mimori had to encounter Crane SOME way, heh, heh, and her naive personality is just perfect.

Hmmm...perhaps I can somehow work the sea monkeys (and/or the other monkeys) into the next chapter...even if it IS just a brief explanation... ::evil grin::

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

Disclaimer: Yeah…don’t own stuff…Cept my Raviel… ::snuggles:: …and my ultra cool invincible Sand/Sea/Snow/Jungle Monkeys.




Chapter Seven--Black Handed Illusion

[/b]


“Mimori, was it? I’m sorry, I’m not good with names.” Isaac apologized instantly as she moved into the room, hesitantly taking the chair before his oak desk.

“I’d think for you to at least remember mine,” She said, “seeing as we both come from the Mainland.”<br>
“Come from the Mainland?” Crane perched his stout chin upon the palms of his hands, leaning forward in his leather seat. “No, I only live in the Mainland. My real home was in Britain.”<br>
“It really doesn’t matter where your birthplace was,” Mimori remarked, annoyed. “The purpose of my visit today has to do with your arrival here to the Lost Ground.”<br>
“Oh?”<br>
“I understand that you are the new commander of HOLY.”<br>
“You’ve heard correct.”<br>
“And that you’ve been storming villages and taking innocent people hostage.”<br>
The middle-aged man frowned. “Not since I last checked. You see, HOLY stands for discipline and reclamation– – at least my HOLY does. I don’t know what orders Martin Zigmarl led his subordinates under. The Native Alters and Inners in my custody are menaces to society. Without SOME sort of boundary, reckless behavior is inevitable.”<br>
The man rose from his seat and turned his back to Mimori.

“And just what gives you the right to play God to these people!? That village had nothing to do with HOLY!”<br>
“Ah, so you WERE there that fateful morning.”<br>
“Yes!” Mimori pushed her chair back, standing forcefully, her fists falling to her sides. “I believe that the way you act is no better than the Mainland! Treating these people like rats is completely unacceptable!”<br>
Crane turned his eyes slightly, so that their dominant glow touched her. “These people are not treated unjustly. They have jobs, working under me, here at HOLY. They are clothed, fed, and treated like every other human being.”<br>
“Then how is it, Mister Isaac Crane, that these are the same individuals who attacked you over a month ago!?”<br>
He shrugged. “Change of heart, perhaps. Who can explain the mind of an individual?”<br>
Mimori marched up behind him, taking him by the shoulder, and forcing him to meet her dangerous glare. “Isaac Crane, I cannot be persuaded by your words. If you do not step down and give these people their freedom, I will have to bring my parents into this, and seeing as you are the Commander of HOLY and they are supporters, I’m most certain that they will not be pleased with the thought of their money being used to fund an unmerited organization.”<br>
“On the contrary, my darling,” Crane grabbed her wrist, bringing it above her head. “I’ve already consulted your parents, and they’re just fine.”<br>
Mimori ceased wriggling from his grasp, her eyes large and her pupils dilating.

“W-What?”<br>
“Well…actually I shouldn’t say that they’re as FINE as one would like to hope for them to be. They’re dead.”<br>
“How dare you say something as horrible as that!” Mimori cried, pulling back. “You have no sense of dignity at all, you pig!”<br>
“I don’t care much for the name calling,” Isaac replied shortly, bringing Mimori against him. “You really are a rather beautiful woman. I find you to be even more attractive when you’re frustrated, as you are now. Your cheeks puff and your face reddens into the most loveliest crimson color I’ve ever seen.”<br>
“You disgust me.”<br>
“Ah, thank you.” Isaac beamed and spun her around so that her hands were restrained behind her back. “Your parents said the same exact thing when I had them executed for treason. Fancy that.”<br>
Mimori stiffened against the man, her blood chilling. “You…what?”<br>
“Surely you didn’t think I was lying about their demise, did you? Ah! But now that means that YOU come into the Kiryu fortune! Isn’t that splendid?”<br>
Mimori’s heart shattered within her bosom, ripping beneath her throat, and leaving it dry. How could this monster…<br>
“I’ve actually been waiting for this moment, Princess. You see, I intend to be the inheritor for your claim. You are far too young and reckless to be trusted with great sums of money.”<br>
“I would never sign my name over to you!” Mimori exclaimed, thrashing. “And I would never be caught dead with you!”<br>
“Mmm, yes, I already saw that coming,” It was easy for the man to constrain the young woman, her futile attempts to escape nettling him none the least. “Therefore, I think we can work around that. It won’t be as broad as Mujo had intended, oh no! Soon you’ll be all over me, obeying my every order and satisfying my every whim. It will be the perfect life, Princess. Just you and I.”<br>
“I will never stoop that low!”<br>
“You already have by coming here.” The ends of his lips snaked into a curl, widening and parting to expose two rows of pearly teeth. “Hitaro!”<br>
The door to Crane’s office was instantly intruded upon by a HOLY-S member and several Dars.

