The Lights shined down on the duo as they walked from the shadows. Tetsu kept a slow stride. Keyome did the same. As they exited the space room. What they’d be greeted with had been a metal door. Not a word was spoken. Silence engulfed them both. It would almost seem as though. They knew what was coming next.
The doors opened and as they did. A large platform was displayed. Connected to what looked like one of the older sewer systems in Kasaihana city. Upon entry, they could see the entire arena setting. First, there was the platform. And then further beyond by a few meters had been an opening. Water from the sewer lines flowed down the large circle space. Creating a waterfall of filtered sewer water. The moon was within sight. Dark shadowy clouds shifting above the lunar deities gaze. It was almost beautiful.
Above the platform, had been large blue monitor like windows. Showing the same screaming faces, yearning for a battle. Wanting for another slug-fest. Bloodshed had been there calling.
“I don’t see our opponent…” Tetsu said adjusting his mask. Looking down at the metal platform in front of him.
“Me either. “ Keyome said, allowing the words to fall flat.
“So… I guess that means. That we're gonna have to fight. “Tetsu said, his words cold. And confrontational.
“I think we both knew. How this was going to end.” Keyome said walking forward. His shoulders low, and his gaze focused. That is… until he got a light vibrating sensation on the back of his neck. “What? What is it Saidah?” Keyome said speaking to his AI for his holophone.
“Incoming Cerebro message from. Haji. Sending now.” Saidah’s voice came out smooth and digital like it always did. But, even from her tone. It sounded urgent.
“KE- O- THE POL- TH- -OMING –zzzz…” The message came out scattered and broken. Keyome stopped in his tracks, looking around towards the top of the underbelly. Noticing that the live spectators in the stands were gone now. The only ones who had been watching the fights were those who were watching the live stream.
“The hell…” Keyome said looking towards Tetsu, and then towards the announcer.
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! MONSTERS AND FREAKS! ARE YOU READY FOR THE FINAL BOUT!?”
The announcer said, flailing his flamboyant arms from his hover platform from left to right. Quite the strange man. He wore a purple getup, his hair twisted up in a strange swirl. Pink and orange highlighted the majority of his hair.
“YOU’VE SEEN THE DARK GOD! AND MAD DOG! FIGHT THERE WAY THROUGH BATTLE AFTER BATTLE! ALL FOR YOU!” His voice was thundering for such a strange man. “But now…” He allowed his voice to shift, turning into a slow simmer more so than a thunderclap.
“The Imposing duo of destruction must face off in their final bout. The true battle that will test their mettle amongst the masses. You’ve seen them fight plenty of warriors tonight. But none too bright! For they were nothing to the Dogz of Wars Might!”
Tetsu walked towards the opposite side of the ring, and Keyome did the same. But the inquisitive golden eyed Yakuza to be. Had his focus on other things.
“Dark God. Something isn’t right…” Keyome said lowly.
The announcer would have spun his floating device in a continuous 360 right in the middle of the stage centerfold. Stopping on a Dime as he pointed at Both Tetsu and Keyome.
“AND NOW!” Keyome’s eyes darted up towards the bright speaker. “Watch them… who have fought through the bellows of hell! Fight each other! In a grueling fight… TO THE DEATH!” Keyome’s eyes slanted, speaking up loudly.
“Hey, fuck face. “ The announcer stopped, turning his attention towards Keyome with a scowl on his face. “You want to tell me where the fuck the rest of the audience is?” Keyome said in disgust.
“What are you talking about!? They're watching you right now! Don’t you see the thousands of holograms above your head!?” The announcer retorted.
The announcer was about to speak before Keyome would cut him off. “HEY ASSHOLE! CUT THE SHIT!” Keyome’s voice boomed. And the crowd began to boo. Tetsu stayed still, his arms crossed behind his back while he kept that same goofy smile on his face.
“I agree with Mad Dog. It’s obvious that something is going on. And we haven’t been informed. Inconsistencies like this are not part of our agreement.” Tetsu spoke softly. Looking towards the moon in the far distance.
“The Audience works on a mechanism. There shifted with us with each round we go through. But, the last two rounds we haven’t had any live viewers in the mobile stands. It’s just the online streamers. The hell’s up with that huh?” Keyome crossed his arms. Demanding an answer.
The Crowd bellowed shouting at the top of their lungs from there online screens.
“This is a load of bull-shit!”
“Where's the fight!?”
“I paid money for this shit!”
The shouts began to mix together, creating a sea of disapproval. One by one, the screens began to drop by the seconds. The Announcers face scrunched up and he turned to Tetsu and Keyome both.
“No! No! No! You two are going to fight! You have to! If you don’t you’ll ruin everything! What about the money!” The announcer pulled at his face with quite the animated fashion.
“We want answers… Now!”Keyome shouted from the top of his lungs in a demanding manner.
Just then, a bullet was fired. Swiftly blazing by Keyome’s right cheek. The searing burn caused him to turn towards the assailant whom fired at him.
“I got your answers right here. “ Gabriel Rodriquez stood on the opposite side where the two had entered.
“Fuck, it’s the KPD!” Keyome said holding on to his face. Like nats to a flame, each of the screens began to fall off the map. Dropping one by one rapidly like they’d been running from the plague. The announcer turned, attempting to open fire on the Unit but Gabriel would signal his men to fire their weapons back. The announcer was decimated by the plasma weapons, blowing off chunks of himself in a matter of seconds until he was nothing but a red mist.
✿ ✿
“Damn!” Tetsu spoke sternly, dashing towards the open space where the sewer fell like a waterfall. Keyome went in the opposite direction, rushing down the sewers halls!
