Blades of Resolve
Written by Scarredbyshallowness
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry or anything else that I use in my story.
Author's Notes: Time to get into the meat of the story! Finally! Real life and Halo 3 have been grabbing up my free time left and right. Now, see how this story is classified as a 'tragedy'? I'm going to say this right here, right now.
There will be character death
My deepest apologies to the fans of those I have decease, but it wouldn't exactly be Armageddon if everyone lived. Then it would just be the same old 'everything's the same' bit that so many shows abuse.
Note - This story takes place:
Bleach - After the Bounto Arc.
Final Fantasy VII - (Now) After Advent Children, before Dirge of Cerberus.
Devil May Cry - After the 3rd and 1st game, before the horrific 2nd.
Kingdom Hearts - After the 1st game, before the 2nd.
Chapter 11
Downfall
- Bleach World -
We interrupt your normally scheduled program to bring you the following breaking news from WNN (World Network News) headquarters. I'm Rick Johnson.
Turns toward camera with a stern look.
Rick Johnson: It's a travesty of humanity as calls continue to pour in from every corner of the globe. Mass murders in the US. Odd sightings in China that claim the lives of those who near it. A record rise of international casualties have been made within that last week. What could these horrific events have in common? We go live to Faye Williams in Tokyo, Japan.
Faye Williams: Thanks Rick. I'm here in what used to be the bustling district of Naruki City. As you can see, the town has almost become completely silent. The residents here have taken up a 'leave when necessary' act to counter the pure surge of calls of oddities happening in the city.
Rick Johnson: Have any of the residents given any descriptions of what they witnessed?
Faye Williams: They have, Rick. But the answers we have received have been just baffling. Some say the acts were committed by a rising terrorist organization. Others claim the wreckage was done by animals unidentifiable by zoologists. And one man, Father Trueheart, believes the culprits are not even of this world.
Rick Johnson: Thank you, Faye. All of us here at the station pray for your continued, safe, coverage. We now return to your program still in progress. This is WNN.
----- 32 hours to Armageddon -----
Karakura Town, Downtown
"Inoue…do you really want to try all of these?" Rukia questioned with baffled eyes.
Before the petite ex-soul reaper Orihime held a pile a food, roughly as big as her torso, carefully in her arms. This wouldn't be so bad if the stock pile didn't include delicacies such as bean paste, seaweed wrap candy, and some kind of pink vegetable that seemed just too unreal to be edible. For starters, it was PINK!
"Of Course! I never get to have you over, Rukia! I want to make it a night to remember!" Orihime smiled innocently, bursting with cuteness.
The sidewalk they traveled was vacant. Cars were left unmanned and civil silence filled the bright afternoon sky. Even birds were no where to be seen. Though relatively relaxed the girls remained alert. Call it a hunch.
"I hate this."
"Hate what, Rukia?"
"Half of the school was missing today! And didn't you hear all those idiots in class? Demons. All they talked about were demon this and demon that. And it's not just there! It's on the news, the radio, the internet…" Rukia sighed heavily as she continued to scope their surroundings. Her heart was relieved to be back in the real world, but her brain refused to let her soften. "They're obsessed with their murderers and I'm completely powerless."
"Don't say that, Rukia! We'll always need you!" Orihime quickly stated. No way she was going to let a friend feel depressed! "It's too bad that no one can see them like hollows. Oh! I've heard some stories from the girls that wasn't about demons today." Orihime agreed airily. Happily pondering what combination of food to try first.
"Oh?"
"Uh huh! Um…I remember them talking about this guy they've seen all around town. The girls said that he wore a lot of red and carried a really big sword on his back. But that's not what really matters."
"Then what's so great about him?" Rukia blinked.
"He's really, really cute! The girls said he looked like a white-haired angel!" Orihime squealed with bright eyes. Images flashed through her imaginative mind. And, as usual, they looked nothing like the said hunter…Heck, one of the images was just Ichigo's face plastered onto a red suit.
"That's great." Rukia replied with a cringe of a smile that simply reeked of sarcasm.
"C'mon Kurosaki! Where's that skill you brag about!?"
THUMP!!
