Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction / Crossover Fan Fiction ❯ Ginga GIRI GIRI! The Universe is in Danger! ❯ Darkness and Light ( Chapter 64 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

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Ginga GIRI GIRI! The Universe is in Danger!
By SSJ Heero (http://animenext.knorf.net)
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---- Recap ----

[Chibi characters of SSJ and Momo appear in the foreground as scenes from the last episode
play in the background. Though, you can't see 'cause this is text. Haha!]

SSJ: Well, last time! Dragon problems, no big deal.

Momo: The rest of our group teamed up and drove it away, though with great damage to the
city.

SSJ: And stuff happens here. I'm not as depressed. Now, on with the show!

---- Chapter 64: Darkness and Light ----

There was darkness all around. Within the winding tunnels of the Red Mountains, there
couldn't possibly have been a way for light to sneak into the most confusing places. Such
places were the worst to be in. No vegetation grew at all. No water was around. And above
all, it was a very lonely, depressing place. But, the sound of shuffling steps still echoed
through the natural hallways.

Around a bend came SSJ and Momo, walking on with little fatigue. They carried a light-
flashlights from one of his bishoujo. That certainly made the place less of a mystery, but
more terrifying. They saw the bones of long dead humans who had become lost in the tunnels.
They had passed to many that they had gotten used to it.

They still pressed on, SSJ following only the vaguest signs of Dark: light footprints, or
what appeared to be so. He hoped his eyes didn't fail him this time, for there was little
worse that he could think of doing if he lost the track. They had taken so many turns, that
he had forgotten exactly where to go.

Still, they pressed on, shoving the terrible thoughts to the back of their minds. Momo
followed SSJ as his eyes carefully darted about the room, aware of any clue. She didn't
want to disturb his concentration, but she had a funny feeling somewhere inside her. She
started to feel strangely heavy... She knew not why, but an ache slowly crept upon her
head. She could do nothing much but bear with it. It must have been fatigue.

SSJ suddenly asked, "Momo, what do you think happened to your family?"

Momo was suddenly stunned. SSJ hadn't said anything for a while, and he suddenly asked
about her. She was silent, and she thought about what could have happened. Her thoughts
turned to her family; she wondered where her father or brother were... She replied, "I'm
not sure what could have happened to my father. He could have been taken to Polaris'
prison, or he could have been released with Tsumuji's coup..."

She looked at SSJ, about to ask, "Why?", but then she saw the light in the distance. The
tunnels were getting lighter. They were again near an exit. She was silent, and they
stepped forward through the black. Brown and red slowly drained into the walls as they
went. Around a bend, they saw more light, a radical change from the pitch blackness of the
tunnels before. They rounded the bend, and the two suddenly stopped.

There was a wide room, with a large flat area. The ground gave way near the walls, dropping
into a pit of spikes and stalagmites. Little light pierced through a cloak of rock, riddled
with holes. And there, at the other side of the room, was one person. It was Dark SSJ. Momo
was filled with wonder on who the boy was, knowing SSJ felt some hatred for him. SSJ yelled
into the room, "DARK!"

Dark twitched up ahead. SSJ stepped forward, leaving Momo back to stare at him. "SSJ," she
began, "Will you be okay?"

SSJ turned back. He shrugged and turned back to Dark. He saw Dark slowly turn back to face
him. Their eyes met. He saw Dark, looking a bit different from their last meeting. He had
packs tied on his belt; carrying what things, SSJ knew not. He saw that Dark's legs were
taped up, bandages covering any bit of skin. He had new boots, made of leather of the
highest quality. He only had one glove, covering his right hand. Still, SSJ recognized the
landmarks: the bandages covering his right arm, the turquoise tank-top, and the large,
physically impossible black hair.

"Found you," SSJ announced. Dark just glared at SSJ, who didn't return a glare.

Dark shut his eyes and seemed to just be lost in thoughts. SSJ heard a chuckle come from
Dark. Dark opened his eyes and formed an evil smirk. "We meet again," he muttered. There
was an uncomfortable silence as Dark removed his belt, laden with packs. SSJ removed his
cloak and threw it onto the ground. Dark continued, "Remember what I said last time we met?"

