[General]: 423.The Ultimate Battle: Duel of Fates.PT3

Towards three o'clock in the morning, Angel sat awake in her bed. She hugged her knees to her chest, staring unblinkingly at her wall. The thought of what was in the silver case burned deep into her mind, and being as curious as she was, she wanted to open the case, and look, but she was told not to. A few minutes passed, as Angel looked to her clock, then turn her head, and looked at the closet. She had to know what was in the case. Standing up from her bed, she walked over to the closet, opened the door, and removed the case from its position. Walking back over to her bed, she sat on the mattress cross-legged, and moved both hands towards the case. Immediately, the case sprang open, and Angel slightly jumped. Some white smoke began to pour from the case, as it only lasted a couple seconds; she moved her right hand forward, touching the object in the case. The object felt cold, like metal would. Angel flicked on her side-table lamp, and saw that what she was holding was a tiny model of the Eiffel tower. A puzzled face came about Angel, as she looked at it.
"The Eiffel tower?" Angel questioned. "What the hell would Arcaine want with a model of the Eiffel tower?"
Angel closed her eyes for a moment, more thoughts running through her mind. After a few moments, she placed the model back into the case, locked it, and went back over to place the case in its original standing.

Eight-thirty rolled around the corner. Angel was getting dressed to go visit the Ichigo Rehabilitation Center, in downtown Kyoto. She moved into the kitchen, and opened the cupboard above the sink, taking down an orange container of small, blue pills. She dumped three pills into her hand, filled a glass of water, and swallowed. She set her glass down, and stared at the sink for a while. Matt moved behind her, and lightly touched her shoulder.

"Hey, Angel," said Matt, "are you okay?"

Angel turned around, and looked at Matt. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay, if you say so," said Matt, taking his hand off her shoulder. He nodded some. "So, are you going to Ichigo?"

"Yeah, I'm going to visit Sheng," said Angel. "I'll be back in a few hours."

With that, Angel moved out of the house, placing her sunglasses on her face, and getting into her Ground fighter. She started the car up, and backed out of the driveway, heading south, to downtown. As she drove, she thought of the Eiffel tower. She still wondered what significance it had to Arcaine.

"Father, you probably can't hear me from where you are, but I feel the need to say this to you," started Angel. "Arcaine's back to reign terror on Earth, and I haven't trained in almost over five years. I fear I don't have enough power to take my brother on. If you could, though, show me the inner strength I have, so I may bring peace."

Angel allowed a long silence, before sighing softly. It was no use talking to herself. Her father, Roubanouf, had been dead for almost three years. Minutes passed, as Angel finally pulled up to the Ichigo Rehabilitation Center. She got out of her car, and walked into the building. Stepping up to the information desk, Angel got the attention of the lady sitting there.

"Who are you here to visit, ma'am?" asked the lady politely.

"Sheng Henson," stated Angel, removing her sunglasses from her face. The light from the room gave Angel a mysterious look. The desk lady looked at Angel for what seemed like a long time, then blinked, and nodded.

"She's in the entertainment center with some other patients, would you like someone to take you there?" asked the lady.

"No, thanks, I know my way," said Angel, nodded her head respectfully, and then turning, she headed towards the entertainment center. An older woman was sitting at a green table, looking blankly at it. She seemed to be thinking. Angel made her way over to the woman, and sat down.

"Hello, Sheng, how are you today?" asked Angel kindly.

"Angel, you're here," said Sheng, dully. She looked up at Angel. Her eyes seemed to be bloodshot, and very tired.

"Yeah, I'm here," said Angel. "I wanted to see how you were doing. Sunny was asking about you."

"Sunny?" asked Sheng. "How is my daughter?"

"She's doing good, passing all her classes, and is an honors student, all her teachers love her," said Angel.

"That's good," said Sheng. "I was wondering how she was holding up now-a-days."

"Hmm," said Angel. She closed her eyes for a moment. "Yeah, Sun has been wondering about you, too. She's been asking me when you're going to get out of rehab." Angel opened her eyes and looked at Sheng. Sheng looked back at Angel, frowning sadly.

