Cross Effects 3.0 - April 13, 2015—June 23, 2016

[yinsukin]

Gorge Squad

Some girl appeared out of nowhere and broke the metal chains with her bare hands.  Gorge was actually close enough to listen in on their conversation.  It sounded like the pirate had given up, ready to let him self be arrested. For some reason, this girl was ready to go to jail with him. 

The officers knocked to the ground got up, their knees were weak from the strike.  The older enforcer aimed his gun at Medaka and Lorenzo.

"Alright, if you are ready to surrender, we will take good care of both of you.  We will not harm the girl and you will be escorted personally by our commander."  Said the older cop.

"Oh my god! do you see the tits on that girl?!  I didn't even think boobs got that big!"  Said the younger cop.

The older cop glared at him with disgust.  Then, he held his hand up to his ear, signaling for Gorge to come out.

Gorge emerged from behind the wreckage of the car.  He had used camouflage magic to conceal himself behind it.  As soon as he stood up, it immediately dispersed.  Then, he slowly walked over to the pair.

"I see there are some benefits to being a pirate huh?  Its not everyday that a beautiful girl comes rushing into save a man only to surrender."  Gorge said in a playful tone.  "Lorenzo Remei, known for theft, mass murder and arson.  Truly, the profile of a dangerous man.  Yet, despite your capabilities and reputation, I have not lost a single officer.  It will be very... interesting to get to know you in our time together."  The officer mused.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

Lorenzo's weakly body did not stop him from giving the young officer a murderous glare. Closing his eyes, he gritted his teeth before settling down. That man, that man had misspoke one too many times. Of course, he was hardly one to talk...

But what that man said was too much.

Still, staying angry was something beyond even Lorenzo. His lips curling into a rictus, he chuckled before averting his gaze to the older officer.

"My, you heard about me? I'm almost flattered to hear that, almost. Well, do as you wish." he said, smiling.

Then flames burst from all over the ravaged station and engulfed the young officer. Of course, they would not do so much as singe him, and they'd vanish as soon as they were conjured.

Hopefully it would give him a good scare. Nothing personal of course, only being treated lightly as such pissed him off.

[Panda]

Guts

While the sudden chill registered for Guts, it was a fairly simple matter to ignore it. The knives being frozen in mid-air, however, not so much.

Ice powers, huh?

The man managed to jump over the swing, with Guts not stopping his swing, letting Dragonslayer's momentum carry him as he continued to press on, meeting the man's charge with his own as he reached back with his metal hand and flung his cloak at the man to conceal his own movements. Thusly concealed, he brought Dragonslayer around yet again. Either way, this would be over soon.

[yinsukin]

Mr. Armour

 The warrior was a fool to ignore the effects of his blade and amour.  The temperature drop became more intense, able to freeze Guts in less than a minute.  He charged Guts, his blade still shining blue and attempted to thrust it into Gut's body.  The coat was pierced by the blade and immediately froze, now attached to the blade like a piece of food on a toothpick.  However, he did not stop his charge.  He kept going, gambling that he would strike before the massive blade would hit.

The armor would hopefully slow down his strike, as getting close to him speeds up the freezing process.

[Panda]

Guts

Guts was all too happy to take advantage of the fool freezing his cloak in place, obscuring his vision entirely. Or at least, he would have been, had the ice not built up enough on both his sword and his armor that his swing was slowed a fair bit. Of course, this was nothing compared to the sudden chill striking deep into the mercenary's bones. Guts felt his consciousness quickly drifting away as the icy embrace finally claimed him.

[theunknownhero]

Shirou (HF)

Sakura gets off the horse, leading Tohsaka inside, leading her by the hand. I then get off the horse myself and start at what would now be my home from now on. It's strange it looks like the Matou household I used to visit Shinji in when we were both young. It lacks the same eerie it had back then, thanks in part to Sakura's touch, but it lacks the presence of my old place. Perhaps, I'm just not used to living outside my house and moving, but I can't help feel a little sad. Still, I'm finally reunited with Sakura so in the end it's worth the loss of my old home.

Sakura and Tohsaka then get into a conversation about how Sakura has been living in this place for last few years. She really is amazing to have been able to do so all by herself. While I had Fuji-nee and Tohsaka's support for these few years, Sakura truly had lost everyone. It's no wonder she's in the state she's especially after losing me so soon after the HGW. I guess now that both Tohsaka and I are here we can start the process of bringing her back to normal.

It's then that the two enter the house together, for the first time. It's good to see the sisters have such a warm relationship already. I stand outside remembering my old house and life one final time before I finally enter my new home for the first time.

[yinsukin]

Gorge Squad

The young enforcer jumped.  His face turned red, embarrassed that the pirate had managed to not only catch him off guard, but successfully scare him.  "Ugh!  If I had Chuck's gun you would be a worthless corpse by now!"  He said.  The older enforcer chuckled, amused at the obvious blunder of his younger co worker.  Gorge kept his attention on Lorenzo.

