Power High 7
Kitsu hung on for dear life as he and Yuurei went speeding at the massive flying fortress. Yuurei flew up through one of the ventilation ducts on the outside of the fortress. Kitsu opened his eyes and noticed he was on the ground.
"Thank God thats finally over with." Kitsu said with a sigh of relief.
"This is only the beginning. We have a whole fortress to explore. Just try not to get killed on me, okay?" Yuurei said with a laugh.
Kitsu followed Yuurei through the massive air duct. They reached a maintenance hatch and slowly climbed through. They snuck down the hall and made their way up the stairs. The halls had a very lifeless mechanical feel to them. The walls were made of naked sheet metal stretching endlessly throughout the halls placed one after the next. A guard walked out from around the corner. Yuurei quickly dove into the shadows and appeared behind him, forming an ice spike and driving it through his chest before he had a chance to even cry out for help.
They continued on their way through the fortress. Yuurei quietly dispatched guards before they even knew what hit them. Yuurei and Kitsu made their way to another set of stairs. They slowly climbed the stairs and made their way across the hall to a massive steel door. Yuurei used her magic to lift the door open just long enough for her and Kitsu to get on the other side. The door slammed shut behind them as Yuurei relaxed.
"What you doing here!?" a voice yelled from the other side of the room.
Kitsu turned to find himself face to face with Nikku. He now wore jet black gauntlets that illuminated with a magical aura. Kitsu opened up his shield mod as he got ready to fight. Nikku rushed in at Kitsu. Kitsu jumped out of the way and delivered a strong punch to Nikku's side. Nikku didn't even flinch. He turned to backhand Kitsu across the face. Kitsu went flying across the room as the strike connected. Yuurei began casting spells and firing beams of dark energy at Nikku, but to no effect. The gauntlets shielded Nikku from magical attacks. Nikku threw a hard punch at Kitsu. Kitsu ducked out of the way as Nikku's fist slammed into the wall. His hand plowed straight through the steel wall as though he were punching through paper. Kitsu mustered up all of his energy as Nikku charged at him again. They both punched forward, fists clashing, as Kitsu let out a powerful yell. The gauntlet shattered from the power of Kitsu's Ki-strike. Kitsu threw a followup punch to Nikku's chest, throwing him across the room. Nikku shook off the blow and stared at Kitsu with a confused look on his face.
"Where am I, and why am I in so much pain?" Nikku asked.
"Wait, you don't remember anything that just happened?" Kitsu asked.
"The last thing I remember is joining up with the military." Nikku replied.
"Someone was using mind control on him this whole time." Yuurei said.
"Whoever did this is going to pay!" Nikku yelled angrily.
"Let us take care of this. You'll be getting in over your head." Yuurei said calmly.
"I'll take your word for it. You seem to know more about whats going on that I do." Nikku said.
Kitsu and Yuurei hurried up the stairs at the end of the room. They threw open the massive ornate door at the top of the stairs. They walked into a large dome shaped room that was walled with glass. In front of them was a large oak desk, and behind it sat a man dressed in a black hooded cloak.
"All these years Yuurei, training your powers to carry on the dreams of your ancient love. You fail to realize time moves on, empires fall, and nations rise in their place. You wish to bring about unnecessary change to a world that is already in harmony with itself. It is my mission to stop you, for the common good!" the man said as he rose from his chair.
"You can not stop the inevitable. You are the only thing now that stands in my way. Now die." Yuurei said with an almost sadistic glimmer in her eye.
All the while, Kitsu couldn't stop thinking about where he had heard that voice before. Yuurei fired a beam of dark energy at the cloaked man. He put up his hand and deflected the beam.
"It is useless. You don't have what it takes to kill me. Your dream dies here and now, with you!" the man yelled as he rushed at Yuurei.
She reached up and grabbed at the man's neck, but was left holding an empty cloak. She threw it to the ground and looked around cautiously.
"Well done, but unfortunately I'm a bit too quick for even you, Yuurei." the man said.
Yuurei and Kitsu turned around to see Tenma standing in the doorway. Kitsu's jaw dropped as he stared on in disbelief.
"I see you've brought that bothersome little runt into this as well. I might as well get my revenge for making a fool out of me as well. This should be interesting, seeing how you've improved." Tenma said with a laugh.
