I'm Proud Of You (Monthly)

[Zack Asiv]

"I'm Proud Of You"

-You did what you came to do.-[/center]

Format:

Single. (You may work with someone else for storyline purposes if you like but each person must submit his or her own separate ‘trip’ to claim the reward.)

Reward:

Choice of +3 EXP, $600, item unlock, Qi unlock/Learn Use

Scenario:

Vital mission. Your life is in danger, but so is the person you would give your life to protect. The person you care about most is threatened by this horrible enemy. This enemy is as strong as you, knows your every move, your weaknesses. Can you even dream of winning? If you dont, what happens to those you care about?

Requirements:

• 1,000 word minimum
  
• Your character must fight
  
• The enemy has your stats and a counter Qi.
  
• You must come close to losing!
  

This Monthly Event ends on Thursday, November 1st.

[/size]

[David B.]

Blood tripped from his chin as he breathed deeply, the cement blurring in his vision. A boot was planted on the back of his head, a laugh coming from above him as the wind around them picked up into a relative tornado, cars flipping over as the gleeful laughter continued. He was stunned. How could anyone…anyone be this strong? Was this what people saw when they looked at Leon, at Mathew, at himself? Was he some great entity that stood above others, with his boot on their heads, laughing at their weakness? He felt beaten… defeated. Taken down by someone who matched him punch for punch, kick for kick. Who even had his abilities to control the skies themselves.


"You know, you were quite the disappointment. I came all this way, on foot, to test myself against a man who was said to possess these wonderful abilities. Who survived on his strength alone. And you barely fattened my lip. You're a disgrace."


The man took his boot away and kicked David in the side, sending him into a building that was being torn apart by the storm. David grunted, spitting blood. His vision wavered as he raised his eyes, looking at the outline of the man who was stepping forward. The mans clothes were torn… and David could barely-


*********************************


"Step away."


His men moved back as David would kick, the door splintering off it's hinges and blowing back into the doorway. They had come far, in search of a Dragon who had secretly been a spy. While he had been busy leading troops and expanding their territories, things at base were slowly escalating. People were eager to be out, and spent their time training and fighting one another. Even the guards were lax in their duty, too busy were they showing off their muscles. So, in the middle of their recklessness, a man had snuck in and stole several files that contained sensitive troop placements, bases, and even attack plans. Plans that would be disastrous in the hands of Barker.


They had spent days tracking the man, hunting him from place to place. They had nearly caught him twice. But the man was slick, and fast, and had little time for rest. Finally they were able to get to his hideout, just outside the north eastern border to Barkers stronghold. He had listened to the man talk, yelling at someone inside. It felt good, knowing David had him in the palm of his hand. That his mission was a failure. That he was the one to bring the man to heel.


As the door flew off the hinges, the fellow shrunk back, the table hosting a folder with the Dragon logo on it, some papers scattered about. David stepped inside as his men secured the house. He stepped to the table and slowly slid papers around, looking them over. Everything was there. David turned to the man and kicked him in the chest, sending him through a wall and skittering into the street. He stepped after him, now holding the papers. He held them out to the side, wind tearing at them and ripping them to pieces before scattering them into the wind in small, sand-sized bits. He walked toward the man who was coughing blood, looking up at him, obviously in his last throes of life.


"I… am s-sorry. He….has…d…daughter…can't-"


The mans head hit the concrete, eyes blank as blood leaked from his mouth. David stared at him, a twisting feeling in his chest. The guy was in his forties- it was possible he had a daughter. He heard clapping behind him, and saw a man. Blonde hair, gray eyes. He had a duffle bag strung over his shoulder. David looked around for his men, who were all laying face down on the ground, out cold. He turned his eyes back on the individual who was standing before him.


"David Blaze- the Storm Dragon, they call you. My name is Richard Albert Branuhmin. I'm going to take your life."


David didn't flinch, staring straight into the mans eyes.


"That's not gonna end well for you."


The man laughed, Dropping his bag off to the side.


"I hope not. I have fought and fought and fought, and have yet to meet someone who challenges me. I figured whichever of the Dragons i found first would be the one whose life I take, or who takes mine. You just so happen to be him."


The man cracked his knuckles and launched forward. Davids eyes went wide- not only was the man fast, but the wind behind him propelled him forward. Reflexively, his arm came up, hand catching the individuals fist. The force pushed his feet into the cement, the ground cracking up around his feet. Such strength! He ground his teeth and pushed back, throwing a right cross and feeling the mans cheek against his fist. The guy flew backward several steps, turning his eyes back on the young Dragon, wiping blood from his lips.


"You're far weaker than I expected. Do you lack conviction? You treat every fighter as though they are less than yourself. I think im going to break that mold."

David frowned. He hit the man, hard. He shouldnt be walking. The man walked toward him slowly. David threw a right hook. The man ducked and punche him in the exposed ribcage. He grunted but brought up his knee. The man extended his hand, wind hitting David with such force it shot him back, slamming him into the wall. Before he could push back, blows were raining on him, one after another. One to the face. Ten to the chest and stomach. David tried to fight back after clambering off the wall, but this new enemy laughed and outfoxxed him at every turn. It was like he knew what he would do before he did it.

He grabbed the man, throwing him into a building. He just kept coming. Lighting and wind and rain didn't slow him down. He flew as though possesed by Davids spirit... it made the young Blaze cringe. He fought like a demon possessed, and his moves were effortless.

It was all rather...humbling.

David was weak, and though he had landed several blows, the guy was nowhere near as damaged as him. A punch to the temple caused him to stumble, another took him to his hands and knees. The foot on his head was barely registered...but


*******************************************


Davids eyes started to flit closed, but the mans words ripped through his head.


"Im going to kill you, David. Im going to take away the lie of your existance, and then im going to take away those you care about. Delilah. Youichi. Especially Olesya."


David opened his eyes. The man was removing a crooked blade from his duffle, and headed back his way.


'Olesya...'


He could hear the footsteps.


'Delilah...'


The man was standing in front of him now.


'Youichi. August. Marcusleonmathewalbertemilyunfettered-'

They had been fighting for two hours, and David never understood what this new man meant when he said he lacked conviction. It was what all the people he loved had. What the world needed, what he asked them for. Yet he wasn't giving.


His hand came up and caught the blade, a thin layer of wind protecting his hand. His other hand came up and grabbed the mans throat, lifting him off the ground. The man's eyes widened, and David's teeth were clenched, blood running from the corners.

"You...won't touch them... "

His grip tightened on the mans throat, the Tornado crashing into nothing as David put a stop to it.

"I...won't let...you.... " The man clawed at his fingers.

"I WONT LET YOU FUCKING TOUCH THEM!"

The man blasted backward, massaging his throat, unable to speak. The air around David picked up, his viens bulging as his vision became as clear as ever. His heart was beating so hard in his chest he almost hoped it would burst.

"YOU DIE TODAY!"

David launched forward, acting like he was gonna go down into a leg slide, but instead launched up into an uppercut, the man completely unprepared. David grabbed him out of the air his fist had sent him into, and smashed him into the ground. David got into a mount and began to rain blows. He used the air to push on his elbows to add speed and power. Blood was shooting into the air, but he didn't stop.

In the end, the man was nearly unrecognizable, and spoke in a quite whisper from the indentation in the earth, David still sitting on him, arms nearly too heavy to lift.

"At last...you....r-rose to the...challenge....Sweet release.... "

His breath rattled out, and David stared at him for a long moment before his eyes rolled back into his head. He slumped over, one of the men awakening to the destruction before checking on David's health.

**************************

OOC: Money please. About 1500 words after code.

[Kazuya Hikari]

Flying backwards, Kazuya's back collided with the wall of the alleyway, landing hard against the wall, the impact left a crater-sized hole in the wall, a cross-shape tear appeared on the front of his shirt before completely ripping apart from the impact of the attack, as blood flew out of Kazuya's mouth from the force. Lying against the wall like he had been crucified to it, his arms outstretched, his head dropped down, his face hidden from view, it was hard to tell if Kazuya was still conscious or not...

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

Saturday night. Kazuya walked along the ruined streets, his hands in his pockets, going nowhere in particular. As expected of a city blown to kingdom come, the streets were deserted. Yawning widely, Kazuya walked past the entrance to an alleyway, when he heard the faint sound of metal clanging.

Stopping in the middle of the entrance way, he frowned slightly as he caught the faint sound of someone's voice. Looking to the left, then to the right, seeing no one around, Kazuya slipped into the alleyway, sticking to the shadows as he quietly headed deeper into the alley, the place was deserted... or so it would seem. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he would hear what sounded like...

"!"

Taking a leap back, he'd find a pillar of fire come erupting forth at the exact spot he had just been standing at, the hand of the guy planted firmly on the ground. If he had been caught in that, he wouldn't have been hurt by it, but his clothes would've burned off instantly, and he did not need to lose his clothes. Hell, last thing he needed was to go back naked.

"Do not even think about it. Come any closer, and you will not live to see another day."

The guy muttered, as he straightened up and raised his hand, palm facing forward, ready to fire more flames straight at Kazuya, even though Kazuya would not be affected by the flames at all. His eyes narrowing, to focus his sight, he could just about make the guy's facial features out... only for his eyes to widen. It... it couldn't be! This guy, he looked exactly like...

"Do you know who I am? No, of course you don't. I am you, Kazuya, replicated from your DNA. My name is Kazuma, and I have come to destroy you, everyone you love, all to take back the life I never wanted in the first place, all because of Sean Barker!"

The guy roared angrily, as Kazuya's eyes narrowed in fury, his face hidden in shadows as he stood there, his fists clenched up. Without warning, Kazuya would suddenly take off, running all out and straight at his replica, causing him to fire a stream of flames in response. Kazuya easily evading the attack, he'd activate his Qi and fire a stream of flames back at his replica, not to try and hit him, but merely to serve as a distraction.

Reaching his replica, he would launch a punch at him, and the two of them would end up locked in a wrestling match, neither one giving the other an inch. Engulfing himself entirely in flames, his replica would do the same, neither one appearing affected by the others flame. Continuing to wrestle with his replica, who's strength, stamina, perception, everything! was equal to his own, he wasn't lying when he said he was Kazuya.

His brows furrowed in equal parts concentration and frustration, the two of them would trade blows with each other, for each blow his replica inflicted, Kazuya would inflict one back in turn. By the time they were locked in another wrestling match, blood dripped from his forehead, from his cheeks, from his arms, pretty much everywhere, though the same could be said for his replica, not to mention slowly, Kazuya could feel himself being pushed lower and lower, closer and closer to the ground, much to his disbelief. Fighting back as hard as he could, with an almighty push against him, Kazuya would find himself down on his knees, a condescending look on his replica's face.

Without warning, he would fling Kazuya to the ground roughly, before planting his hand on the ground and causing a pillar of flames to erupt forth, blasting him up into the air, before following up with a powerful stream of flames, blasting Kazuya backwards and roughly into the brick wall behind him. Leaving an impact crater in the wall, Kazuya would stay embedded in the wall, his head bowed down low, as the replica sneered condescendingly at the original. Did Kazuya just... lose?

"... The replica beat the original... What a fool..."

"... You're... the fool... Kazuma..."

A faint voice would speak up, as the replica looked straight ahead of him, scarcely unable to believe what he was hearing, only for his eyes to widen in shock as an intense flame red glow would light up his face, disbelief etched on his face at what he was seeing.You would think after a blow like that, Kazuya would be unconscious, right? Well, he was unconscious, but strangely, almost eerily one would say, he was still able to move. Almost like someone else had taken over his body, and was controlling him, even though he was unconscious. Kazuya stood there, blood trickling down his cheek and the back of his head. Completely engulfed in flames once more, his head still bowed, this time however, the flames surrounding Kazuya were more intense, more... hotter, than before.

It's so quiet, as if I'd lost my hearing. I hear nothing, not even the sound of my own breathing. I feel nothing, not even pain. Am I now... moving by pure will alone?

Slowly shifting his body, his minor wounds cauterizing and closing up from the intensity of his flame form, Kazuya would free himself from the crater, and move towards Kazuma, step by step. His replica still in utter disbelief, he could feel the temperature radiating from Kazuya grow hotter and hotter not just with each step taken, but with each second that passed.

Snapping out of his stupor, Kazuma would fire a stream of flames at Kazuya, hoping to blast him back again. The stream directly hitting Kazuya, causing an explosion and a wall of flames to ignite, the smug look would appear back on his face, only to be wiped off instantly as Kazuya stepped through the flames, completely undeterred. Kazuma continuing with his relentless barrage of streams of flames, trying to drive Kazuya back, he would not be stopped and just continue onward, the flames merely adding more power to his flame form.

Utter shock visible on Kazuma's face, with a sudden burst of speed, Kazuya would take off, reaching his replica before he could even react, and would fire a close range stream of flames at him, sending him flying backwards and into the brick wall with a loud crunch, completely out cold. Glaring down at his replica, his face completely hidden in shadows, Kazuya towered over his fallen form, despite still bleeding heavily from the major wounds he sustained, blood running down his face, arms, and chest, he'd grudgingly drag the bloodied and crumpled form of his replica out of the alleyway and towards Dragon Territory. He had many close encounters with death, but this? This was hard for even him to believe...