"They say another year," said Sheng. "Just in time for Sunny's graduation, I'm hoping."

"Heh, yeah, you'll be out in time for her graduation," said Angel. A long silence went by, as Sheng and Angel looked at each other. Suddenly, Sheng began to cry.

"Oh my god, Sheng, what's wrong?" asked Angel.

"I hate you," said Sheng, getting up, and wrapping her arms around Angel, pulling her into a hug. Angel hugged Sheng tightly to her form.

"What's wrong?" asked Angel.

"You," said Sheng, crying into Angel's shoulder.

"What is it I have, that you don't?" asked Angel.

"You know every story," said Sheng. "You know Sunny."

"You'll learn."

"I won't learn, you've been there for Sunny since she was a little girl. Seven years!"

"I know, but things will change for you and her."

"You're the only mother she's ever known," bawled Sheng, as she fell onto the floor, curling up into a ball, and crying. Angel sighed as she looked at her.

"Okay, listen, pull yourself together, Sheng!" said Angel, as she bent over and picked Sheng up. Sheng began hyperventilating uncontrollably, and shaking with fits. Angel looked around, and called for help. Three doctors came rushing in, and took Sheng away. Angel stood up, and watched as they took Sheng away.

"It seems like every time I try to help someone, they get hurt," said Angel.




Angel arrived at the park, half a mile away from where the manor was stationed. She lied on the hood of her car, looking up at the night sky. The stars seemed to paint a picture in velvet cloak above. She began humming to herself, a song she had learned a while back. Soon, after a few moments, she began singing, closing her eyes.

"Dancing all alone while singing dum-dee-dum, listening to the music from the radio, dancing all alone while singing dum-dee-dum, pretending I'm together with my Romeo," Angel sang. Suddenly, Angel felt as if she was standing in an up-right position. A large hand was against her back, and the other held her right hand up. She could feel a cold body against her own. She tilted her head back, and looked to see her brother. She tried moving from his grip, but couldn't. She was paralyzed.

"Sister, do you remember how we used to dance like this?" asked Arcaine. "How whenever you were sad, you would asked to dance, and we would dance to Lonely?"

Again, Angel tried getting away from Arcaine, but her body was still complete paralyzed. She looked to her left, and saw Bliss, standing near-by, wearing a black, glitter dress that hugged her every slim curve.

"See, sister, why can't we be like we used to?" asked Arcaine. "We didn't always fight. We were always close. Do you remember that song? Like a shooting star, across the midnight sky wherever you are, you're going to see me fly. So high, I'll fly, just to be with you tonight."

Tears started to come to Angel's eyes. Her brother's words were digging deep into her heart. But then, she fell to the ground, clutching her heart. She was bleeding. Matt was on bended knee, his hands grasping Angel's shoulders, shaking her slightly.

"Angel, Angel get up, please say something," said Matt, pleadingly. Angel gave a shuddering gasp of air, her eyes opening widely for a moment, and then closing half way, beginning to pant. Matt almost cried out to see his ally still alive.

"It's going to be okay, Angel, just breathe," said Matt, calmly.

"Hos-hospital," stuttered Angel. "T-t-take me to th-th-the hos-p-p-p-pital." She spat up some blood. Matt picked her up and called out to Dante that he was taking Angel to the hospital. Immediately, Dante appeared at both their sides. The three of them instant transmission over to the emergency room.

Dante was leaning against the wall in the waiting room, arms crossed like usual, and Matt was pacing back and forth. It had been four hours since they arrived with Angel, and no word from the doctor had come yet.

"Dante, you don't think that maybe--" started Matt, but was interrupted by Dante.

"Don't be stupid, Angel's fine, she can't die anyway, so there's nothing to get so worked up about," said Dante, shaking his slightly.

"Well I can't help it, she is our friend, and she was having some sort of heart attack," said Matt. After saying that, Dr. Vandermarwe stepped out of the emergency room.

"Miss Takahashi will be fine, she's just resting now," said Dr. Vandermarwe. "Are you relatives of hers?"

"We're her brothers," said Matt, in hopes he could see Angel.

