TNG: Iblis, the First Hero

Episode 29: Return of the King

Return of the King

              An all too familiar burning sensation shot through Cid’s shoulder and left bicep.  He looked down and saw two small holes leaking blood onto his purple shirt, staining it a vibrant magenta.  In his haze he stared at everyone else in the limo.  Ronnie had been tagged in the leg and was quickly working to stop the flow of blood to the wound.  Ashley lay slumped over against the window, a trickle of blood leaking down her forehead.  His eyes moved to Luna, who had seemingly managed to avoid getting hit.  She was frantically working on something next to her.  A sudden realization hit as his eyes focused. 

            Celine had gotten hit several times.  Luna was trying to stop the bleeding, but it was clear that Celine was quickly losing consciousness. 

            He tried to make his way over to them when the door opened.  Several police officers and EMTs were gathered at the door.  Surveying the situation, they removed Luna and Ronnie from the car.  They began to pull Cid out, in spite of his protests.  How can they just leave Celine there to bleed to death?  He asked himself as his feet hit pavement.  As he was guided to an ambulance, he noticed several EMTs enter the car and begin working on Celine.  One put his jacket over Ashley’s head, causing a sinking feeling to build in Cid’s stomach. 

            It’s my fault… he told himself.  If he hadn’t have come here, if he hadn’t have let his guard down, none of this would have happened.  His carelessness had put everyone in danger, and now his friends were paying the price.

            Eventually Luna made her way over to where he was.

            “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice noticeably shaking.

            Cid just stared ahead.

            “It was a Yakuza hit.  They drove up in a black SUV,” she continued.

            Her words were barely reaching his ears.

            “We have to DO something, Cid.  If we don’t, they won’t stop till one or both of us are dead,” she said, her voice becoming steadier with each word.

            His blood began to boil as he realized that one person was missing from the limo at the time of the attack.  Jason Hirigazawa.  “He knew this was going to happen… He knew…” Cid muttered to himself repeatedly. 

            Luna nodded knowingly.  “His aura was all over the place when he ditched us at the limo.  I should’ve known.  I could’ve prevented everything…”

            His heart skipped a beat as he remembered Celine’s crumpled form in the van.

            “Celine?” he asked softly.

            Luna’s eyes shifted.  “She got hit several times.  I did what I could, but her aura was fading extremely quickly.  The other girl, Ashley, has already passed on,” she responded grimly.

            “I see,” he said quietly.

            “What’re we going to do?” she asked.

            Suddenly his arm didn’t hurt anymore.  Suddenly the two bullet wounds in his shoulder and bicep no longer mattered.  The Yakuza did this, and he was going to make them pay…

Ω

            The door to the lower lab opened and Luna helped Cid into the room.  He had to find his suit.  He knew where the Hirigazawas lived.  He would start there.