The Furies #15
Kazuhara Shen was running along the sidewalk in downtown Tokyo in a suit that had speckles of blood and dirt from the madness he had been involved with for the past couple of minutes that transpired. His body would push ed many people on the sidewalk -- sometimes forcing them aside with him verbally telling them to move out of his way.
Not far behind, moving through that crowd was the Yakuza-Killer called O'Rin. Her gaze was on him -- focused solely on the fleeing yakuza captain that struggled into every man and woman he ed by. The expression she held was empty and cold like ice, with those crimson eyes of hers burning at the sight of Shen's fleeing.
"Move it, damnit! Get out of my way!" Shen exclaimed loudly, and stumbled forward onto the street. He would fall to his hands and knees with a wince from having lost balance. Then he turned around to see O'Rin's face leering from the crowd who watched him in utter confusion of his frantic demeanor. "D-Damnit, stay away from me!" He shouted and went to raise the gun he had in hand, intending to shoot her with the people whom she was surrounded by.
But then an act of coincidence would happen. In some twist, a loud honking of a horn rang in his ears, to make Shen turn quickly to the right to find the sudden hood of a truck make with his face. "W-What...!?" He had thought as his body would find itself being ran over in a gruesome way that left his body completely broken and bloodied -- one of his arms and legs were twisted in the most unusual way. The man was a literal mess for all to see.
"I-I can't move... I can't move... W-Why can't I move..?" Shen asked himself while gasping for hair, unable to move an inch; twitching every few seconds from his grievous wounds.
All erbys witnessed this from the sidewalk, some horrified while others were confused on how this happened. But O'Rin, she didn't look amused or surprised by this. She would walk through the onlookers and take a knee beside the critically injured man that trembled all over from the growing pain.
"W... Who are... Y... You...?" Shen asked her through a voice that was growing weaker with each ing moment.
O'Rin didn't say anything. She just stared at him quietly -- both eyes looking back to his own that reflected her image. Those eyes of his would slightly widen as he looked more at her face; a revelation he would have in that moment with the woman who intended to kill him. Her face... Her eyes... They reminded Shen of another with similar features, minus the white hair she had. "....!!?" With a faint gasp, and a weak groan, Shen would say, "Arai... Akane...?" O'Rin said nothing when hearing the name. But her eyelids though, they reacted by lowering themselves a little.
Shen would expel the last remnants of air from his lungs. Then would his body fall limp in front of her. He was now dead.
"....." O'Rin watched as the light faded from those bloodshot eyes that strained for a small time. In the end, she remained by his side, not out of pity though, but for the possibility of finishing him off should he had not suffered such injuries. But when he ed away, her body then stood upright and turned away to leave the scene of the accident.
O'Rin gave him one last, and said in English, "Rot in hell with my father... scumbag." The woman soon walked away, left with feelings of being unsatisfied by how the man had met his end.
Although the weight she had felt no longer pressed on her shoulder about the Yakuza captain, she did find herself aimless for the time being.
Then recalled the Ratel, the young bodyguard to a renowned real estate owner, Rei Kabuto.
She would start making her way towards the location of her intended whereabouts.
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"Der Schrecklich... Kinder?"
"Yes. Der Schrecklich Kinder -- The Terrible Children, the experimental project AIM had conducted over fifteen years ago; We were smaller then, and filled with potential. You and I were amongst twenty-five mutant children who were taken and crafted to become weapons for their sakes; Tools that were to be sold and given to those all over the world. Truly to be terrible children to any and all we were to face at the time."
Both Dana Wong and Disney Darken would be conversing inside that old warehouse in Tokyo, located somewhere at a port. their meeting was far from a social-hour. Both met on the agreement that Disney(Tasmania)would reveal her employer's location, for exchange for having her one-on-one battle with her childhood rival, the Ratel.
This conversation was to act as the beginning to what was to come between them.
"We had met, you and I, when were barely five years old. However, I was there before you were brought in by Dr. Schneider. I assume you know him... or better yet, knew him, before his death?"