“Aye, Sir!”<br>
“Take Miss Kiryu to the Reformation Lab. Treat her with the utmost respect. We wouldn’t want to hurt the inheritor to the Kiryu fortune, now would we?”<br>
Mimori’s body suddenly chilled. Reformation…Lab?

-----------------------------

“Gray! Kanami!” Raviel jumped up the steps and threw the door open. “Gray! Hey! I’m…home…?” The blonde man’s eyes scanned the premises thoroughly. Nothing had been touched or overturned since the four of them had left for the warehouse several days before.

Had they never come home?

“Gray!” Raviel broke his own silence and jogged in and out of the rooms, swinging himself into the hall and finally into Gray’s room, where he spent most of his free time. “Gray…?” His eyes caught the cold cigarette butts hanging out of the ashtray that Gray had always cleaned out. It was the only thing Gray kept tidy in his room.

But even that had remained unmoved.

Raviel immediately began to chew on his bottom lip out of habit, turning his body so that he was facing the hall again. He concentrated hard, trying to pick up faint vibes from the little girl’s Alter, but alas, there was nothing. They had never come home.

How unlike them! Even if Raviel HAD been missing, it was the trio’s pact that none would come looking for their missing companion. It was not like Gray to break that pact now, after 10 years of having enforced it.

That pact was the one thing that always let Raviel know that something was wrong. And somehow, he knew who was responsible for the despicable deed.

How crass they were! Thinking that they could outsmart him, Raviel!

He dashed for the door, slamming it shut, and dove into the car, speeding back onto the dusty road as fast as he had come.

-----------------------------

The silhouette of the man danced along the walls as he casually made his way to the end of the corridor. Ah, it was the room in which he had last left her, the small girl. He suppressed the anticipation of meeting with the Kiryu daughter, knowing that first came first.

Isaac Crane stopped short inside of the laboratory where several HOLD members moved about, filing papers, conducting experiments…<br>
…all at the will of Commander Crane.

“Commander!” A scrawny man with thick glasses shuffled up to him, almost fearfully, the papers trembling in his hands. “We have performed the DNA tests just as you wished. The girl has been identified as Kanami Yuta, a Native Alter, preteen, and um…”

“Did you say…Kanami Yuta?” Crane’s voice caused the startled man to drop his papers. The two watched as they fluttered to the ground.

“…I’ll get those.” The scientist was on his hands and knees instantaneously, relieved that he no longer had to look into the eyes of his boss. “Uh…Y-Yes…I did say Kanami Yuta…Is there a problem, Sir?”<br>
Crane did not respond immediately. He simply looked up to the ceiling, tracing the neon glow of the dim lights with his eyes. Then he said, “Yuta…I knew a woman by the name of Yuta before. She was…a special woman.”<br>
“Does that mean…that there’s some connection?” The scientist forgot his fear and stared up at the tall and intimidating figure before him.

“Could be. I want you to take a blood sample from the child and bring me the results. If the child is indeed the daughter of the woman 26 years ago, then we’ll be in for quite a surprise.”<br>
“26 years ago, Sir? Isn’t that about the time of the Great Uprising?”<br>
Crane merely smiled and turned his head.

-----------------------------

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

“Project M is in motion…DNA confirmed…set accurately…” Colonel Kei Toshima observed the seven capsules meticulously. He stood tall, six-foot two, with short brown hair, just long enough to surpass being in the army. His arms hung loosely behind his back, connected just at the fingertips.

His subordinate pivoted on his back heel and saluted the Colonel. “Project Mother is going according to plan, Sir!”<br>
Kei continued to say nothing as his eyes trailed to the capsule furthest to the left. A foreign woman, not even of Asian descent, lay almost lifeless inside of the clear tube. He had promised to release her and the baby she now carried within her womb. Release her and all of the other women who were forced to play Isaac Crane’s inhumane game.

