"The Dance of the Unforgiving Dragon!" Nitaru prepared to unleash one of the techniques he solely made to fight and destroy Akujin.
"Cold-Hearted Blizzard!" Ruka gritted her teeth, slamming her foot into the ground as she motioned her hands to begin the circulation of frozen particles around her wrists.
"Dragon of the Rainforest!" Ryota narrowed his eyes, focusing his vision onto the enemy target in front of the three of them.
Akujin grinned, stepping forward slightly as she raised her own golden sword that sparkled and glinted with the reflection of the ongoing fires surrounding them, "I'm pleased with the opponents before me..."
"Dance of the Dragon's Wings: Flaming Phoenix of Misery..." Akujin gripped the smooth handle of her sword, collecting her strength as she prepared to unleash one of her most powerful techniques.
There was a silence between the four of them... a tense silence as they all readied themselves for attack. Fires around them crackled and engulfed anything in their path as many parts of Tokyo were in ruins at this point of the evening. It would be unfortunate to still be in the city while this battle raged on mercilessly. There were no lights on in the city besides the bay bridge, which was impossible to see from where they were in the city, and also due to the unforgiving amounts of smoke that rose profusely into the air. Raging clouds above rumbled with thunder that threatened to boom, and the scent of a liquid caught in the clouds caught Nitaru's attention as he prepared himself to attack Akujin. Although sensing the smell from above, he pushed the thought away, wanting to focus on Akujin and Akujin alone to attempt to defeat her once and for all. That task seemed to be one of the most difficult things the entire Organization has tried to do to her clan for decades. Tonight seemed to be the night where her bloodline would end with her defeat in the catastrophic damaged ruins of Tokyo, or what was left of it.
Ruka and Ryota charged forward first, their techniques raging wildly as the liquid in the clouds began to fall-- rain. And lots of it. The rain pattered violently against the ground, the flames flickering and sizzling, but the water began to silence their noises of despair. Akujin stared at Nitaru, not caring at the weapons nearing her. Her eyes looked into his, searching for something words cannot explain. Her hatred only seemed to grow as she saw his emotionless gaze stare back at her and that is when she knew she had to do what had to be done.
Nitaru flipped himself forward and off the ground, aiming his two daggers to hit Akujin. Akujin flicker her sword in front of her aggressively, sending Ruka and Ryota flying backwards. She knew this was a battle for her and Nitaru only, being the only fair way. To herself, she thought, "Why am I being considerate for others? I hate everyone... "
The ground tremored as Akujin and Nitaru's weapons clashed harshly against each other, the force so strong that it created an immense shockwave that shook the building above them that threatened to collapse fully. Ruka and Ryota saw the rubble and debris begin to fall from the building above that looked ready to fall at any second now, yet the two below it continued to fight with such rage that it looked like it was visible just by staring into their eyes.
"Nitaru! Get out of there! The building is gonna fall at any second!" Ryota yelled worriedly.
Ruka trembled in fear, "Please... we can't lose anyone else... " she sniffled, mumbling quietly so that only she could hear herself say it.
Akujin swung her sword towards Nitaru's arm, slicing his forearm slightly but he backed away before she could slice his arm off.
"Agh..." Nitaru gritted his teeth, backing away and continuing his movements with even more aggression due to his injuries fueling his growing rage.
Nitaru slashed his daggers at Akujin, digging into her skin, resulting in multiple gashes and tears on her clothes and skin. Akujin hissed from the pain but continued to swing her sword with precision and particular aiming. Dust began to fall from the crumbling building above, glass shattering and the bricks holding the building together by concrete beginning to collapse as the structure weakens tremendously.
Ruka and Ryota watched helplessly as the debris began to fall. They couldn't do anything since there was blockages of huge concrete pieces blocking their path to Nitaru and Akujin. The rain continued its silencing of the flames that once engulfed all the skyscrapers surrounding the vicinity. After thinking for a bit, Ryota realized something bad and his eyes widened.
"No... all the buildings will crumble," he turned to Ruka, who was already scared enough and upon hearing that it just triggered more fear inside of her.
Ruka gasped at his words, "What do you mean...?" she questioned fearfully at the thought of his words that could possibly be true.
Ryota paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then cleared his throat as rain continued to drench the two, "What I mean is that... since the rain is pouring heavily and is destroying the flames that were consuming the buildings, that the rain will patter against the weak structures strongly, which will result in the collapse of the buildings."
Ruka's eyes widen at his words, looking to Nitaru and Akujin fighting, "I hope you're wrong."
The building trembles heavily, the main structure that is holding up the collapsed part of the building weakening. Nitaru, seeing the danger ahead if he keeps fighting Akujin under the building's destruction path, decides to launch himself backwards. He spins his word, causing him to move backwards and backwards and Akujin watches with intrigue.
