64 The End of Espionage

A dark vortex appears inside what appeared to be a massive green house on top of a roof. The night sky illuminated the chamber, by the light of the twin moons hovering above. Asuna and Nari were shoved to the ground, with Aiden and Vienne standing behind them.

A blond haired man dressed in black armor, approached them. He had his arms crossed, looking to the two of them, forming a smirk. "It's been a while. You two have grown so much since I've last seen you."

Nari growls, "..."

Asuna peered up from between the bangs hanging in her face, she seemed on edge. "Father..."

Their father claps his hands, "Bravo, so you do remember me. I was honestly scared, due to how many problems you've been giving me...Well both Espionage and K.A.O.S. really, this can go so many ways right now."

"You are a crazy, deranged psychopath! You should have stayed locked up! You killed our mother! You made us do terrible things! Now you're trying to use this organization to cover up your tracks!?" Nari yelled, getting to her feet, as she formed dark dama and electricity around her.

Asuna shifted from the ground, standing up beside Nari. "After all the things you've put us through, you still act like everything's hunky dory?"

Their father shrugs, "Because it is...Unless you want to talk about your little affair with that dragon. I've told you countless times, that doesn't fly here. You will see, who I want you to see."

"Always such a control freak." Asuna was shaking her head. "You lack empathy, remorse, guilt... you're nothing more than a homicidal madman."

"Ha ha ha ha! Homicidal madman, tell me something I haven't heard already. You're just as insane as me, I know about your little plan, sugar plum." Their father mocked.

"W-What? How?" Nari asked, becoming more irritable.

"He's bluffing." Asuna kept her power gloves close.

"Bluffing? Ha ha! Your little dragon friend gave off signs, I also had some extra ears around you. I can't leave my kids just running a muck, without supervision..." Their father says, adding in a smirk.

"You had us tapped? Grr...Great...So what are you going to do about it? You don't control us anymore." Nari says, stepping forward a little. "By the time we get done with you, you're going to wish you had left us alone!"

"Heh, hey calm down, sweetie. I'm only saying, your secret is safe with me...That is, if you realize where you belong. You're my children, and as such, you have a place here. We can take over the world, and organizations together. Granted that dragon stays out of things... I may have to make some adjustments, to keep him out of the game... Forever." Their father scoffed.

"Work with you?! NEVER! Don't you dare touch him!!" Asuna snapped, engaging her power gloves.

"Are you raising your voice at me? Threatening me with a weapon? You've learned a lot of bad things out there. I suggest you cool off, cause there's no way I'm listening to you like this." Their father says smirking. "I'll make you a deal. I'll let him live, if you promise never to see him again. Deal?"

"..." Asuna gritted her teeth.

"I have a better suggestion, we-" Nari was mid sentence, when the doors behind them opened.

Issac and the others entered, as the two remaining Zodiac turned to glance back from their positions.

"Oh...I see you made it before the pizza. Heh, granted I was expecting less guests. This is quite a surprise." The Espionage leader spoke, crossing his arms. "Vienne, Aiden? Proceed to the fall back plan."

"Sir." Both of them nodded, warping off.

"HEY!" Issac growled.

"Don't worry, you might seem them again. If you survive." The leader stated.

Yuji spots Asuna, "ASUNA! You're okay!" He says, running up to Asuna quickly.

"Hey, stop right there. Don't you take another step closer..." The father demanded.

Yuji stops quickly, cautioning his steps. "Grr...What is it?"

The Father looks back to Asuna, "It's all on you Asuna."

Nari looks to Asuna, urgently, "Don't listen to him!" she insisted.

Asuna closed her eyes, taking a breath, before her eyes leer to her father. "I refuse to do anything you say. I love Yuji, and there's nothing you can do to stop that. I won't let you touch him!"

Yuji smiles briefly, then looks back to their Father, who at this time carried a very displeased expression. The Father sighs to himself, forming a gun out of digital energy into his hand. "...Wrong answer." He says, aiming the gun at Yuji.

Yuji's eyes widened, as the man fired a bullet from the barrel of the rifle. It came flying Yuji's way, however, to everyone's surprise, Asuna dove in the way of the shot. The bullet flew into her chest, penetrating her lungs. She fell to the side, blood escaping the wound, and her mouth. Everyone was stunned, frozen in fear.