The two shivered to the sudden shout from the male's voice. The yell came from a nearby alleyway.
" Oof! Get the HELL off me!"
The same exact thought raced through the girls' minds as they made their way toward the outburst. Upon arrival the girls witnessed a painful confirmation. Ichigo. On all fours. Bleeding. Surrounded by a pack of punks he had history with in middle school. Careful not to reveal themselves, Rukia snatched a flabbergasted Orihime and placed her against the brick wall adjacent to the scene.
"Ah. You gonna cry? Want your mommy?" a leather clad teen laughed, kicking Ichigo in the side. He took a moment to brush his treasured red Mohawk with his hands.
"Shut up." Ichigo spat with a heavy cough. If his body wasn't such a godd-mn mess he would of pummeled these guys into the pavement by now.
"Oh that's right." the punk continued, thriving in his rare find. A weak, sick, Kurosaki? Too good to pass up.
"I said shut up."
"Your mama's dead." the leader of the small gang shouted with slight hysteria. Ichigo had single-handedly ruined his reputation ever since middle school. No better remedy than bitter revenge.
Inoue gasped with clasped hands over her mouth. Such cruelty. Rukia clenched a fist and prayed she still had the strength to crack a skull. Though the moment that Kuchiki was about to move a flux of spiritual pressure hit her. A very familiar pressure.
"I bet the whore committed suicide so she wouldn't have to deal with you and your sorry a-s family! Oh, and where is that little b-tch you always hang out with? As soon as I'm done with you I'm gonna find her and tear up her little - GACK!" cried the Mohawk rocker as Ichigo cracked a foot into his face.
"SHUT THE F-CK UP!" roared Kurosaki, landing a very painful hook to the kid's jaw before being forced to the ground again by the punk's crew. As much as he hated to admit it, he was being overpowered.
"Godd-mn." the Mohawk rocker swore, spitting out a tooth. "That was a good shot." SHINK! Went the switchblade pulled from his pocket. Pulling the knife an inch before Ichigo's face, eyes brimmed with hate, he squealed; "Time to bleed."
"Enough." boomed a voice from the opposite side of the alley. The physical power behind the words made the whole crew jump.
The entire situation lightened up. A smile was put upon the girl's faces. Even Ichigo was sporting a sly grin.
"Leave him be." the voice continued. His face was hard to distinguish, but the imposing size of his body was all that really mattered.
"These losers caught me on my sick day. Mind taking over for me this time, Chad?" Ichigo spoke nonchalantly from the gravel.
Though a little hard to believe, Sado had become more gigantic than ever before. Standing at a staggering 6'9", his physique increased 30 fold of what it used to be. Every conceivable spot on the guy's body was ripped! Oddly enough, his hair actually seemed to be shorter than usual.
"Oh SH-T!" the crew yelped at the hulking giant; instantly letting go of Kurosaki.
Staggering to stand, Ichigo rubbed upon his injuries. Stretching and audible cracking of tighten bones alleviated his stress.
"You ok, Ichigo?"
"Yeah. I'm fine, Chad. But could you do me one favor? See the one with the Mohawk and knife?"
"Yeah."
"Hit him. Hard."
Without any hesitation, Chad dashed directly in front of the perspiring punk's face, smacking him with a single, lightening fast jab to the skull that forced the rocker's body to collide with concrete at mach speed. It was amazing that the kid's head was still attached to his body.
"D-mn. Thanks, but don't you think you overdid it a bit?" Ichigo chuckled as foam formed from the unconscious teen's pierced lip.
"Actually…I was worried about using only 2 of my strength." Chad replied simply.
"T-two percent?!" Ichigo grinned in honest envy. "Urahara's training did that much?"
"Remember when you asked me long ago to become stronger than you?"
"Wasn't that yesterday?"
"To you. I lived, trained, for an entire year guided by those words. Same with Uryuu. The thought of us without you to back us up was a frightening reality." Chad spoke whole-heartedly. His eyes swelled with pride. He sweat to the point of bloodshed. He pushed his body to the absolute limit for 365 days in a row. "A reality we are ready to face."