(OOC: Word count minus BB coding and this out of character note: 1255 and EXP please.)

[Mathew Amtrum]

"Mathew Amtrum. The Earth Dragon correct?"

A man asked him, stepping out of the shadows of an alleyway deep in Barker territory. Mathew stopped in his tracks and turned to face the man. Curiosity over who was addressing him. The man didn't appear to be anything special. An obvious experiment. White hair, in good shape, cloudy blue eyes. And considering he was in Barker territory he was assuming that this was one of Barker's men.

"Yeah, what are you going to do about it?"

Mathew asked with a smirk. He wasn't afraid of a single Barker goon. He could take out a whole platoon of them without breaking a sweat. This guy just wanted to look tough, he was willing to bet on it.

"I have come to inform you that tonight is the day that both you and your lover Bastille will die by my hand. First you here. And then her. In her sleep."

The man smiled a wicked smile. Teeth were unnaturally white. Like pure untouched snow. Calmly he slid in to a fighting stance. Waiting for Mathew to make the first move.

Something that Mathew was more than happy to do. He didn't know whether to laugh or not. This guy thought he was going to kill him? What's more he thought that he could threaten his people? The man knew who he was, but clearly did not know what he was capable of.

"I am going to wipe that fucking smile right off your face."

He said rushing forward, the ground shaking under his foot falls, Mathew sent a quick snap kick to the man. A spike of stone shooting out to impale the man in the chest. The man however seemed to be unaffected by the ground shaking with Mathew's steps and calmly slapped the spike away, causing it to quickly turn and hit Mathew right in the chest. He was only able to blunt the tip of the stone before he went flying in to a building. Brick crumbling down around him.

"I should mention that I was hand picked to be the harbinger of your destruction. You're little tricks will not work on me."

Three stone spikes came toward Mathew as he picked himself up. Unable to sink in to the ground through the tiles of the building he was pushed in to. The spikes collided with his chest. They pushed him back again through another wall.

"Fuck."

The guy had already burned through all of his nulls. He knew that. He could feel that, the guy wasn't fucking around. Mathew needed to keep this serious.

"Alright. You're good. I will give you that. But I am so much better."

He charged the guy diving in to a roll before entering striking range. His hands pushing against the ground to lift his body in to a powerful donkey kick. A kick that would not slam in to his enemy because his enemy was already prepared for it. Instead he found his legs grabbed and his body spinning before he was thrown out of a window. The glass shattering and cutting him before he skid on to the street with a roll. The asphalt of the road sticking to him and forming a protective layer over his skin. He would make his way to his feet.

It would take more than that to stop him. He strode forward, shifting in to a defensive position as the man strode out of the building casually. Still no protective layer on his skin.

"You're turn. Come at me bro."

Counter him, that was something Mathew could do surely. He prepared to do just that. The man would continue to stride forward with an eerie calm about him. Not at all concerned about Mathew's protective layer, or the fact that he was still up.

Mathew didn't like it. It was the same look he gave his own enemies when he knew that he was going to win. An amused calculating look.

Suddenly the guy rushed Mathew, he was quick. But not as quick as Leon was. Shifting on his feet Mathew avoided the palm strike aimed for him, swinging around behind his enemy to smash his elbow in to the back of his head. The man stumbled forward. But made no sound of pain, despite the blood that was now left on Mathew's elbow. he had hit the guy hard. Instead the man simply turned around to face Mathew once more. That same calculating look in his eyes.

"Again."

Neither a question nor a command. Just a statement of fact. They would do it again. Once more the man rushed Mathew, this time ready for Mathew's pivot, dodging under the elbow and sliding his leg, a stone pillar moving up to slam in to Mathew as Mathew sent a pillar slamming in to the man. Both Mathew and the man would fly back in opposite directions.

He groaned and picked himself up again. He was the Earth Dragon. He was indestructible. He was not going to lose to this punk ass Barker test. His opponent seemed to be fine as well, though Mathew could see a where he had hit the guy. Right in the chest. He could out last this guy. He might be stronger than Mathew, but Mathew was tougher. No one could outlast him.

Both men rushed each other, Mathew trying to send a spear of stone in to the man who simple side stepped and shattered it with a palm. Mathew spun and duck to avoid the high crescent kick aimed for the back of his head and tapped his foot to send a pillar up from the ground.

The man just put his hands on it and rode up on it before dropping down on to Mathew's fist. The man's eyes bulged in pain from the blow before his own hand shot out to palm Mathew in the chest, barely grazing the stone armor he wore.

Mathew's eyes widened as the spike ripped through his flesh. Shock and his knees wobbled before giving out. He started to cough up blood, the stone armor melting away from him along with the spike. He wasn't expecting that.

Before he could react further another spike of stone ripped through his body. Mathew's scream echoed through the empty street. A third spike though his side, and a fought through his leg. The man was just tapping his foot, looking down at Mathew as he continued to try and push himself up.

He barely felt the kick that knocked him off his hands and knees on to his back. The sky going dark, he wasn't sure if it was because it was getting later out, or because he was dying. Maybe both. The man was looking down at him. But he was fuzzy.

"The Earth Dragon. You thought yourself indestructible but in the end you are just a man. We are all just men."

The words were distant, almost hollow. But he heard them. And he let out a small weak growl as the man turned away. Mathew's fingers tapping on the ground weakly. Three small pillars of stone erupted from the ground tearing through the man's back and heart. The man dropped and fell.

Mathew needed to get out of here, he needed medical attention. Or one of his tears at home. With great effort he would pick himself up, stone moving up his body to patch the holes as best as he could to stem the bleeding. He shuffled his way home, leaving the man behind. Hopefully dead.


OOC: EXP for me please, word count was 1303 not counting this OOC message.

[Mr. Kaar]

Leon stood, heavy breathing could be heard behind his helmet. A crack slowly running down the middle of it, creeping like the thought of the possability of losing this fight. Finally shattering the helmet into two, it would fall to the ground around him. Rubble was the only way to describe it. Leon's left eye was closed from strain. His nose having a steady stream of blood leaving it, the left side of his face having a stream of blood covering it from his scalp. The left side of his spikey hair colored red at the roots. A good level of sweat covering his face as well. His right eye focused and open though, the white color with the streaks of sapphire blue shooting out from the pupil. A mad grin on his face, showing pink tented teeth.

"Lightning Dragon? I see nothing special about you."

The man responsible. Standing not too far maybe seven feet away. He was of similer height as Leon, built just as much of a tank as he. White hair and red eyes the signal of the expirament he was. The man was wearing what seemed to be similer equipment to what Leon himself used to wear. Gloves, a coat that wouldn't sway in the wind. Combat boots and some sort of hard plated shirt. All colored red.

"Special? Who cares about special..."

The man had been prepared for everything Leon had thrown at him. Though Leon hadn't used his Qi yet, he was pretty sure the guy would be ready for that too. Leon staggered a bit to standing straighter, peering at the guy as he noted the expirament's smirk.

"Oh thats right... You're just in it for the battle right?"

~... Yeah...~

"Just want the next challange, some strong enemy to aim at."

Leon didn't answer, he simply watched the guy... Unsure why he was saying that.

"Then why does the mighty warrior... Take an apprentice?"

Leon's smile dropped.

"Oh? Struck a nerve did I?"

Leon was unsure why at the moment it effected him like this...

"Or, are you completely abandoning your son? His fate within your crippled family is so timid... One small push, and I bet he wont make it to tomorrow."

"Leave my son out of this."

Leon snapped at the man. Who smiled back.

"Now how can I? It brings out such a serious face."

Leon ground his teeth together while looking at the man. Leon would spread his legs apart, bending his elbows to bring his clawed hands to his hips.

"Oh? Byeh uv ic Ymm? I've been waiting to see this."

Leon's left eye opened at this... He spoke... Dragon. Not only that, but knew Leon's fighting style's true name.

Leon charged, taking to the air in a spin, his body horizontal in the air, this was not part of the fighting style's stance he took, hoping to throw the guy off, but he didn't. When the right foot came out in a kick, the guy ducked under, aiming a strike for Leon's chest. Leon kept with the rotation's though and landed the right kicking foot to the ground, bringing his left heel around in a heel kick catching the guy in the face.

He spun with that hit, being slammed in the left side of his face he spun to his right, bringign his left palm around, slamming it into Leon's abdomen, his fingers digging between the muscles. Leon grabbed the wrist acting as fast as he could, electrocuting the guy, going to his full power, aiming his free hand into a punch for the inner shoulder and pectoral muscles of his left arm, pointed with his middle finger and index finger's second joint jutting forward.

The guy backed off with a hiss. Though from the strike, he wasn't even effected by the electricity.

"Please... I was crafted, selected, and built to kill you. You think something wouldn't of been put together to stop your little bolts?"

Leon wasn't about to let up though, coming at the guy throwing a punch for his face, which was blocked a retaliatory punch for Leon's stomach, which hit a grab of the hair from Leon's blocked striking fist a pull and a slap to the guy's throat.

The exchange went on for a good ten minutes. Neither giving any lee way, but the only one seeming to bleed was Leon himself. Thats when the guy revieled his deadly ability. Qi nails. Extending from his fingers to slice and dice. Block here, kick there, punch here. Blood started to sprey as Leon was cut up. Ripping his Jacket almost clean off.

Leon able to land a push kick sending the uy rolling back, to get some respite. Face starting to bruise and swell, the leather of his jacket holding on to his shoulders by small strips. His right leg having been cut durring the push kick now seeped blood. The guy stood smuggly. Even looking down on Leon.

"You know, for all the stories, and all the legends spoke about you... No one told me you where this weak. If all it takes to build a rep like yours, is the right connections and a stream of lies, I can't wait until they hear about how I killed you."

"Tispycc..."

Leon would respond in Dragon, a barely audible whisper as he straightened up and started walking towards the guy, calm, almost bored. The guy raised an eye brow at this, even so perturbed as to take a steb back at the approaching bloody Leon.

"We've only gotten passed the warm up and your claiming victory?"

The guy took another step back, surprised at Leon;s words... Only now did he see all the scars covering his chest.

"W-what do you mean warm up... L-look at you!"

Leon kept his steady walk.

"I know... Isn't it fun!"

The guy aimed his Qi nail'd right hand for Leon's face, making a connection, Leon's head turning, cuts appearing on his face, but it turned back towards the man, no real reaction at all except to keep approaching. The guy backed up more, hitting Leon again. Same spot, in hopes of increased damage, but nothing still except for the turn of the head. A third swing, was stopped as Leon caught and grabbed the wrist, squeezing and twisting with everything he had, Leon's will power showing through as the blood pooled around him from the exertion and rapid heart rate. The guy went for a strike with his other hand, hitting Leon in the face, Leon didn't let go or change his expression. The guy struck Leon's chest, stabbing even a few time's and all Leon did was clamp down with his hand harder. Sending a pointed punch of his own for the guy's face, aiming for the begginging of the bridge of the nose between the eyes. Disorienting the guy a bit turning his Qi off, Leon remaining at full power the black lightning surrouding his body, Leon struck him a few more times in the exact same spot, perfect accuracy.

The guy fell to his knee's, Leon would grab his hair and drive his knee into the same spot twice, before letting go of his hair, the guy wanting to fall down, Leon held him up by the hand he held. Leon's thrashing and beating would last a little while longer.

"How's this?"

"Good enough?!"

"Whats the matter?!"

Leon would continue to taunt and smash the limp body of the expirament until he was satisfied. Making extra certain not to kill him. He would learn what happens when you threaten the family of Leon Sudeki. Leon would start dragging the body back towards Dragon Territory.

((OoC: 1322 words before this. Money and epic.))

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah had returned from her visit to Dragon territory, still absurdly happy for no real reason other than arranging the tentative alliance between the Dragons and the Crows. She still wore Blaze's sash tied around her arm. It was a good day to be sure, and she knew she had found an amazing friend in David, but at the moment, she was just eager to get home to her son and the love of her life.

As she approached the base, however, she began to feel as though something was amiss. Her smile quickly faded and a worry line appeared on her brow. Something wasn't right. Delilah quickened her pace as she began to fret.

Before she could reach the base, though, Talon's bulky silhouette sprinted towards her. He looked panicked and grim as he approached the First Crow.

"Delilah!! Thank God, there you are. We've been trying to get a hold--"

"Talon, what's going on? What happened?" She was steadily becoming more and more alarmed.

He paused, his lips forming a grim line as he looked at her pleadingly. "You have to understand, he's really good at hide-and-seek--"

Her eyes widened and panic wormed into her heart. "Talon, what happened?" her voice was hushed, breathy as though she was finding it hard to inhale.

"--when Nick found him, he was screaming but they were too fast--"

She seized the front of his shirt and yanked him down to her eye level. "WHERE IS MY SON?!"

Talon subsided with a grimace, looking away from her burning blue eyes. "...he was taken."

Delilah stumbled back, her face turning ashen with fear. Her whole body began to shake as her mind reeled. "...how..."

"Nick said they were playing a game and Oliver went a little too far out of the way. He found him, but before he could get him, a man ran around the corner, snatched him and took off. He wasn't fast enough to catch up, but he did see the guy take Oliver into a dark green panel van."

