Inescapable Destiny

[Akira110]

Disclaimer: This story is a sequel to Beyond the Bounds and takes place long before A New Beginning. This is the seventh story to the Verbana Chronicles - Original Generation.


Prologue

450 Years After Beyond the Bounds


A pair of Kitsune looked at the screen of a radar, neither of them found anything about it particularly interesting, but this was their job since they had joined the military. The male looked at the female, "There's nothing that comes in and out of here except for the allied ships, Akane, why are we here day in and day out watching the radar for anything different." Akane looked at him, "Hisoka, stop complaining, this is our assigned job and we need to stick to it. No telling when the Menschilche are going to arrive, plus with knowledge of races beyond the galaxy itself, we might need some advance warning to prepare for combat or for a delegation." Hisoka sighed slightly, when a blip arrived on the radar, which he went to scan as per usual, but the computer returned something to him that was odd, the blip was unknown in origin.

Akane looked at him, "See, this is what we've been waiting for." Hisoka nodded, "Let's start trying frequencies." Hisoka started to cycle through frequencies that weren't the usual frequency and repeating, "Unidentified ship, Identify yourself." Most frequencies didn't get any response, however several minutes later they got one, ".........ship....... atta...... shil...... rep....... ip..... ack..... che....." Akane boosted the signal and spoke into the communicator, "Calm down and tell us your identification." The same voice spoke up, "Neanderthal ship, Gloxinia. We were attacked by the Menschilche on our way through this galaxy." Akane nodded, "We're going to mobilize our forces to protect you from any further attack form the Menschilche, is this acceptable?"

The voice didn't speak up for a second, but did give an affirmative, "Yes." Hisoka nodded, "Alright, I'll use the other communicator to contact the military. Akane, you guide them to the planet." Akane nodded as Hisoka moved towards the other communicator. As Hisoka sat down, he pressed a button, "Attention, all available ships, there is a ship out there called the Gloxinia, it's damaged from a Menschilche attack, we need to escort it away from any possible Menschilche forces. I repeat, a ship known as the Gloxinia is out there and needs our assistance to get to Verbana, escort it home safely." Akane nodded, "Gloxinia, Verbanan ships are going to arrive at any moment, several are going to stay where you're at, but you're going to have an escort to Verbana, is this acceptable?"

The voice spoke up again, "Yes. However, it might be difficult to get there as our engines are damaged severely and our life support is running on minimal power." Akane nodded, "Alright, can you change your heading from two eight zero to one five two?" The voice spoke up, "I can." Hisoka noticed something new on the radar and scanned them quickly, "Menschilche contacts! Verbanan ships, engage!" He watched as the blips of the Menschilche ships quickly vanished off his screen, "Stay alert, more may be out there." The voice spoke up loudly, "What the hell was that!?" Akane watched as the ship changed heading, "It was our ships attacking the Menschilche." The voice spoke up, slightly relieved, "That's good to hear. Alright, I believe our heading is now one five two."

Akane nodded, "Affirmative, start accelerating in that direction." The voice didn't speak, but she watched as the blip started to accelerate towards the middle of her radar screen, "You're doing good." Hisoka called out, "Six more Menschilche contacts, they're coming in small and fast!" A voice spoke over his communicator, "Roger that, control!" He watched as blips vanished from his radar screen again, this time he heard the screams of a Verbanan crew, "[censored]! We took a massive hit there." Hisoka nodded, "Fall back to the shipyards, you can't do anything more!" The voice spoke up to Akane, "I see it on my viewport, it's a planet that reminds me of the stories my parents would tell me of our home world, but bigger." Akane nodded, "That's Verbana, reverse your engines and start slowing down and reorient yourself for entry into our atmosphere."

The voice spoke up, "The engines just gave out, we can't." Akane sighed, "Your vessel is small, can you make minor course corrections?" The voice spoke up, "Yes." Akane nodded, and looked at a map of Verbana, "Alter your heading by three degrees west and raise the nose of your craft by two degrees." Akane watched as the ship did so, "Alright, what next." Akane sighed, "It's going to be a rough landing, but you will be in an abandoned city with Kitsune territory, a rescue team will be able to find you once it's put together." The voice spoke up, "What do we do until then?" Akane spoke solemnly, "Don't move from your position, it'll only make it harder to find you." The voice spoke up, "Alright, thank you for your help." Akane nodded, "Just doing my job." Hisoka spoke up, "No more Menschilche contacts! Good job everyone!"

Akane watched from her window as the small ship entered the atmosphere of Verbana, she watched as it became a flaming streak that moved quickly, "We need to go see the king about this." Hisoka nodded, "But we also need to remain here." Akane sighed, "Fine then, I'll just go see the king." Before Hisoka could protest, Akane stood up and walked out of the room. Her superior officer looked up at her from his work, "Yes?" Akane saluted him, "Colonel, with all due respect. I request permission to go down to the planet and inform the king." The Colonel nodded slightly, "I heard what was going on in there, Captain, permission granted." Akane nodded and walked down to the shuttle bay where a pilot was waiting, "Captain, where do you wish to go?" Akane looked at him, "To Honoo, I need to talk to the king about something important." The pilot nodded, "As you wish."

[Akira110]

Chapter 1

Akane walked through the gate to the castle of the forest Kitsune, she had arrived on official business and was allowed through. She sighed as she walked into the castle itself and looked around, everything looked extravagant and this annoyed her slightly. She walked up the stairs to the throne room and looked at the double doors. She frowned slightly as she stood in front of them, but she knocked on the door regardless. The doors were opened by a maidservant and Akane saw the king sitting on his throne. The King looked at her, "Hey. Come in, Captain, you said that you had a report for me." Akane nodded and walked into the throne room, "Your highness, hopefully you'll forgive me if I do not kneel before you, but this is of critical importance."

The King nodded, "Continue, Captain." Akane nodded slightly, "Sir, a Neanderthal ship has crash landed within our territory." The King nodded, "Understood. Do you have anything else you wish to report to me?" Akane nodded, "The Menschilche were invading our space to attack this vessel, I know that they are technically our allies, but we responded to the attack with an attack of our own after analyzing their vessels, the Pisces Menschilche ships were behind it. According to reports, over five hundred years ago, they were able to land on the planet and cause a bunch of trouble." The king nodded, "Father, do you have any more information about that incident?" Masaru spoke up, "Goro, your grandmother was abducted by a clone of my half-brother-in-law."

Goro nodded, "Anything else to note?" Masaru looked up and put a hand to his chin, "The Grim Reaper himself was nearly killed during those events and the Dragon that he rides nearly destroyed a large section of the abandoned city." Goro nodded, "So the Pisces Menschilche are dangerous?" Masaru sighed, "Unbelievably so, son." Goro looked back to Akane, "Do you know when we had First Contact with the Neanderthals?" Akane nodded. "Two hundred years before I was born, sire." Goro blinked, "My goodness, you are quite young. Are you sure that you're a captain and didn't just take the rank of someone close to you." Akane was annoyed at the statement, but it wasn't anything new to her, "Sire, I earned my rank through military merit. However, with all due respect, I believe that we need to focus on the matter at hand."

Goro nodded, "Grandfather." Akira walked over to him slowly, using a cane for support, "Yes, Goro?" Goro looked at Akira, "What can you tell me about First Contact." Akira sighed, "My memory isn't as good as it used to be, you know, but I'll try." Akira looked down at the floor, "Walthari died during that battle." Goro shook his head, "Anything else?" Akira nodded, "There were two military officials on the ship, well, three if you count myself. Though two of us were ex-military." Goro nodded, "Names?" Akira sighed, "Kazuki was one of them, never got his last name, but he and Yoshiko are currently not on the continent, they recently got married and are expecting their first child. I was there, and well, you know your uncle."

Goro sighed and looked straight up, "Ah yes, Uncle Yoshiro. Founder of the Raptors and the leader of the expeditionary force." Akira shook his head, "He's retired now." Goro sighed, "I don't think that we have a choice in this matter. You're too elderly for this and the only other person with military training is on another continent. This is just a search and rescue operation, so there really shouldn't be much danger to him. However, danger is still present and I would rather have someone with military training be the one to go out there and lead this operation." Masaru nodded, "That's a good decision, son, but don't you think that sending someone that is heavily armed and as famous as your uncle might illicit a hostile response?"

Goro nodded, "This is true, but what other choice do you see in this matter, Father?" An old Lupine walked into the room with a cane, "You could send Tsuyoshi, he was the one to be connected to the Neanderthals and learned all about their history." Goro nodded, "Uncle Killian, Tsuyoshi is a diplomat, he's not the kind of person to have any sort of military background." Killian sighed, "Goro, the thing is that we need some sort of tact in this situation, rather than someone carrying a big stick. Tsuyoshi is the greatest ambassador that I've ever met and will no doubt be able to de-escalate the situation that's going on. If these people really have crashed on Verbana, there's no doubt in my mind that they are in a panicked state and seeing my older brother might scare them further."

Goro sighed, "How about a compromise, we send both your brother and your nephew there. That way Tsuyoshi will calm things down, and Uncle Yoshiro can take care of any threat in case things go belly up, that sound good?" Killian sighed, "Alright." Goro looked at Akane, "I'll send a messenger to Tsuyoshi, he'll not be that difficult to convince to come here. However, Uncle Yoshiro and my father have some bad blood between them, so convincing my uncle to come here might be an issue. Thing is, he might be more readily willing to listen to someone that is from the military. Will you bring him here for me?" Akane nodded slightly, "Of course, milord. By your leave?" Goro nodded, "You may go." Akane nodded, turned around, and left the throne room to go to Yoshiro's house.