Just as Yuurei fired off a blast of dark energy, Tenma melted into the floor. Kitsu and Yuurei kept a close eye on the floor to try to find Tenma. Kitsu went flying across the room as Tenma flew up through the floor, delivering a powerful uppercut. Yuurei blasted at him again with magic, but he was gone before she could hit him. She grew wings and took flight, while Kitsu made his way over to the oak desk and climbed on top of it.
"I see you've figured me out then. Fine. I guess it's time to finish you off for good." Tenma said as he appeared from out of the floor.
He began powering up a massive amount of energy in his hand. Yuurei fired off beam after beam of dark energy, but they were just absorbed into Tenma's hand. Kitsu leaped off the desk and ran at Tenma.
"I think it's time for you to die." Tenma said as he aimed his hand at Yuurei.
Just as Tenma was about to fire, Kitsu slammed into Tenma and sent him flying across the room. The laser fired off through the ceiling, sending shards of glass everywhere. Yuurei swooped down and grabbed Tenma by his throat.
"I think it's time to have some fun." Yuurei said as she flew up through the hole in the ceiling.
She flew high above the floating fortress, so high that the fortress was barely even visible. She gave Tenma one last look of pure hatred before throwing him far off into the horizon. She made her way back down to the fortress.
"It's finally over. I can bring about his last wishes. I can finally create his perfect world." Yuurei said as she reentered the fortress.
"Wait, did you just say create a perfect world?" Kitsu asked.
"Of course. My past love's last wish was for me to continue his dream and make it a reality. He longed for a world that would cater to his every whim, a world where he was absolute ruler, worshiped as though her were a god, with me at his side." Yuurei replied.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do this." Kitsu protested.
"I'm hurt. Isn't absolute power something you would enjoy? Just think about it, being able to treat people however you liked, getting whatever you wanted. You and I, side by side, ruling the most powerful empire ever established." Yuurei said dreamily.
"Thats the last thing I would want. I'm fine with how things are, people being free to do as they choose and live their lives peacefully. We don't need some supreme ruler to tell us how to live." Kitsu said, getting even more upset with Yuurei.
"Damn it Kitsu. You're the one person I thought who would truly understand. I guess I was wrong!" Yuurei yelled.
She began firing beams of dark energy at Kitsu. He powered up his rocket blades and skated around the room, dodging every shot. She began attacking more and more heavily as she became more and more upset, having an emotional breakdown as her hopes and dreams fell apart right before her eyes.
"Yuurei, just hear me out!" Kitsu yelled to her.
"You've never wanted anything to do with me from the start, is that it? Everything you've done was just to make yourself look better!" Yuurei screamed as she dove towards Kitsu.
"Damn, she's clung to the memory of her lost love so long that she lost grip with reality. Now that everything she assumed I would be has fallen apart, she's having an emotional meltdown. This is really bad...." Kitsu thought as he rolled out of the way.
Yuurei started to emanate with a dark aura, one more powerful than Kitsu had ever seen. The glass surrounding them shattered from the sheer energy she was giving off. Ice spikes were forming all around the room, while fire and darkness blazed through the sky above. Her powers were going out of control.
"Kitsu, get down!" a voice yelled from the doorway.
Kitsu fell to the ground as someone tackled him. He looked up to see a massive ray of dark energy fire across, inches away from his head. He quickly got to his feet. Kitsu looked over to see who had saved him. It was Ryoushi.
"What? Aren't you dead? I'm confused." Kitsu said completely dumbstruck.
"Well, Yuurei was dead until you brought her back. Same concept applies for me. I managed to put myself back together and now here I am." Ryoushi replied.
"I guess this is what you were trying to prevent. Keep her from fulfilling her love's last wishes." Kitsu said.
"Far from it. We were trying to prevent what is going on right now, the destruction of her entire world, the illusion she wrapped her self up in all these years. From the first time we met, I knew she would be drawn to you. I saw a striking resemblance to Darius in you." Ryoushi said.
"Wait, so you knew her previous lover?" Kitsu asked.
"Not only did I know him, I'm the one who killed him." Ryoushi said.
"So you finally admit it!" Yuurei said.
"I never denied it in the first place." Ryoushi said calmly.
Yuurei focused all of her magical energy. The aura around her grew so powerful that she disappeared within it. Ryoushi took out his staff.