Slowly, Delilah's mind started to move again. She held her face in her hands, trying to gain a hold on the murderous anger seeping from her. "How long ago?"

"An hour."

She bit back a wail of despair and her finger tips pressed into her face. She was quiet for a moment before lifting her head out of her hands. "Does Stu know?"

"No, we haven't. Would you like me--?"

"No. No, don't tell him. I'll do that myself after I get Oliver back."

"After?! Wait, you're not going to tell the FATHER that his SON is missing?!"

"No, I'm not. If I did, he would kill Nick."

Talon absorbed that for a moment and turned his head away from Delilah.

"Do you have a description of the man?"

"I uh, yes. Nick got a good look at him."

"Tell me everything and don't spare the details. I need to get moving if I'm going to find Oliver."

He looked at her, nearly telling her she needed a moment to rest and gather her thoughts. But the look on her face, the set of her jaw and the intensity of her gaze made him think otherwise.

He told her everything.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Only a couple of hours later, Delilah found herself outside what could only be described as a modern version of a twelfth century tavern and inn, shoddy construction and all. The whole place was where an old boutique used to be with the bar on one floor and several rooms above. To her left, she noticed the green panel van parked a little ways off. Nodding to herself, she went inside.

The place wasn't bustling, but it sure was busier than she expected, Only a couple of people looked up as she entered, a little pack of food in her hands. Because money was pretty much useless, they had gone back to a barter and trade system for goods and services. Delilah laid the heavy parcel on the counter and quietly requwested to rent a room for a night. The bar keep inspected the bag with wide eyes at the quality if fresh food she brought. He nodded and handed her a key, before placing a beer on the counter for her.

Accepting the drink with a nod and a word of thanks, Delilah turned to face the rest of the bar. Mostly just people drinking alone or in pairs, staring suspiciously at another over their glasses at one another. Except for the man in the corner.

He was sitting at the bar rather than at one of the makeshift tables, but he matched Talon's description. Stunted gorilla man, bulky, low forehead, beer gut, wearing a brown jacket and camo pants.

She put on her most sultry smile and walked over with a little sway in her hips, taking a seat beside him. She took a sip of the horrible beer and tried not to cringe. She turned her head lazily to look at him, looking him up and down with a hungry look before turning away as he looked over at her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him smirk, doing the same to her. As he should: her scars were covered up by a long sleeve shirt with a neckline that showed off her ample chest, and her jeans fit in all the right places. Of course, she had her real clothes hidden a little further away. If things were going to go the way she thought they would, she'd definitely need to change them.

He coughed into his hand, leaning towards her slightly. "Well now, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Do you have a name, pretty thing?"

God, his breath reeks. Good that he's already drunk, though. That should make things easier.

She turned her body towards him while leaning her arms against the counter. She couldn't suppress the smirk when his eyes drifted down to the large portion of her chest she was showing. "Amber Deschain. Nice to meet you, Mr....?"

"Rick Jacobs. It's a pleasure to meetcha, Amber." Again, his eyes rested on her chest. "What brings you to a hole like this?"

Her smile fell from her lips as petals fall from a flower. "...my boyfriend and I broke up."

Even as she turned her shining eyes away from him demurely, she saw his light up with glee. He scooted closer to her, placing a comforting hand over hers. "What kind of loser would get rid of a dame as sexy as you, ah?"

Eww, gross, he was touching her. She bore with it. "I don't know!" she sniffed, looking up at him with wide eyes. "He just kicked me out! Now I have to stay in this awful inn all by myself...oh, I KNEW I shouldn't have slept with him on the first date!!"

And as soon as she said that, he immediately began leering at her. Nodding his understanding, he patted her hand reassuringly. "Hey, that's no way to talk! He was just a jerk. You shouldn't feel bad about gettin' busy on the first date. You should get yours."

A small, encouraged smile tugged her lips upward and she leaned closer to him. "You think so?"

"Oh, absoLUTELY!" He said to her chest. "In fact, if I was you, I'd go and find a man and fuck his brains out, just to show him how fast you can find someone else."

She almost lost her composure. Way too easy. Delilah looked around the bar conspiritorally and back at him, mischief and lust in her eyes. "I have a room upstairs, if you''re...interested~."

He grinned back at her, unable to believe his luck. "Lead the way."

They slid off the bench at the same time and he followed her up the stairs, smacking her ass and looking around at the other patrons, some of whom were watching enviously.

If they knew what Delilah actually had in store, they might have almost felt sorry for Rick.

She unlocked the door that matched her key's room number and pushed it open. A single, dingy twin mattress sat against the far wall. A table and chair stood only a few feet away, against the other wall. The only luxury were the blankets on the bed, the glass vase on the table and the canvas pillow cases that looked like they were stuffed with straw.

Rick turned to her as the doors closed, taking off his shirt and walking up to her. He put his hands on her waist and began sliding his hands up to her breasts. "So, ah...what kind of stuff are you into?"

She flashed him another mischievous look, taking his hands before he could start groping her and pulling her towards the chair. "I like naughty things~"

"Yeah? Like what"? He was practically purring.

"Bondage, a little S&M..."

"Kinky!" He looked at the table and the chairs before gazing back at her. " So, do you want me to tie you to the chair or the bed....?"

She giggled and playfully slapped his chest. "No, no, no. I'm gonna tie you up!" She pushed him down onto the chair and straddled him, wriggling in his lap. "Let me do a little work just to show you what I like...after I'm done, you can haveyyour turn. Sound good?" Her fingers walked down to the clasp of his pants and fiddled with it.


Rick sputtered for a moment, his face reddening. "That sounds...that's awesome."

"Glad you think so~" she started pulling off his belt. Reaching behind him, she pulled his hands off of her and bound them behind the chair, cinching with the belt.

"Mind if I blindfold you, big guy?"

"Oooh..go for it. God this is hot!"

"Oh, it gets better. Trust me."

Delilah slipped off him and sauntered across the room, picking up his discarded shirt before walking back and tying it tight around his eyes. She got up close, her face millimeters from his, whispering

"You know, when I tend to get going, I make people a little...loud. I don't wanna get kicked out because we're having too much fun."

"...yeah, that's okay. I guess."

"Don't worry: I'll still be able to hear you."

He seemed satisfied with this and Delilah went back to the bed and pulled one of the canvas pillow case off the pillows. She tore off a good sized corner and walked back over. "Say 'ahhhhh'~"

"Ahhhhh--GLARCKFFAAACKH!!!"

She crammed the canvas into his mouth nearly shoving it down his throat. He choked and sputtered, trying to bite down on her fingers, but it was already too late. Her seductive countenance gone, she kicked him in the shin. His scream of pain was muffled by the canvas. Good. it would serve.

She leaned against the table across from him, pulling her pocket knife out with a 'click'. He flinched visibly and tried to scream, but to no avail. "Here's how this is gonna work. I'm gonna ask you a few questions and you're gonna tell me the truth. Every time you tell me a lie or do or say something I don't like, I'm gonna carve a letter in your chest. Sound good?"

He thrashed and fidgeted against his bonds.

"You took a little white haired boy just off the beach earlier today, did you not?"

He stoped thrashing for a moment and said (in muffled, garbled tones) "How the luck do you know that?"

Wrong answer.

She stood up and pressed the tip of her knife to his chest, quickly carving a 'r' with a turn of her wrist. He howled in pain as the blood ran down his chest, straining against his bonds and whipping his head from side to side.

"Where is he now."

She waited a moment for him to say something, anything. But all he did was scream, so she slowly carved a 't' in his chest.

"Keep pissing me off and I'll lose my patience. I can guarantee you won't like that. Where. Is. The boy?"

"Phuck oo!"

She rolled her eyes and carved an 's' right beside the 't'. "I won't ask again," she said coldly over his screaming. "Where is he?"

He continued to scream and she started to lay the tip of her knife against his chest again when the shouting changed. "O! O! I felth oo, I felth oo!!"

She raised an eyebrow and withdrew. "I'm waiting."

In the garbled language Delilah had no trouble understanding, Rick told her he had taken the boy to an old steel factory not far from where they were now. He worked there, he said, following orders for a man named Arkham. The boy looked like an experiment, so he took him, per his orders.

Her fists clenched at the name, remembering what the man and his goons had put her and Marcus through six months ago.

"...cun I gwah naaa?" He almost whimpered.

She looked at him, at the canvas bag on the bed and at the vase on the table. She snatched up the vase and strode over to the bed. She dropped the vase in the bag and smashed it against the wall a few times.

"Now, see, that's the problem," she said as she walked back over to Rick, the glass in the bag tinkling threateningly. "You didn't just take any boy, you took mine.

Arkham and I met a while back. He messed my friend up pretty bad. I haven't forgotten. And now he's taken my son right off the border of the Crow's territory."

As she tsked, she untied his blindfold, threw the bag of glass over his head and tied it off with the shirt she had used to bind his eyes. He immediately started to scream, a high pitched sound that was eerie and bone chilling. Dark red began to bloom on the canvas.

"I want you to send your commander a little message. One: You do NOT fuck with the Crows. Two: You don't fuck with ME."

And she would begin to knead at the bag with her strong hands, pressing her thumbs into the areas where his eye sockets would be, massaging his face with steady hands. The pain would be unimaginable, and he likely descended into madness after the five minutes she stood there kneading his neck and face with the glass. By the time she was done, he was unconscious and the bag, her hands and her shirt were stained with gore. She took an extra few minutes to finish carving the message into Rick's chest.

She left him there to be found the next day, quickly jumping out the window and landing in the back alley. She walked to where her clothes lay so she could get to that factory.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Delilah poked her head out from behind a car turned in its side, watching, seething. She had been watching for ten hours, observing as the guards changed, when they changed, who they were and if they were any decent at their jobs. Her urgency and panic wanted her to rush right in there and start killing the fuckers left right and centre, and she was more than tempted. But she didn't want to raise the alarm and risk putting Oliver in harms way.

She watched as a pair of overly lax guards chatted and talked with eachother by what looked like a storm cellar door behind the old factory. Delilah waited, tense but silent as they called in the all quiet on the radio before turning to leave for the changing of the guard. Knowing she had a limited window, Delilah slipped quietly back into the shadows, keeping law while she ran silently to the cellar door, trying it. It wasn't locked but it was guarded.

As the man turned to see Delilah standing, silhouetted by the moon in the door way, he paused in his confusion, wondering who it was. Then she kicked him in the face, sending him tumbling down the stairs and he knew no more.

She padded down quietly after him, closing the cellar doors behind her. She drew her knife, looking around in the dark for an entrance somewhere, anywhere.

Delilah stopped suddenly, standing stock still. She couldn't hear anyone. She couldn't see anyone. But she felt a presence nonetheless, one that had enough intent to make her skin crawl.

She crept quietly to the nearest wall, leaning against it, standing there, listening. She waited until she smelled him. She thought it was a familiar smell, but in her anger and fear for her son. A profile started to peek out from behind the corner and she lashed out, laying the tanto across his throat.

Her attack was deflected, her wrist held down and against her chest painfully as she was shoved into the wall. Her free hand dove for her other knife when she recognized the face in front of her.

"Lilah?!?"

"Marcus?!" Her eyes were wide, startled.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

She frowned darkly, though not at him. Her eyes were bright with naked worry. She could trust Marcus with these private emotions of hers. She was relieved to see him.

"...My son was taken." she whispered hollowly. "I traced them here off a lead whose a friend of a friend of yours."

Arkham.

Marcus released his hold on her and Delilah calmly sheathed her knife. Her lips were pressed into a fine line of worry, the only indication apart from her eyes that she was still ill at ease.

He put his hand on her head, shuffling her hair. She offered him a tight smile that looked more like a grimace, but she was grateful for his support. Nonetheless, she wouldn't be 100% again until she knew her son was safe.

"Well doesn't this just complicate things."

Her brow furrowed and her half-smile evaporated. "How so?"

"Alright. From what I've gathered, Arkham has been using this place as a holding pen for prisoners before moving them.......somewhere. I dunno where. All I know is we have at least two hours before the next Armored bus rolls through."

Her eyes widened slowly as he spoke, her face growing pale. There were more? This wasn't isolated?

Her desperation escalated. Her son already looked like an experiment with his white hair and single opaque eye. She had thought this might have been the reason he'd been taken but now...

She turned her head to look away from him slightly, clenching her fist and getting a handle on her emotions.

"Fuck..."

He squeezed her shoulder and she glanced back at him as though startled.

"Oliver should be fine, but we're going to have to move fast. I've been waiting a long time to bust this place wide open."

She let out a shaky breath and her gaze drifted down to stare hard at a spot on his chest. Slowly, she'd raise her hand, placing it over Marcus' and squeezing back. Her hand would be trembling slightly. "...thank you."

Were this any other time but now, Delilah might have considered her past encounters with Marcus, the little 'if' that sped through her thoughts more often than she'd like to admit, especially now that Stu was back. It might have been a touching and potentially dangerous moment, if she had the wherewithal to think about it.

But right now, there was no room for anything on her mind besides her son. And she was grateful for his comfort and friendship.

After a moment, Delilah would drop her hand and meet hid gaze, looking determined. "where do we start?"


