Pg.45
When I wake the next morning I hear knocking at my door. I take a long stretch and yawn before getting up. Midnight and Luna are still asleep on the bed as I get up. I go to the door then when I open it I see it's Rea. Her outfit consists of one of my master's yukatas in a cherry blossom design and a traditional bun.
"Good morning" she says in a shy tone.
"Hi Rea, good morning" I say smiling.
"How did you sleep?" she asks.
"I slept well for the most part" I say looking at Luna and Midnight.
"Is it that bad?" she asks, whispering.
"Midnight snores" I say annoyed.
Midnight gives us a growl. Rea giggles at his reaction. Suddenly, Jiro runs in and rugs me as we crash to the ground.
"Issei are you going to the carnival tonight?" she says excitedly.
"That's right, that is tonight huh" I say.
"What's a carnival?" Rea asks.
"It's a place where a lot of people go to have fun and win prizes. The food there is decent too" Sabi says walking in.
"That sounds like fun" Rea says with a smile.
"Doesn't sound like fun to me" says Niko in the doorway.
She's wearing a black shirt with a skirt and a holster for her "girls". Her hair is long and purple which matches her eyes. An unimpressed face with the sound of a carnival but this will change that.
"Well they have a few shooting ranges with prizes too" I say.
"Is that supposed to swoon me into going" she says.
"No it's okay you know if you're afraid to face me just say it" I say smirking.
"Ha you think you can beat me at a shooting gallery" she laughs.
"No, I know I can beat you. Chi taught me a lot of different techniques from around the world and gunslinger wasn't at the bottom of the list" I say.
"And what does the winner get?" she asks.
"Whatever you desire I guess" I say regretting my words.
"So if I win you'll come with us quietly" she says.
"Yes, but if I win you have to be nice to me" I say.
"Ughhhh fine" she says, rolling her eyes.
Pg.46
It is now night time and we all are heading to the carnival. Rea is beside me with Niko behind us along with Sabi and Jiro. When we reach it, Rea's eyes light up, she develops a large smile in excitement.
"Welcome to the Wandering Panda Carnival" I say.
We all entered to see an overwhelming number of people at the carnival. Men women and children alike. Rea drags me in laughing at the rides with Niko right behind us. We get on each ride at least twice. We all ate and Niko and Rea got to try fried squid. Then came the shooting gallery.
"Hope you're ready to lose" she says, grabbing the BB gun.
"Hope you're ready to be a nice girl" I say.
When it ends the score is 25-24 in my favor. I can see the anger in Niko's face so I do what any other person would do.
"Better luck next time nice girl" I say smiling.
She looks at me slowly with the look of anger and despair then gives me a creepy smile.
"Yeah better luck huh" she says slowly grabbing for her guns.
Quickly I run off before I hear her yelling my name with rage in her voice. I'm laughing the whole way around the carnival. I hide in the House of Mirrors. I lost her for sure.
"I remember this place Chi tried to scare me in here and on the rides and on the bumper cars and while I was coming out the bathroom" I say.
If there was a "Goofball of the year" she would definitely win it. I began to laugh to myself but before I left the House of Mirrors I began to hear a tapping sound. Not a window tap either. I know what that sound is; it's the tap of a baton.
Pg.47
"Is that little Issei" a voice says in the House of Mirrors.
"It would be best if you left me alone, you know what happened last time" I say.
"Very true but our last tussle was your victory because of those puppies. It seems though they're not with you this time" the voice says in a sinister tone.
An older man wearing a magician's outfit shows up in the mirror. His eyes are as silver as his beard. I know him very well, his name is Zee and he's just like me. Someone with a curse of power but he hides it well as a magician. Seeing him burns my eyes ruby red.
"There it is that fire of the fight" he says smiling.
Quickly I ran out of the House of Mirrors and into the crowd. Zee slowly follows me while tapping his baton. All the rides and attractions start to shut down with each tap of his baton. A panic ensues within the carnival as people start to rush out of the "haunted rides". The tapping gets louder and louder until Zee and I are staring at each other.
"Issei!" Rea yells out.
"It seems your friends are looking for you little Issei" he says.