"Alright, if you'll both follow me, you can visit her," said Dr. Vandermarwe. He led Dante and Matt down the hall to the room Angel was staying in. After the doctor had left the room, Dante locked the door, then walked over to Angel, and looked down at her. He then reached down and grasped her shoulder tightly, and shook her some.

"The alarm has struck!" yelled Dante. "Time to get up!"
Instantly Angel sprung out of Dante's grasp, ripping the I.V. and needles from her body and out of reflex, standing in a fighter's position. Breathing quickly she looked from Matt to Dante.

"Dante!" exclaimed Matt. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Nap time's over," said Dante.

Angel relaxed and inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly. She looked down at her arms, where she saw the blood trickle slowly down, where the needles had torn her skin.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Dante," said Angel. "Give me a heart-attack why don't you. Scared the shit out of me."

"Good, that means I still have it in me," said Dante, smirking. Angel rolled her eyes, and then stepped over to the bed, sitting down on it; she looked around some, blinking slowly.

"Where are my clothes?" asked Angel. Matt walked over to Angel, and handed her a black duffle bag.

"Shiroi packed some clothes for you," said Matt. "We can leave after you change and sign a release form."

"Thanks, Matt," said Angel, smiling some. She ushered Matt and Dante out of the room, and changed. The thought of her brother Arcaine ran through her mind. She pondered on why he would send her to the hospital like that. Was it his plan to destroy her like he tried long ago? She wasn't sure yet. Angel gave a gentle sigh and left her bedding clothes on the bed, then stepped out of the room. Dante and Matt were on the far end, near the exits. Six guards lay face down, in a heap.

"Come on, Angel," said Dante, "we seem to be unwelcome."

"So it seems," said Angel. She walked over to Dante and Matt, walking through the exit with both of them. The three of them moved quickly towards the exit of the building. Angel opened the door, and gasped, nearly jumping back to see her partner, Bliss, standing there, and holding a sphere of energy in her right hand.

"I knew it," said Angel. Angel instantly charged up what trained energy she had, and went into a full-fledged attack on Bliss. Bliss threw her energy sphere and
Angel's chest, hitting her straight on. Angel rolled onto the ground, then instantly got back up. She flared her energy up more, and created her own energy. A black energy ball with red electricity that flowed around it quickly. Angel concentrated on Bliss' body, and then thrust her hands forward, firing the energy ball at Bliss. An explosion happened on impact with Bliss' body. Smoke blew everywhere, spreading through the building's exit, and in the parking lot. Angel waited, the smoke began to settle down, and to her astonishment, Bliss was standing, no scratches, or bruises on her body at all. Bliss looked up, and looked at Angel, then at her own right hand.

"Bitch, you broke my nail," said Bliss. "Time for pay back."

Bliss shot forward at Angel, tackling her down by the waist. Angel and Bliss fell back, but bliss used Angel as a shield. Upon hitting the ground, Bliss served a few, quick energy balls into Angel's form. Then tumbled backwards, standing up. Angel's body and the area around her exploded, causing more streams of smoke to fill the area around everyone.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Matt. Dante just stood there, and watched the two women fight. It was tempting to go in, but he stayed his distance from the fight. Angel needed practice, and this was what she was getting. Light flared inside the smoke, and a gust of wind started up, waving the smoke and debris away. Angel panted, her clothes torn a bit from Bliss' attack on her. Angel moved forward to attack Bliss again, but was stopped short by Arcaine. Arcaine grabbed her by her upper arms, and threw her into the ground, literally making a small crater. Angel groaned slightly, and fell unconscious. Dante stepped forward, his crossed arms unfolding as he glared at Arcaine. Arcaine just smirked at Dante, then turned, and looked at Bliss.

"Are you okay?" he asked her. Bliss nodded, indicating she was quite fine.

"She's harder to beat than she looks," said Bliss.

"Yes, yes, and I thought that 'dream' of hers would weaken, but no," said Arcaine, "it's only seem to make her a bit stronger then usual, which is a strange thing for her."

"What now?" asked Bliss. Arcaine stepped up to Bliss, and pressed his cold lips against hers, kissing her passionately. After a moment, the kiss was interrupted by a blast from Dante.