"Already running away?" she grins, launching herself at Nitaru and trying to disrupt his attempt at moving away from the building that was beginning to collapse onto the ground above them.
Akujin glanced upwards and upon seeing her distraction, Nitaru kicker her harshly into the center of the destruction zone that was about to be covered in the rubble of the crumbling building. After seeing her crash into a wall of the destroyed building that began to collapse, Nitaru ran as fast as he could to evade the shockwave and dust that was about to cover the surroundings of the destruction zone.
"Run Nitaru, run!" Ruka yelled as Ryota grabbed her to duck behind a car on the street to protect themselves from the winds about to unfold.
Hearing this, Nitaru pushed himself even harder, despite the exhaustion hitting him like a truck. The ground began to shake violently as the building fully collapsed onto the ground; the dust being pushed by the shockwave being forced outwards towards the surrounding areas of the building. Nitaru's heart raced as he felt and saw the dust catch up to him, the rain pouring on him heavily, and the wind pushing harshly against his back, causing him to lift up and get blown into a brick building.
As the smoke cleared, Nitaru dizzily looked up and saw Akujin standing there, "How are you still alive?" He coughed out, his voice raspy from the exhaustion.
Akujin grinned, "It's harder than you think to kill me. And why would I give away my secrets to someone who is attempting to kill me, hm?" She taunts, knowing Nitaru is more exhausted and angrier that she is somehow still alive.
Nitaru slammed his fist against the concrete with so much force it created a slight indentation in the asphalt, "Why can't you just die!? You stand there, looking full of energy and not exhausted after constant fighting for hours on end... and yet, you haven't died? Even after being 'crushed' by a building? Are you even human? I've put my ALL into killing you... We put our all into killing you," he coughed violently, blood trickling from the corners of his lips, "We lost so many and yet somehow, even after being taken on by multiple people, you still are alive and full of energy. Don't you know how much people you killed? Don't you know the value of human life? Don't you even know human emotion? Or should I even call a emotionless killing-machine monster like you a human?" His voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes, the first time Akujin seeing the strongest member of the Organization break his tough facade.
Akujin's eyes widened at his words, and for the first time, she felt this emotion jagging at her heart, but she couldn't distinguish what it was. Was it pity? Agreement? Respect? Whatever it was, Akujin didn't like how it somehow... in some way... made her feel bad. It didn't make sense. She was supposed to be full of the characteristics of what Nitaru had listed, yet she was feeling something that was a human emotion. Guilt.
Akujin couldn't even talk; she was at a loss for words for once. Her cocky, prideful, mean, smart-mouthed, and tough facade cracked for a moment. It was unusual for Akujin and she knew fully that this wasn't herself. She began to question herself as she watched Nitaru quiver in excruciating pain.
Then, after a while of tense silence besides the rain that fell upon them, Akujin grinned, "Should I use the manipulation technique? I haven't used it in quite a while."
Nitaru's eyes widened, but he knew fully well that his body couldn't handle anymore resisting and fighting after the injuries he had sustained. Akujin grasped his head and Nitaru gritted his teeth, weakly reaching up but Akujin kicked his arm away with the heel of her boot.
"Shut up and deal with it," Akujin gripped his head harshly as she started preparing her technique to manipulate him and his body.
Gyonu and Ezra have made it to the bay bridge, running to one of the supports of the bridge.
"We have to send out an emergency signal to the military," Gyonu states.
Ezra's eyes widened, "We can't do that! You know what they'll do! They'll bomb the city with their best bombs to know that the threat, Akujin, is gone for good. Ruka, Ryota, and Nitaru are still in the city, you know that right!"
Gyonu hesitated as he walked into the distress signal alert room on the bridge, Ezra following suit into the room. He sighed, but then turned to Ezra, "I know! I know! But we have to make sacrifices to ensure the safety of citizens. You remember Tokima telling us that!"
Ezra argued back, "Well, Tokima is not here anymore, is she? Can't we ma-"
"Dont you dare mention Tokima in such a disrespectful manner like that! Even if she isn't here anymore, we have to still do what is right, even if it means we have to lose our friends. Three is better than thousands, don't you know?"
Ezra remained silent, knowing that Gyonu was absolutely right. She just didn't want to accept it. Gyonu dialed the military phone number and waited for them to respond. Ezra zoned out, looking at the smoke rising above the city as the rain poured down heavily and soothing the fires. She teared up, assuming that she won't see her friends again. Although she knew them all for a short amount of time, she still was sad about the thought that no one would be there to comfort her, especially Ruka who she was closest with.