Nari starred in horror, "A...Asuna?" She muttered, trembling.

"AAASUNA!!!!!!!!!" Yuji cried out loud, rushing to her side quickly. He held her in his arms panicking.

Asuna coughed up some blood, her breathing growing faint. "Y...Yuji... You're the most important... urgh... person in the world to.. m..me..." She was struggling to speak, tears rolling down her face.

"Y-You're...My...everything...Asuna... Just hang... Hang on! Please just..Don't. No..No..." Yuji was struggling to keep a coherent sentence.

Asuna smiled to him, reaching for his face. "I love you... Yuji..." Her eyes grew heavy, before she could touch him,her hand suddenly dropped. She fell limp, in Yuji's arms.

Yuji began to shake Asuna, "Asuna!? NO! W-WE CAN GIVE YOU A DREAM TEAR! We have some right? DON'T DIE ON ME! ASUNA! PLEASE DON'T DIE!!!!" He cried, terrified in utter horror.

"We don't..." Witchhazel looked over to Yuji. She wasn't as shocked as the others, almost as if she knew this was coming.

Everyone else was stunned, some unable to remove their eyes from the scene. While the others turned their attention to the man who just murdered Asuna, growing fierce.

"... (He killed his own daughter?...)" Issac thought, beginning to shake, angrily.

Barret was infuriated, "(Not Asuna... Not like this... Not by this guy... Dammit, poor Yuji...)"

The Father sighs to himself, "I guess people in my family can't accept how things roll... Hopefully you carry better taste Nari. As for you, dragon, hope you're happy. She traded her life for yours...Waste if you ask me, but hey, you have some guilt to live with."

Yuji wasn't paying mind to the father, he was hugging tightly around Asuna's body.

Nari turns to her Father, "You bastard... YOU FUCKING BASTARD! You'll have to kill me too, because I'm in love with an USA!!!!"

The father sighs, "I might as well introduce myself, before I kill everyone. Yeah you hear that? I was going to let you live Nari, but you're too freaking much like your sister. Just a bunch of whack jobs, who don't get how this world works... I digress, my names Kyro Foundren. Chief executive of Espionage, some call me Life." He explained.

"Life." Issac sneered to Kyro. "(This guy's the reason for EVERYTHING!)"

"Final boss..." Bit shifted his posture, uneasily.

"..." Cravic kept his eyes on Kyro, but didn't have anything to say.

Myde looked to Yuji and Asuna's body. "I'm too exhausted to battle here. I'll keep by Yuji to make sure this man doesn't engage him. Bit, you're my back up. Issac, Barret, Cravic. You three handle the battle. Witchhazel, support magic. We need to get Nari away from him."

Barret nods, "Good plan."

Everyone got into position, ready to battle.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. When Sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions...." Issac says, turning his eyes to Kyro. "Espionage, Kaos. It's all the same. I warrant, for this world. A plague on both your houses!"

Kyro laughs to himself. "That it? You really put a lot of effort into those quotes of yours. My late wife liked a lot of that kind of stuff. Which reminds me, how did I kill her again? Eh, guess it doesn't matter. I have some new bodies to add to the list of things."

"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT!!!!" Nari yells, rushing up at Kyro quickly. She arches her fist back as it glowed with dark dama. She forms a sword from her power glove, and swings it fast at Kyro. However, It connects with an invisible barrier, holding back the attack.

Kyro smiles to Nari, "What's the matter? Can't break it? Here, let me help you out." He says, grabbing Nari by her neck. He grins slyly, as hot fire energy forms around his hand. He then blasts her away from him, roughly. Nari falls back onto the floor, rolling to her face. Kyro pulls his hand down, which was beaming with the fire energy. "Love being a cross elemental being, lots of benefits. Especially seeing the odds here."

"Great..." Barret states, becoming more nervous.

Nari grips herself up a little, "You guys... Don't let up, whatever you do, just keep beating on him!"

Issac rushes in, "Don't worry, this guy's got a death wish!!" He says, getting in range of Kyro.

Barret and Cravic follow up after Issac. Barret engages his power glove, forming his sword, as Cravic got his demonic claw ready. The three strike at Kyro, hitting his barrier. Kyro had crossed his arms, as the energy of all the attacks flew across, and over his body.