SSJ remembered. It was etched into his mind. He recalled, "It is an insult to me, to be
based off of someone as weak as you. I shall prove that the copy is greater than the
original." SSJ spoke, "You promised to kill me, as well."

Momo looked from one and the other, surprised at the same face on both. The pain in the
back of her head grew larger, making it difficult for her to suppress it. It worsened with
each step Dark took towards her. Dark's voice rang like a painful screech in her ears,
"Right. I will keep that promise."

The ground suddenly shook. Cracks appeared in the flat ground before Dark. Momo gasped when
it tore apart, and out swung a lance that Dark caught in his bandaged arm. Dark spoke,
"With the Atma, I will prove that the copy is greater than the original."

"'Copy', you say. I don't think we're anything alike." SSJ dropped into his battoujutsu
stance. Now was the time to prove himself. This was the time to redeem his pride. Sauron,
Knives, Cell, Phage, Kurei, Naraku... None of them mattered now. All he cared about was
Dark.

Dark aimed the tip of his lance at SSJ. SSJ stayed low. "This is the fight I wanted," said
SSJ. "I have waited for this. I have looked forward to this. I won't run away." Their eyes
met. SSJ felt the pure hatred from Dark's eyes, cold and unforgiving like the night's
shadow.

Dark said nothing more. There they were, tense and ready to deal blows. Suddenly, they
sprang forward, at each other. The blades of their weapons clanged. SSJ flipped up and over
Dark, landed behind, then yelled an attack, "RYUU KAN SEN!"

Dark barely moved his lance in the way, blocking the blade as it came to a stop. SSJ then
saw, for the first time that day, Dark's lance. It was different. He saw the clean white
handle, then the contrasting dark gray blade. He thought he recognized the metal.
"Celesium?!" he said in surprise, remembering Kensou's blade.

He flipped back, dodging a kick from Dark. Dark came to a stop as SSJ skidded back. They
faced each other. "How the Hell did you get that?!" asked SSJ, remembering back to the Ura
Butou Satsujin with Kurei. 'Yes, celesium was found deep within the Red Mountains,' he
thought, 'but wasn't it said to be able to take an atomic bomb?!' He wondered how Dark got
the weapon.

Dark just smiled. "Since this will be your death, I'll show you my techniques one by one."
He switched his bone lance to his left hand. SSJ saw the black photons speed into Dark's
right palm. He recognized it. The black light stretched out, forming a long lance of
energy. Dark pulled his arm back and screamed, "PLASMA LANCE!"

The black weapon sped forward, flying at an amazing speed at SSJ. It was faster than he
remembered! Too fast to move out of the way! It came close, nearly cutting SSJ's skin.

Suddenly, it stopped, and SSJ's white aura bursted forth. He yelled, "HAKESHOU KAITEN!" and
used his feet to spin in a circle. A whirling sphere of energy came from SSJ, knocking the
lance out and into the ceiling. Another hole tore into the rock, and more light leaked into
the room. SSJ came to a stop, facing Dark from the center of a crater.

'He's gotten stronger,' thought Dark as he faced SSJ. His voice then called, "Well, I guess
I should explain my second technique: the summoned lance." SSJ leapt out of the crater as
Dark thrusted the blade of the lance into the ground. "I can create a lance from anything.
After I create a lance, the elements are stored in my right arm." He placed his left arm
upon his right, bandaged shoulder. "Once I call them, they leave my arm and seep into the
ground, where they finally form the lance and rise up to me. I can only carry one set of
elements within my arm, so there can only be one kind of summoned lance at a time. If that
would be destroyed, I can easily break down the elements and summon them again. That, or I
can make a new one, like this."

SSJ stared at Dark, realizing the implications of that. "That's... Alchemy..." His white
aura faded away with the surprise. Momo cast a surprised glance at SSJ's direction from the
tunnel.