“Colonel?”<br>
“Hmm?” Drawn back to the present, Kei absentmindedly nodded. “Oh, yes. Right.”<br>
“You look ill, Colonel. Is something wrong?”<br>
Kei had no time to answer as a white gloved hand grasped his shoulder firmly.

“Why should anything be the matter?” Asked a well-dressed man in a black top hat.

“Eh, I’m not myself today, Mr. Crane,” Kei answered almost truthfully. “I believe I am ill.”<br>
Crane replied that he understood wholly. “Then perhaps you should rest, Colonel. The final tests have been set into motion. With the DNA cells from my own genes, the offspring from the Project M should result in the very first Alter Users known to mankind.” He chose to exclude one small detail.

“Alter Users,” Kei’s subordinate echoed. “You say that Alter Users are refined humans who have the power to change matter at their own digression based on their personality. Yet, you say that they are not human. What would that make them? Undead beings?”<br>
“Spectre,” Kei answered for Crane. “Obviously if something is not living, yet is not completely among the dead, they would be Spectre.”<br>
“Or Specters,” Isaac finished. “Either way you look at it, I suppose, their father is among the Spectre of the Other Side.”<br>
“Mister Isaac Crane,” Kei’s subordinate chuckled. “If you were a Spectre, then you would be dead yourself, would you not?”<br>
Crane simply smiled, neither assenting nor denying the man’s words.

Kei turned, his hand reaching for the collar of his uniform. He found that it grew tighter somehow now. “Yes, Mr. Crane, I think I will take upon your advice and leave you. I am far too ill to receive any kind of order.” Turning sharply on his heel, Kei left the two without another word, his hand still fidgeting with his uniform, and eventually drifting to his neck.

Crane’s eyes followed Kei down the hall before advancing back to his specimen. “Fine, they are,” Crane marveled, the creations before him filling him with excitement. “After twenty-two years, my anticipation can finally smooth itself into a calm and placid pond, rather than the violent ocean, taunted by the moon’s rising that it has been for so long now.”<br>
“Such words you speak,” Kei’s underling responded. “Is it really necessary? I mean, I know you’ve been working your way to the top for twenty-two years, but…”

“To the top?” The man in the black top hat interrupted. “Surely you jest. I have been at the top since the beginning.”<br>
-----------------------------

Kei’s breathing took a turn for the worst. His hand fled to his heart, which pounded vigorously in his chest. He dropped the communicator from his lips with his other hand and turned the corner, nearly tripping over his own long legs.

“Kei!” A man dressed in a dark cloak approached him, holding in his arms a woman wrapped in a dirty gray cloth. It was one of the women from Crane’s experiments. “Sector Z has been secured. Crane’s power is down. Now all that’s left is to release the hostages.”<br>
“Yes,” The Colonel whispered, afraid that his voice would carry down the halls and be heard elsewhere. “Um…” He glanced around, searching for a particular woman. “Where is Miss Mina?”<br>
“Don’t be so formal, Colonel,” The man grinned briefly. “You’re not on duty and she is simply a woman.”<br>
“Miss Mina is a wonderful woman.” Kei protested, slightly offended. “You should know better than to address her as such. Now, please tell me where I can find her.”<br>
The man nodded down the hall. “The General has her. He’s about to take her, so if you want to bid her farewell, you had better do so.”<br>
“Yes,” The Colonel nodded. “Goodbye and…” Kei stopped and turned back to his comrade. “…thank you for your help, Reiji.” Colonel Toshima moved briskly down the hall, his eyes scanning the surroundings. It was no surprise to him that the security was low. They hadn’t been alerted of an intrusion.

Kei burst into the lab just as the old General grabbed the last of the women, and he was startled by the Colonel’s presence.

“Kei!” The General relaxed, his breathing evening. “You’re supposed to be watching the south east gate.”<br>
“I had to see Miss Mina,” Kei explained, quickly moving to her side. He shook her gently by the shoulders. “She is asleep, I fear. Too deep to be reached, even by me.” Kei chewed on his bottom lip and then looked up at the kind General’s face. “Tell her I will be late but to wait for me. I shall meet her by the train station and if I’m not there the day after tomorrow, that I will be there the following day. Tell her for me, kind General?”<br>
The General picked the young woman up in his arms. “You should have not gotten involved with Crane’s women.” Even through the white cloth draped over the woman, the General could see the curve over the woman’s midsection. “Pregnant, Kei? She is to bear your child? But you’re still young! Only twenty, but…”

Kei turned away. “Please, General. Please do this for me.”<br>
“…So young,” The General repeated. “Yes, I shall tell her, Kei. But for your sake as a man and a soon-to-be father, not as the Colonel, you had better keep that promise.”<br>
-----------------------------

Kei Toshima stared out of his window, holding the maroon curtains back. The alarm had just been sounded, but the Japanese Rebellion had already fled. He knew it wouldn’t be long before Crane had his suspicions and although Kei longed to see Mina, he knew that for her safety and for the safety of their child, it was best that they stayed separated.