"You guys still don't get it, do you?" Kyro says, forming mixed elements around his body. He slams into the ground, kicking Issac, Barret and Cravic away from him. The ground beneath them had spread over with ice, as well had burned plants, and other things around them.

"Urgh...We gotta get through that barrier somehow..." Barret says, gripping himself off the ground. Nari finally gets back to her feet, looking to them.

Witchhazel was floating overhead on her broom, as she observed the battle. Issac leered to Kyro. "Don't give him time to get on the offensive. Just keep the attacks rolling!" He instructed, shifting to his whip function.

Nari nods in agreement with Issac, "LIKE HE SAID! DON'T LET UP!!!!" She then rushes ahead of Issac and the others, pounding once more on Kyro's barrier. Issac lashes out his his whip, taking the offensive. Cravic uses both his sword and dark dama energy, crashing into the field as well. Barret finally adds in his attack, striking from top of the shield. All four attacks begin to shatter the barrier, as it became red in color. Kyro grunts as barrier finally breaks to pieces, forming into broken digital pieces.

"Wow...You guys did it...Bravo.." Kyro stated, as he claps his hands. His digital cape flaps into the air, as mini cone-like orbs appear over him. They all aim at the four, and shoot off lasers quickly. Nari takes some damage on her arm, falling back a little, as Issac, Barret and Cravic fell back quickly, out of the way of a couple of shots. Kyro grins, and pulls to purple dark dama energy in his arms. He aims his hands out, forming mini vortexes, that shot out shards of ice spikes. As they near Issac and the others, barriers appear around them from Witchhazel.

"Huh?" Kyro says, placing his arms down as the portals fade.

Witchhazel floated above the group, holding a finger to her cheek. Her eyes lazily focused to Kyro. "Sorry, all rights to refuse service!" She winked.

A shard of ice flies Witchhazel's direction, and she poofs away from the attack, leaving her broom floating in place. Kyro sighs to himself, "All these people just falling in on my list... Anyways... Seeing now you have barriers, I bet you all feel special, huh?' Kyro says, as his hands form green energy around them. Instantly, sharp stalagmites rush up from the ground, kicking Issac, Barret and Cravic into the air. Nari spots this, and quickly rushes at Kyro from his side. Kyro then lets off the energy, deforming the rocks, turning to Nari. "You're turn now, sugar plum."

Suddenly, Zihark breaks in through the glass walls. Landing beside Nari. He held no emotion, but was on the assault. He punches Kyro backward forcefully, hitting him into a couple of pillars, that stood in the area. Issac,Barret and Cravic had gotten back to their feet, spotting the robot turn back to see Yuji still holding Asuna.

"..." Zihark was staring their way.

"Zihark...You came for Asuna... He's the one that did this... Our mission now is to kill him." She says looking to Kyro.

"Affirmative." Zihark says, following Nari.

Nari walks up to Kyro, and one of the floating cone laser shooters, flew over head. Before it was able to let off a shot at Nari, Zihark slashes it down, sending a chain reaction to the others. This results in them all exploding, simultaneously. Kyro sits up from the debris, laughing. "You guys are starting to piss me off! You even got my favorite suit of armor messed up. You know how much this costs?" He states, standing up. "Thinking though, your funerals are gonna cost even more." He states, holding up his hand mixing elemental energy into it.

Cravic shifted, protecting Myde from incoming jumpers that came from vortexes. Issac and Barret were forced to fight off other Kaos robots that appeared. Zihark ran up quickly, slashing Kyro with his sword, he tears through a good amount of his armor. Kyro teleports to the center of the room, holding his side. "Ouch... You never hit a man, while he's preparing his moves like that...Talk about cheap. Typical of one of my daughter's creations..."

Nari turns to Kyro, rushing his direction, "YOU DON'T KILL FAMILY!!!!" She says, as dark dama flies around her. Instantly electricity formed in her fist, and as fast as lighting, she strikes Kyro sending him rolling backwards into the air. Issac takes this opportunity to form the wings on his power glove, he flies into the air, following after Kyro, leaving Barret to handle the remaining jumpers near him. Issac dives down, slashing around Kyro rapidly.