"Ezra, press the emergency evacuation sirens button to alert them. That's all we can do to hope they get out before the bombs arrive," Gyonu said in a quiet tone, most likely full of regret and hope at the same time.
Ezra nodded, wasting no time and immediately pressing the button on the control board, and she pressed it again to initiate the system to order all the emergency evacuation buttons to send out a siren to alert all citizens in the city to evacuate. Gyonu and Ezra knew that the citizens in the city was probably a small number, but still, it was great to warn all of Tokyo with the signals. Ezra sat on the couch with Gyonu, both know that they are safe there as long as they are on the bridge and out of the vicinity of the city.
Ruka and Ryota searched the streets for Nitaru, desperately calling out to him. The smoke had mostly cleared so it was more visible to spot if someone was moving throughout the streets. The rain had quieted down, though it was still sprinkling and it felt like a cool mist. It did feel nice though since it was hot after all that fighting.
"Nitaru! Where are you?" Ruka yelled, her voice trembling with weakness yet still loud.
Suddenly, Akujin walked out onto the street they were on, which shocked them since they thought that she was dead. No one could have survived a building crushing them, at least no one human.
"What the hell! How are you not dead?" Ryota raised his sword, questioning Akujin on how she is still alive and also wondering why she is coming from the opposite way of where the building had collapsed.
Akujin grinned, pulling out her golden sword, "Why would I answer you? Let's have who you've been calling out for do the work."
Akujin motioned her hand, which confused both Ruka and Ryota, but then appeared Nitaru from a nearby building, walking onto the streets.
"Nitaru!" Ruka sighed in relief as she saw him, beginning to walk over but then Ryota stopped her.
"What are you doing? Don't you find it suspicious?" Ryota gripped her arm tightly so that she couldn't pull away.
Ruka raised an eyebrow but then saw Akujin motion her fingers toward them which caused Nitaru to launch himself at them in response.
"What the hell!" Ruka yelled, immediately drawing her sword out of instinct and countering his incoming barrage of attacks.
Akujin grinned, also dashing towards them, swinging her golden sword high as she prepared multiple techniques, "I manipulated him, isn't it amazing? I thought it would be fairer for two people to go against two, don't you agree?" She taunted and mocked at the same time.
Ryota's eyes widened yet he maintained his defensive stance and attacked Akujin while Ruka managed to sustain her countering position against Nitaru's immense and overwhelming strength. His strength clearly outmatched her own, yet she continued to push herself forward. Nitaru slashes his two daggers violently against Ruka's snow techniques, and somehow Nitaru seemed to lose strength, possibly due to Akujin focusing on her attacks on Ryota.
"Nitaru, please! I don't want to hurt you!" Ruka yells, trying to aim to hit his daggers and not him, "Don't you know it's us? Ryota and I, remember? A couple hours ago we were fighting with you against that witch!"
Ryota struggles to hold against Akujin due to his exhaustion and fatigue catching up to him. Akujin notices and purposely uses strong attacks to weaken his own, which flared up Ruka's protectiveness towards Nitaru and Ryota. In response, Ruka glanced at Ryota in a certain way to alert him of her plan and he nods. A few seconds later, Ruka twirls herself at Akujin, using her techniques to distract Akujin from Ryota and make Ryota switch over to counter and defend himself against Nitaru. The plan succeeds, and now Ruka is fighting Akujin and Ryota is countering against Nitaru unwillingly.
"Nitaru, you know it's us, right? Please, I know you're in there. Don't make me knock you back into reality!" Ryota threatens, though he doesn't actually mean it since he knows he couldn't hurt Nitaru after taking his time and energy to revitalize him back after a severe injury he sustained during a fight with Akujin.
Just as Ryota finished his sentence, a siren blares overhead in the emergency evacuation speakers to alert everyone to get out of the city immediately. Ruka and Ryota know they have to hurry up and get out of there but Akujin and Nitaru attacking at once makes the escape almost impossible. Ryota realizes something that might stir Nitaru back to reality and collects his thoughts to process how he is going to say it to Nitaru.
"Nitaru! Remember what you promised to Akari!" Ryota says loudly as he evades a hit from Nitaru's daggers.
As soon as Nitaru hears this, he stops moving, his eyes widening as he recalls the memory from months ago.
SHINJUKU -- 8 MONTHS AGO
"Nitaru," Akari smiles, sitting closer to him in the van as it drives, "What are you going to do when we finally defeat Akujin?"
Nitaru turns his head towards her, his eyebrow raising at her interesting question as he ignores Riku sleeping beside him, "Why do you ask that?"
Akari sighs at his corresponding question to her own, "Can't you just answer?"
"Hm, I don't know... " Nitaru mumbles, processing her question.
