Suteko didn't wait for the bike to fully stop before she leapt off, tossing her helmet to the side. She sprinted toward the woman, who swung back in surprise. Suteko nimbly jumped up, pushing off the spatula and flipped up and over Rage, her hands flying as she hit a number of pressure points. Rage dropped the large piece of masonry he was readying to throw at the chef with a howl. His arms dropped limp as the pressure points numbed them and Suteko spun out of reach. "Jaeoh get Ukyo out of range! I don't know how long that will hold him!"
"Who? How does she know my name?"
The pretty brunette tried to see who the girl was but Jaeoh steered her back to her shop. "Trust me, it is better you stay here," he said soothingly.
Back on the street Suteko was hard pressed to stay out of the reach of Gregor's big boots. As Iriko's car screeched to a halt he managed to land a blow that sent her flying into the nearest wall. The pure force of the blow stunned her long enough for him to roll his shoulders and disengage the pressure points somehow. He then grabbed her up by the throat and shook her, his voice a rumbling growl. "Your fault. None of this would have happened if we stayed out of this! Where is she!" He shook Suteko with each word, blood red energy swirling around her as she gasped for air. Her vision started to dim. She knew she cold stop him but using her power on a friend was impossible.
Jaeoh dashed across the street. "Rage! Back it down! She isn't the enemy!" Jaeoh could see black flames crackling among the red that covered the warrior. He leapt up in he air, delivering blows to Gregor's head, distracting him just enough. Suteko twisted and kicked out, finally loosening his grip enough to breath. Roaring again he tossed Suteko, who managed to land, crouched on the sidewalk, a hand to her throat and coughing. He then turned and lashed out at Jaeoh, words lost in mindless Rage. Blows flew between them, only Jaeoh's natural speed keeping him ahead of bone breaking fists.
"Iriko! Mind blast him! Knock him out!" Suteko cried as she leapt back toward Gregor. They had to stop him before they lost him.
Iriko nodded and changed into Minerva as she watched Samuel join in the battle to subdue their friend without harming him. In the moment it took to power up, dozens of blows were exchanged. She could see split skin as punch after punch hit the three trying to subdue him. To an outsider the three looked like wolves taunting and teasing a massive bear.
With the finesse of years, Iriko sent a precision mind blast in the raging man. It only made him madder. Whispering an apology to Hana she called "Minerva Levin blot!" The first one did nothing but she hammered three in rapid succession. That managed to stagger the big man just as his fists sent Suteko one way and Jaeoh the other. Samuel closed in, wrapping his arms around him in a sleeper hold. He strained till the combination of Levin bolts and lack of oxygen made him pass out.
Everyone stood stunned for a long moment. Suteko moved to Gregor's side as Samuel slid him to the ground. "I've got blood here," she tore open the now ragged shirt and held out a hand. Like clockwork she was handed a bottle of water, which she twisted open and poured carefully over the wound.
As the blood and ichor washed away she looked up puzzled. The wound in his side looked days old but his clothing was soaked in fresh blood that her senses said was his. "What the...." she looked up at Jaeoh. "How can this wound be half healed and the blood still fresh?"
"It is part of being Kouhei," he answered. Turning to Samuel he gestured. "We need to get him out of here."
Samuel nodded and picked up Gregor, slinging one arm over his shoulder and dragging him toward Iriko's car. Suteko looked to Iriko who shrugged.
"He should be out for a bit. We need to get him somewhere we can contain him if he Rages out again." Iriko kept her hand on Gregor's head, monitoring his mental state. Images of the fight with the Troll and of Steve sinking a dive knife into his side was dueling with an image of Hana truly smiling, her black eyes sparkling as she teased the big man. Iriko was surprised. She had yet to see Hana smile and banter like that.
As Samuel slid him into the back seat of her car she kept her fingers on his temple. He still fought inside his mind. His thoughts flashing form angry red and shadow black. She lay a soft mental blanket over his mind, trying to calm him down. His muscles were still locked. Iriko put all her attention on cooling his rage and slowly the edge came off.