No doubt by now Isaac Crane had already learned of the release of his specimen and was seeking answers. Kei wanted to avoid that man for as long as possible. But sometimes, meetings are inevitable.

The Colonel jumped from his position at the window when the rap of angry knuckles came into contact with the wood of his door. But as a man, he could not back down. When he pulled the door back, the man in the black top hat was quick to seize the welcoming and stepped inside.

“I suppose you’ve heard of the Japanese Rebellion’s arrival?” Crane breathed, his cheeks red with apparent anger.

“No I have not, Mr. Crane.”<br>
“That’s Master to you.” Kei could not evade the black glow in the older man’s eyes.

“Your subordinates tell me that you have been acting irregular lately, Colonel…often talking about my specimen or…at least one of them.” Kei found himself moving backwards as Crane stalked closer towards him.

“In any such case, it only leads me to believe that you somehow have connections with tonight’s raid. Isn’t that right, Colonel?”<br>
“I…believe you misunderstand.”<br>
“No,” Crane said, waving a single white finger in front of Kei’s pale face. “I believe it is YOU who misunderstands. You see, I am a living and dying God. It’s hard for you to understand now, but as your superior, that is how you must view me. And I will NOT tolerate liars or traitors.” Immediately halting in his tracks, Crane tipped his hat upwards. “You may have cost me seven valuable women for a priceless experiment, but I can always substitute for that. Since you set my specimen free, you can take their place instead.”<br>
Kei’s eyes diverted back and forth across the room.

…He never did make it to the train station after that.

-----------------------------

Crane rocked back and forth in his leather seat, his hands folded neatly across his lap. He didn’t even bother turning his head when the door opened behind him.

“Sir, the reports…” The papers were laid neatly on the surface of his desk. “As you have predicted, they match the cells perfectly. It’s amazing that you still have those results after twenty-two years.”<br>
“Yes,” Crane rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. “You can call it a miracle.” He pushed himself from his chair. “What wonderful news this is. I want you to prepare a vehicle to the wastelands, exactly 43 degrees east from here. The child is coming with me.”<br>
“But Sir…what on earth could be out in the middle of nowhere?”<br>
Isaac made a slight hum in his throat and then sneered. “The door to the Other Side. It does not need to be opened by a single Alter User such as what Mujo had predicted with Kazuma and Ryuho. But it needs a place of life and death to be activated. A single useless structure.” Then, twirling his hand in a half circle, “Simply put…a church.”<br>
-----------------------------

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

“Elian, are you sure you don’t see anything?” Urizane asked from inside Cammy’s car. She sat in the driver’s seat, the engine still running.

Elian, overlooking the hill that he and Urizane had occupied just hours before, stood in his Alter shaped like a bubble, and proceeded to search for their missing comrades.

“Just like Mujo before Crane,” Elian whispered, his attempts proving useless. “It’s a barrier…I can’t see into the walls of HOLY.”<br>
“What was that, Elian?” The hefty man inquired.

“It’s a barrier,” The boy repeated, louder this time. “I can’t see into HOLY.”<br>
“Not even YOU, Elian?” Shaking his head in disgust, Urizane jumped out of the car.

“Urizane,” Cammy protested, but he would not listen.

“This Crane guy is just playing with us now!” Urizane could not restrain himself from kicking the front bumper of the car, prompting a “HEY!” from Cammy.

“This is Asuka’s car!” Cammy shouted, honking the horn.