"Correct. I'll show you the transmutation circle if you defeat me." With that, Dark stepped
forward, ignoring the lance and stepping towards SSJ. SSJ didn't know what to expect with
Dark unarmed. He figured, though, that Dark knew what he was doing. Dark finally muttered,
"Shadow Fist."

SSJ suddenly felt his stomach reeling in pain. He flew back, not knowing what hit him. He
looked ahead and saw Dark standing in place, arms crossed. He didn't even attack! 'Wait, he
must have,' thought SSJ. He gritted his teeth. Dark had some interesting moves.

Still, SSJ knew what he needed to do. He commanded in his thoughts, 'Okay, switch all
junctions to... Legs!' He then felt his legs get lighter, as the stress from his body
became almost nothing on his legs. He suddenly disappeared.

Before Momo knew it, he was behind Dark. He aimed a slash at Dark's neck. SSJ went flying
back, and Dark didn't even move. SSJ skidded back, and he quickly reoriented himself to his
feet. His aura bursted out in anger. "Bastard!" he yelled. 'What the Hell is with that?! A
barrier, or something?!'

He sped forward once again. He expected to fly back in pain. But to his surprise, Dark
ducked under the slash and slipped away with great agility. He reached his lance and faced
SSJ, white aura giving light to the room. SSJ could only ponder the tactics.

"Full speed!" he yelled. He was gone again. He was behind Dark. Dark quickly turned and
thrusted back at a figure. His blade became caught in a stalagmite. He flew back with great
force, for SSJ had let him have a fist full of pain straight to the cheek. Dark scraped
along the ground to a stop. He grunted and pushed himself off, coming to his feet acting as
if nothing happened.

'He's not using that weird technique,' SSJ thought. 'It was really powerful, so why...'

SSJ then saw something else. Dark, since his lance was right by SSJ, put his hands
together. He put his hands and fingers in a somewhat familiar pattern. SSJ looked at it,
trying to remember where it was from. Then, it suddenly came to him: the Shadow Copy
Technique!

SSJ realized the power of it. There were shadows all around! He quickly noticed the tip of
Dark's shadow appear behind him, right at the edge of where his aura touched the ground. He
leapt forward, away from the shadow.

And suddenly, he was frozen. "Shit!" he swore. He could no longer move his body. He rolled
his eyes down and saw it. The tip of the shadow had moved to his front. Yes, with so many
shadows, Dark had the advantage with that.

SSJ's body moved on its own, dropping the Hellfire Sword and coming to a normal stance,
hands to his side. Dark was doing the same. Everything he did, SSJ's body mimicked, as long
as their shadows connected. Dark had the advantage of altering the shape of his shadow.

Dark then took notice of the sword SSJ had. "Oh, Dullahan's sword."

SSJ could think of nothing to break free of this situation. He figured he might as well
ask, "You know that?"

"It chased me here. Persistent freak." Dark then raised his palm. SSJ did the same. SSJ
then realized the danger. Black photons gathered in Dark's arm. It didn't for SSJ. Yes, he
only copied *physical* movements, not movement of mana! SSJ had little ideas what to do to
counter. He only came up with one at the last second.

His arm suddenly glowed white. Dark was taken aback. SSJ knew what attack had a motion
similar to when Dark thrusted the lance forward: the Wind Slash! Dark tossed the black
lance forward as SSJ sent a wave of white straight at Dark. The void cut the black lance in
two. The energy cancelled out some of the black photons. There was a great explosion as the
two pieces of the lance flew in different directions. A wave of white energy flew at Dark
as one of the lance pieces flew at SSJ.

Dark barely broke the technique and released SSJ's shadow. The two dodged the attacks that
were headed for each other. SSJ had barely grabbed his sword during the danger. Half of
Dark's attack crashed into the ground and put cracks throughout it. The other crashed into
the wall of the cave, exploding and throwing rocks and smoke throughout. Brilliant light
filled the room. A hole was torn in the wall. SSJ saw that they were at the end of the Red
Mountains.