Kyro then catches Issac by his neck, between the strikes. "FALL!!!" Kyro screamed, as he pulls Issac down into a barrel roll, hitting the ground hard. Witchhazel immediately rushed to his side.

Nari gasps, and rushes at Kyro kicking him away from Issac, she then growls, as dark dama claws form from her power glove. Nari flies at Kyro, jabbing right through his body. Kyro's eyes widen, as blood flew out from his cuts, spraying onto Nari's face. She pulls her weapon out roughly, causing Kyro to fall back to the ground hard.

Kyro was now coughing, and struggling to get back to his feet. "Y-You...Ha ha ha...Such a stupid little girl...You and all of your friends....I can't...die...Ha ha..."

Issac stumbled back to his feet, touching his neck with a slight grimace. "... What are you going on about?" He growled, Barret and Cravic now turning their attention over from the destruction.

"I'm Life... Ha ha." Kyro says, before coughing up a little more blood. "H-Honestly...This sucks so hard though...I can't wait to... come back and... Finish you... ALL OF YOU! You hear that Nari?... I guess... For now... I'll be able to beat Asuna... Again, and again, and again..."

Nari walks over to Kyro, starring down to him, fury in her eyes. "You're going to Stykx!" She yells, stabbing Kyro through the head. Kyro's body then fell limp, evaporating into ashes.

"Is that it? Is everything over now?" Issac was looking to the remains of Kyro, taking a moment to catch his breath. Witchhazel still by his side.

"Yeah... I feel this was our final bout." Barret assured Issac. "It's over."

"Not as over as you think." A calm, male voice stated.

Suddenly, Cravic, Myde and Bit were flung from their location of defending Yuji. The others turn their direction to this. There stood a young man beside Yuji, now holding Asuna's body, with Yuji held down to the floor with golden strings. He was a blue haired boy, with white skin and red eyes. He wore a red scarf, wearing stitched up clothing. He stared at them, with his doll like eyes.

"Your search for Life is not here. It's found in the ranks of K.A.O.S." The young man states.

"DUCKY!" Zihark quickly made his way to the mysterious youth, and before he could strike, his systems shut down. The young man then pulls to Zihark, with golden strings.

Issac was unnerved, keeping the defensive. "Just who the heck are you, and what are you doing with Asuna!?"

"My name is Musadore Yoko... As for what I'm to do with her, and her robot, perhaps is to come..." The youth spoke. "Thing is, You'll never know who Life is, at least not in this lifetime."

Yuji began to squirm under Yoko's hold, with the strange strings. "LET ME GO! YOU CAN'T TAKE HER!!!"

Yoko peers down to Yuji. "Why are you fighting over a shell? She's mine now."

"Shell? Yours? THAT'S MY SISTER!" Nari screamed, running at Yoko.

Yoko smirks, as golden string shoots out from him, smacking right into Nari. She falls back onto the ground, her body carrying small sharp cuts. "Any other outbursts?" Yoko inquired to the group.

Myde, Cravic and Bit were still trying to regain their footing from the earlier attack. Issac kept his eyes on Yoko. Witchhazel peered to Issac, her hand to his shoulder. "..." Issac gritted his teeth. "(Just what is this guy?... When will all this end!?)" He clenched his fist.

"We just can't let you take them. Urgh.." Barret says, getting his guard up.

Yoko sighs to himself, "My intent isn't to fight you... But just to leave you with a few words... You already have your answer to locating Life... What's a small piece of clay, to an entire world? You should go..."

"There's no way we can just let you take them!" Issac shouted.

"Letting you walk away isn't an option. We can still revive her with a dream tear!" Myde formed her sword-staffs. Cravic got close to Myde, also readying a strike.

"Secret boss, with cheats... You're breaking the rules." Bit added.

"Oh, stop being such kill joys. He's giving you a way in, you should take it... We all loose things we love, but at times it's worth it..." A female voice spoke to them, from behind.

They turn to face the mysterious voice, noticing Stevonne there. However, she wasn't alone. Standing with her was her dog Cicero, Eugene as well as Rune.

"Oh my, is that who I think it is? Ha ha! You're still alive? My goodness it's been quite a while." Eugene stated forming a big smile.

"You." Issac glared.

"Me." Eugene grinned.