[Akira110]

Chapter 2

Akane arrived in front of a mansion, and looked at the gates, she was rather surprised that the person she was looking for was in this particular building. But at the same time, she knew that the man she was looking for was running an orphanage. She opened up the gate and before she knew it, felt a knife at her throat, a voice speaking, "Who are you?" Akane spoke calmly, "I'm Captain Akane Sato, I'm here on behalf of King Goro to speak with General Yoshiro Miyamae." The knife was withdrawn from her throat, "You may go forward, but leave your weapons here." Akane turned to see the person, but could find nothing but the shadow she was standing in, "Why should I?" The voice spoke again, "If you don't, I'll kill you before you enter that gate. Am I clear?"

Akane looked around and started to disarm, "Why are you threatening a military officer?" The voice spoke up, "I don't have to give you this warning. I could've killed you, and they'd find only your body and never who did it." Akane scoffed and continued walking to the mansion itself, she found that she wasn't followed. She reached the front door without any sort of fuss and knocked on it, she was surprised when she saw a woman in a kimono open the door, "Hello, you must be the Captain that was being sent over." Akane blinked, "What, how do you know that I'm coming?" The Kitsune smiled, "Lilah is very good at gathering information, Captain. Please come on in." Akane recognized the name Lilah and suddenly her blood ran cold. The voice that was speaking to her earlier wasn't bluffing, she could've been killed and all anyone would find was the body.

She walked into the house, "Where is your master?" The Kitsune woman frowned, "No one is master nor servant here, we are all equals. I only work around the house to help out because Yoshiro is my friend." Akane sighed, "Where is he, this is important." The Kitsune pointed down the hallway, "he's in the basement." Akane nodded, "Thank you." She walked down the hallway without allowing anyone to interfere with her, she noticed several kids looking at her however and not all of them were Kitsune. She grabbed the knob of the door to the basement and found that it was surprisingly unlocked. She opened the door and walked into the stairwell that led to the basement, a voice speaking up with an elvish accent sounded out, "You're not Takeshi, Lilah would've assassinated you. State your name and your business."

Akane didn't speak and continued down the stairwell, the voice spoke up again, this time more forcefully, "I said state your name and your business! Why are you looking for me!?" Akane looked down at the figure, he was wearing a hooded cloak, she could see the white fur around the figure's mouth, but not any other features except for the tail which was a reddish-brown, except for some gray spots. She realized that she had found a Kitsune that could help her, "I'm looking for Yoshiro Miyamae." The Male Kitsune spoke up, "You found him." Yoshiro looked at her and suddenly he became far colder, "You're Kitsune Military, you better have a damned good reason for being in my house..."

Akane sighed, "His highness sent me." Yoshiro scoffed, "That much is certain, otherwise Lilah would've stopped you. You still haven't gotten to the whole point of why you're here..." Akane became angry, "If you would shut up for a moment, I'd get to it!" Yoshiro let out a laugh, "My my, you're disarmed and in a place where I hold all of the advantages. Look around you, Captain Sato." Akane looked around, she noticed that Yoshiro's weapons were all close to him, "You could kill me at any time." Yoshiro removed his hood, revealing an aged face with graying fur and gray hair on top of his head, "Only if you make the first aggressive move, so long as you don't try to attack me, my wife or any of the people living here, all will be golden." His voice became even colder, "However, if you do not tell me why you're here, I will have you forcefully thrown from the premises."

Akane forced her anger back, "I was told to get you because you had experience dealing with the Neanderthals." Yoshiro grabbed his sniper rifle and went to check it, "That was four hundred and fifty years ago, child. Probably when your father was still in diapers." Akane looked at him, "Anyway, a Neanderthal ship was shot down by the Menschilche, are you familiar with the Pisces Menschilche?" Yoshiro nodded, "That was five hundred and sixty-five years ago, back when your grandfather was in diapers." Akane sighed, "Are you going to be this difficult for the rest of my visit?" Yoshiro continued checking the sniper rifle out, "I don't know, at what point do you get to the damned point of all of this or just leave my damn house." Akane growled and Yoshiro pointed the barrel in her face, "A Kitsune growling is usually a threat. Though I'm checking this rifle, I know for a fact it works."

Akane pushed the barrel out of her face, "The point is, you old [censored], is that the King wants you to investigate the crash site and rescue any survivors!" Yoshiro looked at her, "Send this message to his highness. If this job is that important, he'll get his [censored] off his throne and come see his own uncle about it. I won't go out for a messenger unless I'm getting paid for this. I'm a mercenary, not a member of his army." Akane became angry, "Time is being wasted and you're willing to play games." Yoshiro pointed at the door, "You're welcome to leave, but as for me, I'm far too old to be running around and saving everyone's [censored]. So unless he shows up or a large sum of gems appears on my desk, I'm not moving." Akane turned around and started walking up the stairs, "Fine, I'll go tell him, but any blood that is shed, is on your hands now." Yoshiro merely responded coldly, "Wouldn't be any different from the hundreds I've killed so far."

[Akira110]

Chapter 3
Akane walked back into the castle's throne room on her own, she knelt before the throne and Goro frowned, "So he rejected the job." A black clad knight spoke up, "Allow me to take the job, milord. I'll prove myself on this." Goro looked at him, "No, Black Knight, I will not allow you to risk your life on this endeavor." Akane looked at Goro, "He said that unless he's paid or you go down to see him, he will not accept this task." Goro sighed slightly, "What is the reason he gave you?" Akane looked at him, "He said that he didn't feel it important if a Captain of the Kitsune Military were to come to his place." Akira laughed slightly, the Kitsune looked at her with a cane in his hand, "My son and Goro's father have serious bad blood between them, and since Masaru isn't king anymore, the only thing stopping my son from killing him is Reiko."

The Black Knight looked at Goro, "Are you really going to go see Yoshiro?" Goro sighed, "I don't have much of a choice, if I bring him here, there will be bloodshed." Akane blinked, "Then why did you send me there in the first place?" Goro closed his eyes, "Because I wished for my uncle to at least be able to see that for once, he'd have to put aside his hatred for my father. However that seems to not be an option." Masaru laughed, "He couldn't kill me if he tried." A elderly Kitsune woman walked out, using a cane as well, "Goro, will you allow me to go with you, I wish to see my son again." Akira looked at his wife, "Minako, you shouldn't be up. You should be resting, my love." Minako frowned, "Akira, you and I both know that it has been a very long time since either of us has seen our oldest son."

Akira nodded, "Then I'll go with you, but what about Reiko." The former queen walked out into the room, "I will go with the three of you, if that's alright." Goro looked at his mother, "Mom, it's perfectly alright with me." Reiko nodded and smiled, "Thank you son, what about you, Mommy and Daddy?" Akira and Minako looked at each other and Minako smiled, "We have no objections, my daughter." Goro stood up finally, "Black Knight, you're to come with us." The Black Knight nodded when Akane heard the doors open and looked back, she saw a sharply dressed Kilf wearing glasses with red hair in a ponytail, "Cousin, you have summoned me?" Goro nodded, "Yes Tsuyoshi, but the problem at hand is your father." Tsuyoshi sighed, "Of course he is. He's become more difficult since Walthari's death."

Akane looked at Goro, "What am I supposed to do?" Goro smiled, "Why don't you come with us, Yoshiro probably didn't give you a great first impression." Akane sighed, "Milord, I've grown up on stories about his legendary heroism. His willingness to put his life on the line to save innocent people. His kindness and courage which inspired others to take up arms and fight during times of need. Even his willingness to despite being a completely neutral party, fight alongside you during the second civil war." Goro chuckled slightly, and Akira sighed. Akane looked at Akira, "Why are you all reacting the way you are?" Akira smiled slightly, "Simple, child. You've fallen in love with tales of a man that were built up to make him seem better than he was. I was called a legendary hero back in my day, as was my cousin, Mamoru."

Akane blinked, "What do you mean?" Akira sighed, "It's a history you will never find in any history textbook, but it's in the archives. You know the story about the legendary soldier during the War to Liberate Verbana?" Akane nodded, "Mamoru Misawa was that soldier! All of the history books say so!" Akira shook his head, "Child, how old are you?" Akane looked at him, "Two hundred and thirty-five years old." Akira sighed, "When I was your age, I had killed hundreds of Leo Faction Menschilche with their own weapons. Led armies into battle and was on the way to liberating the planet. Mamoru and I were both equally skilled at it, but I allowed him to play the hero, because I was uninterested in the publicity and he was willing to accept it for my sake." Akane blinked again, confused, "What are you talking about?"

Minako spoke up, "Akira here really just wanted to settle down with a woman after the war and start his own family. After the liberation had finished and the rebuilding had started, we met in my Mother's temple while he was praying. Originally when I found out that he was Mamoru's cousin, I was wary as Mamoru and I had recently gotten divorced, because in his words, 'it wasn't going to continue working out as the war had changed him.' But over the following months, I heard about his exploits in the war, and tried to distance myself further, until he asked me what was wrong. When I found out that he was one of the kindest men I had ever met, I started to talk to him more. Eventually we'd become friends and later started dating. Ten years after the liberation, we'd have twins. You met one of them."

Goro nodded slightly, "While this exposition is rather nice, I feel that because of our circumstances this could be continued on the road to Yoshiro's place." The Black Knight nodded and started to walk forward, "I agree." Goro followed after the Black Knight and the others fell in behind him with Akane asking, "So what are you trying to get at?" Akira sighed, "Ever since Yoshiro killed his first person, he had been changed forever. Most people who get to know him say that he's a rather gentle person with a wounded soul. Those who don't know him yet may know him under a different moniker." Akane shrugged, "I wonder what this moniker is, it's probably something like Legendary Hero or something." Goro laughed, "Nowhere near that, Captain Sato. His Nom de Guerre... is depending on who you ask Grim Reaper or The Grim Reaper..." Akane couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she continued on with them regardless.