"The plan? Simple. We break in and and go after the holding pen. We bust Oliver and the other children out and kick the shit out of anyone who gets in our way! We just....you know. Do it all smart like."

She had to admit, busting some skulls seemed like it would be a pretty decent way of releasing the tension she'd been carrying ever since Nick told her he lost Oliver. But still. stealth. They didn't want the WHOLE hornets nest down on their heads all at once.

"Starting from the ground floor and working your way up huh? Ok, how about this. You do that, And I start from the rooftops and work my way down. Then we can meet in the middle. Whatcha think?"

She nodded brusquely, "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you there." Delilah reached out and grasped Marcus' shoulder briefly--a 'thank you' and an assurance--before spinning on her heel and striding the way Marcus came to find the nearest entrance. "Good luck!"

She let out the tense breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she rounded the corner. Fuck, but it was hard to stay calm and collected when fury and panic broiled inside her. She traipsed on, head swiveling left and right as she looked for a way out.

Stumbling deeper and deeper through the maze of grated metal and various storage items, she eventually came across the buildings boiler room.

Large factories like these usually have more than one boiler in order to keep the whole factory heated and the melting tools for the steel primed and ready at all times. She looked around quickly and a dark smile carved it's unnatural way across her lips.

Even if he never saw the now insane and disfigured man with the tongue in cheek message carved into his chest, ("RTS. 1 CHILD THIEF TO CARE OF ARKHAM"), she was sure Arkham would get the message loud and clear now.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

After her generous sabotage of the boilers (the next lazy person who wanted extra heat but didn't want a sweater would be in for a huge surprise. The explody kind), Delilah would hurry her way up the grated metal service stairs as fast as she could go, still making every effort to be as quiet as humanly possible.

It wasn't long before she was a couple of stories high and she heard the distant sound of children crying. It made her heart ache, and her desire to find Oliver was renewed. Once she hit the next landing, she sprinted into the room the sounds were coming from, throwing the door open with a bang. "OLIVER?!"

Somewhere in the shrieks and cries of children locked in tiny, cramped cages, she heard that one voice she was looking for: "Mama?"

Letting out a cry of joy, she ran to the little cage where her son was, looking dirty and crying, but otherwise okay. Tears quickly started flowing from her eyes. "Oliver! Daijobu ka?! <are you okay?>"

"H-hai..."

"Oh, thank God. Hold on, I'll get you out."

She seized the bars around the cage and began to pull as hard as she could. The chords were standing out on her neck, her muscles burning with exertion. Finally, the bars popped free and Delilah fell back with the door.

She hurtled it to the side, holding out her arms for Oliver to jump down into.

Before he could though, the white haired boy gave a shriek as he was pulled back into the cage by an unseen hand through the other side of the cage.

"MAMAAAAAA!!!"

"NO!"

She dove in after him, squeezing and squirming her way through the tight metal box until she crawled through to the other side.

Once through, she saw a tallish man standing in the center of the room, one hand on Oliver's little head as he cried silently. The sight tore a hole in her heart and she growled, drawing her bowie knife quickly. "Let him go."

"Drop the knives."

"Not a fuckin' chance."

He shrugged, "Have it your way," he drew a knife of his own and held it to Oliver's throat.

"NO, STOP!!!"

The man with short, spikey brown hair and grey eyes turned his head to look at her, his eyebrows raising.

Biting back a string of curses, Delilah pulled her knives from her belt and threw them on the floor, kicking them behind her for good measure.

He smiled warmly, "Much better," he took the knife away from Oliver's neck. "Now then...you look strong. If you want your boy back, you'll have to go through me to get him."

Her eyes narrowed and she snarled at him. "I intend to."

His smile widened into a grin and he gave Oliver a push behind him. Sparing a glance back for his mother, he started to run towards the machines leaning against the wall, but not fast enough for the man who turned and kicked Oliver in the back to get him to move. "Hurry it up,

That. Did it.

Unbridled rage enveloped her and she lunged for the man. She was remarkably close to tackle him to the ground when suddenly she was blown backwards and she was sent skidding on her back to where she had started.

He laughed raucously as she picked herself up, stepping towards her calmly. "What the he'll was that? That was so obvious, my Qi had no problem tracking it!"

Delilah's feet scissor kicked under his in an effort to knock him off balance and locked his legs up. They connected, but instead of falling, the man did some fancy footwork and backed off, stumbling slightly. She took the chance, rising to her feet to--

She was blown back into the wall of cages behind her. She slumped to the floor in pain, holding herself up against the wall. Her vision blurry, she hardly noticed as he came up to her, looking down at her maliciously.

"I wonder..." he purred, shoving her against the wall by hee throat and holding up his knife for her to see. She struggled against his grip and struggled to breathe. "...how you look covered in blood."

Unable to move, his knife's edge sunk into her forearm as it tore a huge bloody gash in her already scarred skin. She screamed in pain...it was like while hot fire had separated her flesh and it burned so brightly there was no other pain.

"Not bad...perhaps a little more?"

His forehead bashed into her nose, breaking it and causing blood to squirt from her nose and down her face and into his shirt. Dazed now, she could hardly express her pain vocally without choking on her own blood.

"Oooh, much better. Another cut, me thinks."

The knife arched downward, putting a long, shallow slice in her chest that went between her breasts and to her navel, slicing her shirt in half.

The pain was so bad she was unable to use her voice. He let go of her throat and she slumped all the way down to the floor, clutching her shirt over her viciously bleeding wounds. He knelt in front of her, smiling cruelly, and took her head between his forefinger and thumb. "Mmmm...yes, you look very pretty covered in your own blood."

The knife sunk into her left side and this time she did scream as the blade laid easily through her pale flesh. It hurt so much, too much. It was like cold fire and her warm blood was leaking out of her in rivers rather than streams.

He stood and tsked her, turning away. "I think we should end this, don't you? First, I think I'm going to kill the boy in front of you...and then, I'll have my way with you." He looked at her over his shoulder as he grinned, the very vision of a demon in her view.

"And then you can die."

get up...

"It's a shame...I really was looking forward to a decent fight." He turned ans started walking away again.

get UP...

"But I suppose the aftermath will have to do. I look forward to seeing you in despair."

GET UP

"Especially the part with you, bleeding while I undress you, while I take you and while I finish you."


GET.

UP.

NOW.

Blinded by her hate and anger, Delilah jumped to her feet, snatching one of her blades off the ground as she rushed him. He turned too late to stop her and the was on him. Before they even hit the ground she had stabbed him twenty times in the the chest and she wouldn't stop there. The searing pain form her wounds spurred her on as she tore him eighteen dozen new holes.

By the time she was done with him, the man had too many holes and not enough blood to fill them. As she ripped her knife free from his chest, Delilah would stumble back, clutching at her bleeding stomach wound huddled and limping, she would call out: "Oliver. You can come out now." The weakness of her own voice surprised her. She forced herself to stand a little taller.

Oliver cane running out from behind the machines, crying and scared, He latched onto her legs, something that nearly bowled her over. She was starting to feel...cold.

"Mama! I was so scared!" His eyes widened as he got a good look at how bloody and battered she was. He backed up quickly, alarmed. "You're hurt!"

"Mama's fine, love. Come, you're safe now. Let's get you home. " She picked him up, a process that sent her mind cartwheeling with dizziness.Holding her still crying son close to her chest, she began to slowly shambles out of the room and into the hall.

Delilah crossed as quickly as she could into the next room, trying to find the exit when she saw Marcus lying on the ground, probably breathing. The guy hanging from the ceiling certainly wasn't.

She shuffled over to him slowly, nudging him with her foot. He looked bad, almost as bad as her. "Marcus..." The brittleness in her voice made her frown. A drop of blood would fall and land on his arm. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah."

She watched him stand, smiling in spite of herself. Every time they met, they both got so fucked up.

"Not bad for a twenty foot freefall."

"Not exactly something I'd recommend." She glanced up with him at the hanging man.

"Shame. Wouldn't mind fighting him again. Anyway, Make you're way out, I still need to go Release the rest of the Prisoners and get them out of here. You go on without me! I'm just glad you got Oliver back."

She frowned at this, knowing they were both in no condition to keep fighting if they needed to. But as she looked down at her still bleeding wounds, she sighed. Reaching out, she'd kick him fondly in the shin in lieu of patting his shoulder before hobbling back toward the stairs.

"If you insist. Fyi, I've rigged the boilers to blow if you turn the thermostat up ten degrees. Have fun."

She would continue shuffling calmly out of the building, just glad to have her boy safe and sound in her arms again.

Now all she had to do was confess to Stu what had happened. He wasn't going to react well. But if it meant one of her subordinates would live, it was worth whatever he threw at her

((I need to edit to make it pretty but otherwise, post done. 5000+ words. EXP plz))

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai was out and about in Dragon territory. It had been awhile after his Inauguration into the Dragons and he was out on patrols as he was now supposed to do. As he was wondering around another patrolman relieved him. With the spare time on his hands he headed back to the Sudeki compound to check up on his father, it had been awhile since he’d seen him or for that matter anyone in the Sudeki compound.

On his way home he felt an ominous feeling pass over him. He started to run towards the compound in fear of something happening there but then he heard a sound off to his side that made him stop. It sounded almost as though someone was grunting in pain.

“Oooohhh…”

Now it definitely sounded like someone in pain and he thought he recognized the voice but he was unsure and ran towards the sound.

Upon reaching the source of the sound he saw his father, bleeding and broken.

“Father!” Rai yelled, running towards his father.

Just before he could reach him though something grabbed his father and pulled him further into the forest. Rai chased after hoping to help his father escape from whatever it was that had him. But no matter how hard he ran he just could not keep up, he tried and tried but his father continued until he was no longer in Rai’s sight. Rai continued running in the direction he saw his father being dragged in hoping to catch up to him but he never saw him no matter how much he ran. Rai no longer knew where he was and he was now breathing hard and tired because of all the running he just did.

It was at that moment he heard some shuffling in a tree next to him. He turned his head standing straight up and getting into a fighting stance he looked in the direction of the shuffling.

“Father? Is that you?”

Rai called out hoping that his father had escaped and was coming back to find Rai. The noise got louder but there was still no response to signify it was in face Rai’s dad. Rai began to back away from the growing noise, calming his breathing he readied himself for anything that might come out of the trees and bushes.

“Father if that is you please stop playing games and answer me.”

But still there was nothing but the noise growing louder, and Louder, and LOUDER… then silence. Rai was on full alert now not knowing what to expect would come out. Then as if an answer to his question something came flying out of the forest, it was his father’s body; Rai began to run towards it when something else came out of the forest. A man that Rai had never seen before but he didn't look to be the sinister type… The man walked over to his father’s body and leaned over as if he was inspecting it then he placed a hand on his chest.

“Hey! Who are you and what are you doing to my father?”

The man looked at him and smiled putting a finger over his lips as a sign saying to be more quiet. He looked at the man but stayed silent as he continued the inspection of his father’s body. Then suddenly the man picked up his father in a standing position and before Rai could say anything the stranger shoved his hand into his father’s body which started to gush out blood. Rai was petrified seeing his father killed in front of him and he was angry just as he was about to charge the stranger his father’s body began to jerk in mans’ hands. Rai stopped and looked at his father and saw that his father was beginning to change! Rai was horrified about what was happening before his eyes. His father’s body continued to change then Rai realized what was happening his father was being transformed into the stranger! After a minute his father no longer stood there but rather a perfect copy of the stranger. What was happening?!

“Who are you?! What have you done to my father?!?!”

The stranger smiled again before speaking.

“Oh me? I’m no one in particular. Just a man that has been hired to do a job, I am sorry about your dear old dad though. It is always a sad day to see a parent die. Even more sad when they died because of you.”

The man looked at Rai with a gleam in his eye waiting for Rai to notice what he had said. Rai glared at the man but asked.

“What do you mean he died because of me?”

The mans’ smile widened as Rai asked his question pleased that he had caught it.

“Well my boy, your father wasn’t my target. You are.”
At that there were sounds coming from the forest all around Rai. Rai spun around to look around him, as he did so he noticed more men were coming out of the forest all of them looked identical to the stranger, all of them smiling at Rai in that same cold smile. The original stranger spoke again.

“And we have never lost to our target before.”

The men all charged at Rai, he would punch at the closest one but his punch never connected as a matter of fact it looked as though the man he was punching at had never been there. At that moment he got punched in his side, Rai did a spin kick in the direction of the punch but the three men that were there jumped back. Rai jumped towards the closest one kicking at his legs to make him trip, but again he missed and it looked as though the opponent had never been there. He got hit again, he spun swinging but they moved away before attacking again. Rai swung and kicked wildly quite a few times but not landing a single hit. Again and again and again he would swing there would be no one there and he would get hit. Rai was getting tired and was getting beat up pretty bad but he had done nothing to any of the men around him. Rai took another hit this time to the back of his head knocking him to the ground and he lay there hurt and confused trying to understand what was happening. Suddenly Rai felt something move inside of him but he didn’t know what it was. He focused hearing Mathew speak in his head.

Stay focused in combat. Keep concentrated even in the middle of a fight.