As Samuel drove them to the dojo she peeked around the edge of his mind. While still heavily tinged in red the distressing black was fading. He was only in a doze now. She kept careful watch to make sure he didn’t wake where he could do them harm.
***
Jaeoh ran a hand over the bruises on Suteko’s throat. "You certainly do attract damage," he teased softly.
Suteko snorted and nodded. "Told you," she answered back, her fingers touching his. He handed her the helmet she had tossed away and smiled. When her eyes grew troubled he turned to look. The woman with the giant spatula was heading their way, holding wrapped bento boxes. If he remembered correctly Suteko had roomed with the lovely chef for a while. Thanks to the spell the woman would not remember her.
He whispered, "Let me love." Suteko nodded, walking over to the bike and slipping on her helmet. She shouldn't be near Ukyo or any of the others. Even with blocked memories, a woman who looked like Ran-chan only with black hair and green eyes was bound to call attention. She still had cousins who followed old Ito's ways. She needed out of Nerima for the sake of her brother and his friends. Never mind that her looks were so close to her brother that questions would rise no matter who saw her.
Jaeoh smiled at the chef as she walked over. "Sugar, you folks are mad. The big guy could have killed you." She looked over at the woman in the helmet. She reminded her of Ran-chan but she knew he and Akane were currently up in the mountains. "I wanted to thank you for what you did. That mad man could have hurt someone. Never mind my business."
Jaeoh bowed his head briefly. "He had just received terrible news, Madame chef, and did not take it well. We are sorry that we disturbed your business. The sincerity in his voice went a long way to soothing her mind. Something about him made her want to bow.
Ukyo tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "That must have been some news"
"You have no idea."
Ukyo nodded. "Well here," she handed him the boxes. "Any one with the skills you and your lady showed probably need a good meal."
Jaeoh bowed and accepted. "Thank you. We did miss breakfast." Ukyo noticed the woman looking into the alley, tossing something that seemed to flare brightly." Jaeoh smiled and turned to Suteko. "I will say they smell wonderful. Hopefully next time we come this way we can do a sit down dinner." He straddled the bike after strapping the boxes to the back. Gesturing for Suteko who slid behind him, he waved and started up the big bike.
As they drove off Ukyo peeked into the alley. It was the cleanest alley she had ever seen. "What is going on here?"
Jaeoh raced back to the dojo. Using the Bluetooth in his helmet he called Shayla to get the team back. Time for another raid to the shadow realm.
******
Shayla chirped as her phone went off. She politely excused herself and stepped away from the intriguing elder. She pulled it out and flipped it open. "Jaeoh?" Her eyes widened as he filled her in.
As she listened, Uhanzee politely conversed with Cologne. Though of an entirely different culture the Amazon elder definitely was a wise one. "Honor elder, thank you for talking with us."
Cologne's eyes twinkled. "It is good to know what happened to the dear child. I could keep an eye on her when she was in school but the odd happenings when she became a Star Knight made her hard to track. Then she left the city. It was worrisome. This Kaneda you tell me of? He is after her brother?" Uhanzee nodded and Cologne sighed. "We all know she would die before letting anything happen to the boy." She looked over at the pretty blonde. "She has come too close hasn't she."
Uhanzee nodded. This elder had gotten
much information from his beloved. "Self sacrifice seems to be a part of the maiden, wise one. From ancient times."
Cologne nodded. "She needs a guardian of her own. Someone to keep her alive. Someday when I find the key to the curse, her brother will need her."
"Jaeoh will do his best, elder." Shayla placed a hand on Uhanzee's arm.
"We have to go beloved." She tapped a code on his arm in their secret language. "Gregor and Hana."
The two communed silently and then bowed to the elder. "We must go but would it be all right if I return?"