"I can't sense Uryuu right now, but I can already tell. Chad…your spiritual pressure is already on the same level as a Captain." Ichigo happily admitted. Maybe they would be alright without him after all. Those words. It made him feel so unneeded. So hollow.
"That's a relief." Chad breathed happily. "Then it's done."
"What's done?"
"It doesn't matter right now. We need to get you to …" Chad moved on as he picked Ichigo's limp body off the ground with a single arm. "…Orihime's?"
The girl's cover was blown. All thanks to a nicely timed blow of the wind through a strand of long ginger hair.
"RUN!" Rukia whispered as loudly as possible, snatching Inoue's hand as they sprinted for cover.
"What was that, Chad?" Kurosaki asked as nonchalantly as possible. Dignity is hard to find when your slung over your best friend's back like a sack of potatoes.
"N-nothing, Ichigo. Let's get you patched up."
Soul Society, Seireitei Western Gate
BWONG! BWONG! BWONG!
"BATTLE STATIONS! BATTLE STATIONS! This is NOT a drill! All available personnel report to the Western Gate immediately!" a man demanded over the intercom with a verbally shaky command. Sweat began to develop. Breathing rapidly increased. His heartbeat became audible.
War has arrived.
"Secure the gate! SECURE THE GATE!"Captain Hitsugaya ordered his subordinate soul reapers before him. His voice masked his fear perfectly. His face, however, wasn't being so cooperative.
Amongst the resonating bark of 'Yes, Captain!' in unison from the sea of the 10th squad's entirety, the sound of several hundred kidou chants embodied the west gate. Using themselves as a living power source the soul reapers consolidated the power of the Seireitei's barrier to 5 times it's normal strength.
"Captain! They're less than 15 meters away!" Lieutenant Matsumoto yelled with wide eyes before her hand even had a chance to leave her headset.
"D-mmit…" Hitsugaya swore under his breath.
"rrrrrrrrrraaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
The sky cast an increasingly growing shadow over the gawking soul reapers. A dangerous precursor that sent many of the 10th squad running upon hearing the sound of plummeting weight.
THOOM!
"Jidanbo! (A/N: The giant gate guardian. Remember him? Ichigo fought him once.)" Matsumoto called out; flash stepping herself straight to the giant's crash site. The floor below him gave way to his crushing weight in a ten foot crater.
"S-so strong…" Jidanbo wheezed as a chunk of blood spewed from his lips. The fact that he was talking at all was astounding considering the couch sized gouge across his sickeningly exposed chest. " Run…ugh… run….while you…can…."
"Who did this to you?!" Toushiro asked heavily. Desperation shimmered in his sharp eyes. "Call 4th Squad NOW!" he demanded to those behind him. Admiring the injury quickly, every angle seemed to point to fatality. Too deep. Too wide. Too much blood lost. Too little time to spare.
"H-he didn't say… But…he burned down West Rukongai…with a wave of his hand…" Jidanbo struggled to explain. His body was feeling much heavier than usual.
KATHOOM!!!!
Nearly the entire 10th Squad veered to the right as smoke rose far north by the sound of the ear-splitting detonation.
"Hitsugaya! Assistance with the Northern Gate! NOW!" Captain Soifon (2nd squad) screamed into her mike exactly 5 seconds after the loud burst. Heavy breathing and approaching cries of slaughter rung as the sound of her fist cracking into metal effectively cut off any further conversation.
"Don't you move an inch, kid! I'm getting that action!" Captain Zaraki Kenpachi (11th squad) threatened before abruptly cutting the link. His voice brimmed with an eager anticipation for bloodshed.
KRABOOM!!!!
"They've broken through the Eastern Gate!" Captain Kyoraku (8th squad) reported amongst the ear-blistering explosion of the said gateway. "HOLD THEM BACK!"
As the situation worsened, a small ray of hope caught Hitsugaya's eye. Death butterflies. A massive cloud of them that spread to every corner of the Seireitei. Seeing one fight for his direction Hitsugaya thoughtlessly leapt into the air to cut the dire time.
From the butterfly spoke the authoritative words of Captain Commander Yamamoto. The message was;
"All CAPTAINS and LIEUTENANTS release your zanpakutou IMMEDIATELY! I repeat, RELEASE IMMEDIATELY! Do what you MUST to survive! We must win this war! The Soul Society WILL NOT FALL! "
SLASH!