Rai obeyed his masters’ instructions and focused, he would get hit again, a kick to his side making him gasp in pain but he saw it. The blood red fire had appeared and was ready to do some damage. He got another kick this time one the opposite side the pain was incredible. He was bleeding all over from the repetitive attacks. After another kick to his spine he would jump up in pain but this time he willed the fire in his heart to explode outward and then suddenly the blood all across his body came to life at once exploding outward in every direction blood tendrils went through all the men around him. Except for one, he had been impaled through his shoulder. Everything seemed to shimmer for a moment before returning to normal. Rai was surprised but he willed the tendrils back into his body as he did so the one that was embedded in the mans’ shoulder slid out slowly causing all the other bodies to shimmer again. Rai jumped up and punched the same man his hit landing knocking him into a tree all the other bodies disappeared. But the punch took all the energy Rai had left and he fell to the ground the other man got up and looked at him.

“What in the hell was that?!”

Rai shouted at him.

“It was my ability.” The other man responded “I can make people

see whatever I want them too.”

“Then… My father isn’t dead.”

“The hell if I know, but if he is I sure didn’t kill him.”

Rai was relieved to hear that his father was alive but he got angry again.

“Why are you trying to kill me?”

The man sighed as he answered “Weren’t you listening? You were a target… are a target. Even if you now know my secret I’m going to kill you. You are too tired to stop me.”

The man approached Rai planning on killing him but Rai had other
plans just as the man got in range Rai called upon his power again forming a chain made of blood to shoot out of his hand and around the mans’ throat. He coughed not being able to breath and tried to break the blood chain but Rai willed the chain to tighten cutting off even more air supply.

“I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to kill you. But I can’t allow someone like you to live.”

And with that he yanked on the blood chain tightening it so much that it snapped the mans’ neck and he fell over, dead. Rai would call the blood back into his body happy that he now knew his power but tired as hell. His body began to heal itself he could feel the blood that was still on him go back into his body as his bruises disappeared and his cuts were being sealed shut. He was tired. Just before he passed out he saw an old friend looking at him from in the woods. It would appear that his guardian Angel would watch over him while he slept, and with that he passed out.

(Ooc: 1,637 words, Qi use please)

[Kyrie Blaze]

We're proud of you, Kyrie.

'Ma famille. Stay. Restez! Do not abandon me--do not go where I can not follow. N'allez pas. N'allez pas là où je ne peux pas suivre...s'il vous plaît! Ne m'abandonnez pas!'

The world was washed in soft silver light, dim and dark. The moon, overhead, was waxing, and she felt at ease and comforted by that, while her emotions were in turmoil.

Despite her thoughts - and her failure to meditate to calm them - Kyrie wasn't sure what specifically tipped her off to the danger. Perhaps some small sound that didn't belong. Intuition. Regardless of what it was, every instinct screamed bloody murder at her. In one motion, she unfurled herself from her cross-legged position and flung herself in a roll to the side, and another for good measure before she burst to her feet and pivoted, hands up and at the ready despite shining eyes.

Her almost blue-gray eyes met steel blue.

He smirked, straightening from his position on the ground, having skid through the turf to a stop. She could see the outline of a tattoo from beneath a Kevlar vest. He didn't seem to have any other form of armour, otherwise.

"I knew I smelled a Dragon, somewhere. Too far from her cave to fly home, even on wings of shadow. None of her brethren to swoop her up to safety. You're all alone, 'Kiyr'." He tilted his head, looking almost bored despite the sneer to his tone, in his eyes.

Kyrie held her ground. Something about him, other than knowing her 'name', put her out of sorts, off-balance. Not in the way of a few others she knew, but in the sense that something was very, very wrong. It was uncomfortable. The blonde felt her stomach give a nervous twist, but she simply breathed in and out, quietly, steadily.

"What's wrong? You're not even going to attempt fleeing, screaming for help? Perhaps you're just a little more bright than I first thought. You're not part of them--you never will be. You're a fool to even hope. You know they wouldn't come for you, anyway. Not even Mathew Amtrum would come to save his worthless apprentice."

"How?" She asked, voice sharp and cutting, not at all like her normal, soft, tone. The things he was saying--how could he know? How could he know?

"It's easy to see. You don't have what it takes. Mathew will not blink at your passing, and then I'll kill him, myself."

Kyrie's eyebrow shot up, incredulous in both expression and tone. "You? Kill the Earth Dragon? Really?"

"Yes. You see, he made me deliver a stinking letter to Barker. I need to get him back for that. All I have to do is go through you, first. Piece of cake."

But she shifted, giving some tell-tale movement that had him extending his hand, index finger held up, to wag it side-to-side and then laugh.

"Uh-uh-uh. You think to fight me? Really? You'd protect him, when you're just fodder to him? Just a stepping stone on his path to power? You're like any other little underling Dragon. Expendable. You're only worth his time to train so you can kill just another person or two before you die."

He was ripping her apart in the worst way possible. Everything that was in her was shrieking at him to stop, to just leave her be. Something inside her started to snap, to tear. With a deep, shuddering breath, she bowed her head.

His eyes brightened. "I know. You should join me, instead. You could break your chains to him, watch him fall and crumble to dust beneath my feet. I'd even let you get your shots in. And best of all: you'd never be alone. I'd never step on you."

The blonde's eyes went wide and dark in the moonlight, head shooting back up so quickly she nearly gave herself whiplash. Her hair flew, then settled haphazardly over her shoulders.

Betray her word? Break her oath?

She strode forwards, slowly, comfortable in the shimmering beams of moonlight. Her gaze was direct, bright.

Within the deep well of strength that she had used to forge on, to survive, since she lost everything, she grabbed hold of the loyalty and trust she willingly gave Mathew and held tight. She was surprisingly angry. He dared to come, to threaten her - which was moot at this point, her life was Mathew's - but moreover, threaten Mathew?

Mathew was the one person that held her loyalty, her trust, and everything that went with it.

Whether she was ready to admit it or not, he was family, and she looked to him for guidance within the Dragon Core, within her training. And he meant something to her. She respected his unwavering determination, the way he seemed larger than life, and could handle anything that the world could throw at him.

To a lesser extent, these feelings were extended to David Blaze, Leon Sudeki, and perhaps another person or two, but them on a lesser scale.

"So be it, even if they look at me as nothing more than cannon fodder. I will lay down my life for them if it means silencing you, that one last enemy, before I go."

She turned his words against him, ruthlessly. His eyes might have widened, they might not have. But at the same time, they sprinted for one another, Kiyr twisted, dove to the side and up, only to be launched away in a solid, roundhouse kick, her ribs crying out despite the fact she did what she could to minimize the damage. He sent her straight at a thick, unforgiving tree trunk. Just when her back should have collided, she seemed to be sucked into the shadows themselves.

She bounced out from the pile of rubble, a small knife in-hand, and ducked in through his guard, hough she missed the target on his arm, hitting muscle instead of the artery there; he saved himself with a rapid deflection. The blade dissolved, and she managed a few fast strikes before taking a powerful hook to her own jaw.

She flew away, but twisted her body in the air to land, skidding to a stop.

Stronger, faster, and he obviously was in better shape than she was.

"You can't beat me. You won't even be able to injure me for more than a few moments."

He moved on the attack this time, darting forwards. Her deflection didn't seem to matter, he simply twisted his arms in, around, pushing hers out of alignment. Before she could pivot away, or rotate her arms around his to throw him off, he broke through, caught her neck in a choke-hold.

The next thing she knew, he had her slammed into the ground. She cried out, spine arching off the ground as the muscles in her back seized up. A punch was drilled into her side, but thrown off by her thrashing away despite the grip to her throat. She coughed, ribs and lungs on fire from the blow, and then another to the opposite side, and she found that because of his hold, choking off her airway without the mercy of cutting the blood flow, her vision was starting to dim. And a few more: shots to her kidneys, to her stomach. Kyrie felt something give with another blow to her ribs, and her eyes filled with tears; at the same time, she struck for his eyes, sinking her fingers in deep until she felt something give, something warm spill over her hands. She sank into her shadow, pressing her hand against the ground and activating her qi--admittedly feeling a little desperate to gain distance.

His hand clawed through the air, and he wore a murderous expression when he looked around and saw her emerge from the shadows of the forest. His eyes were bloody, and streaks of red marred his cheeks. But before her eyes, they seemed to start repairing themselves. His arm was no longer bleeding, either.

"Well, that was just a little unexpected. Didn't realize you could do that if you were being held onto." He rose, turned to face her.

No matter the odds, she would always get back up. Kyrie stood from her defensive crouch.

He could be immortal and completely outclass her, and yet, she would still get back up, because she could do no less. She swore it. A Dragon Warrior. Her expression hardened, became ruthless. She knew she should walk through the shadows and alert Mathew, but she promised she would rise through her own blood, sweat, and tears. Well. She had the blood and tears--at least a bit.

Despite the fact it hurt to breathe, to move, she wouldn't back down.

Even with her hand pressed against her ribs to keep the pressure up, she started to run. Her hand came down, clenching her teeth in a grim parody of a smile through the pain, and dove into her shadow just before she reached him, just before he could put his hands on her again.

When she emerged from his own, behind him, she had a blade of shadow in her hand yet again, and slashed through the back of his leg. Her feet planted on the ground, she hauled on his shirt to unbalance him and send him toppling over a foot, and then stretched the shadow to become a baton.

He grabbed her foot with a yell, jerked her off her feet before she could swing. But when she came down, she came down with the baton pressed against the flat of her arm, cracking it against his head. This hurt her own arm, wrenching it and the muscle, but was well worth the price.

She collapsed, breathing heavily, allowing the tears to leak down her cheeks, now that he couldn't see them. It would only be for a little while.

Tears were a luxury she still couldn't afford.

He'd done more than physical damage, but her pride and honour were in-tact. Her word unbroken. Her loyalty firm. Her hand curled around her chest as the baton slipped back to shadow; atramentous wisps dissipating in the night air.

Kyrie rested, just for a few minutes.

Now she had to figure out how to transport him.

"I refuse to let him free to do as he pleases..."

. o O ( Word count: 1632; exp please. <3 )

[Marcus Prasad]

To give voice to those who have none.

It was almost too easy. Once Marcus had caught wind of Arkham taking people off the street, a plan was formed. It would seem The leader of the Scavangers had been digging around leads that would take him straight to people who had the potential for manipulating Qi. Then all it took was to send out false leads, use Silent as bait, cast and wait for the bite.

It was a simple and brutal thing. They kicked in the door, grabbed her, beat her when she resisted. She was built tough but It's never easy to watch a sixteen year old girl get punched in the gut. Least not for some. Next thing Marcus knew, he was trailing after a scavanger bus on Lady, leading him towards what looked like an old factory of sorts or a warehouse, swimming with guards. Getting past them was a cinch.

Delilah was a different matter.

A mother bear is easily the most dangerous creatures in the world. In defence of thier cubs they were willing and capable of ripping apart anything and everything in a thermonuclear razor tipped blast. Silent, Delilah, Oliver, The poor souls caught up in Arkhams web.

"Where do we start?"

So very determined. So very angry. So very frightened. There was fire in her eyes. It would make her strong, but unpredictable. He would have to be wary in case she got in over her head.

"Speak for yourself."

The guards were either increadibly stupid, or increadibly lazy. That was his first tip that something wasen't right. If this was a trap, then he would be ready. This was the thought he held onto as he slipped through the rooftop hatch and into the fortress proper. By the looks of it, the building had been renovated to suite Arkhams needs. He had landed on a rusty metal walkway high above The factory floor which was cleared out and filled with Arkham refitted vehicles. The people must have been moved to one of the adjacent rooms then. Walking along the catwalk, Marcus noticed curiously that the Foremans office, which dominated the opposite side with a massive glass window allowing the foreman to look down upon the entire room below.

Marcus could have sworn he had seen something move inside the blackened room. In fact if he didn't know any better, he would have sworn he saw a flash of red and silver.
Slowly and carefully he crept forward until the lights inside the Office ignited, revealing eerything that was once hidden.

Marcus thought he was ready for anything. He was NOT ready for this.
Sitting inside the office, front and center behind the giant window pane was a young Latina woman with long silver hair. Her hands and feet were tied and despite her head being bowed forward into her chest, he had no difficulty recognizing her.

"Silk?.......Oh no. Nono no no NO!"

This didn't make any sense. This didn't make any sense at ALL!
She was leading the second team with Thistle. If she was here.....Then what happened to the rest of the team?!?!!?!
Marcus' heart was wrenched with Panic. Silk was a living representation of His life before the Great Fall, his best friend and was a Big sister to him growing up in PHS 552. She was his family. His team was his family, forged together through intense drills and excersizes until the bonds between them were like steel.

Wanna know what the second most dangerous animal is in the world? A Papa Wolf.

Abandoning Stealth in favor of speed, Marcus thundered down the gantry. He was about to reach the door when he was suddenly and violently stopped as a pair of arms closelined him and wrapped around his head in a choke. His assailent was directly overhead and was choking Marcus upside down. Whoever had him knew his chokes. Not only was it locked tight but whoever had him was pulling him upwards enough to ensure he couldn't breath or wiggle free. Whatever was above him couldnt be dislodged no matter how hard he grabbed and pulled and his last resort, punching upwards at anything he could hit, just plain wasen't working. Already he could see black dots in his field of vision.
He was about to lose conciousness when a cold nasaly voice coo'd above his head.