Cologne nodded and watched them leave. "So the child really was who we thought," she mussed aloud. "What does that make this Jaeoh?"
***
Back at the dojo. Iriko kept Gregor just out of consciousness. It was a struggle. Rage was fighting her control, trying to wake. He was more the man now but Rage was still near the surface. "When will they get here?" She heard Samuel ask as she kept her concentration on the big man.
He pulled out of her mental grasp just as Suteko and Jaeoh came in. He swung an arm, knocking her away as he roared awake. Samuel immediately moved between them, hands stretching out to stop the bigger man. "Gregor stop, she isn't an enemy. " The flicker of power in the room was enough to frighten Iriko.
Softly "Gregor-san please, she wouldn't want this. You need to let us calm you down so we can save her." Iriko used her own powers of persuasion recklessly. This big man had every right to be angry but his Rage would not get Hana back.
“Where is she?” Gregor looked about, crashing past Samuel. Heading toward the office. He paused, eyes narrowing as he saw Jaeoh and Suteko standing by the table. “She is there Gregor-san. She is with Seiya.” Suteko’s voice was firm and calm as she rested fingers on the glass above the two figures.
Taking a deep breath, he moved to the other side of the table, fingers clenching the edge. The crystal hourglass was being circled by the black star. As they watched black would climb into the clear crystal, then get muddy and fly off to try to stake a claim once more. He tried to pry the lid off the table but all he did was just leave greasy fingerprints on the glass. “Open this,” he growled.
“Kouhei, control it!” Jaeoh’s voice cracked out. The commander that brooked no disobedience. The red flames that had been building once more snapped off. But they could still be seen behind his eyes.
"Why Draco? Why should I?” He turned those eyes to Suteko, who was studying the table. “You have changed him. The old Draco would have gotten her back all ready!” He pounding on the table.
Suteko looked up, a white light glowing behind her own eyes. “You’re wrong Rage. You all would have stormed in and died before . Now,” she pointed to three masses of shadows placed about the chamber. “The shadows know about your powers. And they want you all." She moved around the table and reached out, touching the mostly healed wound. "They left something here and I won’t let you go to Hana-chan till it is removed.”
Gregor looked down at the smaller woman, growled more but nodded. She quickly pulled light and forced it into the wound, cleaning out the shadow taint. Gregor’s growl changed tone but didn’t stop. Once she pulled her hand away he shoved her to the side. Putting his fists together, he raised them and slammed down on the glass, which shattered. As he reached in he looked at Jaeoh, “Come get us quick buddy.” He wrapped his fingers around the hourglass and faded from sight. “I’m coming little mouse.”
********
Hana gasped as she could once again breath. Her eyes closed, she was praying to a god that she wasn’t sure still existed. She was trapped in time but could feel that it wasn't flowing in a linear way. The room had been taken out of time to allow the mistress of pain time to play as she wished. Hana hoped that her friends found Gregor and that they would make it here soon. Make it here before she was taken over by the darkness.
“Now that wasn’t so bad was it little sister?” Seiya brushed the ash off her sleeve. “Makes it so much easier for us to play if you take your medicine when I tell you to.” She turned to her tools and debated. She had used the whip just an hour or two ago. Used it to rip off the last of Hana’s white blouse. It was so virginal and was totally wrong for the little slut. Next was the flail. Such a useful tool but she decided not this time. “Did that shadow taste good sweetie? It was plump and full of badness wasn’t it?”
Hana kept praying. She could feel a power outside herself responding and pushing the darkness out of her veins. Never a normal Kouhei, she had gifts that the others didn’t know about. Hell she didn’t know about them for years. Years of being trapped outside of time. This room trapped her in time and space but it looked like she could still call help from the formless.
“It is so hard to tell if you are paying attention.” Seiya tugged Hana’s head up and backhanded her again. When she licked her spilt lip Seiya laughed. “A little blood is good isn’t it little sister?”