"Play time's over," said Dante. He stood prideful, his muscles tense. He was ready for Arcaine this time. Nothing happened for what seemed like long minutes.

Suddenly, Dante quickly turned around to find Arcaine behind him. Acting fast, he sent his right fist into Arcaine's stomach, sending Arcaine through the brick hospital wall, into a room. Arcaine flew from the hole, running Dante down. Arcaine stopped immediately, and paused his movements. It wasn't Dante he had run down, it was an illusion. Arcaine turned his head, and met Dante's foot. He was sent hard into the ground, due to lack of guard.

"It seems the tables have turned, Arcaine," said Dante. "Stay down if you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of your woman."

"I'm afraid that's not an option, Prince," said Arcaine. He turned and shot a yellow sphere of energy at Dante. Dante tried to move, but couldn't. The energy slammed into his body, and he fell back. Dante inhaled once, and then stood up, dusting himself off, feeling no effect on him. He smirked.

"What the fuck was that, Arcaine?" asked Dante. "The wind blowing or a horrible attempted attack?"

"Heh, heh, oh, I hit you alright," said Arcaine. Dante frowned some, he concentrated energy, but nothing came to him. He tried an energy burst of his aura, and again, nothing happened. Dante looked to Arcaine slightly confused, why his powers weren't working. He tried levitating, and even his energy spheres, blasts, anything that came to him. Still, no energy out bursts.

"What the hell have you done, Arcaine?" asked Dante, furiously.

"I stripped you of your powers," said Arcaine. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take my sister and Bliss with me back to my home."

"I think not, Arcaine," said Dante. He shifted his body into a fighter's stance. He had to make do as a mortal. Thankfully, Dante still had speed. He dashed at Arcaine, throwing his right fist at Arcaine's gut. Arcaine had dodged, and sent his elbows into Dante's neck bone, sending him into the ground. Dante rolled over and began to stand, but was kicked to the ground yet again. Dante's power had been drained, making him a full-blooded mortal. As Arcaine beat on Dante, Angel began to wake up. She heard the commotion and jumped from the crater. Looking over at Dante, she frowned as she saw his body battered, first time in a while. Angel knew she couldn't fight at the moment, so she ran over to Dante, and stood in front of him, holding her arms out. Arcaine stopped dead in his tracks, and then placed his hands into the pockets of his leather pants. Silence ran for what seemed long minutes at a time before Bliss finally spoke up, annoyed by the silence.

"What's with the hold up?" asked Bliss, crossing her arms in irritation.

"Patience, my love," said Arcaine. "I think Angel has an idea."

Angel slowly lowered her arms, looking at her brother with loathing eyes, and said, "Leave Dante alone, he's got nothing to do with you, I'm the one you want. So, take me instead, and leave Dante in peace. It's one position I'm willing to give, take it or leave it."

Arcaine grinned, pulling his right hand out of his pocket and extending it towards Angel. Angel turned around and knelt down next to Dante, and smiled at him, she whispered something to him, and then stuck a letter in his hand. Standing up, she turned and walked towards Arcaine, taking his hand. A bolt of electricity was sent into Angel's body, and she yelled out, falling again, unconscious. Arcaine picked up her limp body, and placed her over his left shoulder, walking towards Bliss. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and all three of them had disappeared. Matt, looking dumbfounded and was astounded by what happened, he rushed over to Dante, and checked his pulse. To Matt's thinking, he was thankful Dante was still alive after all that thrashing around. Matt took hold of Dante's wrist, and instantly transmitted to the manor, placing Dante's in his own bed. He left Dante alone to rest and moved quickly to the kitchen, picked up the phone, and called a clan Angel told him about. This clan had vowed to protect Angel, in whatever case. They called themselves The Phoenixes. Moments passed, and Matt heard a knock on the door. He had already had his conversation over the phone, and wondered if it was someone from The Phoenixes. He opened the door, and saw a man with shoulder length platinum blonde hair, dark tanned skin, and mooneyes, with a large scar over his right eye.

"You rang?" asked the man.