CRACCKK!
"D-mmit…" Hitsugaya swore mentally while drawing his blade and activating his mike. His brain refused to believe what his eyes saw. For someone to just rip away the barrier like a curtain…it's just too frightening to think about. "They've broken through the Western Gate."
"How insulting." True Sephiroth spoke with the utmost mediocrity. He didn't even bother to dismount his crimson steed as he sheathed his unreal katana on his back. Two unfortunately placed soul reapers' were instantly disposed of by the wildfire that emitted veraciously from the horse's body. A fire that burns all except it's rider.
Behind the Horseman of Death marched demonic warriors of every class. The few and far tower-tall demons shook the ground with their approach as a living sea of soldiers ran amongst their booming steps. The sound of their collective cries for war deafened the ears.
"To send a child to face me, what mockery."
(A/N: I know one of you 'Kingdom Hearts' fans is snickering to yourself right now…)
Words escaped Hitsugaya. The presence he felt from this man was painfully suffocating. Strangling. Overbearing. On top of that, an entire platoon of his men was ripped apart before he could even give an order. Matsumoto, though not too surprisingly, was already well over her head as an overwhelming amount of enemies entered the Seireitei.
There was only one thing that he could say:
"Set upon the frozen heavens; Hyorinmaru!"
With the release command spoken, a quick slash produced an eruption of ice that flowed from the tip of his zanpakutou. The subzero shards formed single-file into a living dragon, ferociously roaring seconds before it plunged head first into the sea of approaching demons. The cracking of metal and bones rang from the beast's path until the frozen creature was forcefully dissolved from streams of lava shot from odd beings entirely composed of liquid, crimson, metal. Their 6 foot tall bodies were lined with streams of magma that lit up their bodies like neon.
Demons dubbed the RMS (Red Mercury Soldiers).
"I leave you the child. My time is not to be wasted." Sephiroth groaned as he casually rode his demonic stallion inches by the young Captain. Hitsugaya's adrenaline spiked to a personal high. Air was stripped from his lungs. His legs shook from the brunt force of the heavy pressure. The depth of this man's strength was far beyond the level of a Captain.
"I'm no child." Toshiro clenched, his courage displayed as he lifted the tip of his blade. A very tender area of his struck verbally once again as the Horseman rode off.
"Help me!" a small voice called out from behind the roars of the demonic horde. The crier was a 7 year old girl in a dark blue school uniform. "Help!"
Though…none of the demons even tried to touch her.
No emotions were expressed through her long, raven black hair despite her plea for help. She just stood, fully erect, calling continuously. It was almost as if she was stuck in a trance…
"Sir! What should we do? She's just a little kid!" a 10th squad Soul Reaper asked his superior as he slashed through a mucky scout demon's side; grunting as his zanpakutou cut the beast in half.
"She came with the Horsemen. We have no choice but to assume the worst. Do NOT let your guard down!" Hitsugaya commanded. Many unconvinced faces and whispered conversation expressed his men's doubt.
"Why do you stare at me like that? I haven't done anything wrong! Honest!" She spoke in an off key, yet cute, voice. Though very young, her body continued to contradicted her outburst. Her head cocked unnaturally, her eyes opened as wide as the inappropriate smile that grew on her face. Her mannerisms were very … creepy . Just looking at the girl made Toshiro's skin crawl.
"Then stay the hell away from here." Toushiro spoke with words as cold as his blade. He wasn't buying this act for a second.
"CAPTAIN! How could you be so cruel?" Matsumoto gasped to her Captain in disbelief as she blindly spin-kicked an armored demon in the skull. Nonchalantly fast-stepped herself right before the disturbed child she asked, "That bad man made you come here, didn't he?"
The girl silently shook her head.
"It's alright now. I won't hurt you. What's your name, honey?" Rangiku whispered caringly.