Recovering from his temporary deafness, Urizane turned back to Elian. “We’ll just have to figure out a new plan. And Cammy,” The large man rubbed his ears. “sorry about kicking the car.”<br>
-----------------------------

Raviel nearly overturned the car as he pulled up in front of Asuka’s house– – the same house that he had dropped Mimori off at that morning. Waiting for all four tires to make contact with the ground, Raviel pulled the emergency brake and pushed himself out of the car. He didn’t even bother wearing his sunglasses to disguise his face, figuring that Gray and Sydney’s kidnappers had seen their features already. He stood now in a black tank top, minus the coat from when he had pretended to be Lieutenant Major Hyuga, and his black pants with steel-toed boots.

-----------------------------


Kazuma, who struggled to look up from his position on the couch, waited for his vision to focus and for all four blonde heads to meld into one before recognizing that they had company.

“Mmm? What the…?”<br>
-----------------------------


Raviel was not surprised when the door swung open and a drunk-looking Kazuma staggered outside, his eyes swollen and his arms and legs wrapped in bandages. The thing was, Kazuma wasn’t drunk.

“Ugh…what do you want?” Kazuma slurred, the lack of hospitality evident in his voice.

“Stayed out partying all night?” Raviel called to him, still approaching the door, where Kazuma’s broken form haunted the frame.

“Not hardly,” Once Kazuma’s eyes focused, he recognized the unmistakable blonde hair…and those clothes! “…You…” The younger man snarled.

“Ah, so you DO recognize me,” Raviel said, cracking his knuckles. “That’s peachy. Then we can cut to the chase.”<br>
“You’re the moron who kidnapped Kanami, aren’t you!?”<br>
“Call it whatever you’d like,” The thief shrugged. “but either way, that’s not going to stop me from getting my companions back.” Surprisingly, Raviel ceased moving. “So, where are they?”<br>
“Bite me.”<br>
“Maybe some other time,” Raviel’s patience was thinning. “Right now, I have more important matters to attend to. Now, either you frolic away from that door, or I use force. Are we square?”<br>
“Square-less,” Kazuma replied. “I’m not letting you go anywhere, except straight to hell!”<br>
“Oh that’s nice,” Raviel grinned. “I thought that those would be your words. Well then, friend, I really don’t care how it’s done, just so long as you remove yourself from the doorframe. And if fighting you is the only way, well then…” The blonde man shrugged. “…it can’t be helped.”<br>
“That’s right!” Kazuma thrust his right arm away from him, his Alter encasing it. “Are you ready?”<br>
“Kazuma,” Raviel stood relaxed, which surprised the Shell Bullet Alter User. He had no look of fear in his eyes at all. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Who knew that it would be my misfortune that I would finally have to meet you?”<br>
“You should be lucky that I’m your executioner.”<br>
“Oh that’s not what I meant,” Raviel chuckled, his blue eyes glowing. “I was merely stating what a disappointment it is to meet a spineless lowlife such as yourself.”<br>
“You take that back!”<br>
“Truth hurts?” Raviel moved his foot back slightly, waiting for Kazuma to make the first move. “I really feel sorry for Kanami for ever having to associate herself with such a selfish, lazy…”

Kazuma’s body came as a blur to the thief, a stream of light following behind.

“Shocking First Bullet!” The ground erupted beneath the two, and Kazuma felt a smile tug at the end of his sore lips, pleased with himself. “That outta shut you up, ya pig.”<br>
“You know, that’s the second time this week someone’s called me that.” Raviel said, his back to Kazuma. “I really don’t view myself as a pig. I don’t live in a PIGSTY nor do I have the physical features of a pig.”<br>
Looking over his shoulder, Kazuma felt his jaw drop in defeat. He had…missed?

“Are you sure you weren’t out partying?” Raviel questioned, his hands on his hips. “Your aim seems to be slightly off.”<br>
“That was just a warm up,” The Master of the Shell Bullet grunted, saying it more to himself than to his opponent. “You’re nothing like that monster, Crane.”<br>
“Well, thank you for the compliment.”<br>
“It wasn’t a compliment!” Kazuma pushed himself into the air, readying his next attack. “Annihilating Second Bullet!”

“Persistent little…” Raviel turned his wrist, his fingers spread apart slightly. “Look! I’m over there!”<br>
“Huh?” Kazuma lost his concentration, and the light of his attack died out. He turned his head in midair, and saw Raviel to the far left of him. “How did you…GAH!” Caught off guard, Kazuma was unaware of the side kick to his head until the blow came forcefully and he was thrown to the ground, shattering the soil beneath him.