"Kitsu, take cover!" Ryoushi yelled.
Kitsu ducked behind the oak desk while Ryoushi prepared his staff. He unscrewed the bottom of it, revealing a long sharp tip. He aimed carefully, nearly blinded by the ice and fire blowing through the air. He threw the staff with extreme precision. It flew through the air and disappeared into the thick aura.
With a loud shriek, the aura dispersed. Yuurei fell to the ground, Ryoushi's staff lodged in her chest. Kitsu watched in horror as she landed on the ground, completely motionless. It was as if time stood still.
After what seemed like forever, Yuurei's eyes opened. She grabbed the staff and pulled it out of her chest.
"You were an inch away from the heart. It seems your aim has worsened over the years. I guess you've been relying too much on magic." Yuurei said with a grin.
She threw the staff to the side as she walked towards Ryoushi. Before he could even move, Yuurei had gotten behind him. She grabbed his collar and threw him, sending him flying off of the fortress.
"Now it's just you and me." she said as she dove into the shadows.
Kitsu looked around, knowing she could appear anywhere. She quickly popped up in front of him and wrapped her fingers around his neck. Kitsu struggled to break free as she lifted him into the air. The look on her face was of total joy and pleasure, a grin of pure insanity. She began to squeeze harder and harder, starting to choke the life out of Kitsu. Suddenly, her entire demeanor changed. The manic grin was now replaced by a face of pure sorrow. Tears began to stream down Yuurei's face. She let go of Kitsu, and fell to the floor sobbing.
"I can't believe it...... all this training...... trying to control myself...... and I almost end up making the same mistake....." Yuurei blurted out between sobs.
Kitsu knelt down and wrapped his arms around her. She started crying into his shoulder.
"It's okay, everything will turn out just fine." Kitsu began telling her over and over.
Suddenly, an energy barrier surrounded the two of them. Ryoushi leaped off the back of a giant falcon and landed in front of them.
"Kitsu, get out of there. I am transporting her to the Nether Realm. It's the only place she won't be a danger to others." Ryoushi said urgently.
"I'm staying here with her." Kitsu said forcefully.
Yuurei's eyes widened with surprise.
"Are you crazy? Kid, there's no way out of the Nether Realm, what are you trying to prove!" Ryoushi yelled.
"How else is she going to learn where she went wrong if there isn't anyone to show her?" Kitsu said.
"Fine. I guess you have a point. If this is what you really want, I'll see if I can find a way to get you two back once you've finally straightened her out." Ryoushi replied.
"Can you do me a favor?" Kitsu asked.
"Sure thing kid, what do you need." Ryoushi replied.
"Tell Waza to bring that portrait of me to life. Knowing her, no one will know the difference between it and me. I care about everyone there, its the least I can do." Kitsu said.
"Will do. Good luck kid. Hope I'll be seeing you again real soon." Ryoushi said.
Yuurei wrapped her arms around Kitsu and pulled him to her. Their lips met as they faded out of view and were transported to the Nether Realm.
The next few years would be quiet ones at Haburi High. Ryoushi delivered Kitsu's final message to Waza, and then was off to continue touring with Hunting Hell. Waza couldn't bring herself to use her powers on the portrait. There was no replacing Kitsu. At heart, things just wouldn't be the same without him. The mood of everyone in school was in a bit of a slump, even more for Anei and Waza.
Kitsu and Yuurei stood in the Nether Realm, separated from the conventions of time and space, existing in an endless span of void. Kitsu was surrounded by total darkness, and all he could see was Yuurei. There was nothing to see but black all around. It was a dimension all their own.
"Thank you for all this. I don't know what I would have done if I were forced to stay here alone." Yuurei said, drying her eyes with her sleeve.
"It's the least I could do. I couldn't just stand by and watch you go on suffering like that." Kitsu replied sympathetically.
"I guess you do understand what I'm going through then." Yuurei said.
"Yes, I do. You held on to your Darius for so long, that you believed I would be everything that he was. When I didn't agree with his ideals, your whole world fell apart." Kitsu replied.
"I still find it so hard to let go. It was so long ago but still......"
"Well thats what I'm here for, to help you move on by finding someone new." Kitsu said with a grin as he pulled Yuurei close to him.
"Thank you Kitsu, I don't know what I'd do without you." Yuurei said as a tear came to her eye.