"MATSUMOTO! Don't be a FOOL!" Captain Hitsugaya screamed at the top of his lungs. What the hell was she thinking?!? The child stated by Sephiroth wasn't referring to him. It was…
"My…name?" The girl repeated slowly, starring directly into Rangiku's eyes as she lightly latched onto the soul reaper's uniform. "My mother…she called me…"
Her smile was replaced by a look of utter disgust as her skin shifted to a ghostly white. A jolt of pressure suddenly emitted from the girl's body, coursing through Matsumoto in a bone-tingling chill. However, the pressure wasn't spiritual. It was something far more threatening.
Twisted. Sickening. Revolting.
It was as if the girl was leaking pure hatred.
"Alessa Gillespie."
(A/N: Yes. She is from Silent Hill. Yes. She is the one who MADE Silent Hill the hell-on-earth that it has become. And yes. This is bad.)
"Growl, -! " Matsumoto screamed her release as she tried to tear away from the tightening hug. Alessa, completely unaffected, proficiently injected a concentrated dosage of her malignant powers directly into the lieutenant's rib cage. Matsumoto quivered from the toxin. Air was suddenly shortened. Her heart ached with each proceeding beat.
"CAPTAIN!" Matsumoto piercingly screamed as a swelling boiled within her. The sharp pain rose faster and faster until…
SHH --THHUNK!!
Time itself halted for but a moment.
The little girl's frightening power revealed itself as metal spikes ejected from within the soul reaper; tearing apart Matsumoto's torso in a mortifying scene of disfigurement. The blood that gushed from Rangiku's sprayed the sick little one as she squealed in bliss. There was little better to Alessa than to be bathed in those who annoy.
Dropping Rangiku's lifeless body, a nauseating SQUISH escaped what remained of the lieutenant as her body dropped upon the stained ground in pieces.
TING!
Fell her lonesome blade on the ground before Alessa. With a light stomp, the sword cracked like paper.
Hitsugaya's eyes could not be swain.
"MATSUMOTO!!!!!" he yelled in vain. Who could of foreseen that ability? How could he have saved her? Clenching his fist he snarled; "You BTCH!"
"That's the longest hug I've ever given." Alessa smiled in a deeply twisted voice as she pulled a blood soaked strand of hair from her enlightened face. Staring directly at Toushiro, his eyes widened in fret she sweetly sung; "Don't you want one?"
He replied with a heavy slash of his blade; forming another ice dragon that begged for blood. As his beast flew directly for the twisted child a band of RMS demons formed in front of her from the still approaching army, immediately creating a magma shield that melted the speeding crystal creature as fast as it had been created.
Bending her knees slowly to the ground, Alessa calmly placed her hands upon the purified ground of the Seireitei. Silence overtook the uproarious demons. Their attacks halted and exchanged by forward marching. The ground surged like a heartbeat. From her fingers grew a black substance similar, in almost everyway, to burnt skin.
It spread like a poison entering the bloodstream. The substance grew and overtook at a staggering pace. Within 22 seconds the entire western gate was infected by the dark substance. It's presence even seemed to excite the demons that stepped through it. The moment contact was made with the black tissue demons were rejuvenated. Gapping holes and severed limbs were immediately sealed and replicated by the jet black material.
"Captain Hitsugaya! We have suffered heavy losses in the Eastern Gate! We NEED back up!" Captain Ukitake heavily requested with a lung-busting cough. The stress of a war was not beneficial to his already handicapped health.
"Tsh. Of course." Hitsugaya scoffed to himself mentally. "10th Squad! Move out to the Eastern Gate!"
"But, sir! What about…?"
"GO! I'll handle things here." he commanded with a wild look in his eyes. Eyes that cried for vengeance.
"Do I scare you?" Alessa vocally crept. Though she was now standing upright, the growth of the sickening material continued to spread from the balls of her feet.
She spoke articulately. She walked fearlessly.
She killed inhumanly.
This was no child.
That's what Hitsugaya kept repeating to himself to ease his mind.
"BANKAI!"
For he was about to slay one.
Toushiro's body pulsed with blue light. His back sprouted wings of solid ice, feet became icy claws, and blade froze to his right arm. On top of that, his spiritual pressure sky rocketed as some of the weaker demons were forced to kneel in submission.
"You're going to try to kill me too?" Alessa almost pouted, continuing to pour black material into the Seireitei.
