For generations, midnight has been looked at as a time when evil reaches it's peak in the day.Tonight will prove to be no exception.
It is now 46 minutes before the time!
"Come on, Alex, let's head back now!"
"Why Andrea? The night's still young! There's so much to do!"
She couldn't tell him the truth; she felt like the reaper was waiting for them. She only had one thought.
"I thought we could head back to our room together, and have a little fun," she said, with a sly smile, although it was hard to see the nervousness, hid by the night.
Alex agreed. Well, he thought, it's like our second honeymoon, although we've only been married 7 months...Oh, what the Hell! He then put his arms around her, and was about to kiss her. They froze at the laughter of the reaper.
"Who are you! What do you want?" demanded Alex of the lone figure.
He simply stood there, blocking their way.
"Listen, if it's money you want, here," he said as he dug through his pocket to find his wallet. As he found it, Andrea screamed. The man's eyes started to form a demonic glow.
"FOOL! I DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY! I'll have a different pay!"
"You ugly monster! NEVER!"
Before he could react, the man hurled a purple flame along the ground, singing him instantly. A second was hurled at Andrea, with identical results. The man then seemed to scream as if in pain, and rushed toward the young couple. His assault was his pay. He wanted to hear the music of screams of fear, pain, and hopelessness. He was exceptionally satisfied.
Each of them cursed to theirselves. They cursed their carelessness for being alone at night. They cursed God... why had they met this insane killer? Whatever wrongs they had done in their life, they didn't deserve to die this way.
Alex cursed himself. He had always thought that he could protect his wife from anything, big or small. Andrea cursed herself. She had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. She chose to ignore it, feeling that it was silly. Now, it will cost the life of herself, and the man she loves.
17 minutes before time.
As he left the pass, a street light reveals the insane Iori Yagami. He enjoyed what he did, always has, and will. It makes no difference who it is, nor does it make a difference that Andrea was to have twins. They all mean nothing to him.
5 minutes, another, bigger man looks over Iori's workmanship.
Damn! he thinks. I missed out on all the fun. He takes out his dagger, then puts it back.
"Usually, I'd love to stay here and play, but I've some business first. Don't go anywhere!"
"Argh! I sense another of The Bloodline! Whoever you are, come out, or do you fear the great Iori Yagami! Don't think that because you are of The Bloodline..!"
"I would hope not! That would make this no fun at all! I came here to prove who is the most deadliest of our clan, and it isn't you!"
"You! You dare to challenge me!? Fool! You'll share Kyo's fate!"
"Bring it on, loser! You can't defeat me! I don't lose myself in combat, like you. The longer it goes, the harder it will be for you to maintain control. When you lose control, you'll be dead!"
"You'll be surprised at what I've learned since last time. I guess the only way we find out is if we do it, and fast! Ready to die?"
"Bring it on!"
Now, the two deadliest men go head-on, each intent on not only killing his foe, but utterly destroying the other. Not fast, but slowly and with as much pain as possible. Each wanted to break the other's bones, damage internal organs, and do every and anything short of maiming their foe! This, of course, would prove near impossible, even for one of their skills. Each was experienced enough to know what to expect in a fight to the death, for they had been in many (do I REALLY need to say they won in their previous fights to the death?). What's more, they had something none of their death-match foes had, Orochi Blood! But Ryuji has yet to fully awaken. While Iori's massacre victims rank higher than Ryuji's, some are when The Bloodline had momentarily awakened. What would happen once Yamazaki's does? Could the world take two power-hungry madmen, powered by perhaps one of the strongest forces in our history?
"STOP! This shall not come to be!"
"What, who dares...you two!" and Iori sports his trademark insane laugh.
"Vice, Mature! You two sluts would stop me from killing this Bastard! He doesn't deserve the powers he's been given by his blood! Stand aside."
Instead, Mature faced Ryuji, while Vice faced Iori. Mature, who had ordered them to stop, now gave Vice the floor.
"Have you idiots forgotten the unwritten law of our clan. We shall not attack another of The Bloodline! The only exception is during an awakening, in which case all sense is lost. Any foolish enough must accept the consequences. We did so, and we suffered. Neither of you are in such a state, for you both would have already torn our throats if you were. NO! You will both end this now!"
"Bah! I don't need the Awakening to rip the throats of you Bitches! Ryuji challenged me, and I accept. If you get in our way, you're part of the body count!"
Without waiting, Ryuji leapt forward, with a look he hadn't had since he entered Geese's demanding his pay.
Then, he dropped, his hands on his head. Blood dripped from his eyes, ears, and mouth. The others fell, and He appeared!
"My children! I forbid ANY of you to fight amougnst yourselves!"
Just as suddenly, he was gone.
Ryuji awoke, and let out a blood-curling scream in pain, as blood dripped a second time for him. Those that were near did not understand it's meaning. Those that did, didn't hear it, but flet it's dark aura explode! No one had to ask who knew what was going on.
Yamazaki had just experienced a minor awakening. Yet this one was much stronger than the last, as they always are. For a few rare cases, it only takes once. For others, it takes several. As for Yamazaki...
©2000