[Akira110]

Chapter 4

Yoshiro looked his sniper rifle when a sea elf walked down the stairs with a tray, "Yoshiro, you need to relax." Yoshiro closed his eyes, "I can't, the day is fast approaching and every fiber of my being is screaming for me to try to escape it." The sea elf frowned, "You still haven't told me what it is..." Yoshiro looked up at her, "I apologize, Elbereth. However, I cannot tell you. It's something that I've promised not to tell anyone." Elbereth folded her arms, "Even your own wife?" Yoshiro nodded, "Even you." Yoshiro watched as Elbereth placed the tray in front of him, she sighed as she sat down across from him, "So what can you tell me, Yoshiro?" Yoshiro sighed, "The flow of time has changed slightly, I was supposed to go with Akane, however that would lead to failure and a galaxy spanning war. What my actions have done is give the galaxy a chance."

Elbereth sighed, "But?" Yoshiro placed his sniper rifle down and picked up the sandwich that she had brought him, "There is a focal point, an event that I cannot change. The only thing that can change is the outcome of this mission." Elbereth sighed, "What is this focal point?" Yoshiro looked at the sandwich, he knew that his time was rapidly coming to an end, but also knew that he couldn't tell his wife. He loved her with all of his heart and his heart was breaking just not being able to tell her. He silently bit into the sandwich and started chewing in an attempt to avoid showing how he truly felt. However Elbereth looked at him with a frown, "Why aren't you going to tell me what's going on?" Yoshiro swallowed the food and looked her dead in the eye, "I swore as a Kensei to tell no one else, I'm sorry, but I can't even tell you."

Elbereth stopped questioning, she knew what it meant to swear an oath as a Kensei, "I will no longer press further on this matter, just come back safely." Yoshiro nodded, "I will, I promise you that." A female kitsune of around the same age as Yoshiro stood at the top of the staircase, "Um, Elbereth, may I speak to my brother alone? If that's alright." Elbereth nodded, "Of course, Reiko." Reiko walked down the stairs and looked at Yoshiro, "I asked the others if it was alright if I could speak to you alone. They'll come down in about ten minutes." Elbereth walked up the stairs and Yoshiro heard the basement door open and close as he grabbed the cup next to the plate and drank the sweet tasting liquid within, "Elbereth knows how to make me take my medicine. She should've been a doctor instead of a princess."

Reiko nodded and sat down, Yoshiro looked at her, "What's eating at you, little sister, you don't come to see me on your own unless there's something wrong." Reiko nodded, "It's about you, big brother. I just have this feeling that this is the last time that I'm going to be able to speak to you again." Yoshiro sighed, he couldn't lie to his little sister, but he also needed to uphold his vow, "We're here right now, let's speak." Reiko frowned, "Yoshiro, why do you never come visit anymore?" Yoshiro sighed, "I hate your husband, Reiko. You're the only thing that kept me from putting hole straight through his skull." Reiko frowned deeper, her tail touched the ground and her ears drooped, "I don't like it when the two of you fight." Yoshiro nodded, "That's why I don't come around and visit, little sister."

Reiko nodded, "You went to see great-grandmother a while back, is she alright?" Yoshiro nodded, "Yeah, she revealed to me events that are going to happen as time goes on. We are approaching a focal point where all possible timelines converge and then separate once more. I avoided the most likely future so aside from the focal point, I don't know what's going to happen and when." Reiko nodded slightly, "So what is the focal point?" Yoshiro sighed, "Someone important is going to die." Reiko looked down and away, "I don't like it when people are killed." Yoshiro leaned forward, and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Reiko, I know. Out of everyone around, I know the best. Remember, back during the second civil war when I helped you escape the entire kingdom and onto a different continent so that you wouldn't have to witness any of the death that was going on?"

Reiko nodded, "I remember, I also remember you saying when we were younger that you'd always be there for me." Yoshiro smiled softly, "Reiko, the Pure-hearted. That's what I used to call you, you've always been a very kind and gentle person. You hate to see people get hurt and it causes you physical pain. I've never been able to understand it, but you're the reason I took up arms. I didn't want you to be exposed to that, I wanted you to live in an era of peace, knowing that you would be protected. Had I known that I was going to wind up becoming the most successful sniper on the entire planet, I probably wouldn't have made that choice. I would've found a different way to protect you and the rest of the family." Reiko nodded, "You were always kind, Yoshiro. You always cared about others. Even if you don't see it yourself."

Yoshiro nodded, "I know. Reiko, I promise to do everything I can to stop a galactic war from happening in the future. Though I can't stop the event that happens in every possible timeline, I can stop the war. Though I guess it's time for my briefing and to see what sort of technology that I'm going to be given for this mission." Reiko nodded, "Big brother, promise me that you'll be careful, promise me that you'll come back alive." Yoshiro smiled, "I can promise you that I'll be careful, but like any other battle, I cannot promise that I will return alive. I'm sorry, Little sister, but this much you have to accept." Reiko frowned, "Okay, Yoshiro." Yoshiro took off his amulet and handed it to Reiko, "Here, you keep this. It'll drive me to come back alive." Reiko smiled softly, "Thank you, big brother." Yoshiro looked up at the staircase, "Hey! You guys can come down here!"

[Akira110]

Chapter 5

Goro walked down into the basement and looked at Yoshiro, "Mom, can my uncle and I have a bit of time alone?" Reiko nodded, "Of course, sweetie." Reiko walked up the stairs and out of the basement as Goro looked at Yoshiro, "Time is running out, you know." Yoshiro nodded, "I know, do you remember who your great-great grandmother is?" Goro looked down at the table, "No, but that isn't important." Yoshiro looked at him with an arched brow, "Kanojo wa shi dake de naku, dōyō ni jikan o shihai shi masu. Oboe te iru mottomo kenmei na koto daro u ga, oi." Goro looked at him, "I'm glad that you haven't forgotten our language completely, Uncle Yoshiro." Yoshiro nodded, "I still speak our tongue, moxt ir." Goro sighed, "You're wasting more precious time by speaking in tongues."

Yoshiro nodded, "I'm aware, but there is a reason I told you about your great-great grandmother's aspects. She came to me with the events that are going to happen." Goro frowned, "And what's going to happen?" Yoshiro smirked, knowing full well that Goro had long since forgotten how to speak Draconic, "Si geou loreat ini wer sulta di wer xinor." Goro slammed his fist onto the table, "We do not have time for games, Uncle!" Yoshiro nodded, "I know, I said that if we do not stop the Menschilche from killing these people, billions are going to die. Not just Verbanans, but Eltiranans, Eidechse, Vampires, Humans, Neanderthals, an unknown race that comes with them, Dragons and the total destruction of the Menschilche species."

Goro blinked slightly, "So will you go on this rescue operation?" Yoshiro folded his hands together and looked at him, "Yes. I'll go, but you'll have to allow me to call upon an old friend of mine before I go." Goro sighed, "And who is that, Uncle?" Yoshiro stood up and walked over to an armor closet, "My brother, the dragon Julius." Goro sighed, "Is that wise?" Yoshiro looked at him, "Julius can move faster than my motorbike ever could and I can carry more equipment on him. Not to mention, he can carry more than one passenger." Goro closed his eyes, "Fine. So why are you taking that particular armor, it doesn't look like the kind you would normally wear." Yoshiro smirked, "Good eye, Goro. Ever since I started noticing that I've slowed down due to aging, I've come to realize that I'm going to need some form of power armor."

Yoshiro started to put the armor as he continued speaking, "I've also modified my sniper rifle, now that I've taken to wearing contact lenses for my worsening vision." Goro opened his eyes and saw his uncle halfway in the armor, "And what modification was that?" Yoshiro laughed as he continued to get suited up, "There's a heads-up display in the helmet of this armor, it's designed to connect to a camera in the scope. It allows me to see what's on the other side of my scope without me having to look down the scope. Useful for hip firing, though if need be, I can still look down the scope by removing the camera." Goro nodded, "That's impressive." Yoshiro placed the helmet on his head and smiled as the mouthplate moved to cover his face, "Now, if you don't mind, can you tell me where they are located."

Goro pulled out a map and pointed to an abandoned city, "They are located here. If you hurry, you can reach them in time, Uncle." Yoshiro placed his hand on Goro's shoulder, "Any more information that you could give me will be exceedingly helpful." Akane spoke up as she walked down the stairs, "I'll tell you on the way." Yoshiro looked up at her, "You're kidding me, another Kitsune Military representative is going to be coming with me?" Goro sighed, "I didn't order it." Akane looked at him and folded her arms, "Well, you can either realize I'm not coming because it's part of my job and that I'm going to come with you because I'm curious about what these two races are doing near Verbana. Or you can just be a stubborn [censored] and refuse to work with me, just because I'm Kitsune Military."

Yoshiro walked over to her and looked her in the eye, "The glimmer in your eyes has died, good. You've come to realize that I'm not the hero that you hear about in tales. Though you still might fancy yourself some sort of hero. Give me one second." Yoshiro put a finger to an earpiece, "Julius, can you hear me." Julius spoke up, "Yes." Yoshiro smirked, "Si rigluin wux ekess confn tafiaf ve sva sia okarthel, yth re gethrisjir ekess gethrisj pok vi aryte de tlushtow." Julius' voice spoke over the communicator, "Your draconic has become very good, Yoshiro. I'll be over there in a few minutes, just you and Lilah?" Yoshiro looked at Goro, "Who all is coming?" Goro shrugged, "You, Akane and Tsuyoshi." Yoshiro nodded, "Lilah and I will ride on your back, Goro. We'll pick up Carlos on the way out of the city. The newcomer will ride with my son on Diana's back."