"I will make you suffer." Hitsugaya swore with vicious eyes.
The threat was taken. It was understood fully. It…made the little girl cry.
"-sniff- Help! Help me, Daddy! "
"Daddy?" Toshiro repeated perplexed. What is wrong with this girl's mind?
Without warning a very thick hand gripped Hitsugaya's shoulder from behind. Ducking to avoid a bludgeoning of a rusty weapon, Toshiro slashed the attacker's stomach; freezing 'daddy's' body in a split second.
"He's strong… And I couldn't even sense him!" Hitsugaya sweat. His shoulder could have been snapped like a pretzel under that grip.
With the attacker frozen the 10th squad Captain took a moment to study his opponent. With a massive build and a rusty machete roughly 4 feet long, his body was slathered in dry blood and butcher's apron. But nothing stood out nearly as much as his giant Pyramid Head.
Flash stepping to the unguarded child, Hitsugaya swung his sword precisely through Alessa's midsection in a splash of vile crimson liquid. Her body fell to the ground in pieces; blood leaking from each half. Not unlike his former lieutenant…
But…nothing stopped. The black material continued to spread. The demonic army kept healing. And the little girl's corpse…giggled.
"Get'em, Daddy…" Alessa's upper half whispered as Pyramid Head burst free from his sub-zero prison.
With a slight turn of his head he could see Pyramid Head dash for him with frightening speed. Parrying Pyramid's hefty machete chop with his zanpakutou, Toshiro lifted his free hand to grotesque monster's chest.
"Bakudo 90 - Black Coffin!" Toshiro cast with haste. A black box then formed over the monster, filling with a void before several hundred spikes pieced the object from every corner. Blood dripped from the sharp shards steadily. "One down."
"Silly." Alessa laughed, her body sealing itself back together with the aid of the burnt substance. "Death doesn't apply to us."
"We'll see!" Hitsugaya gritted, taking to the sky and unleashing four ice dragons to life. Two headed toward the bleeding box; ripping and tearing it to pieces as chunks of torn flesh flashed in their teeth. The other dragons flew toward the persistent child; mouth agape to receive her body as a sacrifice for their summoning. Their teeth salivated. Their mouths clenched…upon two rusty machetes. From the darkness spawned not one, but two Pyramid Heads to guard the little one.
"What?! ACK!!!" Toshiro screamed as six rusty machetes impaled his torso simultaneously in the air… From six more Pyramid Heads spawn around him…
Losing the fight to stay conscious, Toshiro hit the ground harshly. His watery wings were plucked from his body. Forced to the ground by the monsters' blades, Alessa moved toward the submitted captain. Ducking to meet his face she gave a malevolent grin.
"No one can beat my daddy." Alessa cockily stated, caressing a hand on Hitsugaya's resilient face. With a small movement she pecked the top of his head with a kiss. The same black substance that took Rangiku began to surface on his skin. "But it was really fun playing with you."
SHHH-THUNK!
Outskirts of Karakura Town
"Here." Dante spoke with a hum-drum attitude, tossing a briefcase to Lady's feet. "It's your cut."
"Oh?" Lady cooed sexily as she lifted the money filled case. "It feels a little light. Hey! Where are you going with my bike!?"
"I've got an appointment. Don't wait up." Dante quipped, revving the engine of the heavily armored motorcycle. "Besides, I paid for this."
"Tsh. Waiting is something that dogs do. Not women. And YEAH you paid for it! You destroyed my first one!" Lady screamed upon deaf ears. Dante was already squealing pavement half a mile away. "Idiot."
"The contact better be at that airport. Losing a bet to a stupid double-headed coin… D-mn that guy." Dante thought as his hair twisted wildly in the 90 mile per hour wind.
The road was eerily empty. The highway was free of any traffic. This was just further proof of what he already knew was coming.
"Well. This was expected." Dante laughed to himself. He finally found out where everyone, EVERYONE, had gone to. The sounds of civil uproar, honking, screaming, crying, and jet roar all entered his ears at once. So sad. Safety is nothing but an illusion now. But maybe running just made it easier to cope.