Raviel stood above him, smiling. “Seems like your eye caught something else. No one would be dumb enough to take their focus off of the target.”<br>
“You were over there, mor…on…?” Kazuma blinked. Were his eyes deceiving him? Now Raviel stood to the far left of him again, waving.

“I could’ve been over there,” Raviel admitted.

“Or I could’ve been over here.” Jerking his head to the right, Kazuma was astonished to find Raviel’s form there again.

“Or perhaps I could’ve been in front of you the whole time.” Startled slightly, Kazuma looked back up, the voice that had been growing nearer coming from the same blonde thief, who stared down at him now.

“Why you…” Arching his body back, Kazuma thrust himself upwards, sending his legs into Raviel’s chest. Strangely enough, Kazuma’s legs never made contact.

The younger man was flung to the ground without anything to hold himself on, his face disturbing the soil of the earth. “Ow…”

“Aw! Poor form!” Raviel said from behind him. “What kind of idiot taught you how to fight?”<br>
“My brother was NOT an idiot,” Kazuma mumbled and pushed his foot underneath him, making it easier to stand. Spinning around, his back hunched, the Shell Bullet Alter User looked up, and his eyes widened. Raviel was nowhere in sight. “All right, you coward, enough games!”<br>
“Awwww, but I love games!” Unaware of the speeding kick behind him, Kazuma was hurled forward, however, remained lucky enough to catch himself before he completely fell apart.

“What…what are you?” Kazuma coughed, spitting blood up from the back of his throat. “I can’t…sense an Alter.”<br>
“Ah, well then, you haven’t been trained very well.” Wiping his chin clean with his arm, the Shell Bullet Master looked up, Raviel’s face held haughtily heavenwards. “An experienced Alter User is someone who doesn’t depend on his Alter.” At Kazuma’s blank stare, the thief continued. “Sure, practice, practice, practice to your heart’s content, but if you rely on your Alter, well…where’s your survival skills, eh?” Then, Raviel began to count off on his fingers. “You don’t have the brains, the logic, the innate ability to fend for yourself…Well, that’s a pretty meaningless existence, don’t you think?”<br>
“Shut up. Everything you say is just plain bull.”<br>
“Oh, you think so, eh? You know, I don’t deny your powers or anything, Kazuma, but I think you would’ve fared far better in our fight…had you known that I was an Alter User myself.”<br>
Kazuma jumped to one knee. “You cheap dirty…!”<br>
“Allow me to show you my Alter,” Raviel said, folding his arms over his chest, the light of an Alter User illuminating from his body. “It’s grandiose! Kazuma, meet the exalted and superlative Master of the Black Handed Illusion!” Forming in a single line was the same light of an Alter User’s, and three other silhouettes stood before Kazuma, all duplicates of Raviel.

“An Illusionist?”<br>

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

“Take your pick,” Raviel bowed low, all of his duplicates mirroring his move and talking in unison. “Would you like to learn the…”

“Martial Arts of Karate?” The words came from behind Kazuma, taking him for yet another round of surprises as the younger man was swept off his feet by one of the duplicates.

“Or Kung-Fu?” Before the Shell Bullet Alter User could hit the ground, his chest was struck by the infamous palm strike and he went sailing again.

“Or are you picky and would like to learn something in particular? Like…”

“The White Crane?”<br>
“Drunken?”<br>
“Or even the Eagle Claw?”<br>
From all sides the replicas came, and every time Kazuma swung, he was constrained by another, while a second photocopy attacked. Another, and another! It was an endless dance, it seemed, and Kazuma, already weakened from Crane’s own illusions, could not stand up to his opponent any longer.

He was relieved when his most hated rival exited the house, Zetsuei already by his side.

“Are you all right, Kazuma!?” Ryuho asked, his own face covered in bandages.

“Watch yourself,” The Shell Bullet Master struggled to say, his body growing heavy against the ground. “He’s…an Alter User.”<br>
“Alter?” Ryuho’s eyes lifted, obviously struggling to believe such a statement. “The thief is an Alter User?”

“An Illusionist,” Raviel was quick to specify.

Then it was clear. “I see. That day back at the port…that duplicate we were following was…”

“Merely a duplicate,” Raviel finished. “My, is it THAT much of a surprise?”<br>
“Where is Mimori!?” Ryuho shouted, his face reddening with anger.