"Ah it looks like our ride is here."  Said Gorge

Just then, a heavily armored prison truck parked in the parking lot only a few meters away.  The backdoor was opened by two officers.  Gorge slowly walked to the passenger seat of the car.  "Oh, I just got word from one of my officers that we have managed to capture your friend.  Don't worry, I have just ordered that he be taken in rather than killed.  If you try to escape he will be killed"  He said.  If these were truly the noble types, than killing their friend would likely cause them to lash out.  If not, he would simply have to prepare other methods of containment.  They are all very strong.  It was probably a good idea to take some elites with him to the prison.

The older enforcer took Medaka and walked her into the back of the truck.  He was concerned that the younger officer would do.. things to her.  The younger enforcer took Lorenzo and walked him into the truck.  He stayed quiet while guiding him to his seat.  Then, they sat down next to their corresponding prisoners and waited for orders from Gorge.

[yinsukin]

Mr. Armour

He managed to defeat the warrior and against his better judgement, reported in to Gorge.  Since Gorge was one of the better tacticians when dealing with supernaturals, he was put in charge of this mission.  He was ordered to take in the warrior to use as a hostage.  Thankfully, some officers had shown up, likely in case he had lost to the warrior.  They called in a armored police van, laid him in the back seat and got ready to head out to the prison.

[yinsukin]

Medaka Kurokami

Medaka ignored the comment made by the officer.  She simply complied with the officers and walked with them into the van.  The handcuffs were metal, though it was obvious that they were really just on for show.  The real handcuffs were the other officers.

Now that she calmed down, she flashed back to the moment where Guts sliced through the officers that were trying to stop them.  For Medaka, who loved humans unconditionally, it was like watching the massacre of a pack of cute fluffy dogs that had turned aggressive.  It was inhumane and unnecessary.  Those were people she would never be able to help.  At least she was able to be with Lorenzo.  She could at least help him.

She looked down at the floor, grieving over the lost lives. 

[Kat]

Michael

To the immortal's momentary surprise, it would seem the fall had been faked, as the girl's new tail wrapped around the staff and pulled on it.

Huh, a martial artist, perhaps?

Letting himself go, the girl's own monstrous strength sent Michael sailing towards her as water tentacles hoisted her up into the air, the immortal pulling on his staff to bring himself around with an axe-kick.

...I've read enough pillow books to know where this is going.

Rikuyo

Michael's kick connected, freeing up Rikuyo from the grasp of Richard's tentacles by pushing her away with his enhanced strength. Rikuyo crashed into the poor car which she had already damaged before, bruised from Michael's kick. This did little to stop her as she was on her feet almost instantly. The girl had better opinion of the magician so far. He was the one that forced her to transform and showed off with cool stuff whereas the man who fought with the staff seemed to had taken her bait so easily instead of letting off his weapon. Either he was playing along or he got lured into getting closer with such simple move.

"Cool tricks, kappa dude! But tell your pal to not get into your way, kay?" she smiled at Richard, not bothered by his hostility. Then, she noticed the boy was already up, his weapons ready, but looking hesitant. If he helped Richard, three against one sounded more fair. If he sided with her, he better took on that guy with the staff. The magician was her prey. She wanted no obstacle in her fun. Though even more she hoped that he would really buy her clothes, she was a good girl and held back as promised.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

"Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble. Well, as long as you keep your word that is." said Lorenzo with a surprisingly calm attitude. He really didn't like how this turned out, but it's not like he could do much about it without going overboard.

"Oi, by the way... the lad who'se arm I shanked earler, you should get a medic for that. Sword was poisoned and all the nasty stuff."

Glancing around, he noticed a troubled Medaka.

"Hey, you alright?" asked Lorenzo.

[yinsukin]

Gorge squad

"Will do!"  Said Gorge cheerfully from the front.  He wasn't just putting on a face, he was genuinely happy that he managed to capture three different supernatural criminals with little casualties.  Sure, they had lost 10 or so men but he predicted many more in his calculations.  The front seat and the back were separated by a thick, bullet proof wall that could protect the driver from a explosion.  The wall had a small barred window so the people in front could hear what was going on in the back. Gorge was extremely interested in this conversation, as it would help him understand the true nature of this so called killer.


Medaka Kurokami

Medaka kept looking down, trying to avoid Lorenzo's empathetic gaze.  She didn't want him to dislike Guts for what he did.  He did fight the man in armor so she could come back and help Lorenzo after all.