Dana lowered her head for her yellow eyes to stiffen a look at Disney, saying to her, "So you know about the guy in the wheelchair too. I didn't kill him, by the way. Guy offed himself, after shooting me in the stomach with vibranium. Didn't really do anything, but it hurt like a real SOB." Disney snickered in response with the tone that cared little about the scientist's demise. "He was an old fool who thought he could control mutants. We may have been brats, but still mutants nonetheless..." Her grin faded again when she gave a serious look at the other, and asked her a question next. "You really don't anything, do you?" This question left Dana quiet. That was an answer to Disney, who growled. However, she would stop and instead sighed; wanting to explain their relationship that is much older than the other refused to believe.
"We met when I was five years old. You were four when Schneider brought you in with the other fresh meat at the time. At the time, I didn't care about who you were and what powers you had as a mutant -- I just cared about the bloodying of my claws, even as a little tyke. The scientists would sometimes have us train with live humans they would arm with weapons. Some of us lived... some died. For me, I always got my fangs and claws to sink into the idiots that thought themselves safe with a loaded gun. But one day -- that faithful day that I never forgotten -- I was given the task of meeting you -- the you I knew best."
Disney paused and looked over at Dana with a smile that wasn't crooked, but surprisingly genuine. She then continued on. "Schneider wanted to test you... And I was the one he picked, not some other kid, not an adult, but me! Who else could've taken you on but me?"
"Are you done prattling on, or are you gonna get to the point?" Asked Dana with a snarl added with her words.
"Heh, cheeky... Impatience always suited you. That's exactly how I learned that you and I meant to be great friends," said Disney and made a grasping gesture against her throat. "I won't lie, I tried to kill you the moment they said start. I did my devil roar, and you weren't even affected by it -- totally immune. Normally, anyone exposed to it were stricken with fear that they couldn't move; allowing me to tear out their throats afterwards. But no. You did that to me without a single hint of hesitation. And when I found myself healing from the obviously fatal attack, I fell in love and knew well that you and I were meant to be friends!" Disney grinned while recalling that memory, like a dream vivid still in her mind; bearing the sensation of claws tearing deep through her throat.
It was almost in a perverted way how she described it to Dana, who scoffed in response. ".... I escaped, you know. When you left with... them. I knew I had to find you at all costs. So I escaped that facility, and tore their tracking device from my body just for you. It was all for you. Everything I did, I did it for you, for us to meet again after so long."
"And that's why you murdered my parents in cold blood?" Dana said with her anger kindling from hearing this twisted version of justification.
Disney scoffed at this and said, "They weren't even your real parents. Just two humans assigned to watch you and tame you like some pet! Believe me, I did you a favor."
"I don't care if they were fake! I didn't care that AIM made me believe they were my parents! I loved them! They loved me! a
And I had something close to a family, and you took them -- you stole them away from me!"
"I did what i had to do for you! I killed them so you can be free from them -- the lies they put on you! And I'd do it again if I could!
With that outburst between them, Dana finally lost her temper with a loud roar, and charged straight at Disney, who growled and charged as well; both bearing fur and claws, fangs that were intended to be their choice of weapons for their fight to the death...
------
Just outside the warehouse, Rei Kabuto would be in the car with his daughter Jun Kabuto. They didn't leave, despite being told to by the Ratel a few minutes ago; unable to just leave the girl behind to fend for herself.
Kabuto's thoughts about the ordeal was naturally frightful left anxious on what could be going on inside the warehouse. His daughter, sitting in the enger seat beside him, looked at him and asked him, "is she going to be okay?" Kabuto looked at Jun with an unsure look on his face. He knew that Dana healed fast and managed on her own -- proving that multiple times against those who gave chase to the pair for the last two to three days, under the authority of Kazuhara Shen.
"Yeah, I believe so. It's strange though... how a child can be so strong her to do what she does." He would say with eyes staring at the warehouse that was 20 meters away from where he had parked the car they had come in. Jun looked at Kabuto, then at the building to too to find a sudden burst of dust and debris from the entrance; loud sound of shattered wood and bended metal, as both the Ratel and Tasmania appeared in a destructive way.