They then faced each other, their minds battling through their eyes. They panted, for they
had exerted a large amount of energies in those attacks. SSJ finally uttered, "I met Mauzel
on my way here." Dark seemed to twitch in annoyance. "She told me about what you were- what
all three of you were. I know." Dark seemed to not have been surprised that there were
three, much unlike Black Amiko.

Before SSJ could continue, Dark just said, "You know nothing." His eyes narrowed further,
as if Dark's hatred had increased to unimaginable levels. Dark put his hands together, the
tips of his fingers touching. "Shadow Dolls!" SSJ caught sight of the few dark shadows
around him. From them, out reached arms of black. They grabbed onto anything in their reach
and pulled. They pulled, and slowly, more of their figures were revealed, until finally,
there were black bodies in the shape of Dark all around SSJ.

SSJ muttered, "This is unfair. How come he gets all the cool techniques?!" Nevertheless,
SSJ knew what he needed to do. He held his sword, ready to slice through the bodies. They
sped towards SSJ. SSJ dodged one's fist, then another's kick, all the bodies were rushing
in on SSJ, who could only barely dodge as it became more crowded. He leapt over and way,
landing behind them.

A storm suddenly raged around his blade, and he leapt into the air. Dark was taken by
surprise of the storm. "What the Hell?!"

SSJ was in the air, then he was over the dolls. He yelled one of his favorite techniques.
"ZERO-POWERED RYUU TSUI SEN!" He slammed his blade hard into the ground, throwing rock and
dirt everywhere. The damage was extensive to the area, but SSJ knew something was wrong. He
had felt no impact, despite slicing through a doll. He looked up. There was the doll,
standing before him all in one piece.

SSJ flew back as the doll's fist reached his cheek. SSJ sheathed his sword and pushed away
from the ground when he came close. He flipped back and landed on his feet away from Dark
and the dolls. He just finally had it. He let out a scream, releasing all the energy he had
inside. Dark became surprised. Even after Rantmon had sealed off the world's mana, he saw
it.

SSJ's aura filled up the entire room. SSJ saw the trick to the dolls, which had disappeared
when SSJ's aura touched them. They were just shadows. They had no form. They were a
distraction. It was the Shadow Fist that had done the damage. He figured that technique,
too, seeing Dark's shadow on the ground in a rather strange position. "So, that's it. The
Shadow Dolls have no form, acting as a distraction for the Shadow Fist, where you have your
shadow attack mine. When my aura's out, the light erases my shadow, so you can't do any of
that!"

Dark and SSJ looked into each other's soul again. Dark's face didn't lose its sternness.
SSJ could feel the tide of battle turning.

SSJ disappeared again, though his aura still filled the room. Dark quickly slapped his
right palm into the ground, and a bright blue light came forth. A transmutation flash! SSJ
saw the ground shatter in the direction of the lance, which burst into pieces. SSJ was
behind Dark. He will stop any attack Dark thinks of!

SSJ raised is blade high. Dark's lance came forth in one piece from the ground. SSJ's blade
slammed on Dark's right arm as Dark got a good stab on SSJ's shoulder. SSJ was the only one
to scream in pain, though, even if Dark's hand fell to the floor. Dark's lance dropped to
the floor with a thunk as SSJ dashed away. 'What the Hell is with him?!' thought SSJ.

Then he saw the glove and bandages on the ground. They were flat. No blood was there. He
looked at Dark's right arm. He saw inside the bandages. It was hollow. Dark had no right
arm, which took SSJ by surprise. "What the HELL?!" screamed SSJ.

But Dark didn't get angry. His lips curled into a smile. "Hahaha," he laughed, strangely.
"Well, since you see this, I might as well show the transmutation circle." The bandages,
which were tightly wrapped around just air, it seemed, unraveled. The long bandage circling
the arm now became one thick line from the shoulder straight to the floor. SSJ saw the
stump of Dark's right arm. It had a tattoo stretching around the base of the stump.

