Chapter 31 : Steal My Soul

Yamato

It must've been around two in the morning, or at least sometime past midnight. The skies were completely black. And not a trace of a cloud lingered in the neverending ceiling. The buildings around me were an ugly grey color, dully reflecting the light off the street lamps. There was a hobo on the other side of the street, he looked asleep with that tiny flame buring before him. And the truck at the end of the street was lit on the inside, suggesting that it was someone's home.

I walked slowly down the street and paused in front of some hotel building. There was a light in the lobby, but everything else was dark. And quiet. There was virtually no sound save the pathetic crackles of the homeless guy's fire. A pigeon darted above me and landed on a window ledge. It cooed loudly, interrupting the eerie silence. I sighed and leaned against the wall of the hotel.

I was tired and my head hurt. The last two days hadn't been very pleasureable. I had had a hard time finding places to sleep and things to eat. I couldn't really go out in public during the day since people were after me. I slept in a dumpster the first night, only to remember the next day was trash day. That didn't go too well. The next day..yesterday, was better I guess, I stole fruit from some outside stand. Pathetic.

The amazing life story of Ishida Yamato, gone from leader of a popular band, to the lowest scum on the planet, forced to steal fruit that I don't even like. The worse part of it all was that I had no idea when the fuck Aymichi was. He could have very well left the city and be in Kyoto by now. I had been feeling very fusterated earlier, but now I was just too tired. I need to find a placed to crash for the night.

I thought about stealing the truck down the street, but it was probably a stupid idea. I wondered about going home, my father would probably not be home. Working. But it wasn't safe...if I was caught I would be turned in and that could not happen until I avenged TK. That was my only goal now. After I'm done with it, I could rot in hell for the rest of eternity, I don't care. The withered, dying voice of my conscience rasped to me in my head. You're just like him now, Matt, you and Aymichi are the same. Out to kill. The same. You are the same as your brother's murderer.

Was it true? Was I the same as that crackpot psycho killer? But...no, I'm not the same as him. Never. I could never be the same as him...but you are...no...I want to kill him because he killed my brother...why did he want to kill TK? He had no reason! Takeru had never done anything to him! None of us had! He killed without reason...I would kill with reason...that is our difference. Right? We aren't the same..we aren't. Liar. We aren't...

I snapped my head up at the sound of a footstep. Who was there? I stood up straight, my eyes darted around, scanning the area. The hobo was still alseep, the truck hadn't moved from it's place....a shadow, at the end of the hotel building, in the alley. I squinted as the shape moved closer. The gleam of eyes. A familiar grin. Aymichi. I stiffened. He saved me the trouble of finding him. But, could I take him now? He had beaten me last time. And right now, I was so tired...no! I had to. I had to take him now...I may not get another chance...

"Hello there, Ishida. Surprised to see me?" His voice was calm, cheerful even. Was I surprised? I suppose, I wasn't expecting to see him tonight, but then again, I hadn't expected anything that happened last month. I didn't reply to his greeting, instead, I was trying to formulating a plan in my head. I had misplaced the stolen tranquilizer yesterday, I think it was when I stole my meal...but whatever. How I lost it wasn't important, the point was I didn't have it...

"What? Cat got your tongue?" the murderer smirked. He was now just a few feet from me. He looked the same as he had when I last saw him. Just different clothes. I was pretty sure he had a weapon on him, a knife, a gun maybe. This is kinda one-sided, I grumbled mentally. "Oh come on, Yama-chan, say something." Resuko laughed. How could I beat someone who had a weapon and probably wasn't as tired as me? How? "I hate you." I muttered, hoping to keep him talking as long as I could.

"Aww, you've hurt my feelings." the other mocked. He laughed, and stuffed both his hands into his jacket pockets. He would draw a weapon soon...what the hell am I gonna do? You're so smart Yama, you plan to kill the guy and was angry that you couldn't find him. Now you've found him, and you're wishing it could have come at another time?! I had to make this an even fight...or else I had no chance. Think faster! "Are you afraid to fight me without your weapon?" I asked, in the most annoying and mocking voice I could summon. Perhaps he had no honor - I didn't - but who could stand being called a chicken?

Would it work? Aymichi merely grinned, he took his right hand from his pocket, revealing a his knife, which glimmered briefly to the light of the streetlamps. "You mean this little thing?" I didn't say a word, just stared at it, glared at him, trying to figure out what I could do. "Fine, then Yama-chan, I'll fight you without my knife, heh." He slipped the weapon back into his jacket. "Ready then, Ishida?" The murderer took a really bad, mocking fighting stance. Egging me. I growled low in my throat, but still didn't reply.

We circled each other. Two tigers ready to pounce. To kill. To avenge everything he'd destroyed. Takeru, I will not fail you... My adversery was grinning demonicly, opposite of my anguish frown. "Will you be a screamer, Ishida?" he taunted, voice trained to provoke. "Your brother didn't scream -- until the very end, and even then, it was not too loud." My fists tightened. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and bristled. Uncontrollable fury threatened to take over. No..I couldn't lose my cool...it was ok to know that you are angry, infuriated, to know why you were fighting, as long as you don't let it take over...I can't give in to his teasing.

"Tachikawa screamed though. Nice and loud. Wouldn't stop til she was as blue as a quilfish too. Heheh." What the fuck? Mimi? Had the bastard confronted another of the former digi-destined? Or was he lying? Why do you care? A voice asked me, you were going to kill her anyway. I boiled, so I was, but he got to her before me. What else had he done during my absence? What else? We continued to circle, but he looked relaxed, carefree almost, and I was sure I was sweating like a pig. Weakness....stop being so nervous...can't help it.