Julius' voice spoke up, "Alright, Julius out." Yoshiro closed the channel and looked at Akane, "Alright, you are going to do exactly what I tell you." Akane folded her arms, "And what authorization do you have to tell me what to do?" Yoshiro sighed, "I'm a former general of the Kitsune Military, I'm the current leader of the Raptor Mercenary force with the official rank of Major. So according to this Captain Sato, I outrank you." Akane frowned, "Fine." Yoshiro nodded, "Go meet up with Tsuyoshi, you and he will be taking Diana to our destination." Akane walked out without a word and Goro looked at him, "For as long as I've been alive, you've never pulled rank on a single person." Yoshiro looked at Goro, "She exceedingly annoys me."

[Akira110]

Chapter 6

Yoshiro looked ahead while in the skies on the back of Julius, he started hearing Akane complain, "How do you people do this, the wind is in my eyes." Yoshiro barked back, "This is why I hate people like you. Claim you're big badasses and when the truth comes to light, you're nothing more than simple pushovers." Lilah giggled behind him as Minerva fell into the formation, a voice speaking up, "Lord Yoshiro, it's good to serve alongside you." Yoshiro looked at the person who said that, "Carlos, your father called me Lord and it annoyed me to no end." Julius spoke up, "Brother, we got some contacts ahead." Yoshiro pulled his sniper rifle out and activated the scope, "Looks like we're not the only ones looking for survivors, what do you think Julius. Menschilche?" Julius didn't respond for a second, "They have stronger mana flows than Menschilche, they've got to be Verbanan or Eltiranan."

Yoshiro nodded slightly and zoomed in, "They're riding Pegasi, and seem to be aiming down, why don't we give them a little hello." Akane spoke up, "You're going to shoot them, are you crazy!?" Yoshiro adjusted his aim for the Pegasus' head, "No, I'm going to drop their mount and let gravity take over." Yoshiro watched as the person in his scope readied their weapon. At that moment, he squeezed the trigger, causing the person to look surprised as his mount stopped flying. He quickly adjusted his aim to another target and fired a snap shot into the head of their mount, bringing a second one down, "They lack sniper rifles. Carlos, you and Akane will escort my son to the survivors, Julius and I will take on the aerial threats." Carlos nodded slightly, he knew better than to call him out on this.

Akane looked at Tsuyoshi, "Are you going to stop him?" Yoshiro kept adjusting his aim and dropping enemy pegasi, as Tsuyoshi broke off, "No, he's called the Grim Reaper for a reason." Yoshiro realized that the pegasi were getting closer and smirked slightly, "Julius, do you mind if I use you to amplify my mana?" Julius chuckled, "Not at all, Yoshiro." Yoshiro removed one hand from the sniper rifle and placed it on Julius, concentrating. He felt as the implants in his body activated and started flowing mana and amplifying it greatly, he concentrated on forming a barrier that protected Julius, Lilah, and himself from the attacks of the enemy forces. The barrier formed up just in time as energy weapons fire splashed upon it and Yoshiro smirked slightly, "Gonna have to be faster than that, kids." He sighed slightly as Lilah placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke up, "Another day, another battle."

Yoshiro nodded slightly, "That's the problem." He switched over to his native language, "Zannen na koto ni anata no inochi ga koko de owaru ga, watashi hābā to anata no ishi kettei no tame no zōo no nai koto kokoro ni tome te oi te jishin wa, shinigami to tatakau tame ni jibun o surō suru yō ni sentaku shi mashi ta. Shikashi, watashi ga koko de seikō shi nai baai, kiken de aru ga watashi tachi no sekai no subete o [censored] i masu." Yoshiro looked at Julius, "Are you ready, Brother?" Julius nodded and opened his mouth, Yoshiro let up the barrier around Julius' mouth and tongues of flame shot from Julius' mouth, hitting several of the Pegasus riders as they got into close enough range. The remaining survivors started to back off and Yoshiro noticed that they weren't Menschilche, but Kitsune and that they had an incredible fear in their eyes.

Yoshiro looked at them and called out in the Kitsune language, "Kon shūryō suru to baai, anata no inochi o oshima nai. Tatakau baai wa, hakai to shi o matsu koto ga nomi mitsukari masu." The Kitsune looked at him and for the most part, they started to fly away. However one of them looked at him with a smile and took off her helmet, "Sensō no shison! Anata no kotoba wa, watashi no meiyo o bujoku suru kōi desu! Sensō no kitsune shin no jūsha toshite watashi wa anata o hakai shi nakere ba nara nai!" Yoshiro sighed, "Well that was worth a shot. Lilah, you know what to do." The Kitsune cried out, "Dare ka ta no anata no tame ni tatakau o sentaku okubyōmono!" Yoshiro watched as Lilah quickly rushed to the head of Julius and Julius rushed the Pegasus, grappling it while still protected by the barrier. Yoshiro started to feel drained, and yet relieved that he would be letting up the barrier.

He smiled as he dropped the barrier, the enemy Kitsune righting herself as she was getting ready to fight, however Lilah stabbed her in the neck, severing her spinal column with a dagger. Yoshiro smirked, "I believe that getting someone's help isn't cowardice, it's being intelligent. Glad most of the survivors decided to take me up on my offer to let them flee from the battle with their lives intact." Lilah nodded as she went back to being seated behind Yoshiro. Yoshiro looked down and spotted the landing sight where Tsuyoshi, Akane and Carlos were. Yoshiro looked along the highway that led up to them, "Let's cover for them, they're going to be calling for an evac ship." Lilah looked around, "Where do you want to set up?" Yoshiro pointed to a location, "There, it's roughly two hundred and fifty meters from the crash site and the building right there will give me a great vantage point."

Julius headed down and let Yoshiro off of the building and Yoshiro looked at Lilah, "You set up shop where you can protect them best. Julius, I need you to patrol the skies." Julius nodded, "Let Lilah off and then make sure no aerial threats return. Got it." Yoshiro nodded as Julius walked off and put a finger to his earpiece, "Son, what's the sitrep over there." Tsuyoshi spoke up, "Six survivors, five of them are Neanderthal, one of them is an unknown alien race, she keeps saying that she's a Thraxi." Yoshiro nodded, "What's their condition." Tsuyoshi sighed over the communicator, "Three of the Neanderthals are in critical condition, I don't expect the male to survive. The two females might, but we need to stabilize them soon. Another Neanderthal is seriously injured, but he'll live. The final Neanderthal and the Thraxi are banged up, but no worse for wear. Everyone else is dead. While you were up there, we called the evac teams. They'll be here in fifteen minutes." Yoshiro nodded and set up a sniper nest, "I'll cover you guys until then."

[Akira110]

Chapter 7

Tsuyoshi watched as an evac vessel moved towards them, the Neanderthal that was in critical condition had unfortunately passed away during the wait for the evac team. Akane looked at him, "You seem so calm about this." Tsuyoshi shrugged as he adjusted his glasses, "When your father is the Grim Reaper, you tend to get used to being around death and destruction. Not to mention, I had to on several occasions keep him and his great-grandfather from trying to kill each other." A Neanderthal female looked at him, "Even as far as we are, we've heard legends of the Grim Reaper, he is infamous amongst the Menschilche. Any enemy of theirs is an ally of ours." Tsuyoshi turned to look at her, "Alliances do not work that way, Idunnr."

Idunnr shrugged and the Thraxi looked at him, "Thraxi wonder why Kilf known as Tsuyoshi is son to Famous Legendary Sniper Grim Reaper." Tsuyoshi shrugged, "I never wanted to join the military, I thought that I could serve my family and people better if I were to become an ambassador. Though even so, I've received military training so if it comes down to it, I can hold my own in a fight." Tsuyoshi sighed as he thought back to the time that he and his late brother, Sven, had worked together. He enjoyed working with family and hoped that he could continue to do so in the future. The heavily wounded male Neanderthal spoke up, "Hey, there's a Kilf coming out of that transport, you guys related?"

Tsuyoshi was about to call the Neanderthal racist when he looked at the Kilf, noticing the blue hair and purple eyes, "Balthoron! What are you doing here?" Balthoron walked over to him with a medical kit, "I'm a doctor, remember?" Tsuyoshi nodded, "Alright, Dr. Miyamae, mind checking our patients?" Balthoron nodded and walked over to the two female Neanderthals who were in critical condition, "I'm not familiar with Neanderthal Physiology, so I'm gonna have to make do with Human Physiology." The Neanderthal female looked at him and weakly nodded as Balthoron started to dress her wounds and started to find the spots where she was bleeding internally, "This is bad. I can't do much more than this here and I don't have any sort of anesthesia here." The Neanderthal weakly spoke up, "Do it."

Balthoron nodded and started to painfully put her right arm's bones back into place, he grabbed a piece of metal from the debris and made sure that it wasn't sharp before placing it against her arm and wrapping bandages around it. He turned and looked at the ship, "One ready for transport! Get a stretcher over here! And a gurney for the one in serious condition!" Balthoron walked over to the other female Neanderthal who had lost consciousness, "This isn't good, she's already lost consciousness." Balthoron worked rapidly and started to do everything he could in his power to stop the bleeding while checking her pulse every so often, "Don't you die on me, please don't die on me." Unfortunately the pulse gave out and Balthoron sighed, "Time of death, sixteen hundred hours." Balthoron went to stand up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Balthoron sighed slightly, "Tsuyoshi, thanks." Yoshiro's voice spoke up, "It's not your brother. Balthoron turned around and hugged Yoshiro, "Hey Dad! It's been a long time." Yoshiro hugged back, "That it has, Balthoron. I see you've become a doctor, I'm real proud of you, son." Balthoron nodded and pointed to the other Neanderthal and the Thraxi, "If you guys can move on your own, get to the Evac ship and tell them not to wait for me, I think I'm going to ride Julius back home." Yoshiro broke the hug and arched a brow, "What makes you think that I'm going to allow you to ride Julius?" Balthoron smirked and folded his arms, "Because I'm your son and you don't want me to be stranded here?" Yoshiro laughed, "You willingly gave up your ride. Though for some unexplained reason, I can't help but feel that was for the best."