"I....  I just watched several police officers die.  All of them had family's, dreams, worries.  I couldn't help any of them. I,,, I tried to stop him but."  Tears began pouring from her eyes.  "There all dead!  I couldn't do anything!  For as long as I can remember I always considered my lifes purpose to help strangers yet... Their dead.  I failed. I failed."  She wailed, still refusing to make eye contact.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

So that is what happened.

"Medaka..."

Lorenzo looked down sadly, as if he didn't know what to say.  She was crying, crying her heart out because she saw something no one deserves to see. Lorenzo felt guilt for that, for . Had she not met him, she would not have been attacked by that dark devil, or harmed by Suiren...

But most of all, she would not have had to see death in such a manner. She did not deserve that, not one bit. No one does.

His lips quivering, he sniffled a bit before speaking up, doing his best to reassure her with a calm tone.

"People live because they have something to believe in. They have somewhere to go back to, someone to hold dear. Hopes, dreams, love, anger, greed... that's what makes us human. The truth is, no one wants to die. Not even the most miserable, not even the most wretched, not even the most worthless person in the world deserves to die. And yet, people die every single day."

Lorenzo paused, feeling something in his throat. He had to force himself not to cry, because just as Medaka had been strong when he needed her, he had to be strong now that she needed him. Because he was Lorenzo Remei, the invincible pirate of the seven seas.

"I have seen many die. Men, women. Elders and children. Companions and enemies. They were all brothers who met their untimely fate one way or another..."

He paused again, and looked down. A single tear rolled down his cheek, but he stopped there. He had to comfort her, that was his job. Crying was not.

"Listen, no matter how much one weeps or prays, the dead do not come back. That is a hard truth, but it's truth. Those you saw die did not deserve that fate, but it happened. Crying and regretting will not bring them back, but because of that, it is your duty to live."

Yes, he knew just how heavy of a duty it was. To live. That burden was one he too had to bear, along with the death of his companions. But...

"You did not fail anyone, Medaka. You did not."

[yinsukin]

Medaka

Medaka looked up, now facing Lorenzo.  She maintained her gaze for a brief second before wailing once more.

"But... But... I could have stopped him.  If I had tried harder, I could have done it."

This was just her reasoning with herself.  She knew that there was no time to help anyone.  But that was her job, her claim to worth.  To help others who couldn't help themselves.  She was the one to bear the burden of others.  Yet, how could she bear the lost feelings of the dead?  All she needed to do was to stop the attack, to stop Guts, convince him that there was another way.  Not only that, but she left Guts to help Lorenzo, just because she couldn't handle the situation.  How could she be so selfish? 

"I..."  She stopped.  The words of the pirate had finally sunk in.  He was right.  They were dead.  No one had the power to revive the dead.  There was nothing she could do.  Maybe they didn't want to die but they did.  But could she really hold the feelings of these strangers?  Why is it fair that she gets to live when they died?

"The weight of all those officers?  Their feelings?  Their will?  I suppose I always did that.  All ive ever wanted to do was carry the burdens of those around me. But now... They have no burdens!  Their dead!  I can't carry them!"  She said weakly.  "I could barely protect you from the dark man.  I was powerless before the woman and now my weakness has taken lives!"  She continued now shouting.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Lorenzo Remei

She was wrong. It was wrong. It was wrong to carry so much, . And it was wrong for her to cry. She had done no wrong, yet she was crying. And it was so painful to watch, to watch a girl who had done no wrong cry because she felt she had wronged. It was... just like that day.

The day Lorenzo Remei died.

He too could not carry the burdens of his companions. Their hopes, their dreams, their love, their hate, their jealousy, their greed, their desire, their aspirations, their name...

As their captain, he was supposed to carry it all. But he never could accomplish that, because...

They were dead, all of them. They had died, and he could do nothing to save them. Powerless, he had known that feeling of powerlessness.

And she too felt the same burden. She was him. Not one difference. She cried, just as he did. She cursed, just as he did. She was him.

How could he leave her be, how could he let her suffer so? No, he would not accept it. He could not bear to see her like that. She could not, she would not fall like he did. Never.

Because Medaka is strong. Because he chose to believe in her, she too should believe in herself.

The truck's motor rumbled for a second and suddenly, fire seeped out of it. The vehicle was not being damaged, but the combustion gave birth to flame. The flame would not burn. Rather, it would move into the vehicle and trickle down his hands. It felt warm.

Without warning, the chain holding the handcuffs together gave into the heat and melted away. Silently, strernly, he walked up to the barrier that held Medaka away from him and blew it away.

His wounds still hadn'thealed, he was in no condition to use his magic. But compared to her pain, this was nothing.

Nothing at all.

Walking up to the crying friend, Lorenzo took her and held her in an embracing hug. Closing his eyes and smiling, he cradled her not unlike a parent cradles a crying child. She needed comfort, just as he needed comfort. Because she helped him so much, it was his turn to help in turn.

"You dummy."