Revving the engine Dante forced the crimson bike atop of three parked cars; cracking the windshields under the weight. Leaping from the hoods, and the gasp and awe of some children, the hunter eased his way into the crowd.
"You're as brash as they say, Son of Sparda." a woman sneered from behind him.
Turning to see his contact, he almost wished he hadn't. Dressed in an ancient grey and brown dress, her grey hair and musky smell killed any attractiveness she may have had. She even reeked of demonic stench. Her only saving trait was her dark blue eyes amongst her bony body.
"Didn't take you long to come out."
"I've been awaiting your arrival, Spawn of -"
"The name is Dante! If I wanted to hear my father's name so much I'd steal it for myself." he interrupted. God did he hate hearing that name.
"I see. I am Dahlia Gillespie, heathen. (A/N: Yup. Another person from Silent Hill. This is Alessa's very messed up mother.) Let us be quick about this. My master demands your services."
"Come again? Demands? Master?" Dante almost laughed to the sudden question. "I don't think you know who you're talking to. I came here for answers. Not to sign up for another contract."
"Very well. Name your price."
"Ain't got one you can afford. I don't work for those allied with devils."
"I believe allying yourself with us would be in your best interest." Dahlia offered icily. Pulling a written contract from her blouse, she continued to press. "Sign and I shall answer anything you wish."
"Answer and I'll think about it." Dante reversed, pulling a gun to her forehead. Screams and cries from civilians intensified the scene.
"You wouldn't…"
"Oh I very easily could." Dante grinned as he tightened his grip on the trigger of the massive handgun. With a blind eye he drew his second gun, landing a headshot to a silent demonic stalker from behind. All while keeping a separate gun to her perspiring brow.
"Very well, Son- Dante. What do you wish to know?"
"Where is my father?! What does he have to do with all of this!" Dante yelled completely oblivious to his public surrounding.
She froze in thought for but a moment.
"Your father is the very reason I stand before you now. In fact, I have already had this exact discussion with your twin brother. Come. Come with me to Silent Hill and all will be explained."
"So they are alive…" Dante reveled. "Pass. You've told me everything I need to know."
"What of the contract?" Dahlia almost pleaded.
"You can shove it up your crusty a-s." Dante arrogantly replied, placing his guns away and hopping on Lady's cycle once again.
"T-then you have sealed your fate! Even you will not survive the coming battle!"
"Bite me." Dante spat, revving the bike in a wheelie over and around the crowd of people before him.
"Dante…You must die…" Dahlia cursed behind clenched teeth as she watched the hunter ride off back to town. If he only knew what was coming…
Final Fantasy VII World, Aerith's Church
(Immediately after the events of Advent Children)
"So…this is the cure for Geostigma?" Cloud spoke in awe, caressing his renewed arm. To think that a simple splash of his world's water could be so rejuvenating. Thoughtlessly continuing the heal the last of the infected children of the town with a splash of the 'holy' water, his eased mind suddenly jolted with a rather important memory.
"What's wrong, Cloud?" Tifa asked instantly. She knows Cloud better than anyone. If there was a problem going on she'd probably figure out what it was before even he did.
"Something important. Cid, can the Ragnarok fly?"
"'Bout time you remembered. Yeah. I've had her purring ever since we landed." Cid laughed yet another lit cigarette. "Leon's woman has been keeping her up."
"Are we really going back to space, Cloud? I just got back home!!" Yuffie whined to apparently no one.
"I'm afraid I'm going to need to ask a favor of all of you." Cloud sighed as he filled a prepped vial full of the healing water. "I need you all to stand with me once more."
"What are you talking about, Cloud? We just dealt with Sephiroth's remnants. What other possible problem could be so alarming?" Red XIII logically questioned. His keen animal senses could smell the spiked fear that was suddenly present in Strife.
"It isn't here on this planet. It's on another I visited not long ago." Cloud began to explain. Catching his team up to speed took much less time than he thought. Talk of Sephiroth instantly brought up the seriousness of the subject. "And that's about it. They are about to go through Armageddon. I can't just sit by and watch as Sephiroth claims more lives of the innocent! If any of you want to just stay home I understand. But we will all face this problem sooner or later."