"I lost my arm soon after I met you. I suffered with one arm for a while, until finally I
learned something; THE DETERMINATION MAKES ANYTHING POSSIBLE!" That line struck SSJ. He had
only just used that line against Sauron and abandoned it afterwards. "My arm is the
manifestation of my willpower. My determination to prove myself created this arm from my
mana: The Dark Arm!" Dark smiled at SSJ. "I've been hoping to show it to you during the
battle before you die," he said. "This is it. You can't win after seeing this."

SSJ just stared at Dark. He was amazed. Dark... If it was Dark who had come out of the Gate
first, if it was he who faced Sauron, he definitely would have won. SSJ knew not what to
think or say. He didn't know what ideology to embrace. Sauron's had defeated his, but they
were almost the same as Dark's...

Dark just spoke, "I find it funny, for someone who's supposed to be aligned with Shadows, I
have such an uplifting ideology. I show my emotions, instead of hiding them within myself.
Maybe I should have been Light, and you should have been Dark!" SSJ could think of no reply
as a bright light came from Dark's right arm. SSJ the outline of an arm within the light.
Dark's arm. Dark muttered as he glared at SSJ, "Light..."

SSJ gritted his teeth. "Dark..." He couldn't win. He realized that. He couldn't win. He had
known it from the start, but he had needed to confirm that. He recalled what Mauzel said
about Dark, Black, and Shadow. They were their subconscious selves. SSJ had understood why
Dark hated him so.

The black bandages wrapped around Dark's arm again, and Dark picked up the glove and
covered his hand, for the bandages couldn't wrap around the fingers.

The two glared at looked at each other again. They had enough for one more attack. SSJ's
aura faded just a bit, barely able to wrap around his body. Dark pulled out his black aura.
They peered at each other's soul.

Dark's lance disappeared into photons of black light. His last attack didn't need it. He
wanted to kill SSJ with his bare hands. SSJ sheathed his sword. He didn't need it, either.
In fact, he removed the sheathe from his belt and threw it back towards his cloak. Momo and
Dark were surprised at that.

But Dark wouldn't let SSJ fool him. He began his attack. He faded into the shadows. He
suddenly disappeared. SSJ looked around, though without any sense of urgency. Momo saw it
all. Dark hadn't moved quickly and disappeared from the speed. He simply vanished. She then
saw it. SSJ's shadow was a little darker than it should be. But she couldn't yell before
Dark sprang from SSJ's shadow, screaming, "SHADOW DANCE!"

"I'm sorry."

Dark suddenly came to a stop, his fist just a few inches from SSJ's face. SSJ's words had
cut through all of Dark's attacks.

SSJ said it again. "I'm sorry."

Dark was frozen in place, fist still close to SSJ's cheek. SSJ turned and faced Dark, tears
in his eyes. Momo was taken aback to see actual tears coming from SSJ. He had always tried
to hide his emotions, but now...

Dark was shaking. In his mind, he heard SSJ's words over and over. Greater than anything
SSJ could do to attack, he had uttered those words. But Dark couldn't stomach it. "Why..."
He trailed off. "WHY?!" He glared at SSJ, feeling pure hatred rush up and well in his gut.
He gave the crying SSJ a good fist to the cheek. SSJ skidded back, but stayed on his feet.
The punch was weak. Dark had lost his fighting spirit. He was shaking all over.

SSJ stood up and stepped towards Dark. "It must have been Hell when we were still in one
body. You may not have had the independent will, but I know. I have hated myself all my
life. I have hated the guy inside of me who so wanted to show himself. I hated the me I've
suppressed all my life. I feared that if you were to show, everyone would hate me. I'd be
alone. So I have done everything in my power to keep you down. Even as you screamed to see
the light, I only smothered because of my fear of being hurt." SSJ looked up at Dark, who
stood wide eyed. Tears welled in his eyes as well. "I'm sorry for all the pain you have
gone through because of me. You have every right to hate me and fight me. I lost my will to
fight you after Siria told me about you. I viciously sought you out, acting as if I hated
you to get away from the group. I just needed to tell you that. I'm sorry."