Seiya purred as she continued to hit Hana with her bare hands. The feel of her fists hitting Hana’s belly and the soft sounds of pain as the girl tried to curl up was a joy to her. She sucked in the pain, fed on it like mother’s milk. Once she had her captive whimpering she switched tactics. It was time to pull out a blade. She purred as she looked over the selection Kaneda has gave her. Picking up a long slender blade she debated, then she started to really enjoy herself. So much so that she screamed as she felt arms wrapping about her waist and lifting her up.
“Seiya no!” Gregorr spun about and tossed her across the room. He turned back to Hana and looked her over, stunned Hana, his little mouse, was hanging the same way Unicorn had been days before. Her usually spotless white blouse had been cut away, leaving only tatters trapped at her wrists. Gregor saw more of her skin than he ever had and most of it was beaten, bruised and bloody. “Hana-chan my little mouse?” He reached out a hand, trembling with fear and anger. He touched her and she tried to cower back, a whimper escaping her split lips.
With a roar he spun about. “You bitch, How could you do this to her?! She never did anything to hurt you!” He reached for Seiya, to shake her. His heart was stuttering with adrenaline. Behind him was his sweet little mouse. The woman who his heart wanted to take care of, protect and he had to admit now hold. Before him was his first love. The woman who understood his anger and pain but again he admitted in the wrong ways. She didn’t work to get past the pain to clarity, she revealed in giving and receiving wounds. At one time he too enjoyed it but after years of being with Hana, he found tea and quiet conversation much better.
Seiya saw the tender look in her once lover’s eyes. Saw the anger growing s she saw what she had done to the slut. “Never hurt me? Never HURT ME!” She shook her head. “Wrong Gregybear. She hurts me. By breathing. Hurts me by having time with you. By making you look at me like that.” Seiya pulled back and threw the long, thin blade in her hand. It sunk into Hana, making her go limp. Eyes widening as he gasped then narrowing as the Rage took over. Gregor roared yet again and sprang.
Seiya opened her arms. and embraced her fate. The tiny sane part of her knew that what she had been doing was wrong. As Gregor’s fists flashed, pummeling her to the ground she purred and moaned.. She had driven him to beating her, killing her, loving her.
She managed to roll away under Hana and pulling up all the energy of her love and her hate. She sent it arching into Hana with one hand on her leg. Firing every nerve, crisping the skin where she touched. She made blood flow from Hana's eyes, ears, nose and mouth. “See how much I love you Gregybear. She can't love you this way, can't give you an outlet for all that lovely Rage you have.” Gregor reached as deep inside something snapped. His vision went black, his muscles swelling, joints popping and then the real screams started.
When it was over, all that could be heard was heavy breathing and soft moans. Gregor’s eyes cleared so that he saw what he had done. Shuddering, he sat frozen.
One hand rested on his mouth, the other on what was left of Sailor Pain, his once love Seiya. “Oh god no….what have I…”
“Freed me love.”
Gregor looked up, tears standing in his eyes as a transformed Seiya smiled down at him. “Seiya?” His voice trembled as he reached out a hand. She smiled softly, tenderly and shook her head.
“You can’t touch me now love. Not any more but you saved me.” She moved backwards toward the lever. She gently pushed it up with her ghostly hand. The chains holding Hana started to drop down. “Now you need to get our little mouse out of here. Take her home.” As Hana slowly came to rest on the floor Seiya floated back to his side and brushed a ghostly kiss on his cheek. “Save her now my love…and give her your heart. You belong together.” She then faded from sight.
With tears in his eyes he broke the chains about Hana’s wrists. Very gently he brushed her hair away from her face. The knife had pierced her thigh and with a grimace he looked over the wound. It was no where dangerous but since he didn’t know if it was poisoned he pulled it free. Quickly he pulled off his shredded flannel and wrapped it about the wound. Then he stripped off his t-shirt and eased it on her limp form. She was breathing and that eased his heart but she was too limp.