"You should already know what our answer is." Vincent stated with arms folded.
"We're just glad that your asking us." Tifa smiled. She was just relieved to see Cloud out of his funk.
"Not all of us should go." Reeves (better known as Cait Sith) argued. "If they attack us from this end we'll be blind."
"Then let's split up. Some of us stay here and the rest go with Cloud." Red XIII suggested. Odd how the most animalist of the group was the most passive and logical.
"Fine. So who is coming with me?" Cloud asked his team earnestly.
"I will." Vincent volunteered.
"You knew I would! Right?" Yuffie seconded, quickly changing her tune.
"All you had to do was ask." Tifa happily nodded.
"I'll come as well. It's been awhile since I've been in a fight." Red XIII spoke up.
"I know ya'll need a pilot." Cid grinned.
"I'll stay back. I can use my connections here to give you updates globally." Reeves added.
"I'll back up Reeves. You suckas know I can't just up and leave Marlene again." Barrett regretfully turned down. To be honest, nothing sounds better than busting some heads.
"I thank you all. But I'm not going to sugar coat this. These enemies are stronger than anything we have ever faced before. I know because I have faced them several times. I'm going to give it my all in this fight. I promise…I promise with my own life that I will protect you all. I'm not going to lose another member of this team." Cloud spoke solid words. He would trade his soul for the safety of his team without a second thought. There was no way he was going to make a repeat of what happened to Aerith…
"We get it, Cloud. We'll be careful." Ms. Lockhart laughed lightly to his stern proclamation. She placed a loving hand on his very stressed shoulder.
"Thanks, Tifa."
"Alright ya chumps. Let's get moving!" Cid yelled with the biggest teeth shining. Hey, he got to back to space. What more could he ask for?
Soul Society, Captains Quarters
"All this to kill one man. I should be in the battlefield…" Kratos swore under his breathe. Dismounting his Horse of Famine the ghost of Sparta feverously kicked down the doors to the sacred hall. His entrance did not go unnoticed as his direct approach placed him before the entire 11th squad.
No words. No warning. No escape.
Kratos unleashed his fury upon the unfortunate soul reapers; tearing those nearest to him to shreds with a spin of his duel Blades of Chaos (2 short bladeswelded to his arms by metal chains). Displaying his animalistic rage he ripped the arms off of a nearby soul reaper with a guttural roar, spun around a poorly placed slash to slit the throat of the attacker, and tore a man in half with his bare hands (A/N: If you have played the game, you know what I mean. If not…you really need to. It's a great game!).
"PITIFUL!" Kratos mocked, spinning in the air with his blades released to create a vertical strike so powerful the floor warped upon it's deliverance. As an added effect, several soul reapers were popped up into the air…where they were sliced in half from a second cut from the Spartan.
"Who the hell are you?" a deep-voiced man questioned nonchalantly from the squad. Pushing through the horrified survivors, his massive size and …hair…made him easily identifiable. Captain Zaraki Kenpachi.
!!! FREE ZONE !!!
Scar: My GOD has it been too long since I've updated…No. I didn't die. And no…I didn't give up on the story. I've just been pressed for time.
Kon: Shut up! No one cares! Just get on with the interview so we can get on with our lives…
Scar: It's good to see you made a full recovery over the time off, Kon…
Kon: D-mn right! You took a month off! I could've written this thing in 2 days you lazy-
SQUEEK!
Scar: What was that? I can't hear you with my elbow in your face. Let's just get Ichigo in here.
Snap!
POOF!
Ichigo: What the? Where-
Scar: The white room. I'm the writer. Don't think about it too much. This won't last too long.
Ichigo: Why is Kon here?
Scar: … He's my co-host.
Ichigo: Sorry.
Scar: Armageddon is almost here, you've lost your powers, and you have roughly a day to live. What are you going to do?
Ichigo: Kill you.
Scar: Come again?
Ichigo: Didn't you just say you were the b-stard that wrote this?
Scar: Yeah…oh sna- SMACK!
Kon: Yeah, Ichigo! Beat his a-s! Haha! You all might want to get going. It might be awhile before Scar can snap his fingers again. Don't you losers forget to review!! Later!