Balthoron shrugged, "I don't know, I can't see the future." Yoshiro nodded slightly, "I know, son, neither can I. So how have things been?" Balthoron shrugged, "They've been alright, I came back because mostly, I wanted to see my parents and the rest of my family." Yoshiro nodded slightly and looked at Akane, "Captain Sato, this is my son, Balthoron." Akane nodded, "It's good to meet you, you and your brother are far more well mannered than your father." Balthoron chuckled slightly at this, "Maybe it's just because you managed to piss off my father. Who knows?" Akane blinked, "I didn't do anything but talk to Yoshiro." Yoshiro smirked, "So Captain, do you mind if I pull rank on you?" Akane looked at him, "What do you mean!?"

Yoshiro folded his arms and smirked as Tsuyoshi did the same, the Kilf spoke up though, "Dad's a General, that ranking has never truly got taken from him, he just had it transferred to the Raptors." Akane blinked and looked at Yoshiro, "You were the one that formed the Raptors!?" Yoshiro nodded, "Yep, and the Dracoknights, and founded the Kilvish Kingdom back in my youth." Akane blinked, "You've had an eventful life, General Miyamae." Yoshiro smirked, "That sounds just as bad to my ears now as it did hundreds of years ago, and I wish that my life was more quiet. At any rate, everyone get on your mounts, we're going to return home." Yoshiro walked towards Julius and Balthoron walked up to him, "Dad, remember, you need to get a checkup next week." Yoshiro looked at him with a smile, "Oh, so now you're going to tell me what to do son?" Balthoron sighed, "I'm just trying to look out for you." Yoshiro ruffled his son's hair, "I know, Kiddo. Let's head home and see your mother."

[Akira110]

Chapter 8

Yoshiro slid off Julius' back and landed on the ground with a grunt as pain hit him, he stood up and looked at the house, "I'm too old for this." Balthoron slid off and looked at Yoshiro, "I wholeheartedly agree. Father, you really should take it a lot easier from now on." Yoshiro folded his arms, "You get your medical license and suddenly you're qualified to tell me what to do. Balthoron, you and Lilah go inside. Julius, you can go do whatever you want." Lilah looked at him, "And what are you going to do?" Yoshiro looked at them, "I need to go to the Temple of the Sun, alone." Balthoron shrugged, "Alright then, tell great-grandmother that I said hello for me." Yoshiro nodded as he walked towards the gate, "I will, son."

Yoshiro walked out of the gate and unlocked his motorbike as he climbed onto it. He placed his hand on the scanner and it started up. He sighed slightly as he kicked the kickstand back up and started to ride off to the Temple of the Sun. The ride was relatively quiet and he soon arrived at his destination. He stopped the motorbike and sighed as he put the kickstand down and took off his helmet, putting it on the left handlebar. As he got off the bike, a young Kensei walked over to him, "Sensei! It's been a while." Yoshiro looked at her, "Anko, you certainly have made a name for yourself. I'm proud of you and remember, don't neglect your training." Anko nodded, "So why are you here?" Yoshiro sighed, "I need to talk to my aunt." Anko pointed inside and Yoshiro nodded, "Thanks."

Yoshiro walked into the temple, where he saw Kimiko in the main chamber, talking to Amaterasu. When he entered the room, he stood at the door and let them finish, Amaterasu looked at him, "Mom's told me about what's going to happen." Yoshiro nodded, "I know, Grandmother. I know. Can I talk to Aunt Kimiko... alone?" Amaterasu looked at Kimiko, who looked at Yoshiro and nodded, "Um, sure, yeah." Kimiko led Yoshiro into a spare bedroom, one that he used often when he needed to get out of the house and just clear his head, she smiled, "In a thousand years, this will be the home of one of the reincarnations of the three." Yoshiro nodded, "So you know why I've come here?" Kimiko nodded, "I'm not allowed to tell you about your future reincarnation, you know."

Yoshiro sighed, "I know, Auntie, just..." Kimiko interrupted, "You wish to know more about what will happen. Perhaps you know of my pact with Walthari." Yoshiro shook his head, "I was unaware of any such thing." Kimiko looked at him, "Hopefully when we're all reincarnated, we'll be siblings once again. Do these words sound familiar to you?" Yoshiro gasped slightly, he remembered saying those words four hundred and fifty years ago, Kimiko smiled slightly, "Judging from your reaction, you remember those words exactly. I promised Walthari that I would do everything within my power to reincarnate the three of you as siblings. Yoshiro, your actions to change the timeline have altered what I can do. Now it's impossible for the three of you to be born siblings."

Yoshiro nodded slightly, "I understand, but... I just want to know, exactly how long I have left." Kimiko frowned, "That's grandmother's territory, not mine." Emiko walked in, "Well, you're not going to die within Kitsune territory anymore, however I'd be saying my goodbyes to Elbereth tonight if I were you." Yoshiro nodded, "What's the time?" Emiko sighed and sat down, "Yoshiro, you are the first person I've ever told this, so please don't try to escape your death. If you do, I'll have to hunt you down and end your life personally and I don't want to do that to family." Yoshiro nodded, "I swear that I will face my own death with honor and dignity." Emiko nodded, "Very well, tonight is the last time you will get to see a sunset in this life. Tomorrow at sixteen thirty-five hours, you will breathe your last."

Yoshiro shrugged, "Then I will face my death with dignity, though I already know the reason why I will end up dying." Emiko looked at him with an arched brow, "Oh?" Yoshiro sighed and looked at the ceiling, "Splinter group of Kitsune, pretty sure mercenaries that were hired by Masaru. If this is the case, they'd be led by Takeshi Misawa. If that's the case, we're dealing with the Reapers." Kimiko blinked, "How do you know this?" Yoshiro shrugged, "I killed dozens more Kitsune today, the only times I've killed Kitsune soldiers or mercenaries were during the civil wars this nation has had." Emiko nodded slightly, "So, what are you going to do?" Yoshiro shrugged, "Aside from die? I'm going to end that bootlicker's life if I have to strangle the life out of him." Kimiko sighed, "Hopefully your reincarnation isn't as violent as you."

Yoshiro nodded, "Whoever he or she is, it would bring me no end to my joy if they were to live a life of peace." Emiko nodded, "I know, Yoshiro, trust me, I know. You should get back to your family and say your goodbyes." Yoshiro nodded, "Yeah, I should. One more question?" Emiko nodded, "Sure thing." Yoshiro chuckled, "Mind if I hang around here as a ghost til I get reincarnated?" Emiko blinked, "That's normally not allowed, but if you're around Kimiko and not interfering, I'm sure we can work something out." Yoshiro nodded and hugged both of them, "I'm going to hit the road, these goodbyes aren't going to say themselves. But, I have one question, how do you tell someone that you're going to die." Emiko looked at him, "You don't, Yoshiro."

[Akira110]

Chapter 9

Yoshiro looked at the gate of his household from the street, he reflected on the words that he was told by Emiko and sighed as he looked at the motorbike, "Well, I'll make one more stop." Yoshiro drove back off and weaved through the traffic as he went to go visit the grave of an old friend. Upon reaching the cemetery, he stopped the motorbike and kicked the kickstand down and took off his helmet, laying it on the seat this time. He walked through the rows of the graveyard and sighed slightly, even though the event had happened over five hundred years ago, the memories were fresh in his mind. He walked over to the gravestone that said on it, "Here Lies Rogelio Sanez Lorca." Yoshiro fell to his knees and sighed, "Well old friend, I guess it's about time I resign myself to my own fate."

Setsuko spoke up, "That's not the Yoshiro I remember, or heard about." Yoshiro turned to look at his baby sister, "Every generation has their warriors and my time is coming to an end. I'm just glad that none of my kids are walking down the same path that I did." Hiromi walked over and placed a flower on Rogelio's grave, "Hi Daddy." Yoshiro looked at Hiromi and quickly and tightly hugged her, "Hiromi, I'm so proud of you and I love you." Hiromi hugged back a little nervously, "I love you too, Daddy, but you're acting a bit weird, is everything alright?" Yoshiro shook his head, "No, not really, but I can't talk about it, Great-grandmother has made me promise." Setsuko folded her arms, "Great-grandmother doesn't have people promise not to talk about something unless it has to do with death."

Yoshiro sighed, "Tomorrow is a focal point, all timelines converge into a single point tomorrow, and Great-grandmother showed this to me. That's all I can say." Hiromi broke the hug and looked into her father's eyes, "Daddy, are you going to die tomorrow?" Yoshiro sighed, "Sweetheart, I cannot tell you anything about who dies tomorrow. However, I do know what will happen, but I need to keep this to myself, I promised Great-grandmother." Hiromi nodded slightly, "So I guess you'll want to talk to Rogelio's grave, alone?" Yoshiro stood up, "Not, particularly, no. But speaking to the grave is putting me at ease, almost as if he is here." Setsuko shook her head, "As a deathblood, I would know if he was here or not, big brother."