“Ah, there is the hated look I’ve grown to love and adore.” Raviel snickered. “Anywho, I thought that that would be a question you, yourself, could answer. I dropped her off here this morning.”<br>
“Indubitably a lie!” Ryuho swiped his hand through the air. “You better not have killed her!”<br>
“Me? Harm Ms. Kiryu? Certainly ALL lies!” Raviel held an open hand to his heart. “I swear it upon my oath as an untrusting thief! Eh…wait a minute…probably not a good thing to be swearing upon…”

“I knew it!” Ryuho roared. “You’re as despicable as they say! Kazuma!”<br>
“No need to tell me twice,” Kazuma’s lips curled into a smile as he stood, his injured body quaking. “I’ll cut his lips off and then sew them shut.”<br>
“Well that’s fun,” Raviel remarked, standing before the two. “See, that’s why you two keep losing to me. You’re so intent on maiming me or tearing the organs out of my body, your focus just simply isn’t on anything else!” Then, leaning forward. “That’s called narrowed mindedness.”<br>
“Oh shut up!” Kazuma snarled. “I’ve had enough of your elaborate talk! You say that you’re an advanced Alter User, but you obviously have never seen us fight! We’ve taken on HOLY and the Mainland, and we’ll be glad to take you on too!”<br>
“I agree!” Ryuho assented. “Zetsuei!”<br>
“That’s what makes us different than each other,” Raviel said, pulling up the sleeves on his shirt. “See? No ailing limbs, no lines etched into my body, AND I have both eyes. I’m in perfect condition!”<br>
“We’ll see if you’ll be saying that after I snap your legs off.” Kazuma said, clenching his fingers together. “Exterminating Last Bullet!”<br>
“Zetsuei!”

“Oh, bother…” Raviel shook his head.

This time, six duplicates appeared before Raviel, their unchanging gazes following the speedy forms of the two Legendary Alter Users.

“Black…”

“…Handed…”

“Illusion!”

Then a total of eight duplicates, surrounded the two, taking a form on each side of the Alter Users, and took a turn gliding about them, too fast for even the likes of Kazuma and Ryuho to notice.

“Did I mention that it doesn’t help when the two of you are in the conditions you are now?” All eight mirrors of Raviel said in unison. “You simply can’t fight at half-power, nor even a quarter! Until you two decide to take a break and REALLY fight me, I suppose that even the two Legendary Alter Users don’t have a chance.”<br>
Unable to respond, Kazuma took the beating as he had before, the last of his Alter dissipating into thin air. With a final kick from one of the duplicates, he was tossed away like a discarded doll, too broken to fight.

Ryuho, rushing in to help his Alter, was taken by his own surprise. Like a bolt from the blue, he was thrown to his back, and Zetsuei, who was a tangled mess within the four pairs of arms, was powerless against the obscurity made from the blazing duplicates. It wasn’t until a final kick crashed down upon the two like a hammer that Ryuho found himself dazed and stationary.

“Are we done already? Glorious!” Raviel stood in between the two still forms of Kazuma and Ryuho. “Then I’ll be on my way.”<br>
“Over my…”

“…dead body…”

Then, a mirror that wasn’t controlled by Raviel flashed before him. Sprinting forward from opposite sides, Kazuma and Ryuho both reeled an arm back, their faces void of any reasoning.

“I’LL GET YOU!” Came the unison between the two as their arms swept like lightning, Raviel caught in the middle.

“Heh…”

And both fists collided with one another, tearing through the faces of each other, and Kazuma and Ryuho fell to the ground, defeated.

“It was…another illusion…” Ryuho muttered, his words becoming absorbed within the dirt that his face lay in.

“Friggin Mother– – ”<br>
“Now don’t be so bitter,” Raviel said, his form leaning against the wall, next to the door. “You lost, I won, and fair is fair.” Then his head turned, aware that they were not alone. “Hmm?”<br>
A green van rose up from within the distance, tearing up the ground beneath it.

“Oh goody! More Alter Users!” Raviel cheered, sensing the presence of Elian and Urizane from within the moving vehicle.

-----------------------------


“Is that…Kazuma…?” Cammy breathed.

“And Ryuho!” Urizane’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “What are they doing taking a nap out in the middle of the road!?”<br>
“Look right!” Elian pointed with his small fingers. “It’s that thief they were talking about!”<br>
-----------------------------

Raviel was intent on slipping into the house, but fighting suddenly appealed to him, which was unusual. He didn’t often waste his time using his Alter, and he realized that he had to use it more times this week than he had to in a year’s time.