They were together in a ball of black and gray fur, snarling as they rolled onto the ground and separated to show their respective forms -- both being almost similar to each other, growling and being like that of beasts. Dana's fur had grown all over her arms and legs, enough to ruin what was left of her costume; her skin being slightly reddish and the claws that were of -- something close to -- normal length, had extended themselves to be sharper than before.
For Tasmania, fur was grown all over the arms, and extending outwards from her shoulders. The face she had wasn't normal anymore, but had fur with aspects of a canine in facial features. A literal tasmanian devil with the traits of a human being combined to resemble a lycanthrope.
Neither hesitated in their attacks --claws and fangs-- that were built on hate and love that was abhorrent to one of them; moving within a clash of predatorial blades and strikes that left both bearing wounds that healed as fast as they were made.
Dana's eyes never left their target that opposed her, and would drive a slash across Disney's exposed abdomen that deeply cut and bled; likewise did Disney ram her claws right through Dana's shoulders and kicking her several meters away.
Both didn't tire nor show signs of being in real danger.
As her wounds healed, both mundane and fatal, Disney laughed loudly with low growl. "This is fun," she exclaimed with open arms, "This is so much fun, Dana! Just like when we were kids!" Dana growled and wiped away her own blood from her cheek, from a deep gash that closed itself behind her hand. "I don't care about the past, moron. I only care about tearing your head off and using it as a damn soccer ball," she said to Disney, who laughed some more.
The two would engage again, leaving the spectators who were in the sedan to watch in shock of the relentless attacks they had over one another. Blood spilled, their roaring erupting into the air, and the display of their ferocity was for all to see. It lasted for five minutes, maybe even ten, in an endless back and forth that left the two women to be a mess of scratches and blood that came from their wounds that closed themselves.
But it was during that final minute of struggle that Disney would throw Dana right into the ground with it crackling underneath her; Disney's foot stomping down right into her chest. The air from her lungs had been forced out, and could only make shallow attempts.
"What's wrong, Dana, aren't you gonna change fully? You know I'm not gonna kill you until you do, and that means prolonging your pain! SHOW ME!"
Dana, through her mouth that gasped for air and drool from the abrupt attack on the corner of her lips, she forced a grin with a glare that had her say, "G.. go to hell..." Disney growled with her own grin, and kicked her hard to send Dana several feet away -- bouncing like a ball along the ground before coming to a stop on her stomach. "You think you can beat me by going half-ass? Show me your true form -- let the beast rage on, and really fight back!" Disney had said this to the girl who slowly stood up on her knees and growled. She was right, Dana was operating at half of her capabilities -- keeping herself from going anything further. And the reason why, would be made known to her, figuratively and literally.
The latter being because of the manifestation of her true personality appearing right in front of her. She was a 6'8 tall woman with covering the majority of her body, hands and feet similar to paws endowed with long claws, and with a tail that swung slightly behind her. The eyes she had were glowing red, with the skin being reddish like Dana's currently shows. Her hair was gray and wild all over like an animal's, with a mouth full of razor sharp fangs that smiled her way.
"Been awhile since you actually looked like this. Ever thought of going red? It suits you," she snickered at Dana, who didn't respond to the quip about her appearance from the fighting. "You know... You can always go full Ratel and demolish her. I don't know why you're going handicap on someone like her."
".... She doesn't get to win."
"Eh? Whaddya on about, Dana?"
"She doesn't get to win that way... She wants me to beat her as the Ratel. Fat chance in hell will I obey her wants -- she dies by my hand, as Wong."
Lisbeth Rhinebeck, the true personality of the mutant Ratel, ed who this is she was talking to; herself but from a different persona, one who lost her own parents. It was true that both were the same person, but Dana lost two parents due to their real mother's games -- and Tasmania was a reminder of that loss. So when she ed her purpose here, she sighed and said, "You're a real hard-ass with the poetic justice crap you're going on about. Do what you want, I could care less. Just know that the offer is open." Dana nodded, closed her eyes, then opened to find the tall woman gone. It was just her again with the incoming attack Disney was making for her. in response did she grab the arm meant to stab at her, and forced it downwards, forcing Disney's own body to slam into the ground. "I'll never give you the satisfaction of going all out on you, Darken. Do you hear me?" Dana would step back from her and huff.