Yoshiro nodded, "I think I'm going to go head to my usual place to clear my head, I'd honestly like to be alone if that's alright with you all." Hiromi nodded, "I'm going to go see Mom." Yoshiro nodded slightly and walked back to his bike, he kicked the kickstand back up and put his helmet back on. He rode off onto a road that would take him to a cliff that overlooked a lake, a place that he would go to normally to clear his head and figure things out. As he felt the wind against his fur, he sighed slightly and his hands gripped the handlebars more tightly, "I guess this is how Walthari felt, but he had no idea about the when. All he knew is that it was going to happen." Yoshiro heard a voice behind him, "Yoshiro, it's natural to be afraid of death, you know?" Yoshiro sighed, "Katriina, I didn't think you'd be here right now."

Katriina sighed as Yoshiro pulled off to the side of the road and walked up the cliff only to see a female Elf standing there with dark blue hair, "Oh bloody [censored]." The female Sea Elf looked at him, "So Yoshiro, what do I owe this pleasure." Yoshiro sighed, "Lenwe, get the stick out of your [censored] for a second, I'm not here to fight with you." Lenwe shrugged her shoulders, "I don't like you, Yoshiro. However, as I've said before..." Yoshiro interrupted, "You make my sister happy, so I'm going to be tolerant of you. Yes, yes, I've heard it nearly two hundred and sixty times, Lenwe." Lenwe sighed, "So why are you up here?" Yoshiro folded his arms, "I could say the same to you. I've been coming here since I was a kid in order to clear my head. Even when I was a king, even when I was a mercenary."

Lenwe looked at the lake, "Is that so? Something is seriously bothering you, I can see it in your eyes." Yoshiro looked up at the sky, the suns were starting to set, "Not going to lie, I really cannot talk about it in great detail." Lenwe shrugged, "Typical, you won't tell me." Yoshiro sighed and sat down, "I won't tell anyone, because until the event happens, I'm the only one who can know of it, Lenwe." Lenwe blinked, "So Emiko told you about what was going to happen in the future. Well then, I retract my previous statement." Yoshiro nodded, "I appreciate it, especially since I ain't here to fight with you." Yoshiro looked at her, "You know, I really love your sister." Lenwe nodded, "I know. She speaks highly of you and honestly, I'm beginning to wonder what she sees in you. You have more blood on your hands than some military units combined, and I'm not speaking about platoons."

Yoshiro nodded, "I know and even now, I'm getting pulled out of my retirement. I'm an old reynard, I just want to relax and live out the rest of my days in peace. Unfortunately, the moment I picked up a sword, I damned myself to die by the sword." Lenwe nodded, "I understand, but Yoshiro, remember this. Tell Elbereth goodbye tomorrow." Yoshiro blinked at her as she walked away, "Wait, Lenwe, what do you mean?" Lenwe smirked, "I've learned over the centuries how to read you like a book, I know that the event you have seen is your own death. If you don't tell Elbereth goodbye tomorrow and that you love her, I will hate you for as long as I draw breath. Am I understood?" Yoshiro nodded, "I understand, Lenwe." Lenwe waved, "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul, I promise, brother-in-law."

[Akira110]

Chapter 10

Morning had arrived and Yoshiro awoke, he found it extremely odd that he was able to sleep despite what he knew. He looked over at his wife, who was still in bed, and smiled. He quietly climbed out of the bed and looked out of the window, he wanted to tell her, but he knew that he was forbidden from doing so. He noticed that his communicator had lit up and he turned it on, "Yoshiro here." Goro's voice spoke up over the communicator, "Yoshiro, those people we rescued... they were taken to Fenikkusu territory and Takeshi has made it known that he leads the splinter group that took our rescued people hostage. I need you to get over there quickly." Yoshiro sighed, "I can't, not yet. Look, can you allow me to have breakfast first and send Carlos over there or something?" Goro sighed, "Alright, but once you're done with breakfast, get there immediately."

Yoshiro turned off the communicator and Elbereth stirred, "Yoshiro, what's going on?" Yoshiro looked at her, "Duty calls, but it can wait, I want this morning to be special." Yoshiro leaned in and kissed the sea elf, who appeared to have barely aged since he met her, while he had noticeably aged. Elbereth nodded, "So how are you going to do that?" Yoshiro smiled softly, "Gonna make breakfast for us, just the two of us, the help can make it for the kids." Elbereth nodded slightly, "Alright, Yoshiro, I look forward to it." Yoshiro smirked slightly and walked out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen, he saw some of the help making breakfast for the kids, "Excuse me guys, but I need some room to make a special breakfast, I want this morning to be perfect for my wife."

The hired help looked at him and nodded, moving out of his way and Yoshiro started to quickly get out what he needed to make Elbereth's favorite dish. As he prepared it, he sighed slightly, even knowing that he was going to die today, his thoughts were focused on others and not himself. He took the mixture over to the stove and cooked it for about fifteen minutes and threw it on a plate, "Ah, my wife's favorite dish, but..." Yoshiro looked into the refrigerator and pulled out some Star Apple Juice and mixed it into a syrup that he had also prepared, "There, this will give it that flavor she loves so much." One of the maids looked at him, "Mister Yoshiro?" Yoshiro looked at her, "You don't have to say Mister, or Master, or Sir, or Boss. Yoshiro will do perfectly fine." The maid nodded, "What happened to cause you to make all of this?"

Yoshiro sighed, "The mission yesterday was a failure, and I've been called into action again, I'm not as young and spry as I used to be, so there's a chance that I'm not going to be returning home." The Maid nodded as Yoshiro picked up the plate and put it on a tray. He took the breakfast to Elbereth and smiled as she looked at it, "Bon Appetit, mi amor." Elbereth smirked, "You hang around the fairies too much." Elbereth dug into her plate and Yoshiro ate some jerky he had snuck out of the larder. Yoshiro looked out the window, "It's a beautiful day today, supposed to be nice and warm." Elbereth nodded, "I think I'll take the kids to the park, just... be careful out there, Yoshiro. Please." Yoshiro nodded, "I'll try. But I'm not leaving yet."

Elbereth nodded slightly, "So you choose to spend time with me instead of running off onto a mission, what's going on, really?" Yoshiro sighed, "I made a promise, remember, and I made a vow as a Kensei not to reveal it to anyone. There's a chance that people will try to alter future events if I tell them." Elbereth looked down, she looked a mix of sad and angry, "You're going to die today, aren't you? This is what this is all about, isn't it!" Yoshiro closed his eyes to hold back tears and he tried to speak up, but a knot formed in his throat, all he could do was nod. Elbereth looked at him, "I understand why you didn't tell me, but were you going to do so?" Yoshiro shook his head, "I... I couldn't."

Elbereth sighed, "Yoshiro, I'm your wife, I love you and I always will. If you were destined to die today, do you think that I'd stop that from happening? No, if Emiko says that it's your time, then who are we to argue about that." Yoshiro nodded slightly, "I understand." Elbereth looked at him, "How much time do you have left?" Yoshiro looked out the window, "I need to leave in a few minutes, after that, I have mere hours left in my life. I'm sorry, Elbereth." Elbereth sighed, "Sorry doesn't begin to undo the damage this has caused. But, I understand why you did it, so I forgive you." Yoshiro walked over to her and hugged her, "A final hug before I go, my love." Elbereth hugged back, "I won't tell anyone, I promise."

Yoshiro nodded and broke the hug, "Elbereth, you have made the last eight hundred and twenty-five years a joy to live and I couldn't have done it without you. I wish we could part in more happy circumstances, but... this is what has to happen. I love you and I always will. Goodbye, Elbereth Nenharma-Miyamae." Elbereth nodded, "Goodbye, Yoshiro Miyamae. You will forever remain in my heart." Yoshiro looked out the window, "JULIUS! IT'S TIME TO GO!" Julius walked to the door as Yoshiro put on his armor and equipped his weaponry, "Next time I see you, Elbereth, I won't recognize you, but... deep down, I'll always love you." Elbereth smiled slightly, "Thank you, now... I never supported you going to battle, but I know the stakes, please prevent a galactic war from sparking." Yoshiro nodded as he headed out the door, "I'll try."

[Akira110]

Chapter 11

Yoshiro landed in the Fennikkusu capitol city and looked at the woman who stood before the temple that he had chosen as a landing point, "Kaori, it's been far too long." Kaori looked at him, "I am unfamiliar with you, Kitsune..." Yoshiro slid off Julius' back and landed on the ground, "Julius, I release you from any debt you feel you owe me." Julius nodded and flew off, Kaori looked at Yoshiro, "Julius? So you're the Grim Reaper." Yoshiro removed his helmet, "Yeah, I'm here because people we've rescued, a few Neanderthals and a Thraxi have been taken prisoner by some Kitsune led by my half-brother, Takeshi." Kaori nodded slightly, "I am quite aware of all of this, what is your plan?" Yoshiro looked her in the eye, "I'm going to kill my half-brother, then I'm going to go die."

Kaori blinked slightly, she wasn't quite expecting that kind of response, "Are you insane?" Yoshiro sighed, "Listen, High Priestess, I was told by my great-grandmother that this is the day that I die. However, I have Lilah going out there scouting the city so that I can find him. Everything that he has done, is because of Masaru, and once all of this is over. Well, Lilah will have one final contract from me, before she's completely free of her service." Kaori sighed, "Amaterasu doesn't like to have fighting in cities with her temples in them, even if her brother was the deity of war." Yoshiro nodded, "I know, he's my ancestor as well." Kaori blinked, "You say that you are related to the great Amaterasu! You sully her name with such a claim!"