"No.....Not this easily."

Suddenly the pressure would release, dropping Marcus to the ground clutching his tortured throat. A Shadow would drop down the gantry with a dark chuckle. The laugh belonged to a blonde haired blue eyed youth who looked like he had just hit his twenties. His smile was as cruel as his eyes as he leaned against the railing, waiting for Marcus to get back onto his feet.

"Why hello there. Arkham told me you would show up eventualy, sure as sure."

"What is this?"
Marcus would growl. The young man was dressed in tight worn leather that looked built for stealth. He didn't even make a creak as he pushed himself off the rails and began to advance.
"This, if it wasen't obvious already, is a trap."

"Ha! What kind of trap has Bait that's not shown until AFTER the trap is sprung?"

The blonde man quirked an eyebrow and smiled, gesturing to Silk with a nod of his head.
"You mean her? She's not bait. She's...incentive. Arkhams scouted you out big guy and he wants you out of the picture. Says you're dangerous to his operation. So he sent me to put you down."

"Then why-?"

"-Cause I like a challenge and I want you at your best, so here's the game. If you dont kill me before I kill you, I'll kill your friend over there.....After I'm done with her of course."

Now THAT was enough! With a wordless snarl, Marcus came after the blonde man, lashing out with a series of punches that the youth effortlessly ducked and weaved around before stopping him dead with a punch to the shoulder just as Marcus was about to connect with a left cross. Staggering, he suddenly went down on one knee as his opponent capatalized and sent a kick into his leading knee before grabbing a handful of Marcus' thick long hair and pulling his head back, sending his elbow crashing down into the mans cheekbone just below his right eye, Stunning Marcus long enough to catch a knee to the face.

"In Fact, After I'm done with her, I think I'll pay your cute little mute friend a visit next. Sure as sure."

Marcus fumed. He wasen't going to go anywhere NEAR Silent!
He tried for a tackle that failed, the smiling blonde tumbling up and over Marcus' back before driving him down with a series of acrobatic kicks that he was hard pressed to parry and avoid.
Marcus' rage was making him sloppy and uncoordinated and the blonde was taking complete advantage over this weakness, Dancing around the larger man's defences and striking, only to pull away with ease.

"Common now. I was told you were better than this. From what Arkham told me, I imagined you to be a complete monster, sure as su-"

"AARRRGH! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY!"

The young man's grin only grew wider as he backed away with his hands extended outwards as if he was saying 'Come at me bro'. So Marcus came, too late to see the chained winch that sat on the side of the railing in the mans hand as he sidestepped Marcus and brought it around his throat. Marcus tried to backhand the boy, only to find his arm caught up in the chain and yanked back before the blonde came around and pinned his other hand to his chest and pulled, putting his foot to Marcus' back for leverage before hooking the end into one of the links.

"And now. Now you die. Sure. As. Sure."

It was a brilliant move. Threaten his family, his friends. Get him angry, not thinking straight. Frustrate him until he makes a mistake and then go in for the kill. It would have been flawless in fact, if it wasen't for one fatal mistake the blonde made.

He underestimated his opponent's will to live.

Slowly but surely, Marcus managed to worm his pinned arm free as he fought to keep concious, scrapping the flesh off the back of his hand before reaching between his nemesis' legs, grabbing hard and twisting.

The boy let out a strangled yowl right before Marcus drove the back of his head through the boys nose, crushing it and sending blood flying everywhere. Putting his hands on the boys shoulder, Marcus doubled him over with a knee to the gut. The coup de gra came when Marcus wrapped the chain around the boys neck, hooked it tight and tackled him over the edge of the railing, arms clinging tightly around his waist before the winch snapped taut and Marcus' counterweight caused the boys neck to break clean in two from within the flesh.

The final drop to the cold hard concrete floor would knock Marcus clean out before he was discovered by Delilah once again and this time with child in tow. The body of the young Blonde man dangled grotesquely overhead

"Can you walk?"

"Yeah, just....gimme a sec. Not bad for a twenty foot drop."
"Not exactly something I'd recommend."
Slowly he would scramble to his feet, using the side of a car for purchase before dusting himself off.
"I don't plan on flopping the landing next time. Anyway, what's important is you found Oliver. Now I need to get my people out of here. You should get going."

She clearly did not want to hear that. Marcus probably looked pretty beaten up in her eyes, but that was at least better thanbeing cut and torn. Funny, it was as if thier roles were reversed from the last and first time they tangled with Arkham. At least she wasen't near death at the moment.
He expected her to argue and so was relieved when she simply gave him a knock to the shin before making her way out.

"If you insist. Fyi, I've rigged the boilers to blow if you turn the thermostat up ten degrees. Have fun."

He laughed at this. He could use a good explosion right about now and scour the very bones of this place to dust.
Suddenly his radio crackled to life.
"Fox to Fenris, We found Thistle and his team. They're beaten up, but ok. Silk is MIA."

"Fenris here, no She's fine....I hope. I found her. Storm in on my position. We get the Prisoners out and blow this place."

"Blow this pla- How do you propose we do that Sir?"

He smiled his wolf like smile.
"Don't you worry your pretty little head Fox. First Black has provided the means."
He took one last look up at the twitching corpse before adding
"Sure as sure."

{OOC} DONE! I'll Take the Money please! {OOC}

[Levi Kayamei]

It was a warm afternoon with clear skies and a cool breeze. The ex-pillar stood, feet shoulder width apart, taking deep breaths, eyes closed. Levi searched within himself, searching for the burning feeling Leon had driven out of him...then...there it was, only this time it was more of a warm glow sitting around his navel. His brow furrowed as he visualized the energy spreading to each of his limbs and his head, then filing his whole body. His body glowed as he reveled in success, it was so easy now that he had passed Leon's ordeal, whereas before, he was clueless. He opened his eyes, admiring the glow he was emitting and realizing his success, he began to alter his image, bending the light to the left and then the right, increasing the frequency. His form became a blur as he worked to maintain the effect.

Now....to take it further....

Before Levi could continue this exercise, his concentration broke completely, his glow faded and his heart raced...something was wrong. His senses seemed to disappear as every Qi except one seemed to fade....Levi's eyes shot wide open as his head snapped to the left.

KIDO!!!

The dragonling took off, leaping from roof to roof, racing towards his house at breakneck speeds. He could feel his brother's chi better than most only one other coming remotely close. He always knew when Kido was asleep or awake, and had a general idea of his brother's emotions and his senses were telling him one thing, fear. How could he have let this happen? What would he do if the worst came to pass?

No....I can't let it happen!

Levi ran through his front yard, his heart racing faster as he ran through the broken-in door and stopping abruptly as his brother ran towards him, terror on his face and blood running down the left side of his face.

“Kazanaki! Kazanaki!”

Levi let his brother run past him as he blocked the doorway, hearing several pair of foot steps running through the house. Moments passed before three Japanese men rounded the corner.

Yakuza? But how? And why?

These thoughts were rendered fleeting as the three men assailed him as he retreated outside, stepping backwards as he drew his knife, grabbing an incoming fist and filleting the man's arm, blood covering to the ground as the man fell, screaming. Levi looked to the other two men who paused at the sight of their mutilate comrade, speaking calmly, his heart still pounding...his mind focused on killing the men who would dare violate his home.

“Naze anata wa kore o yatte iru ka? Kazanaki wa dokodesu ka?!”<Why are you doing this? Where is Kazanki?!>

The two men answered with a yell as they drew their own knives and ran towards Levi. He stepp to the right, outside of the rightmost man's arm and struck upwards, slicing the man's thumb off and causing him to drop his knife, Levi then caught this knife he launched a kick into the thumbless man's jaw, sending him skyward. As the man's companion rushed in to counter attack, he met his demise as his partner's knife flew through his eye, blood running down his face as he slumped to the ground. The sound of applause echoed out of the house as a tall, Japanese man in a business suit stepped out, a smug look on his face. His his cheekbones, squinty eyes and gloved hands mocking the Ex-Pilar as if he was superior. Levi lowered his head, staring up at Kazanaki with a cold stare as he spoke.

“Watashi wa anata ni koko ni kuru Kazanaki suru junjo o ataenakatta! Naze anata wa watashi no ani o kôgeki shita nodeshou ka? Anata wa, kore ga anata no inochi o ushinau koto mo shitte imasu ka?!” <I gave you no order to come here Kazanaki! Why did you attack my brother? Do you know this will cost you your life?!>

The tall man laughed as he drew his knife and rushed Levi. Levi had little chance to react as he felt the sting of a blade plunging into his side, lucky he had move enough to have the blade merely graze his ribs. The man put his mouth next to Levi's ear as he spoke.

“Don't you know we're in America, they speak English here still....right? It doesn't matter....I'm taking over this operation, the world is different now....chains of command....all useless....I'll prove that to you and your father once I finish up here.”

Levi suddenly felt Kazanaki's palm smash into his nose, blood flying into the air and his head smacking the soft ground after traveling several feet. As he fought to regain his senses, he watched as Kazanaki walked past him.

Where is he going? No.....NOOO!!!

Levi stumbled onto his knees as he watched Kazanaki assaulted his brother, drawing blood with every stroke of his knife. Levi's Qi burned within him as he found himself standing, bent over, his side staining his shirt and making every breath painful. As the assassin closed in for the kill Levi felt his insides screaming for the man to stop.

“NO! Stop!.....ugh.....I won't let you!”

The tall assassin turned his head, a wry smile on his face, that's when Levi made his move, he charged Kazanaki as he released a bright flash of light, his target clutching his eyes, he then finished the man in one swift motion, bending him over with a knife hand to his stomach as Levi turned inwards, driving his knife through his foe's throat forcing red warmth to run down his forearm and paint the ground crimson. Levi relaxed a little too fast as his breath suddenly ran away from him and he fell to his knees, clutching his side. Levi stumbled to his feet, smiling at his brother, coughing red through a chuckle.

“You know, you're going to hate your training for putting me through this.”

Levi began to feel woozy once more as he leaned back, falling on his bottom, choosing to bask in the light, his wounds slowly healing, and his thoughts turning solemn as the fact that his brother was the only person he could call family ran through his mind as his brother joined him on the grass.




((Unvaulting prodigy belt per monthly Quest ))

[Date Masamune™]

“Why am I trying to keep you alive Mr. Yuy when you obviously don’t care for my opinion?”

“It was a life or death situation Doc. I had to push myself that hard.”

“Right. I’m going to suggest running next time. Either way. Rest up or your heart’s done for. It’s stabilized for now but your medicine doesn’t get here for another two weeks.”

Shugo would nod in understanding, and then the doctor would leave. Shugo would sigh and lean back in his chair. The boy figured that he could avoid fighting for the next two weeks. It’s not like he specifically went out looking to fight. The boy also wasn’t on anyone’s radar. The boy would lean back further putting his feet up on the desk and think of what needed to be done around the mansion. The new territory still needed the roads to be cleaned off and repaired.

”Sir, you have a visitor.”

Jeeves would open the door and a small, shaggy looking, white puppy would run up to Shugo jumping onto his desk and then onto his lap. The dog would start licking up the boy’s face. Shugo had never seen the puppy before, but it bore a striking resemblance to his dog.

”Rush has become a father now.”

The voice would make Shugo’s heart skip a beat. His eyes would immediately shoot up to view a beautiful girl with green hair.

“Jacket… what are you… what are you doing here? It’s dangerous.”

”Shugo, you left New York when your commitments were done. My job is completed now as well, so I have come here to help in any way I am able to.”

Shugo would step up to the girl and place his hand onto the girl’s cheek, stroking it gently almost as if to see if she was real.

”Shugo…”

Jacket’s cheeks would grow red as the boy drew closer. Both of their hearts would begin to race as their lips would almost meet.

”Master Yuy. There seems to be another guest by the gate. He claims to be your mentor. Ralph Collins I believe he stated his name was.”

Shugo would immediately grab his gauntlets, drawing them over his arms and grab the Steam Golem. The boy would head for the door with a sense of haste in his step. Shugo would turn his head backwards to speak to Jeeves and Jacket who followed.

“Stay inside. Jeeves do a headcount and get everyone down to the basement. I want everyone inside.”

”Shugo, please wait. Will you explain what is going on currently?”

“My mentor wouldn’t just drop in for a visit. He had a record before me. None of his students ever lived through his training. Now stay inside.”

Shugo would close the front door behind him, but Jacket would simply open the door and stand by the front porch as Shugo approached the gate.

”Hello! Anyone home?! Can Shugo come out to play~?!”

There would be loud banging coming from the front gate. Shugo would motion for the gate guards to back up to the manor. The boy would begin to climb up the gate, but before he could reach the top, the figure of his mentor leapt over the top of the gate. Shugo would jump down and begin to approach his mentor.

“Note to self: Get a taller gate.”

”Shugo boy! How ya’ doin’?!”

Ralph approached Shugo and patted him on the shoulder. His mentor stood at 6 feet, a few inches taller than Shugo. He had short brown hair kept close to his head and green eyes that were fixed on Shugo.