"Can you fight as well as Taichi, Yama-chan? Because he gave a much better fight than you." Tai? He fought Tai? A weird feeling over took my mind; Tai had been my best friend, through all that crap in the Digital World, through that crap in real life. Was he still my best friend though this? Did it matter? He was still a friend, wasn't he? But Aymichi had merely stated that he had fought the Keeper of Courage, not killed him. Same for Mimi. Or he could be lying altogether. They weren't dead...he hadn't killed them as well...had--

He pounced, launched a powerful punch at my stomach. I lerched forward, spit flew from my mouth. Fuck! He had got me distracted with what he'd said, making me lose focus on the task at hand. Damnit, I backed up a few steps, clutching the impact point. My eyes were glued to him, he was laughing. "What's the matter Ishida? I expected more of a challenge. Haven't you learned anything since last time?" I didn't say anything...I couldn't let my anger run away with this fight. I needed a plan.

I needed an advantage...Aymichi had beaten me last time...and he still had a knife with him, for him to use if he were desperate. His word wasn't worth crap in a fight like this. But for the moment, he wasn't using it. Idea. I'm getting that knife....I run forward and sent a kick at his ugly little head. He was surprised, but still managed to duck in time. I didn't give him a chance to recover and sent a fist to his face. It connected; the bastard stumbled backwards. A dirty bruise appeared on his cheek. Finally, his annoying grin left his features, replaced by a scornful expression not unlike my own.

He did not say anything, but began to circle me again. So this fight was becoming serious now, was it? Fine. I looked for an opening, as did he. Any sign that a launched attack would land. Moments passed uneventful before I attacked, I sent a punch to his gut, but he blocked with his arm. A flurry of fists developed from that, some hit, some were blocked. My arms were bruising, and my side hurt. He was physically stronger than me, that was realized, but that certainly did not mean he would win...

I backed up to the hotel's wall as a kick struck my chest. Pain. No! I cannot lose, not yet. I ducked at his next attack, his fist collided with brick instead of flesh. He growled and dispatched another assult to my weakening body. I swerved out of the way and sent another boot to his head. He twisted out of the way like I expected, his jacket flying up in the process, and I dived and retrieved his weapon from his coat, then backed up again. We were again at a standoff.

"Little theif..." was his mumble, I don't know if I was supposed to've heard it or not, but I didn't respond. Instead I charged, this would end now! The knife penetrated skin at Aymichi's side, a deep gasp appeared and blood instantly seeped from it. The first blood of war. I guess the bastard had expected the standoff to last longer because the look on his face was of pure shock. I would have sold my guitar for a photo of that face. I ducked past him after my blow and we stood back to back.

I turned to face him again, he still had his back to me. One hand covered his wound, though blood was visablely flowing everywhere. I let a grin take my expression for a brief while, then charged again. "Oh no, you don't..." Aymichi whirled around and moved aside. "It's time you returned what is mine, you little rat." I remained silent. He charged, I moved. I charged, he moved. And were circled each other once again.

He was wincing visablely from his wound, which by now had dyed his clothes a deep red and covered his hands with a sticky liquid. Where to strike...how quickly could I end this? The murderer sent me a kick during that little thought, catching me offguard. His foot hit the hand in which I held the knife. Fuckit! How could I have let him do that? My fingers reflexively released the weapon in response to the pain, I tried to catch the falling object in time, but Aymichi got there before I did. Damn..

As soon as the blade was in his grip again he slashed. A rip appeared on my arm, shallow, but bleeding. Another attack before I could react. A gash to the stomach, deeper, blood stained my dirty clothes. I kicked out, striking his earlier inflicted wound. He get a small groan escape before backing up. I growled and kicked again, he was weakening. Even with his knife, he did not have that much of an advantage. He was about to deliever another blow when the bastard just got up and ran. That was the last thing I had expected; a retreat.

Or rather, a cowardly flee. "You fucking bastard! Get your sorry ass back here!" I was infuriated, how dare he run just as I was about to finish him off? I lit after him. It was a blind chase, the only thing I had to follow were his footsteps. His sihouette had already vasnished from lack of light. Damn government needs to pay more for streetlamps. Our footsteps echoed through the empty alleyways; eerie. As I turned a corner, I suddenly heard police sirens. Damnit.

I heard Aymichi swear somewhere in the darkness as well, then the footsteps grew louder. A shape ran past me, I assumed it was him. The wails of the siren came closer, and I turned around as well. Looks like tonight's adventure is coming to a close....arg. I stumbled like a drunk sailor through the narrow space between buildings, tripping over random pieces of garbage. I could hear the murmer of police talking in the distance now, and their walkie talkie's static. I needed to disappear -- FAST! I pumped my legs and ran into the open street, it was lighter and I could see at least.

Lucky for me, the street I emerged upon was not one that the authorities occupied. I heard a gunshot off in the distance. Perhaps they found Ayimichi? Hahaha...but somehow I doubted that my brother's murderer would be caught, however unfortunately that may be. I ran past some dozen streets before spotting a building that appeared to be abandoned. By then I was too tired to care how obvious a place like that could be. My arm was numb from blood loss, and my stomach hurt as well. My head was throbbing, the tiredness of before was returning.

I didn't want to bother with trying to get into the building, I just jumped into the nearest trash bin. It was half full and smelly as hell. But I didn't give a damn, the trash almost felt soft as I lay on it. I don't think it took me very long to fall asleep, but I doubt it was long, because I don't remember staring up at the sky much. Sleep took over.

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© Kiriska