She would note to thank Ninpo for teaching her that maneuver.
"Oh yeah... That throw actually hurt a bit." Disney commented and cackled through her maw, and then suddenly rushed and bit deep into Dana's shoulder. A wince came about on her face, gritting her teeth through such a pain that went deep to the bone; she could feel those fangs tear through her entire shoulder. However, this pain she felt, it was less than what she felt by the one who birthed her -- Anne Rhinebeck, who bit into her neck and bled her out to the point of being nearly unconscious. Compared to that, Dana could it that it was tolerable. So she growled and pressed into Disney's head as she began to pry her maw away from her... and break her jaw with one blow, sending her backwards.
"You wanna know something?" Dana asked as she walked up to Disney, and hit her again, "I always hold back. Know why?" Again, she delivered another hit, and parried when Disney tried to swipe with her claws, before punching her back with the same hand. "Because I can't allow myself to become like you, an animal who only enjoys killing and making people suffer. Ever since I was taken from AIM, I began to change, to grow, to understand what it meant to be human -- to be more than the animal you think I am. So know this Disney Darken, that I will never--" she punched again. "EVER." Again she hit her to the point she collapsed to her knees in a daze, before clenching her fist and pulling it back. "LOSE TO YOU!" Dana roared and delivered a powerful punch that held all of her immense strength, right into Disney's temple. The force behind it would cause Disney's head to smash into the ground, and erupt dirt and debris that left the few present to be shocked by the scene.
Dana would be panting, feeling the tingle of having punched someone with maximum force, that the bones in her hands must've either been fractured or completely broken and starting to heal. Down below, in that crater was Disney's u conscious body; deep imprints on her temple where Dana's punch made with. Judging by the knuckle imprints, it was safe to say that her skull was broken. But still, she healed during that state of being knocked out.
"....." Dana just stared at her with her hands gripping into fists again, knowing she was at her mercy now -- just like those who raised her up.
"Do it," Lisbeth whispered in her ear, and her clawed hands gently going around Dana's shoulders. Her head leered beside the left of her own, and giggled. "Tear her head off and dunk it into the sea. Take your revenge, Dana. Then we'll be one step closer to Anne." She spoke in a way that was tempting to her, and the desire to do just that was just as tempting; being almost seduced by how she can easily kill the one who pulled the trigger for her quest for revenge. But then she ed them -- those she now know and loved back in New York. Her little sister who idolized her, the partner she would love, and those whom she called co-workers for a brief time. Few people, yet Dana knew they would want more from her than to become what Darken was: A killer.
"... No. Not this time. She doesn't get off that easy," said Dana to Lisbeth, who grinned widely and playfully stroked her chin from behind. "Then what ARE you going to do, 'hero'?" Lisbeth asked her, who showed her claws and bore a small grin of her own.
Four slashes were made in that moment.
------
O'Rin would have made her way over to that place out near the ocean, where the warehouse was. It was somewhere between 1am and 2am, having made her way there on foot to find the place almost completely in disarray from what had happened there. The cigarette in between her lips was halfway through with ash at the end of it. "What on earth happened here, I wonder." The woman wondered before flicking the cigarette down and stepping on it to snuff out the flames. She would press forward to see that Rei Kabuto and his daughter were there still, this time outside the sedan he owned. They were sitting there, as if waiting for something to happen; knowing what did happen over the ed hour and a half. She stopped and looked at the two, and asked them both, "Where is the kid?" Kabuto looked at her, then said, "She... She went back inside the warehouse. She, uh, took that other woman inside. Haven't seen them since."
O'Rin nodded, then began to walk again towards the warehouse.
When she got to the entrance, she saw inside Dana Wong sitting in the center, looking up at something that was sitting on an old wooden chair. "Kid?" O'Rin called her out. Dana raised her arm in response, greeting her with a wave which made her come closer. As she got close, O'Rin saw Disney Darken tied to a chair; noticing all four of her limbs -- both arms and legs -- were missing, though slowly already regrowing back from bones, meat, and sinew.