Yoshiro snapped his fingers and made an origami crane made of pure light mana appear, "This mana is similar to her own, because I am a sunblood." Kaori gasped as she recognized the feel of the Mana, "You are related to her, but..." Yoshiro sighed, "I was sent alone, because this is a rescue operation, this isn't a combat operation. But the fact that Takeshi is here changes that. I'm going to have to kill him, because he and Masaru are doing the damnedest that they can to ensure the fact that there is a galactic scale war that is going to happen. Naturally, I'm trying to avoid this conflict, Kaori." Kaori nodded, "So you still wish for peace in the end, even after all of these years. Time has not been kind to you, cousin." Yoshiro nodded, "We are not cousins." Kaori shook her head, "The Kitsune and Fennikkusu are cousins."

Yoshiro shrugged, "You look exactly the same as you did nearly six hundred years ago. Though that's because you're what, a young woman?" Kaori nodded, "Something like that." Yoshiro sighed, "You're not going to try to talk me out of going to my own death, are you?" Kaori shook her head, "If Emiko has decreed it, I will not stand in her way. Remember, this nation is a Theocratic nation, not a Monarchical nation. Or a republic as the Raptors have set up in their own nation." Yoshiro nodded and pulled out a datapad, "Can you do me a favor?" Kaori folded her arms and spread her wings slightly, "It depends, Yoshiro." Yoshiro handed the datapad to her, "This is my will, you have NO idea how hard it was keeping this thing from Lilah. She was trying her damnedest to take it from me and see what was going on."

Kaori nodded, "And what do you want me to do with it?" Yoshiro smiled softly, "Deliver it to the Kitsune Kingdom, to my grandmother, she'll know what to do with this." Kaori took the datapad, "Alright, I will deliver it to Her Grace." Yoshiro nodded, "Thank you, Kaori. Oh and one more thing." Kaori wasn't surprised at this, "Yes?" Yoshiro sighed, "Can you try to help keep my kids out of trouble when I'm gone. I'll be too ethereal to be able to do so." Kaori chuckled, "I'll see what I can do, I'm sure Her Grace will have no issues with me helping out her descendants." Yoshiro nodded, "Thank you, Kaori. I promise that I will keep the disturbance as minimal as possible." Kaori nodded, "I'll hold you to that, Yoshiro."

Yoshiro extended his hand, but Kaori hugged him instead, "From what I know about you, you're the coldest killer anyone has ever met, but looking into your eyes again tells me the truth about you once more. You're just a man who has seen too much death and you know that before you go, you're about to see and cause more." Yoshiro nodded, "That's about it right now." Kaori sighed, "Do you think we'll meet in the next life?" Yoshiro shrugged slightly, "Depends on a lot of things, but one thing I do know is that if I fail, you're not going to be too particularly thrilled with Balthoron." Kaori arched a brow and broke the hug, "Wait, what do you mean?" Yoshiro sighed, "Balthoron becomes very depressed for a bit and sets up shop in the base I'm about to storm later." Kaori frowned, "So..." Yoshiro sighed, "When I said Galactic War, I meant it."

Kaori nodded as Yoshiro's communicator beeped at him, Yoshiro placed his helmet back on and flicked the tongue switch, "What's your status, Lilah?" Lilah spoke over the communicator, "I found Takeshi, he's in the middle of the courtyard of a Temple to Emiko." Yoshiro blinked, "How... bizarrely fitting." Lilah spoke again, "What do you mean?" Yoshiro sighed, "Lilah, I need you to retreat. This is something I need to do on my own. When I give you the signal, you'll go into their base to rescue the hostages, but you need to fall back for now. Takeshi will no doubt have them executed if he thinks that I'm not on my own." Lilah spoke over the communicator, "Very well then, Yoshiro." Yoshiro started moving towards the Temple to Emiko, "I'll be over there in a few minutes."

[Akira110]

Chapter 12

Yoshiro walked into the courtyard of the temple, alone and armed only with his sword and his shield. Takeshi spoke up as he looked at the statue of Emiko, "A fitting place for your final slumber, wouldn't you agree?" Yoshiro removed his shield from his back and placed it on his wrist, "Yeah, it would be, but I'm not going to die here." Takeshi turned his head slightly to look at him, "What do you mean?" Yoshiro pointed at him with his shield arm, "You will be the one to die here today, Takeshi, you have no idea of the scope of war that you are going to cause!" Takeshi turned around, "Do you know why I've always opposed you, Yoshiro?" Yoshiro placed his hand on his sword's hilt, "No, and I particularly don't care."

Takeshi looked at him, "Fitting, we will settle this in the old way." Takeshi grabbed a two handed sword that was sitting against the statue, "The warblood against the sunblood, give me a good fight, Half-brother." The two brothers circled around as Yoshiro drew his own longsword, Yoshiro took a look and saw the monks there, and recognized Emiko in the crowd. For the first time in his life, he took the opening move and stepped forward with his weapon at the ready, shield about ready to block against Takeshi's attack. Takeshi stepped back and watched for another move on Yoshiro's part, but Yoshiro retreated backwards. Takeshi growled slightly and moved in to attack Yoshiro on the weapon side. Yoshiro twisted his sword to catch Takeshi's blade.

The two of them watched as Takeshi's blade slid down Yoshiro's and hit the grip, Takeshi moving his sword away and Yoshiro using this opportunity to attack with the shield. He took a step and thrust the shield into Takeshi's weapon, hitting it on the blade and pushing it back as he took his sword and went to thrust it into Takeshi's abdomen, but Takeshi moved back with his sword, leaving Yoshiro open. Takeshi took this advantage to counter attack by swinging his blade above Yoshiro, forcing Yoshiro to sidestep out of the way, as Yoshiro went to take advantage of this, Takeshi slammed the flat of the blade into the side of Yoshiro's leg, distracting him enough to back off. Yoshiro watched as Takeshi continued to back away, and he knew what his half-brother was trying to do.

Yoshiro moved forward and put pressure on Takeshi who found himself backed against a pillar. Takeshi pointed the blade at Yoshiro and forced the advance to stop. Takeshi thrust his blade at Yoshiro, who jumped back to avoid any possible injury. Takeshi smiled and placed a hand on the blade of the sword, "Half-Swording, something I learned before you were born, child!" Yoshiro smirked under his helmet, "Fine." Yoshiro waited for Takeshi to thrust the sword again, moving out of the way when his half-brother did so. Yoshiro quickly closed the gap and grabbed Takeshi's arm without hesitation, even as the elder Kitsune was moving away from him. Yoshiro pointed his sword at Takeshi's neck and the elder Kitsune dropped his own weapon, causing Yoshiro to let go.

Takeshi got on his knees and looked up at Yoshiro, "So, I guess you're going to want to know about Masaru's plans?" Yoshiro pointed the weapon downward and thrust it, impaling Takeshi through the chest, "All I want to hear come out of your mouth is gurgle gurgle." Yoshiro removed the blade from Takeshi's chest and watched as the blood slowly started to ooze out of the mouth of his half-brother, "Nine hundred and twenty years ago, I killed Hiroshi. Three hundred years ago, I killed Aiko. Today, the last of Mamoru's biological children breathe their final breath. You three may have been the children of my mother, but you are no siblings of mine." Takeshi looked at him, "Your eyes... are the same... as our... ancestor's..."

Yoshiro looked down at Takeshi, "Difference is, I didn't follow in his footsteps. You and Masaru are the only ones who did. And I dislike you both greatly. You died today because you were trying to start a galaxy-wide war." Takeshi's eyes widened, "I... didn't... know..." Takeshi coughed up blood, "that... I am... sorry." Yoshiro cleaned off his blade and sheathed it, "If so, I apologize. But this doesn't make up for your past transgressions, Takeshi." Yoshiro watched as Takeshi slumped over, dead. He pushed his half-brother's head onto the ground and closed the elder Kitsune's eyes, "Hopefully in the next life, you will know some sort of peace, Takeshi." Yoshiro heard a voice speak up behind him, "You killed him!"

Yoshiro turned to see the Black Knight standing there, "Killian, you know full well that I've killed before. Why are you surprised now." The Black Knight looked at him, "I'm not Killian!" Yoshiro looked at the Black Knight, "Pretender! Remove that helmet immediately!" The Black Knight removed the helmet and Yoshiro immediately recognized the Lupine under the helmet, "Belinda! Does your grandfather know that you are using his armor!" Belinda snarled, "Yes, and I wanted to rescue people, not kill them." Yoshiro sighed and muttered, "This would explain why I have so much time left before I die." Yoshiro looked at her, "You have the scent of Akane as well, go meet her and tell her to go to the inn. I'll meet the both of you there." Yoshiro didn't give her a chance to respond before he walked away from the scene.

[Akira110]

Chapter 13

Yoshiro sat inside of the inn, the fact that he had slain his final half-sibling was still fresh in his mind, but none of that mattered to him. A Fennikkusu walked up to him, "Sir, would you like something to eat?" Yoshiro looked at him, "Your diet and mine are widely different. What you offer, I may not eat. In fact, I know I won't. I apologize, but thank you for the offer." The Fennikkusu bowed, "You are the grandson of the Deity, Amaterasu, if there is anything we can do, feel free to ask. Descendant of the great one." Yoshiro looked at him, "Ooookay... I don't have a lot of time left, but please NEVER do that again, that was seriously [censored] creepy." The Fennikkusu bowed, "As you wish, my lord." Yoshiro sighed, "I told a Mofeta for four hundred years not to call me that, YOU are not about to start, dammit." The Fennikkusu nodded and left, leaving Yoshiro to look out the window.