“Fine.”

”I’m good too thanks for asking! Love to chat, but I’m here on work Shugo. First things first. Will you come with me and join Barker?”

“Over my dead body.”

”How about theirs?”

Shugo’s eyes narrowed as Ralph motioned towards the manor. A smile would grow on Ralph’s face, soon becoming a grin. Shugo’s muscles would twitch as he fought to control himself.

“You little-“

”Can you back up what you’re about to say?”

Shugo would look to Jacket who would hesitantly nod her head, and mouth something Shugo couldn’t make out. The boy would leap towards his mentor in a tackle and start pounding him on the back. Shugo’s mentor would sigh and grab Shugo around the waist.

”Come on kid. That’s not how I taught you to fight!”

Ralph would bring his fists down on Shugo’s back, knocking the wind out of him. Ralph would continue on to grab Shugo by the hair and knee him in the mouth.

”What?! Did I take your breath away?! Hahaha! Come on this is why I keep my hair short Shugo!”

Shugo stumbled backwards as he wiped the blood away from his lips. The boy almost leapt forward again before calming himself down. His fight or flight was kicking in overtime and sending his mind all out of whack. The boy took a deep breath, and would assume his fighting stance.

”Nice, nice. I thought you were losing your head because your little bitch was watching. That the stance you used when you snapped Biggs’s neck?”

At the blatant insult towards Jacket and the obvious attempt to provoke Shugo, the boy would tense up. His muscles expanded as he was almost tempted into attacking. The boy exhaled and let his muscles contract. Relaxing them, Shugo would carefully step up to his mentor. The two men would throw blows at each only to have them either miss or be knocked away. Each time they would counter and each time the counter would in turn be blocked and thrown away, restarting the circle.

”Tell me what do you think you’re doing here?”

The attacks the two men threw were too fast for most of the people around to even follow.

”Madam, it does appear that the Young Master has the upperhand.”

”Incorrect, Jeeves. Shugo is doing his best to remain as calm as possible. His mentor is relaxed, and can continue the battle further. But Shugo wishes to break from the pattern. If he does, he will leave himself wide open to an attack. As of right now, both are maintaining a field that the other cannot enter.”

”Then shall we pray that the Young Master does not lose his temper?”

Jeeves would place a comforting hand on Jacket’s shoulder, and the girl would force up a smile.

Suddenly the boy’s gauntlets would be consumed with electricity. Ralph’s accelerated reaction time would prove to be his own undoing. Volts of electricity would pump into Ralph’s body as he would block Shugo’s left hook. Stunned for a moment, Ralph would stagger backwards. Shugo would not end his assault, but instead throw a right uppercut into Ralph’s stomach. Knocking him into the air, Shugo would run up and jump onto Ralph’s chest mid-air, knocking him back to the ground.

Jeeves would give a quick clap while the others watching cheered Shugo on. Jacket could only wince at the electricity surging around her lover and watch as he carried on threatening his life.

”Good show, good show! I almost forgot who your mentor was! But I taught you boxing. A bit dirty of you to be using illegal moves. And let me say. Those gauntlets sure pack a wallop. I can see how you almost made a couple of Barker’s soldiers brain dead. What I’m more interested in is this Steam Golem. Heard you melted some poor bastard’s helmet to his head, AFTER MELTING OFF SOME SKIPPY’S FACE! EH! Pretty nice apprentice!”

Ralph shouted with a grin, making sure everyone could hear him. The cheering slowly died. In its place whispers arose. Jacket’s fists closed tightly as he ground her teeth watching.

”Don’t worry Madam. I’m sure Master Shugo had his reasons.”

”I do not care his reasons. I have more fear that he is going to go too far and lose himself.”

”FUNNY! How everyone turned on ya’ isn’t. You protect these people, but do they even trust you Yuy? Fancy yourself as Batman didn’t you? Fine be Batman. His people didn’t trust him either. You’ll end up dead and alone just like him. Myself? I’ll be what’s his face? Rash? Rage? Fuck it! I’M RALPH AL’ GHUL BITCH!”

Shugo would be pushed back by a flurry of quick jabs by Ralph. The boy did his best to block and dodge, but the tempo was too random. Nearly every third punch hit Shugo, and when he figured out the pattern, it would change once more. Finally a knee to Shugo’s groin finished it. The boy fell to his knees.
”You know even in our training I could never figure you out. You’re rich, you’re handsome, you’re charismatic, a born leader! Fuck you’re the heir to Yuy Corporation! So what in God’s Green Earth do you fight for? Why? Never figured it out. Not ‘till now.”

Ralph grinned and raised his voice.

”Good people of Aura! You think of this kid, this boy as your Hero! Your Savior! Your Knight in Shining Armor! You think he sacrifices himself everyday for your sake! To protect your dreadfully pathetic existences! WRONG! It’s punishment. Nope! Not for others. Himself! Can’t you see it in his eyes?! His self-inflicting fighting style?! He’s punishing himself. He hates himself. And why shouldn’t he?! Look at the miserable, self-loathing pile on the ground!”

Shugo would stand back up and rush at Ralph. This time the boy would throw a powerful right hook with his entire chest behind it at Ralph’s chest, his gauntlets burning red hot and charged with electricity. The impact would create a blast of steam from Shugo’s punch.

”That’s all the Steam Golem’s got?”

Ralph had caught Shugo’s punch and dispelled both the Steam Golem and Shugo’s Gauntlets powers. Ralph would firmly plant his foot on Shugo’s chest, kicking him back and snapping a few ribs.
”God that sounds so satisfying isn’t it Shugo?”
Ralph grinned looking down at the bloody mess that was Shugo.

”Please stop this.”

Jacket took a few steps forward.

”You are just an antagonizer that feeds off of other individuals' suffering. Shugo is a hero, and puts himself on the line every day to protect people. He does not fight for selfish reasons; for you fight for your own self gratification. Where as Shugo defends those who otherwise cannot save themselves. He has created the organization of Aura to give those in need a safe place to reside. I personally believe in him, and everything he has done. The only one with a pathetic and unfulfilling existence here is yourself.”

Ralph’s grin would fade as he approached Jacket. A little red headed boy would get in his way continuously attempting to hold Ralph back, continuously being thrown aside.

”You’re pissing me off kid!”
Ralph would throw a downward punch at the boy’s head. The punch had enough force to split the boy’s head, but the boy only braced himself and continued trying to hold Ralph back. Crack.

“Your fight was with me. Not him.”

Shugo stood behind the boy clutching Ralph’s now bleeding and broken wrist. The boy’s dark blue hair covered his face as Ralph attempted to pull free from his grip. Shugo would kneel down next to the boy while still keeping a death grip on Ralph’s wrist. Ralph would attempt to punch Shugo with his other hand which would be caught without Shugo opening his eyes. Smiling at the boy, Shugo would speak.

“Good job Shouichi. Can you protect Jacket and Jeeves while I take care of the bad guy?”
The boy would grin running to Jacket who would hold him. Shugo would slowly return to both feet.

”You are not this strong.”

“Evidently, I am.”

”How?! You didn’t finish your training! You shouldn’t have been able to complete your QI! THE OLD MAN FUCKING SAID SO!

Shugo would open his eyes which seemed to pierce through Ralph and go straight past him. The boy would squeeze Ralph’s fist and dislocate a few fingers and break a couple of small bones in his hand. Shugo would then slam his forehead down onto Ralph’s forehead. Letting go of his hands, Shugo would throw a couple quick punches at Ralph, disorienting him from the sudden burst of speed. Shugo would press him back, throwing a knee at Ralph’s jaw. Everytime Ralph would almost fall, Shugo would keep him up and punch him again.

Finally once Ralph had lost consciousness, Shugo would get Jeeves to retrieve his bike and some rope. Tying Ralph up, Shugo would throw him over the bike.

“Looks like our kiss is going to have to wait.”

”I will be here…”

Jacket would squeeze Shugo’s hand softly before he mounted the bike and drove out of the gate. The boy would dump Ralph in front of a patrol of Barker’s guards.

“Tell Barker. Next time he pulls something like this. I’m coming for him.”

Shugo would drive back to his manor to receive medical attention. As he entered the garage, the boy would fall unconscious crashing the bike into some boxes. The side of his torso would be cauterized, something he did to stop the bleeding. The boy would be knocked out for a few days after the fight.


[[OoC: Word count 2000. Unlocking Street King's Cloak.]]

[Aryn Valcoph]

Who needed electricity for a hot bath when you had Aryn? She was looking down at a tub filled with water, her flame dark and black, swirling around to heat the water.

'Not need for Leon to power the house for heating water. Bonus training for me.' She thought, smirking as she brushed her hair back behind her ear. It was interestingly pleasing work, despite the concentration it took to do so.

"AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYNNNNNNNNNNN!"

And Aryn's world went to hell with that scream. Her blood seemed to freeze over. The flames were doused quicker than she'd ever been able to, and she was out the bathroom door like a bullet. She nearly fell down the stairs in her haste, and careened out the door of the house so fast that she startled some entering customers, and nearly knocked over Evalise, who was shooting out the door at the sound of her sister's scream.

"Emily!"

Aryn didn't call out as Evalise did, the sound of another scream all she needed to hear as she almost literally barrelled down the street. Something sounded wet. Was that gurgling? Fear clashed with a fiercely protective instinct inside of Aryn as she made her way towards the sounds.

When she got there, she saw Emily in a cocoon of water, occasionally being let to breathe - to scream and cry for help - and she heard the sound of more footsteps approaching from behind.

"Oh. Good. You've arrived. And you've brought company~ How lovely." There was a pause, and the woman's smiling face darkened to something malicious. "Just what I'd hoped. This makes it all. too. easy."

"Release her."

Aryn didn't wait even two beats after her statement. Her warning. Her threat. Her promise. She lit the woman's dress on fire, had the black flames snake up her arms. As it so happened, it was probably what saved Emily's life. She shrieked and immediately, the water pulling back from around Emily, releasing her from the bubble.

Instead of not putting the fire out like Aryn had seen, her flames were easily extinguished.

"Emily. Come! Now!"

Her tone booked no argument. Even though Emily was already making her way over, coughing, crying, sputtering, she redoubled her pace and sprinted into her sister's arms, half-collapsing with her sobs. Her arms held tight.

The strangely beautiful woman's dress ruined, her skin raw but unbroken, the woman full-on glared at the gathering of women.

Then she sneered.

"Let's see. Who should I take from you first, Valcoph? Should I start with Evalise, or perhaps Natalia? How about Diana. The one you're so annoyed with for being bitchy about your being a Dragon Apprentice--let alone a Dragon in itself."

"What does she mean?!"

"Diana! Get ba--"

Aryn was abruptly cut off with a mouthful of water she promptly spit out, but was bowled over and back, landing sprawled on her stomach, soaking wet. This did not improve her mood. At all. She coughed and sputtered, then wiped at her lips as she pushed back up to her feet.

"Go notify Leon, Diana."

"Me? But why me?!"

"Because I said so." Aryn snapped without looking, proceeding to shoot a black flare in front of the woman to keep her at bay. "Because you need to get over to yourself because - in case you haven't noticed - she's planning on killing you and everyone else. Get Leon. Get gone, right no--"

In the next moment she rushed forwards, practically diving for the water making a streaking beeline for the cluster of females, without looking back. This proved to be a very unintelligent idea, as it seemed to solidify and pummeled her back, directly against the nearest building.

On the bright side, it got the rest of them to get the hell out of dodge.

She didn't like this--knew she'd be having to take her first steps to face the fear of death, or death itself. This little miss didn't seem to be about playing games if she could hit that hard with just water. But there was no way in all the bloody levels of hell that she was going to let her touch any of her girls.

Aryn bowed her head and coughed as she pushed herself off the wall.

"So. I think instead of killing you now, I'll make you watch~ And then you can watch when I take Leon, too." She tipped her head, a hand on her shapely hip. She laughed at Aryn's look, not quite catching the 'hahaha, you're shitting me' part of it, but more the surprise and maybe a bit of jealous hate.

Just a bit.

Hey. If the man could claim her, then she had every right to put a stake on him, too, damnit!

She scoffed, her eyes looking towards the woman.

...the air seemed to start to shimmer. Quiver. Waver with heat waves. Her assailant didn't seem to notice. She coiled the water back around her. Whenever it touched her dress, the material became obviously wet, but when the tendril moved to a different part, every last bit of the water seemed to move with, leaving her clothing dry. The control she had over the little nuances of her power made Aryn rather...jealous. She frowned.

"You buddies with the dipshit that tried taking Leon out?" The question was abrupt.

It was met by a giggled: "Who, me? Maybe~"

"Name, chickie? Fair's fair, considering you know mine."

Odd. But, whatever. "Naomi."

Aryn's eyes lit up with sheer amusement. "I moan."

Oh, but the look on her face was priceless! Too bad Aryn couldn't enjoy it longer, but the air that had been steadily heating under her simmering anger was compressed sharply to a ball, and then released, directed at little Naomi. It really was such a shame she couldn't enjoy it mor--

'The shit is this?!'

