"Ah man! Do I have to wear this? Why do they want to have a formal dinner anyway? I hate dressing up...I look like such a Geek!"
"That's ok, Ralf, you're acting like one."
"Oh, well...hey! What are you trying to pull on me, Clark? Do you think I'm an idiot or something?"
"You don't need my thoughts for that one, buddy!"
"Oh yea! Come on!"
"Boys! Boys! Stop messing around! You'll ruin your tuxes for the dinner tonight! I don't want to miss the party Kyo and Yuki are having! When will you two be ready?"
"Er, Leona, you aren't wearing your military clothes to this, are you?" Clark asked, surprised, for Leona had been the one who insisted that they dressed well, according to the invitations they got from Kyo and Yuki.
"What! No, of course not! But the night air's cold! I'm just putting this over it so I won't catch cold!" answered Leona in a drop-dead gorgeous evening gown.
"Holey...!"
"Ralf!"
"...Sorry Clark, Leona. It's...come on, Clark! Admit it, you didn't think she looked that good, did you?"
"Oh! You didn't know how I looked Ralf! Did you still think I'm that little kid?" Leona teased as she ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair.
"No! I mean yes! I mean, well, that is..." Ralf stammered, realizing the hole he dug himself into, while Clark only laughed.
Earlier in the month, they had received an invitation from Kyo and Yuki for a celebration they were having. At the time, Leona was still troubled by what Goenitz had said. More importantly, by what HE said. It would be her destiny...she could not avoid it. Ralf and Clark had told her it was just silly; we all make our own destiny, no one else. If only she could believe.
It was only at Heidren's request that she went along with her teammates. He had to go and make his annual pilgrimage to the graves of his wife and daughter, so Leona went. It wasn't until a few days after their arrival did she really begin to forget about Orochi. She felt like she no longer had to carry so painful a burden. It would not last long.
Elsewhere, at a bar and fighting ring across from Yuki's Cafe, there were three individuals, each having just been through an all-out fight, the results of Shingo saying too much too loudly. With him was Chizuru, or rather, he was with her. She had insisted on following the third person there, a young man known only as Ed. He had an aura not unlike Goenitz's, which is why Chizura followed him. Now, there seemed to be no trace of the Orochi Bloodline. Instead, there was the presence of The Guardian's Bloodline.
"How...how is this possible?" Chizura asked, puzzled as she had never been before...How could Orochi simply vanish, to be replaced with blood of a Kagura?
Shingo also felt the shift, and he was just as curious. He then blurted, "Who, or what are you?! How can you switch between the two Bloodlines? I've never heard of anything like that, ever!"
"YOU have no business knowing. You are of neither, so it wouldn't do me any good to wasted my time!" Ed blasted, and got up from the table, and made for the exit.
"Wait, please. I am of the Guardian Bloodline, as you so acknowledged. I have never heard of such a feat. I thought I knew all members of the Kagura Clan. If you are one, I'd like to know."
"Eh? And why may that be, miss?"
"...Chizura. As a member of the household, I think it is fair to ask such of another member. Another member could help in maintaining the Orochi seal."
"You forget! I'm part Orochi as well. Why would I want to do such a thing?"
"Surely you don't support his quest to eliminate mankind--do you?"
"It is no concern to me, one way or the other. I've been fighting nearly all my life, alone. This will be no different."
"But what makes you think Orochi wouldn't eliminate you as well?"
"I look at it this way: IF Orochi decides to finally carry out his quest, there'll be those like you to stop him. I'll take ANY who come after me! If it looks like it won't be in my favor, I'll pick off the survivors that could be a threat to me!"
Chizura was horrified. It had to be the Orochi Blood, she hoped.
"Anyway, all I recall's that my pa's Orochi, ma's Yata. I's 5 at their death, I think. All else is a blur. I've got to go! Don't follow me, or I'll take you as a threat!"
"Hey bub! Is that supposed to be a challenge?"
"No! Lay off the comics! Call it a warning...I don't like being stalked," with that, he turned and left, leaving Shingo and Kagura with new thoughts about the newest player in the Bloodline battle.
Ten minutes later, from the opposite direction, a fine trio heads toward a formal party held at their friend's cafe, Yuki.
"Wow! I can't believe how exciting everything is! I feel like I'm alive for the first time, ever! I don't think I've ever been happier! Thanks for making me come, Ralf, Clark! Ah, Ralf? Why are you starring at me?"
"Huh? What...Leona!?"
"You are starring at me? What is it?"
"I, that is, eesh! Um, I's just wondering if your legs are cold. It is chilly!"
"I know that Ralf. I told you, I'm not a little girl anymore. Besides, who was it who was in charge of our clothes for tonight. So please, stop acting like a little boy!"
"Hey! I bet Clark's starring too! You just can't tell through his shades!"
"That's right, I almost forgot. Clark, would you take them off before we get in. It will look so out of place, wearing shades."
"Huh! What? Why?"
Leona took his hands in hers, and asked as though she was a voice in a dream, "Please, Clark! Do it for meeee!"
"Hey, Leona! Are you ok?" Ralf asked, worried as to what was happening to the woman he loved.
"Leona, what's wrong, woman?" Clark asked, trying to hide the fear in his voice for what he feared was about to happen. If it was, how'd Ralf hold up?
Helpless, the two friends watched, powerless to do anything as Leona lay on the ground, flinching in pain as if being stabbed by blades of fire. To an extent, she was. This is one of the ways in which the members of The Orochi may react when another is going through the Blood Riot. That could only mean that somewhere nearby, one or more members of the Orochi clan were experiencing a Blood Riot.
Then, Leona slowly arose, blood dripping from her mouth, ears, and eyes. Yet none of it mattered. She was now a part of a Blood Riot, in which all senses are lost. Anyone in the way, suffers their wrath. Ralf and Clark stood before her, wanting to help her up, not yet aware of what she was going through.
As they went to help her to her up, she hit them both with low-blows, elbowed them, and ran off.
"A-gau! Damn! This is bad! Real Bad"
"We have...to do something, Clark. We can't let...her run...like this!"
"Believe me, bud...I want to. But she seems to have...got our numbers."
"Ooooh! I think you're right, there!"
"Just be glad she wasn't upset about you starring at her. She's definitely NOT...a kid anymore!"
"Well, you were starring too, I bet!"
Elsewhere, Leona heads toward the source of her pain, and wants to do whatever she can to stop it. Even during the Blood Riot, a part of her still desires to be free of her curse. She's determined to destroy the one that's causing her pain.
Now, just a few blocks from the cafe, she enters an alley, and trips. For a moment, the Blood has stopped calling. What was it she...a body! The Blood calls, and she answers.
"Damn! This guy's some sorta psycho! Look at what he's already done!"
"There's still four of us! The bastard's dead! Come-gak!"
As the other three turn, they see a woman in blue hair breaks the neck of their friend!
"Shit! He's bait! More are coming! I'm gone!"
However, Leona sends him to join his friend, while her Bloodsman snaps the spine of the other two.
Ralf and Clark appear, just to see a young man they later learn to be called Ed hop the fence and give a yell that crosses between Yagami's and Yamazaki's!
"No, why!? Why did I do it! Why?! I thought it had ended, but it came back! I can't escape my destiny!" Leona cried, her friends looking at the chaos around them, shocked and not knowing what to do.
Yet another member of the Orochi Clan appears. It seems that there is some sort of gathering, unbeknownst to some members. This leaves The Orochi Team and a few others to appear. Then, "Let’s Get Ready To Riot!"
Riot
Yagami v Yamazaki?!
Nightmare Memories
©2000