"Leave them out of this Zee" I say with my eyes lighting up.
"Now that the puppies aren't here we can have a proper fight" he says smiling.
Rea and others finally find me which causes Zee to shift his gaze to them. I step in front of his gaze then he laughs.
"Whenever we fight you are never alone" he says.
"I can bet you on my own I don't need their help" I say.
"Let's find out" he says smiling.
Pg.48
Zee taps his baton hard to the ground sending out a echo throughout the carnival as shadowy figures appear around us. They edge closer surrounding me then Rea runs in with her blade. Her rapier cuts right through them as their bodies reform. Rea's face shows fear instead of surpise as they surround her too. I step in front of her then yell out.
"Everyone get down!" I say.
Everyone drops as my arms burst into a bright fire that causes the shadows to shriek in pain. I burn down each one in balls of flames until they disappear completely. A grin and a glow of my ruby red eyes shows Zee that I can put on a show too.
"Where there is darkness there is always light. Where evil reigns good shines a beacon of hope" I say.
"Wonderful, wonderful performance little Issei!" he says, clapping his hands.
"This guy is a total nut job" Niko says.
"You can say that again" Sabi says.
"You're so predictable little Issei, I run you chase but you see after our last encounter" he says tapping his baton once.
My spread of fire begins to swirl around us then turns black. The black fire begins to soar into the giant statue of Yin Yang the Panda. Animating the statue with demonic red eyes and sharp teeth. It steps down off the display where it used to be stationary.
"I've learned more when I'm losing to you than when I'm winning with her" he says.
"Her?" I am confused.
Yin Yang's demonic statue towers over us. Its' roar spews black flames from its metallic mouth. I blaze my arms again but this time Niko holds out her guns and Rea presents her blade. Sabi and Jiro hide in a concession stand. Niko puts holes through its metallic skin but the flames regenerate the damaged parts.
Pg.49
I change my element from fire to lightning then blast with raw energy. It shrieks but counters it by spewing black flames everywhere. I try to control the flames but it's too strong. I never could control his magic flames before I've tried in our past fights but it always ended the same. Me surrounded by flames engulfed in darkness and Luna protecting me. Now I have to do this on my own.
Loud tapping echoes underneath the giant demon panda. Zee frivolously tapped his baton against the pavement, his top hat tipped to the side along with a sinister grin.
"Well, well,well it looks like the cat has trapped the mouse" he says.
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"Only momentarily" I say smiling.
"Good I wouldn't want you to get discouraged that will only get you so far" he says in a deep tone.
"Don't worry I'll protect you guys" I say.
Niko begins to laugh then taps Rea's shoulder.
"Rea Alpha Formation" Niko says.
"On it sis" Rea says.
Rea turns the hilt of her blade which transforms her neon rapier into a neon broadsword. She rushes the demonic creature with Niko giving support in the back. Round after round pierce its metallic skin but Rea is there to cut it down more. Rea runs up its leg trying to reach its arms. Yin Yang grabs Rea with both hands and holds her like a caged bird.
"Rea!" I yell.
My arm lights up with a current of lightning but Niko stops me. She tells me to wait a moment. I look up to see the air around Yin Yang's hands turn into blades of air continuously cutting away. First its fingers fall to the ground then its left hand. Rea stands on its right palm broadsword over her shoulder.
"I'm the best gunslinger in the universe but Rea is the number one sword master in the universe" Niko says smiling at her sister.
Pg.50
"Best gunslinger in the universe? Didn't I beat you?" I say.
"Maybe but can you do this" she says
She looks at me the whole time when she points her guns over her shoulders and pierces its demonic eyes. Its howling scream echoes throughout the carnival then Niko quickly runs toward it, placing hole after hole.
The creature can't keep up with the constant damage being dealt. Dark, thick mist sprues from its injuries that pours over the House of Mirrors. An army of shadowy figures march out of the attraction.
"These again" I say.
I ran up to them for a fight but when I got close I saw their bodies weren't shadows but pure obsidian. One swings its arm blade at me but it's caught by Rea's blade.
"Hey" I say.
"Hey" she says.
"Sorry that this kinda ruined our…date" I say.