Dark was silent. He just shook, his breath was shaky, and rivers of tears ran down his
cheeks. "Quit apologizing," he managed to say. He glared at SSJ, "You bastard." SSJ felt no
hate with that. He just gave a weak smile at Dark. Dark continued, "You took away my
victory. I didn't want to kill you. No, I wanted you to suffer. I wanted you to feel all
the hatred you gave me in one blow." He clawed at the ground in anger. "But, that can't
happen. You won't suffer from me. You have taken my victory, asshole." Dark fell to the
ground, absorbing all of what SSJ had said. Dark didn't look up when he said, "I hate you.
I hate you with all my soul. But... Those were the words I wanted to hear the most..."

Momo stepped out from her hiding spot, picking up SSJ's sword and cloak. She stepped
towards the two, watching SSJ bend his knees and squat so his eyes met Dark's. "This is it
of our feud then, right, Dark?" asked SSJ. Dark didn't respond. SSJ knew he had hit his
mark. SSJ wiped the tears from his eyes and faced Momo.

Momo, too, had tears forming in her eyes. She gave SSJ his stuff. "This is your win," she
said. SSJ looked at her with surprise. "You defeated his will to fight with your words. I
say that's a victory." Momo smiled, and SSJ returned it.

Momo then caught sight of Dark's belt of packs, which she retrieved and offered to him. She
held it before him as he still sat on the ground. "Your items," she said.

Dark looked up at her and saw her sincere smile. He couldn't help smiling as well. He took
the belt, stood up, and tied it around himself. He turned back to the two and said, "This
is it, then. I have nothing else to look forward to. I devoted my whole life to making
Light suffer, but that goal was snatched away." He turned and faced the tunnel where light
was flowing in through. "I need to go and sort out my goals."

He stepped towards the tunnel. SSJ suddenly interrupted him, "Wait." Dark waited. He turned
back to SSJ with a calm look. "Join us. We're going to stop Rantmon within his palace."

Dark turned away and paused. He stood there, deep in thought. They waited. Finally, he
turned about and said, "Fine then, Light. The loser must do as the victor pleases. We'll go
and fight Rantmon."

Everyone felt a huge burden lifted from them. Dark had a new path to follow. The weight of
SSJ's heart had lightened dramatically. Momo felt the burden of carrying SSJ's soul lifted.

Dark continued, "However, there is one place we must go, first."

"Where is that?" SSJ asked.

Dark smiled. He looked up through the hole in the side of the mountain. He saw the great
sun and clouds. He saw the hills that stretched across the lands and the rivers that ran
between them. His soul had been saved from the darkness. He turned to face SSJ. "We're
going to meet Mauzel again."

---- To Be Continued ----

- ENDING SONG: POWER OF WORDS - Aiuchi Rina -

Can you feel the POWER OF WORDS?
Can you feel the POWER OF WORDS?
bokura no omoi wa meikaku na kotoba ni naranai mama
shizundeku kanjou no hou ga ooi darou
kokoro wo tozashi aruku wake ja nakute mo

taisetsu ni kakaete kita yowai kokoro ni
bukiyou na koe ga narihibiku
nanimo ka mo ga bokura no kokoro no uchi de yugamerareru mae ni

the POWER OF WORDS makes you
sakende mirun da kanashii kurai ni kagirinai sora ni
kibou mo shitsubou mo kono kokoro ni matowari karami au omoi no subete wo
Let all your feelings run free

---- Preview ----

["Last Wolf Suite" from the Kenshin soundtrack plays in background. SSJ, Momo, and Dark
appear as chibi style, and random scenes from the next episode play, though you can't see
because this is text. Haha!]

SSJ: Next, on GINGA GIRI GIRI! With Dark on our side, things seem to be looking up.

Momo: With the others long gone, the three of us are forced to camp out at the edge of the
Naydis Forest.

Dark: Ahem... Uh... Anyway, after that, we meet with Mauzel, who speaks for a final time
before the war.

SSJ: Next! On GINGA GIRI GIRI! "Love and Hate"

----