Belinda walked in, followed by Akane. The Kitsune Captain looked at him, "What's this about, Yoshiro?" Yoshiro looked at her, "You were not authorized to come to this location, from what I know, yet you are here anyway." Akane shrugged, "You do not have the authorization to tell me where I can and cannot go, Yoshiro." Yoshiro sighed, "Actually, I do. I outrank you and out here, you're not working by the Kitsune Military chain of command, you're working by mine." Akane looked at him, "What do you mean?" Yoshiro looked at her, "Funny story, did you know that your current king reinstated my rank in the Kitsune Military, yet kept me retired? That he allowed me to continue leading the Raptors with the stipulation that I have a contract with him as long as I live? I am General Yoshiro Miyamae and you will sit down, Captain Sato."

Akane blinked, "I thought you had your rank transferred to the Raptors!" Yoshiro nodded, "I did, but again, I was made a member of the Kitsune Military, albeit retired. Now, sit down." Akane did as Yoshiro ordered her to and Yoshiro looked at her, "Your eyes remind me of my own. You want adventure and glory, but you have not found any. You think that joining the military would've allowed you to see distant locales, but you have been stuck in one place." Akane blinked slightly, "How... how'd you know?" Yoshiro smiled slightly, "Because, child. I was in your position once. You should read a history book someday, specifically a Kilvish history book." Akane frowned, "You're patronizing me..." Yoshiro shook his head, "No, I'm not, but you'll understand when you do. I believe my exact quote from before your grandfather was born is still in there."

Akane looked at him, "What the, my grandfather is eight hundred and seventeen years old!" Yoshiro shrugged, "I'm one thousand and five. I spoke the words in that book when I was one hundred and thirty-five." Akane looked shocked, "But... but..." Yoshiro dismissed her with a gesture, "If you don't mind, I have to chastise my grandniece here." Akane huffed as Yoshiro turned his attention to Belinda, "Does your grandfather know that you are wearing his armor?" Belinda nodded slightly, "I wouldn't have taken it if he didn't train me, besides, I'm not the first Black Knight apparently." Yoshiro nodded, "Walthari took the mantle when we were both young, Killian took it up around the time Walthari started training to become a war monk. Then Killian gave the mantle to Juliane, his daughter. Who gave it to Walthari's genetically engineered child Baldric.I assume that Baldric handed down the mantle?"

Belinda nodded slightly, "Yes, Granduncle Yoshiro." Yoshiro nodded, "You are aware of the role of the Black Knight, yes?" Belinda nodded, "I'm the protector of the innocent and as a mercenary without an army or a Lord of any sort, I fight alone." Yoshiro nodded slightly, "Good, but there's something that Baldric neglected to tell you. The Black Knight is so well known at this point that whatever force you join up with, will give you the weapons and supplies that you need." Belinda nodded slightly, "I understand." Yoshiro sighed, "You also realize that as such, you have picked an extremely dangerous role." Belinda looked at him, "Granduncle Walthari didn't die as the black knight, nor did he die in battle!"

Yoshiro raised his finger, "On the contrary, my brother did die in battle, Belinda. He just didn't die from wounds received in battle. Killian gave up the mantle because he was getting too old, Juliane lost her leg during a battle, but gave the mantle to Baldric, who gave up the life because it was too dangerous and he couldn't go berserk like his father." Belinda sighed, "So you're saying that I should give up?" Yoshiro shook his head, "No, I'm saying that you need to understand the dangers of being the Black Knight, Belinda. Now, I'm going to pull rank on the both of you, one as a military officer and the other as your grandfather." Akane and Belinda both looked at him and Yoshiro continued, "Lilah is uncovering a base, when she finds it, I'm going to go in solo on a rescue op, none of you are to follow me unless I do not come out of the base for fifteen minutes."

Akane nodded and Belinda tilted her head, "Why's that?" Yoshiro looked at her, "Because if any more than one person shows up, they're going to expect some sort of larger force is on the way, at which point they'd be right. The Kitsune Military is on their way right now. However, they will not reach here in time." Belinda blinked, "But, you going in solo, if you get caught, you'll be killed!" Yoshiro nodded towards her, "I know and I'm willing to take that risk if it means preventing a galaxy-wide war." Lilah's voice spoke over Yoshiro's communicator, "I found the base, Yoshiro. Sending the coordinates." Yoshiro stood up, "If the two of you will excuse me." Yoshiro walked out of the inn, "Roger that, Lilah, once I go in, send them to Belinda and Akane." Lilah spoke up, "Why is that?" Yoshiro smirked, "Because you and I both know this is my last hurrah, so I plan on taking as many enemy forces out as I can before I die, so that the real rescue operation will be far easier..."

[Akira110]

Chapter 14

Yoshiro walked into the base and drew his pistol, he held it at the ready as he walked through the base. He looked at a soldier who was looking at him, the soldier turned and screamed out, "Enemy in" Yoshiro fired as the soldier cried out for help, silencing him with a head shot. Yoshiro walked through the chamber and noticed that the door wasn't like the ones he was used to, and that it opened outwards. He stepped over the corpse of the enemy soldier he had killed and walked over to the side of the door that had hinges on it. As a pair of troops ran in, he grabbed the door knob with one hand and slowly closed the door, killing the guy that was bringing up the rear first with a head shot and then killing the guy that was in front.

Yoshiro didn't say a word as he opened the door and walked into the next room, holding his pistol at the ready. He watched as four soldiers looked at him. Yoshiro walked into cover as the first three started to fire. Yoshiro checked his shield levels and leaned out of cover, allowing the weapons fire to drop his shields as he killed the soldiers. He noticed a fourth soldier was running towards an alarm, Yoshiro quickly raised his pistol and shot the man in the head. The corpse carried enough momentum that even though he stumbled, his head was able to hit the alarm button and Yoshiro realized he would need a more rapid fire weapon. He dashed towards one of the corpses and grabbed their assault rifle. He checked the charge as he holstered his pistol, then dove back into cover.

Yoshiro heard the door open and peeked out of cover to fire at the soldiers that were coming in. Due to his inexperience with an assault rifle, his aim was a bit off, but because of his experience with firearms in general, he was able to quickly adjust his aim to put two soldiers down. Before he ducked back into cover, he noticed that the remaining soldiers had split into groups. Yoshiro smirked and then concentrated, the implants within him, combined with the armor amplified his mana flow considerably as it formed a barrier around him. Yoshiro walked out of cover and the soldiers started to fire at him. He quickly aimed at each and every one of them and put them down, having expended a small portion of his mana.

Yoshiro heard a rumbling and turned to see as a robot burst through the wall with a massive blade attached to an arm. He took aim at the robot and started to fire the assault rifle on full auto, doing nothing to the machine. He watched closely and noticed that the machine was going to rush at him and he moved to get out of the way, barely avoiding the attack. Angry, he realized that the only way for him to do any damage was to cause physical annihilation. He lowered his barrier and started concentrating, channeling his mana into the machine. He didn't notice until it was too late that the machine initiated an attack, thrusting the blade with enough force to punch through his armor, impale him and hit the wall behind him. Yoshiro screamed out in pain and snapped his fingers in response to this.

The barrier hardened within the reactor of the machine, causing it to cease functioning entirely. Adrenaline surged through his body as blood pooled in his mouth. He grabbed the blade with his hand quickly disarmed the deactivated machine with another light barrier. As he started to move himself along the blade, he heard more soldiers come and concentrated on stopping his pain as he lifted the assault rifle and kept the barrier up as he watched them fire. He lowered the barrier while they were stopping to fire at him and he shot each of them in the head. With the new silence, he pulled himself off the blade that had impaled him and started to feel fatigue set in. He noticed that he was now bleeding externally and formed a barrier inside of his body to stop the bleeding. Yoshiro turned to hear more soldiers start running for the hole in the wall, "Hahahaha, you think I fear the reaper. I AM the Reaper!"

Yoshiro lifted the assault rifle and started firing again as the enemy soldiers returned fire, he knew that he didn't have a chance of surviving his wounds, but he didn't care. He was here for only one reason, to die. He watched as a readout on his HUD read, "Armor integrity: CRITICAL." Yoshiro kept advancing as he fired, though he felt the heat of the photonic rounds, he felt no pain, but raised a new barrier everywhere he felt heat. He watched as the enemy soldiers start losing morale as he just wouldn't drop, he was a bloodied mess and yet just kept coming at them. He laughed and coughed up blood, "I never called myself a hero, nor a legend. But now you see what a man does when there is nothing left for him." Yoshiro watched as a soldier rushed at him with a knife and quickly removed his left hand from the assault rifle to punch him in the head.

He heard the snapping of several vertebrate in the man's neck as the man fell limp, he heard a soldier scream out, "Holy [censored]! He just broke that guy's neck by punching him! [censored] this, I'm out!" Yoshiro smiled, "Leave if you don't want to die." Yoshiro watched as a metal object got lobbed at him, he raised his left hand and formed a barrier quickly, allowing the object to bounce off and back towards the soldiers, who all panicked as the device detonated, killing several of them at once. Yoshiro smirked slightly, "Now do you understand why I am called the Grim Reaper. I've reaped many of your souls, and if you do not surrender and flee, I'll reap the rest!" Yoshiro watched as the rest of them ran away.

As Yoshiro came to a door, he felt darkness eating away at his vision, "Dammit, I'm so close. Not now." The barriers had faded away and he started oozing blood from all of his wounds, in addition his adrenaline started dying down and the injuries started to take their toll as he entered the room and started limping towards a door on the far wall. He heard footsteps and looked as a Kani ran in. The Kani soldier recognized Yoshiro and raised his hands, but Yoshiro struggled to raise his weapon against him as the darkness started to consume his vision. Darkness completely consumed Yoshiro's vision and the Kitsune lowered the weapon as his body went limp, falling to its knees first and then falling on its face. The Kani looked at the corpse and fled for the entrance of the building, scared.