"Wait, this isn't the date?" She asks.
Niko blows through the obsidian creature with ease and many more.
"Come on you two get your head in the game" she says continuously fighting.
The obsidian creatures send out a battle cry that sounds like if a bull was in a China shop. They start to surround us as Niko and Rea get ready for a fight. Two creatures jump at Rea then explode by a bolt of lightning. When they look back I slowly walk up, eyes flaring with lightning. All the creatures attack in unison. I snap my fingers then a blast of electricity spreads around us shattering all the creatures.
Pg.51
*I hope you didn't think this easy Issei" Zee says.
He taps his baton to the ground then Ying Yang yells causing the creatures to reanimate.
"Round two" Niko says pointing her guns.
As they're about to charge at them a lightning strike goes through Ying Yang's chest. It slowly falls over on top of the creatures. Niko and Rea look behind them to see lightning around my arm.
"Wait, you could've done that the whole time!" Niko yells.
"Yea I could've" I say smiling.
"I hate you" she says.
Zee looks upset and falls to his knees then pleads his defeat. Finally, something is off though. Zee never surrenders so I watch him closely. He then begins to laugh then shoots a black orb that moves faster than I could dodge even with my lightning. My body in cases in black lightning is painful but cold.
"Issei will be taking time out for now battling his own mind" The Magic Man says.
"Issei" Rea says, worried.
"Don't worry my dear they will keep you company" he says.
Two creatures appear behind them. One is a fat male clown about seven feet with a colorful gas mask;he holds a chain gun that says "Say Swiss Cheese" on the side. The other is a female who is half arachnid that is twelve feet tall. Large breasts with gun barrels where her nipples are suppose to be and sharp claws.
Pg.52
I feel cold and trapped. I'm unable to use my powers in this space. Dark and cold huh this different Zee.
"Having trouble little Issei" a voice echos in my mind.
I see Zee walking to me but I'm unable to punch his face. It gets colder in this space as I see my breath when I talk.
"What did you do to me Zee? Why can't I punch your stupid face?" I say in anger.
"A magician never reveals his secrets you should know that much" he says walking around me.
"Damn you!" I yell.
"Ah ah ah Issei such profound language is not prohibited in front of a lady" he says.
"What the hell are you talking about" I say.
Suddenly he transforms into the woman who I didn't think I would ever see again.
"Chi" I say, calling to her with tears in my eyes.
"Issei, I thought I taught you better than that" she says.
"Stop" I say.
"You don't miss me Issei?" She asks me.
"Stop please" I say tears falling to the dark abyss.
"You couldn't save me so what makes you think you can save them" she says.
A mirror shows Rea and Niko fighting two large clown creatures and losing. I yell out but they can't hear me.
"They will die just like I did" she says.
I look up to see her decayed body staring back at me. I can't control my emotions as everything around us begins to crack.
"Stop it! You're not her! You'll never be like her. She loved me even in the end. She said I was special even if I couldn't protect her I'll protect them" I yell out.
Pg.53
"I know she did" Zee says, sitting beside me.
His face shows an expression that I've never seen him make before. Sadness. A tear slides down his cheek. I've never seen him cry before. Suddenly I'm able to move and I want to punch him so badly but I don't. He looks up at me, tears still falling.
"How about a deal Issei?" he asks.
"What kind of deal?" I ask.
"If u listen to what I have to say I'll leave Japan forever" he says.
"What's the catch Zee" I say.
"No tricks, just a few minutes" he says.
I take a deep breath then agree to his deal. His aura is different, like somehow what he's about to tell me is something that changed him.
"Would you believe me if I told you that Chi and I were friends? No you wouldn't. I wouldn't either if I were you. But there were three of us. Me Chi and an American girl named Morgan."
A small tear falls from his cheek and his tone of voice is more deep with sadness and anger behind it.
"Morgan grew up to be a military general with her own division, Chi was still looking for those swords and I became the King of all Magicians. All around we lived happy lives until one day Chi finally found those swords she searched her whole life for. Of course she told Morgan and I about it and we were so proud. I told her that maybe I could use them in one of my acts but of course I knew what the answer was. But Morgan insisted that she take them to study for an advantage in the war across the Pacific. Chi was not happy with that and they argued for hours".