Gabriel and two of his men chased Keyome down, weapons in hands. While a Cyborg issued by the Raven crusade rushed in behind Tetsu. The Cybrog looked humanoid, as they all did. Wearing the standard Raven Crusade grunt uniform. It was the male version. Though its skin was blue, with bright green eyes.
“Freeze! Raven Crusade!” The Cyborg said, firing a plasma round at Tetsu’s back. But the brown shaggy-haired male would simply stumble.
“Sheesh! That hurt!” He said catching his footing. His back was burned pretty badly. But… the plasma round didn’t break his flesh for some reason. As if every fiber in his being repelled the energy blast.
“The Suspect was able to take plasma fire?” The cyborg said to itself, trying to process the information it had just received. It caught up with Tetsu pretty quickly though. Moving at such an inhuman pace that the ground cracked underneath each step it took. “Shifting into combat mode.” The cyborg said pulling its arm backward, getting ready to send a crushing haymaker at Tetsu’s face!
Tetsu moved as fast as a fly’s wing flap. Pulling his arm backwards just in time to catch the blow with his forearm. The impact caused Tetsu’s arm to bruise almost instantly! But he still managed to take the blow. Which was strange enough. A cyborg had the striking capacity to crush a hover car with a single blow. And yet…
“What!?” The Cyborg said. It would attempt to reset itself but Tetsu would waste no time. Two right hooks, a punch to the face, and a punch to the chest. The last uppercut blasted the Cyborgs jaw clean off. This almost caught the mechanical creature off guard as it turned its plasma weapon into shotgun mode. Within the close quarters, it fired a shotgun round right into Tetsu’s stomach. The impact lifting him off of the ground and into the air. Falling swiftly down the waterfall, into the small deep pond/river leading out of Kasaihana city from the sewers.
“Suspect has been taken down. “ The Cyborg said, standing over the waterfall, its bright blue eyes scanning down the singular river for any forms of life.
❀ ❀
Keyome ran for his life, his legs moving as swiftly as his body would allow him to. With Gabriel hot on his trail, along with two of his men.
“Raven Crusade! Stop! You’re Under Arrest!” He fired two pistols sized plasma rounds. They’d Knick Keyome on the arm and on his back. Each round blasting right through his flesh.
“Fuck!” Keyome said, coughing up blood as he staggered a bit, dropping to his knees only to pick himself back up. Holding on to his wounds. Blood pouring from his lips in deep gushes. But he’d keep moving, his legs pressing through the waving sewer waters.
“Fuck you guys!” The dark-haired young man said ripping the mask off of his face. Exposing his visage, his hair draping over his face as he ran for his life. More bullets flew, tagging him on each exposed body part that Gabriel could land a spot on. Keyome was hit once more, the plasma round busted through his thigh as he hit the ground face first in the water.
“Stay down…” Gabriel said, slowing his jog down as he began to walk towards Keyome. Keeping his weapon aimed high.
But Keyome wouldn’t stay down. Lifting himself up slowly as the water weighted down his hair. Causing it to sit across his face as he staggered to his vertical point. Turning around to face Gabriel after realizing he’d been at a dead end. “The fucks… a Raven Crusade anyways… KPD making DND clubs now?” Keyome said, wavering left to right as blood poured from his lips. Holding on to the gushing wound in his stomach.
“I told you to stay down…” Gabriel said pointing his weapon right at Keyome’s head. He turned the beam on to him. “That’s resisting arrest. I’m allowed to use lethal force now. Good job guy. “Gabriel said smirking. “ What’s your name? You're about to die. And I’d like to know who I’m killing. For the paperwork. ”
Keyome smiled, his lips parting as he opened his arms outward in an inviting manner. “My name… is Keyome Tasanagi. Heir to the Kagemaru legacy. But you can call me Mad Dog.” Keyome said through gritted teeth. Gabriel smiled, his fingers lacing over the trigger. “Well come on pig… do it. DO IT! “Keyome spat at Gabriel’s face. A thick loogie filled with blood.
At a moment’s notice, Gabriel fired his weapon. Blowing off the right side of Keyome’s face. His brains scattering on the wall behind him as his body went limp. He fell backward, hitting the ground with a hard thud. The water splashing upward from his body as he lies on top of the smog of water underneath him.
Lifeless.
Gabriel pulled his weapon upward. Staring down at Keyome’s lifeless body as his pistol smoked.
“One life at a time…” He said looking back at his men, pressing his fingers to his earpiece. “Mission accomplished. The Underbelly has been occupied and removed. Send in the paramedics and two KPD teams to arrest the other fighters, there waiting in the lobby. With Yoru. “The Crusader said back to his superiors. Taking one last look at Keyome before walking away. “Every dog has its day.” He said, with a smirk on his face. Walking forward as he left the young man to sog and mold in the remains of the cities liquefied waste. As the last breaths left Keyome's lungs. He found his singular eye. Staring out towards the moon, from a hole in the ceiling above his head. The lunar glow, encompassing his body as awhole.
✧✧
In the distance, far off from Kasaihana. Two beings sprung up from there sleep. Though they were not near each other. From a shack, deep in the remains of Old New-York. The Santa bearded old man who bought the rats down at the ranch. Woke from his sleep in a sweat. Looking over at his wife as he slid his fingers through his grey locks. A monster of a man despite his old age. He stared out at the moon. His eyes filled with sadness.
"A disturbance... " He said, placing his right hand on his chest.
Isabel had been the other. The beautiful plump girl rose from her bed. Walking out into the middle of the ranch and out towards the barn. Walking inside, she lifted up the clock that Keyome had been examing the last time he'd been there. A wave of worry encompassing her.
"I don't think it's healthy. How much I worry about you Keyo..." She said, placing the clock on her chest. Staring out at the moon.
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