Naomi wrapped the water up in a 'wall' before herself, arms and hands shooting up to direct the water: nullifying the pressure burst despite the suddenness of the attack. She smirked, and Aryn was on the move to dodge when the water caught her, forced her down from a jolt of pressure.

"Maybe I will flat-out kill you, then."

"God damnit, water shouldngllllblllrrllll..!"

And a mouthful of continuous water was what Aryn got for pretty much opening wide and saying 'ahhh'. She snapped her mouth closed, but the water simply went up her nose. Into her lungs. She was drowning. For--she was drowning!

Aryn's heart slammed into her throat, and when she opened her eyes back up, she found that the feeling of having her head encased in water..? It was actually encased in water. Her fists clenched. Her fingertips brushed rubble. One hand curled around a chunk. Gods, she didn't want to die.

That just wasn't on her list of things to do. So it was either face it, or die, or let them die. If Aryn was anything, it was fiercely protective over what she deemed hers. She pushed herself to her knees, not able to properly gauge the distance this time, but putting a burst of flame somewhere nearby Naomi to distract her, and then sent one chunk of rubble hurtling at her.

The double attack seemed to be effective, as the water suddenly splashed to the ground and Aryn heard the distinctive, pleasing sound of a pissed off, feminine, pained, shriek. She coughed and sputtered, then slowly got up as anger replaced the fear.

"God damn, Leon, if I can't even fend one pretty little bitch off..." She muttered to herself, flipping her hair back over her head with one arm. "...then why the hell become your Apprentice, anyway?"

She'd been trying to lean on her qi because she had been confident that, even after the first time she'd extinguished her fire, that Aryn could still have the upper hand. Had she been able to knock Naomi off her feet, it would have been a different story. Gripping the piece of rubble, Aryn advanced on her target, the tables now turned, a grin pulling her lips apart.

When she got there, Aryn planted her foot into Naomi's side after picking up an arm. Looked like she'd clipped her on her temple. Another kick, and she rolled her over with the motion, so she was laying on her stomach. Aryn looked at the rubble in her hand, raised an eyebrow, as if in question, then decided...eh.

And slammed it against the back of Naomi's thigh before picking up both arms with the woman writhing from the seizing of her muscles. She planted a foot on her back, applying pressure and continuing to lift those arms up.

"So."

She was met with a groan and sputter in response.

"Well. Now that's just not polite." Another merciless kick. "So what were you gonna do with Leon, hmm?"

"I've got power beyond yours. Control. I'm better looking. You can't even get him as anything more than a fuck buddy. He'll never love you--"

Giving her no time to think after most of her answer was given, Aryn dropped one arm, keeping her grip on the closer one; with a twist and a firm kick'n'pull on her elbow to snap it, Aryn dropped the arm.

She waited until the screams died down before sneering and making her way across with a firm step on Naomi's lower back.

"What makes you think I'm looking for 'love'? I'm not stupid--this? This isn't love. It's really, really, really fucking good sex. Chivalry's practically dead, though you may find a loon here and there that are willing to hold doors open. I, however, hold no delusions."

"Is sex gonna be enough? I'd get him to love me." She chuckled through the pain.

"Oh really?"

Crack.

And Aryn broke Naomi's other arm. She wouldn't ha--no, no need to lie. She would have. She totally would have. Aryn had seen those sneaky movements. One of the ways this little wingless chicken controlled her powers was with arm and hand movements.

So. Fuck you, Naomi.

"You'd never be enough. Really a shame, though. Had you not threatened my girls and everything I care about, I might have offered you a job. But there you went, right? Just had to be a bitch about things, huh?" She got down, pressing her face against the concrete with a pleasant smile. "You don't fuck with me. And you certainly don't get to fuck with anyone that's mine. Got it?"

Wide green eyes blinked back, and Naomi nodded, swallowing hard. Her pretty face was marred by tears...

...Aryn stood, coughing up a bit of water from her brush with death, the woman's pretty white-blonde hair wrapped around her hand.

It was long, good.

With a wicked smile, the fiery brunette proceeded to drag Naomi back home. Across the rubble and concrete. On her face to ensure she was marred by more than just tears.

'Serves you right.'

. o O ( 1823 words. :D Hot damn. Hell yeah. I realize this is late, so if I don't get the exp, just lemme know. I don't care~ Character stuff, yassssssss~ )

[Tobias Ross]

OOC: I know it is late, but I wish to participate in this awesome event if possible. If I can get a reward, I would like the experience.

IC:

Now

Laying on the ground in a pool of his own blood and his vision fading, Tobias struggled as he slowly reached toward Autumn with tears in his eyes. The edges of his vision darkened as he watched helplessly as Autumn turned toward him and screamed something out to him as she was dragged away. The only thing he could hear was the pounding of his heart slowing as he began to lose conscience.

Earlier that Day in the Morning

Smiling as he rolled over and wrapped his arm around his wife while he still had his eyes closed, Tobias kissed the back of her neck and head as he snuggled closer to her. Waking up in the morning next to his beautiful wife was one of the blessings that he thanked the gods for. Besides the fact that she was beautiful, Autumn was also quite intelligent. He thanked the gods for having her in his life and that she actually said yes when he had proposed to her. Autumn was his high school sweetheart and ever since they met, both of them had been inseparable. Nibbling lightly on her ear, Tobias whispered into her ear as he felt her stir.

"I love you, hun."

He heard a light chuckle as she whipped a pillow out from under her head and smacked him in the face with it. It didn't ruin his mood nor get rid of the silly grin that was plastered across his face. She turned her head to look at him and let her hair go wherever it wished as she spoke sleepily.

"If you love me, you would let me sleep longer. Inconsiderate and insufferable man."

Reaching into the blankets and finding her sides, Tobias began to mercilessly tickle her till she fell out of the bed flailing and red faced. As he grinning wickedly at her, Autumn blew the hair out of the way to glare at him from the floor and tried to resist the urge to smile along with him.

"Jerk."

"Sexy."

"Idiot."

"Beautiful."

"Aargh!"

Laughing as he got up, Tobias noticed that she was leaping at him and he took off like a bat out of hell as he headed to the kitchen to fix breakfast. If she got him into her hands, Tobias was a goner and he knew it. Autumn began to swear vengeance against him as he disappeared around the corner and vanished down the hallway.

As Tobias entered the kitchen and opened the fridge, he hummed to himself as the selected eggs and couple of other ingredients to cook up a delicious breakfast for the both of them. It had been around five years since they ended up getting married and though neither family approved of their marriage, both of them were happy with the life that they had built with their own two hands. As Tobias cooked the food and mixed up a tasty breakfast, Autumn came into the kitchen wearing one of his shirts and tying back her hair.


"That smells wonderful, Tobias."

Shaking his head at how quickly he was forgiven, Tobias pulled out two plates and served up their food at the table. Only thing that could take her mind off his actions in the morning was the fact that he had not only learned how to cook, but he was now a professional chef. While no one but Autumn appreciated his effort into the culinary arts, Tobias didn't care. He had the love of the only person in the world who mattered to him and that was enough for him.

As they both ate their meals and made noises of pleasure, Autumn looked up at Tobias and reached out with her hand to rest it on his from across the table. With a light squeeze from her, it told him everything he needed to know. She loved him and would stand by his side forever.

"So what are the plans for today, Mischief?"

Winking at her from the other side of the table, Tobias spun the fork between his fingers as he held onto her hand. Neither of them had to work today as they both had the next couple days off. Looking at his wife, he grinned once again as he spoke.

"Oh, I got a couple of ideas."

A Few Hours Later

As Tobias laid asleep on the couch with Autumn napping in his arms with the television running, the door to their house had its lock picked and the door was opened silently. If this had happened a couple of years ago Tobias would not only have heard it happen, but been up and ready to ambush those who dared to enter his house uninvited. Hell, even Autumn would have been up and ready to throw down. As it was, Tobias awoke to someone grabbing his wife and was quickly knocked out by a blow to the back of the head.

An Hour Later

As Tobias awoke with a pounding headache, he looked around in a daze as he wracked his brain to figure out what happened. His eyebrows shot up as he remembered what happened and took a moment to recall every fact. The way the kidnappers moved and acted were familiar to him. IT was VERY familiar. As his brain went through its archive, Tobias got to his feet and searched the house for his wife. It was futile as Autumn was home, but it didn't hurt anything to look and it did confirm his suspicion as everything that had to do with Autumn was removed from the house. The kidnapping had been done by his own family. Anger filled him as he got dressed quickly and left his house with the intention to tear his family apart piece by piece if even a single hair on Autumn's head was harmed.

Hopping on his motorcycle, Tobias turned it on and rode off toward his father's office. His family was both egotistical and stubborn. They would bring his wife to his father and try to convince her to leave him once again. All this because he wouldn't agree to the arranged marriage and that he chose to marry for love. It only took a couple of minutes to drive there, especially when one chooses to not obey the speed limit and flooring it on their vehicle. Kicking the doors open as he entered the building, Tobias didn't even give the security guard on the first floor a chance to speak as the guard was slammed against a wall and buried to his neck in said wall. Stopping for a second, Tobias looked around and snarled at everyone.

"Run right now and I won't slaughter you all."

The lobby cleared quicker than you could blink as people fled out of the way of the angry child of their boss. As Tobias entered the elevator and rode it up to the top floor, he struggled to contain his anger and was beginning to get it under control as the elevator doors opened. The secretary buzzed the doors open for him with only a scowl to prompt her as to what the right course was. Slamming open the doors, he walked in and spoke very precisely.

"Where......is......my......wife?"

As his father stopped talking to the person on the other side of his desk who was hidden by the large chair, Tobias struggled once again to control his anger.

"Your wife? She is gone. She listened to reason and left you after I persuaded her to see the folly in her decision."

"My wife would never abandon me nor would I her. Now, where is she?"

"Son, she left you. If you somehow find her and convince her to come back with you, she will only leave you again."

"You are a worse liar than you are the head of the family."

"Watch how you address me, whelp! I gave you life and I can take it away. A son's place is at his parent's beck and call."

"Go fuck yourself, old man. I am not your son anymore nor do I wish to be. Give me back my wife and I will let you continue living this miserable excuse of a life."

"If that is how you feel, whelp. So be it."

With a nod to someone behind Tobias, his father reach into his desk and pulled out a pistol that was loaded. He
spun the chair and sitting in it was Autumn. She was had bruises all across her face and discoloration on the parts of her skin that wasn't covered by clothes. In her eyes was a look of pride and unwavering faith in her husband. As they locked gazes, he could see that she was prouder of him right now than anything he had ever done before. As he took a step forward, Tobias felt something enter his chest at several spots and a couple of them exited his back. Looking down as he dropped to the floor, he noticed holes where blood leaked out and the first thought that entered his mind was that something was right.

Did I get shot?


Back to the Present

Just as his vision began to go completely black, Tobias heard three things that chilled him to his soul. The barking of the gun in his father's hands, Autumn screaming in pain, and a thump as if a sack of potatoes was dropped. It kick started his mind and brought the anger in his soul screaming forth as he forced himself to his feet and faced his father holding a smoking gun that was empty. He was facing Autumn with a look of disgust and as he turned to face his fallen son, a look of surprise spread across his face to see his son had not only gotten up but was leaping through the air at him. As Tobias hit him with a flying tackle, his rage broke free from his control and he fell into a berserk frenzy. Holding onto his father, Tobias slammed the man up into the ceiling and back down into the floor with more than enough force to leave craters. Throwing his father at a wall, Tobias roared his fury at him. The room quickly emptied of hired help as his father pulled himself out of the wall and dusted himself off.

"You dare strike at me, you pathetic excuse of wasted sperm!?!?"

As they both collided and wrestled across the room, his father proved to have the upper hand in the fight due to experience and tactics. He would exploit his own son's rage against him and the damage on Tobias grew the longer the fight went on. While it may have only been a few minutes, it felt like hours. One thought penetrated his berserker rage and it was a horrible idea that had no chance of working except if he dropped the rage that was letting him stand equal with his father physically. Tobias agreed with it and as he wrapped his hands around his father's arm, he heaved him toward the window with all his strength and desperation behind it. As his father's body hit the glass, it shattered and he flew out into open air with a surprised look on his face.

As the strength started to leave his body, Tobias limped over to Autumn and dropped to the ground on his knees with tears streaming down his face. Gently lifting her in his arms, he wept as his soul overflowed with grief and was unable to hold it. A soft touch on his cheek brought him to reality as he looked down into the face of his wife as she smiled and struggled to talk.

"Hey, you."

The words lodged themselves in his throat as he tried to speak and they faded as the light in her eyes died with her arm dropped to the ground. A wail of loss and pain ripped itself from his throat to rend the air as he sobbed while holding her. He was got her back, only to lose her permanently. His win against his father was nothing compared to the loss of losing Autumn.

OOC: Word Count is 2106, not including the OOC sections. I hope this is liked and whether or not I get the experience, I wanted to shed some light on my character and develop me further. By the way, the song I was listening to when I wrote this was If Today was your Last Day by Nickelback.

[Mr. Kaar]

Officially closed last night at midnight cst. Due to the effort and quality of the two posts that came in after the buzzer I'll let yall have your prizes.

Take your exp, your item unvaultings, and I'll be dishin out the money.