"You're far too excited Eugene." Rune looked over to the others. "Their emotions are like mixed up jigsaw puzzles at the moment. To wonder what they think, is far more intriguing."

"Hmm, I would have to agree." Stevonne states, walking forward. "But sadly there's no time for that... Seems our meeting with Life, will have to be held elsewhere." She then turns to Cravic, "You are, however even MORE surprising, I thought we had a deal, you and I... Why the sudden switch of sides? You've been keeping me in the dark."

"If you really wanted an informant, you should have done it yourself. I told you before, I do things on my own, Steff." Cravic leered to her.

"You do remember that about connections, right Cravic? If you heard me earlier, I did state we came here for a meeting with Life... However, seeing you want to keep me out of your affairs, I shall keep you out of mine... Have fun finding Life, perhaps he or she does lie in K.A.O.S's ranks..." Stevonne says, turning away from them, Cicero following at her side. "Eugene, Rune? Let us take our leave."

"As you wish mistress Sosa." Rune replied, keeping up.

"Very well miss Sosa! I am right behind you!" Eugene states, rushing to her side.

"Sosa? You seriously went off, and named yourself that!?" Barret inquired quirking a brow. "I thought you were venting! You've really lost your mind."

Stevonne turns back Barret, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. Come along you two." She says, teleporting away with her associates.

"I hate to be the barrier of bad news, but that strange one fled when she stepped in." Witchhazel spoke to the others.

"What?" Issac turned to her.

Yuji was on his knees, he had his hands over his face sulking, tears streaming down. "He took her... Asuna... Asuna!!!!!"

Nari walks to Yuji's side, hugging around him. "We'll save her..."

Cravic looked over to them, crossing his arms. He seemed irritated, "It's too late now, even if you got her back. If you can't apply a dream tear within the first hour of death, the effects are null. There's nothing to be done."

Nari looks to Cravic sharply, "Dream Tears may not work... But I can always think of something..."

Issac held his head, "What a mess this turned out to be... Man, guess we need to plan to take out Kaos after all..." He sighed, glancing off. "For now, we should return to base, and we'll think of something. I... I just don't know what else we can do right now."

Barret nods, "Yeah..."

The group was under a lot of stress, and had no choice but to return to base. However, back in New-tech, Scape was walking with Teegan through the city.

"You sure it's this way?" Teegan asked, her ears bouncing as they walked.

Scape takes his spliff out of his mouth, letting out smoke. "Yep, we'll have you all over the world in no time. Just around the corner here."

"Hey cupcake?" Teegan glanced to him, "Why are you so eager to help me this way? I've been pretty nasty to you since we met." She asked.

Scape turns to Teegan, smirking, "Well, you're a lot like me, come on, we both faked this and that, got caught in a cave together, just like... All this crap. I like rabbits, you're a rabbit, you know where this is going."

Teegan raised a brow, "That's pretty shallow. What makes you think you'll get me to like you, like that?"

"Cause I'm good in the sack. No like seriously, there's also the drugs and just overall being there for you. All the mess going around, I'm sure anyone would have kicked you to the curb, after finding out what you told me." Scape says, taking a drag.

Teegan gets in front of Scape's path, leaning her face close to his, her hand to his chest. "Is that really how you feel? I'm not sure I can stop myself then." Her face inching closer to his.

"Whoa..." Scape was taken completely off guard.

Teegan opened one of her eyes, with a sly smirk, as she used her ear to push back his head. "Fooled you."

"Urgh, hey not funny, bunny. I was gearing up for something real." Scape says, adjusting his clothes.

Teegan walked ahead, "You're going to have to do better than that if you want me."

Some Kaos recruiters were awaiting on the other side of the corner, and spot Teegan. Their alarms sound, and they instantly rush over to the Usa, catching her by her arms and legs. Scape walked around the corner spotting this. His spliff drops from his mouth.

"H-HEEEEELLLLLPPP!!!! CUPCAKE!!!" Teegan cried out, fearfully.

"Awe shit... Hey, let her go!" Scape called out, to the unit holding Teegan.

It turns to Scape scanning him, the unit then jumps away, carrying Teegan with it. Scape grits his teeth, keeping his eye on the unit, however his focus is then taken by other units teleporting in around his location.

"Well... Guess it's time to go... Man this sucks..." Scape says, rushing away from the area quickly.