Akari grins at his thinking process, "Cmon, you know what you'll do!"
Nitaru sighs and rolls his eyes, finally giving up his stalling act, "I want to live in the countryside, away from everyone and just... escape reality."
Akari turns her head in intrigue, his words repeating in her head as she tries to imagine that. She clears her throat, "I would want to live in the countryside too, especially after fighting for people but then they aren't thankful for the energy and life-threatening injuries we sustained so they can go on living normally and without having to worry of danger."
Nitaru nods at her words, "That makes sense, you know. I'm surprised I never thought or looked at it in that way."
Akari cups her hands together in her lap, debating if she should say the next thing she was planning on saying, "Then... do you want to live together and escape reality?"
Nitaru's eyes widened at her proposal, but then softened as he nodded, "Lets end Akujin together and do that then."
"Promise?" Akari smiled at his acceptance, hoping that he promises in return.
Nitaru smiled slightly, "I promise you that, Akari. I promise."
PRESENT DAY
Nitaru shook off the manipulation technique that fought to stay. He gripped his daggers tightly and immediately turned to Akujin, preparing a technique.
"Ryota! Ruka! Get out of here now!" Nitaru yelled, preparing to unleash his technique.
Ryota immediately grabbed Ruka, knowing that she will fight to stay back and fight with Nitaru.
"No! Nitaru!" Ruka screamed for as she is thrown over Ryota's shoulder as they run towards the bay bridge.
"Just you and me now, huh?" Akujin grinned, "Take me down if you can, but I'm not going down without you."
Akujin flung her sword forward slicing his thigh and Nitaru in response sliced her arm and stomach with his two daggers.
"I already knew that I wasn't going to survive after I hit that wall." Nitaru grinned, "The only thing that matters is that you don't survive either."
A loud bang is heard-- fighter jets releasing multiple missiles and bombs targeted at parts of the city that have been affected by the damage and fires. Just as Akujin tries to run away from Nitaru, he pierces her abdomen with both of his daggers, causing Akujin to gasp with shock at the sudden penetration and by far the worst injury she has had the entire night.
"Agh! Ugh!" She cried out in pain, holding the blade that has pierced her, causing her hand to bleed as well.
"It's great to die knowing you will too. For good," Nitaru grinned.
The bombs and missiles crash into the city's streets and buildings, exploding and bursting as flames and smoke rose into the sky once again. Ruka and Ryota barely had escaped been caught in the vicinity of the explosions, and Ryota and Ruka collapsed on the bridge from fatigue and wounds. Ezra and Gyonu came running towards the two and cried in relief that they were alright but also crying that Nitaru didn't make it. Helicopters were heard coming in the distance, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that evil was finally gone from Japan, not forever but for a while as Akujin was no more.
-ONE DAY LATER-
News reporters had reported the entire incident, being covered on every news broadcast globally for the heroic efforts of Nitaru and the remaining members of the Assassin Organization. Only four members had remained after the battles that occurred in Tokyo the previous day.
"19-year-old Nitaru Akazumai is the hero of Japan, saving millions from Tokyo in precaution to threats. This young man had ordered for the city to evacuate all citizens, and luckily, he did. Though it did cost the lives of many and himself, this shows proof that good always beats evil--" The news reporter said into the microphone in front of the catastrophic damage in Tokyo.
"I can't believe he did that..." Ruka pouted, sniffling again as tears threatened to fall.
Ryota patted her shoulder in the hospital bed, "It's okay... he sacrificed himself and did what was needed to be done."
Gyonu was in his hospital bed, looking at the two comfort each other, "I'm appreciative to all of the members who sacrificed themselves and died in battle. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't be here and Akujin would still be alive."
Ezra was asleep in her bed, tired and exhausted and still recovering from the battle from the previous day before. Her face had dried up tears from the number of times she cried for everyone that died.
Ryota smiled softly at Gyonu's words, "You're right, we should be proud that we all stood strong to the end... but Nitaru was so young..."
Gyonu gave Ryota a stern, uplifting look to stay strong, and Ryota nodded.
Ruka rested her head on the pillow, sighing and wiping her face clean of tears with her sleeve.
Ryota looked to both Ruka and Gyonu, "What do we do now then?"
Gyonu looked to the hospital window, seeing the clear blue sky and the cloudless day, the sun shining down, "Live. Honor those who didn't make it. Do what they couldn't do and do what they gave up with their life for."
Ryota and Ruka smiled upon hearing those words, cheering up at the thought of doing what Nitaru and the many others who died in action couldn't do. Live a normal life, explore the world freely knowing that the one figure they fought against until the end is gone for good now. People could envision a world without evil, but we are far from that.
This is only the beginning of a dream everyone has... a world without evil.
THE END.