“You ugly, stupid…”

Raviel had the urge to pull out a mirror.

“Ugly!? How rude!” Raviel remarked as Urizane jumped out from the car. “Why don’t you take a look in the mirror yourself!?” The blonde thief watched as a young boy with blue hair emptied from the car behind the hefty man, but the young driver stayed inside.

“What do you think you’re doing here!?” Urizane shouted, not bothering to close his door. Elian was so preoccupied, he didn’t either.

“I am LOOKING for my comrades.” Raviel explained. “You commoners are so rude…oh wait. I’m a commoner myself. But still! What’s with all the hostility!? I was simply trying to have a civilized conversation with Kazuma there and he started ATTACKING me! I swear if I…”

“Be careful,” Ryuho said, still on the ground, breathing hard. “He’s…he’s an Alter User.”<br>
“A what!?”<br>
Raviel, seeing as he was no longer the cynosure of everyone’s attention, turned his eyes back to see several furry creatures jumping into the open doors of Cammy’s van. Chewing on his bottom lip, his eyes widened as he saw the small bodies of the little animals, bright red bandanas tied around their heads, and a single, shiny silver scimitar held up, especially right above the young female driver’s head.

“SAND MONKEYS!” Raviel screamed, sprinting to the green van. Apparently, Cammy hadn’t seen the attack coming. “Hold on lady! Raviel is here!” And he pulled the door open and yanked the woman out of her seat, just as the dangerous scimitar cut down, tearing the seat in half.

Raviel carried Cammy in his arms as he kicked the door shut immediately with his right leg. Everyone looked up at the blonde thief as the car’s tires instantly began to spin and the van drove away at exceedingly high speeds.

“Hey! HEY!” Raviel dashed after the car, the woman still in his arms, until he finally gave up and turned back to the four pairs of eyes, excluding the eyes from Cammy, that were on him. Their questioning gazes rendered him silent for a brief moment. “They’re…Sand Monkeys! A form of monkey. They…um…apparently know how to drive.” Then, staring down at Cammy. “Sorry for your car, Miss.” Then he set her down on the ground. “Ms. Kiryu and I were ambushed by Sea Monkeys, ourselves…”

“Monkeys?” Kazuma asked through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing. “You’re expecting us to believe that monkeys just stole that car!?”<br>
“Well…yes.”<br>
“You really ARE an idiot!” Urizane shouted profoundly and then stared down at the remains of the two Legendary Alter Users. “You were annihilated by HIM!?”<br>
“He’s tougher than he looks,” Ryuho warned. “Don’t take him lightly.”<br>
“And above all else, you DON’T believe me!” Raviel cried. “They WERE Sand Monkeys! I swear!”<br>
“Monkeys are ANIMALS!” Kazuma said, especially putting emphasis on the word ‘animals’. “Even I’m not stupid enough to believe that we were overthrown by MONKEYS.”<br>
Giving them a sour look, Raviel folded his arms over his chest. “I save your lives, and THIS is the thanks I get!? I hate you all!” Then he stuck his tongue out at them.

[Kat Rhye Lee Dezaraye]

-----------------------------

The door opened, breaking the darkness for the first time in at least fifteen years. Welcoming the sunlight briefly, the walls instantly shuddered in fright as the most feared of men stalked through the doorframe and thundered across the creaking boards overpoweringly. In his strong arms was the form of a small girl, dressed in orange and white. Her hair, tied back by a bright red ribbon, seemed to dull just by coming into the darkness of the church. Not even the color from the faded stained glass windows could offer any reprieve.

Isaac Crane stopped at the edge of the altar, holding the girl up as though he were making an offering.

“As the ruler of this child’s existence, I command the door to the Other Side to be opened! Bring forth such light and give me the key to unlocking the whereabouts of the Seven who shall love and serve me!”<br>
Then the stained glass window shattered.

-----------------------------

Woot.

[rahwenn]

hahaha, the monkeys are funny~Kazuma's reaction was classic!
poor Kanami, she always seems to get kidnapped and tormented ....someone should get her agun or something.
v.cool chappy!

[Asuka Was Here]

mysteriousness.... and monkeys! And poor Cammy's car!

and yeah, Mimori and Kanami both have a tendency to get captured and tortured. Could it be because they're both rather defenseless and pacifistic?

Anyway, it was a great chapter. The plot seems to be really moving forward quickly now ^_^ Can't wait to read the next one!

~AB