"You didn't...?" O'Rin would ask partly about the state of the opposing mercenary. "No, I didn't. Though I want to. But that's too easy for her. She wants me to kill her."
"And you know you could... I'm practically defenseless," Disney commented while bound around her torso in the chair, glaring at her rival who didn't bother to pay her any mind. "I expected you to fight me at your best. But instead you knock me out and immobilized me. Can't say I'm happy with that."
Dana scoffed and stood on her feet and said, "I told you before, I really don't care what you think of me -- I'm never being the animal you want. So you can shove that idea up your ass, Darken." To this did Disney growl and tried to move from her bindings, only to succeed in falling sideways and letting out a growl aimed at her self-proclaimed friend. "When I get out of this, I'll make you regret this! You hear me, Dana!?" Disney wiggled against the chair with the stumps of her arms and legs doing whatever they could to break free.
Dana, rolling her eyes and turning to O'Rin, and said, "you got a lighter?" When asked this, knowing O'Rin smoke, she watched her take out the steel lighter she carries in her pocket. "Good, thanks," Dana grabbed it and went out of the warehouse with the woman following behind her.
"You'll pay for this, Dana Wong! I'll find you! I'll find you and kill everyone you ever met! DO YOU HEAR ME, DANA!?" Disney roared, knowing what was about to happen to her with the scent of gasoline being strong all around her; the fluid being all over the warehouse -- inside and out.
The pair would go outside, ignoring the threats Disney spewed at them, mostly towards the other mutant who bested her and left her there on the floor.
Once they got out, Dana flicked the lighter for it's flame to be sparked. She then looked at the walls of the warehouse. "This may not be the outcome I expected... but damn, it feels good to make her hurt for a change." Dana said this to herself before setting the warehouse on fire, watching it quickly grow into an inferno in just a few minutes. A roaring inferno would be present for those there to see.
From inside, Tasmania watched the flames and roared loudly with the desire to pay back her rival for this; howling out as the warehouse was consumed by the fire, and soon would one of it's beams collapsed.
That warehouse would be reduced to nothing but a heap in just an hour.
------
Several hours later, Dana would be in her normal clothes -- a blue, white, and red jacket that that was over a gray tanktop, with a pair of jeans designed to look partially torn, and a pair of sneakers -- while standing near a train platform that was meant to take her from Tokyo to Osaka, to the airport located there. She intended to go back to Madripoor by plane. By her side was O'Rin, who was wearing a black coat that was baggy in appearance, with her katana hidden behind her. Both were just sitting there waiting for the train to arrive.
"Finally, in a couple of hours, I can finally get back home," said Dana while stretching her arms, "I didn't expect being a bodyguard would've been such a pain. Glad it's over with." She turned over to O'Rin who was sitting with her, having been for the time being, and said, "And I take it with Shen gone, you're done with the whole Yakuza killing business?" To this, O'Rin shook her head, saying, "No. As long as organized crime exists in Tokyo, I'll always do this."
"Yeah, I can understand that. Sounds like me when I used to kill scumbags in New York when I was growing up. Guess you and I are alike after all," said Dana while looking up a bit. "then again," she mumbled, "I don't smoke." A thought came to mind, and soon recalled what the pair had agreed upon.
"... My name is Dana. Dana Wong. My, uh, real name."
O'Rin noticed this and turned to her. And for a moment, she had a small smile as she said, "Arai Akane." "Oh yeah, I forgot, your first names are backwards in Japan. It's weird." Akane found herself to chuckle quietly to this. "Yeah, perhaps, kid." Being called "kid" made Dana scoff and roll her eyes. Then smile slightly.
Soon enough, the train had arrived, and the two would go their separate ways -- one back to the city, and the other on their way home.
.... Or so the latter thought. But that is for next time.
------
From the charred remains of the warehouse during the day, after many hours had ed since, movement stirred from the debris. Underneath it would reveal a hand that was wounded and bearing claws.
Tasmania will return...
To be continued
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