Pg.54
The fat clown continues to fire lead at Niko while Rea fights off the female spider clown.
"Doesn't this thing have to reload? This has been going on for 20 minutes" Niko says.
"Well I would love to help sis but I'm kinda busy at the moment" Rea says.
Niko takes aim from behind the cover and fires a few shots at the spider causing it to lose balance. Rea quickly takes the opportunity to charge the fat clown focused on Niko. She sprints fast enough to catch him off guard and cut his gun in two. He looks surprised then tries to grab Rea but is killed instantly by Niko.
"One down, one to go" Niko says, blowing smoke from her gun.
"Let's be quick to get to Issei" Rea says.
The creature smiles and charges at them and they charge at it. They exchange blow after blow as the sound of clashing metal and gun fire fills the air. The creature swiftly swipes at Rea but she blocks them and retreats as Niko covers her. The spider clown responds with gun fire of her own from her breast mounted guns.
"Ok Rea, one last push Rose style" Niko says.
"Got it" Rea says.
They charge the clown simultaneously. It continues to shoot but Rea repels the shots and Niko starts to blast away. With each hit the spider clown gets more and more pissed so it swipes, but its attack is blocked by Rea. Rea spins revealing her sister back to back with her guns drawn and fires blinding the spider. Quickly Rea beheads the spider its head rolls on the ground and it's body falls lifeless.
Pg.55
"Chi said that she would never use her legacy for war-like purposes. Morgan didn't take that lightly, she always gets what she wants no matter the cost. After that night Morgan plotted to take the sword from Chi but you came into Chi's life so she had to be careful" he tells me.
He understands the anger and sadness that's on my face, so as I clench my fist I hope what I'm about to ask isn't true.
"Morgan killed my master didn't she?" I ask him.
I see the worry on his face like what he's about to say may break my already shattered heart.
"When I lost Chi that day I knew Morgan was involved, but I knew if I tried to stop her then I wouldn't be here now. That Chi's legacy would be taken without my help. She entrusted that legacy to you because you are her legacy Issei!" he says.
A sense of relief surrounds him as he taps his baton three times and we return to the battlefield. Rea is about to slash at Zee but I step in front then she stops.
"It's okay Rea I'm okay" I say.
She drops her blade and hugs me tight. Niko looked confused like always then I looked back at Zee.
"Keep your friends together Issei ,don't make the same mistake I did" he says.
"Don't worry I will" I say.
He smiles then taps his baton causing all the damage to be reversed. All the rides and lights go back to before the fighting.
"Issei, she will come for those swords so be prepared" he says.
"I am" I say.
"Abracadabra" he says before bursting into confetti.
Pg.56
"What the hell just happened?" Niko asks, clearly confused.
"That's also a long story" I say.
Two voices call to us and we rush over to see Sabi and Jiro hiding. Wait, were they here the whole time!
"What are you two doing here you could've gotten hurt" I say.
"Yeah that's true but watching you fight dude is so awesome" Sabi says.
"And I know I can't let Sabi do this by himself" Jiro says.
"Still next time don't stay, it could be way more dangerous then what happened here" I say.
"So what was that about?" Sabi ask.
I give a brief summary of what Zee told me about their past. Everyone but Niko has a shocked look on their faces.
"Are you going after Morgan?" Rea asks.
I see the worry on her face, those teal eyes just a little lighter than usual.
"I don't know yet. I just need some sleep and time to think about all this" I say.
A drone watches us from afar as a screen in a dark room illuminates a female face. She is a red headed woman with green eyes, 35 years old wearing a general's uniform in a marine green. Her hair is in a ponytail as she stands from watching the feed.
"Hmmm his powers exceed my expectations" she says.
A soldier walks in and salutes her; she does the same.
"We've spotted Xian Garu near the Dragon Casino" he says.
"So he is working with the Angels, interesting. We will have him soon enough" she says.
"What about Issei Udo ma'am?" he asks.
"Prepare my VTOL and two SAM suits. I'll deal with Mr.Udo myself.