LIGHTS AND SHADOWS

1:15 A.M., AT THE DOCKS…

“That’s a big boat, a very big boat.” Whispered Ginji as the six of them took cover in the shadows.

“That’s not a boat. That’s a ship, a cargo ship.” Corrected Himiko. The scene was clear Ban signaled them to move, but nobody moved. “Move.” He said giving them the signal again. He soon realized he couldn’t move too. Then from their shadows and the shadow they were hiding moved and took the shape of six men. They’re caught!

“Shadow doppelgangers.” Said Kazuki

“Nope, I don’t do doppelgangers.” Chorused the six shadow men. Then the six merged into one. “I control!” Before they realized it, they began doing what he does. “See? You’re like puppets. Puppets? Ooooh… that’s an idea.” He stepped back then attached shadow strings on their shadow. “Now I’m a puppeteer! Heehee! I control your shadows, your shadows control you!” he happily exclaimed, playing with them. “I’ve another brilliant idea! To make my job easier why don’t you finish each other?” he had them fight each other; Ban and Shido, Himiko and Ginji, Kazuki and Dr. Jackal. They tried to resist but it was futile. “Uh-uh. That’s not gonna work…” said the jolly shadow manipulator.

“I’m glad-- I did not have-- to face-- Akabane.” Ginji said while Himiko was throwing punches on his face.

“What do you mean?! You prefer fighting a girl instead?!” replied a furious Himiko, who had an feeling that Ginji thinks she’s an easier opponent cause she’s just a girl.

“No, I’d like to do anything but fight you, Himiko-chan.” Ginji said then threw a punch on Himiko’s face. “This is an exception. This is not me… Hehe…”

“If this goes on we’ll annihilate each other!” said Kazuki, who’s giving Dr. Jackal hard blows.

“You’re enjoying Kazuki?” asked Dr. Jackal.

“It’d be untrue if I’d say No.’ He replied.

“Well, I am not. I don’t like people controlling me.” Said the angered Dr. Jackal who released his wrath as he lets out scalpels from his body at will and aimed at the shadow manipulator, but it just went through.

“What were you thinking? You can’t slice a shadow to death!” he arrogantly taunted, then from behind another shadow materialized into human form. “It’s you Li’l Bro, wish to stick around?”

“Brother, the leader requests you release four of them.” The younger brother said.

“Darn it! Just when I was just having fun!” he pouted.

“Our leader wishes to enjoy a brawl before we leave this place. He was kind enough to leave us two.”

“Okie dokie! Who wish to stay?” he asked then moved some strings and made Dr. Jackal and Kazuki raise their hands. “Oh! We’ve got volunteers!” His younger brother then created shadow doppelgangers of Ban, Ginji, Himiko and Shido’s to drag them to their leader.

“No harm will come upon you on your way to our leader.” Assured the younger brother.

“But not after you meet him... heehee… C’mon li’l bro! Let’s finish these two quick. I don’t want to miss the leader crushing them like biscuits.”

“I guarantee you it’ll be quick but you’ll miss your leader’s battle.” Said the infuriated Kazuki, who felt underestimated.

“See you later Kazuki-kun!” Said Ginji, while they were dragged by their shadow doppelgangers. “Look on the bright side; this saved us the efforts of looking for him in that enormous boat.” They went into the ship. It was empty; no cargoes, no crew. The shadows brought them to an open deck where they were released.

There he was, the man they codenamed Cain, waiting in the shadows, sitting on a box crate. “Let’s make this easy, hand over the Dreamcatcher.” demanded Shido. The man stood up and kicked the box crate further behind him.

“I think that means no.” said Himiko. In the darkness of the shadow two red eyes and faint sparkles of reflections from his metallic clawed gauntlets were all they could see. Cain stepped into the light, revealing the rest of him in a hooded black leather trench coat and a fanged metal sobi mask.

“I told you it was true! The claws, the fangs and worst the red scary eyes!” Ginji shrieked. Cain was almost like the grim reaper in modern clothes. His appearance and specially the reputation that preceded him shed a dark aura that made them take a step back.

“Looks don’t intimidate me.” Said Ban who has been quiet all the way. He launched his first assault but he missed, he was fast; too fast. Then the three came in to help but failed as he dodges or blocks every attack. Himiko’s potions did not work on him nor did any of Shido’s assaults. Ginji could not get a chance to electrocute him. Ban’s very strong fists and grasps could not bring him down. The fight went on but to no avail did they scratch him. It only ended up exhausting them.

Then Ban thought of a plan. A plan to get the box crate and as much as possible not have to deal with him. Ban, Ginji and Shido tried to hold him off while Himiko was set to get the box crate but Cain escaped his opponents and went off for the box crate. Not paying attention to the fight, Ginji got a chance to give a shock, slowing him down and giving Ban and Shido an opportunity to give him an all out beating that he crashed to the floor. Himiko carried the heavy box crate and quickly ran for the exit. With a blink of an eye he got up from the floor kicked Ginji and Shido, throwing them unconscious to the deck wall and left Shido with broken ribs and leg. Like Ban’s Snake Bite Technique, he caught Ban’s head with his left hand and threw him sweeping the floor. Himiko quickly took a whiff of her speeding potion as a last resort to escape. But the heavy box crate slowed her down. She was about to take another whiff to double her speed but the man already caught up and took the crate and threw Himiko down.

Ginji regained consciousness. While he electrocuted him he felt a spark of electricity from his body. Is he part cyborg? He thought, then he saw Himiko unconscious and injured. “Cyborg or not you’re going to pay for what you did to Himiko-chan.” He said as he got heated and attacked.

“Worry about the girl and forget about the other companions.” said Shido with an ounce of tease. Cain did not notice Ginji was up until Ginji grabbed his left hand to electrocute him. Furious, he was about to give him the full blast of his power when Ban though injured got on his feet and shouted.

“Ginji! No! The Dreamcatcher is with him. You might destroy it too.” Ginji was too angry to stop so he gave him a shock enough to hurt him without damaging the Dreamcatcher. Smoke and smell of burnt leather rose in the air. “You’ve got quite a lot of metal in your body. Metal is a very good conductor of electricity.” Ginji said as he carried in his arms the semi-conscious Himiko and laid her beside the injured Shido.

“Watch over her. Ban and I will have to take him down.” Ginji said and walked over to Ban.

“Your fighting style, you developed it from Snake bite technique, didn’t you? Where did you learn it?” Ban asked but Cain did not say a word. “Who taught you?” he did not answer his question. “Damn you! Answer me!” still he did not speak instead he got up with the box crate on his right arm he took a fighting stance and with his left hand he signaled an invitation to come and try to take the crate from him.

At that point Ginji felt that Ban was getting serious. A serious Ban that brought down the terrifying Dr. Jackal in one move finally emerged. He must’ve finally met his match, someone with similar fighting style and outstanding skills.

Ban signaled Ginji to get the box crate while he’ll get rid of the one handling it. With his right hand snake bite, Ban rushed to Cain, gaining momentum and aiming for his head. But Cain caught Ban’s snake bite with his left hand. It was strong enough to resist Ban’s 200kg of force. Ban used his other hand to seize Cain’s head and with no choice he let go of the box crate and tried to block Ban’s left hand Snake Bite but he was a split second too late. Ban crushed his face to the floor. He stood and watched, hoping he’d stay down. “Is it over?” he thought.

“Ban-chan, I’ve got the box crate! Let’s leave before he wakes up.” Ginji said. They walked over to where Shido and Himiko were and helped them up. On their way to the exit, Ginji took a last look at the fallen Cain… But he was gone! He wasn’t on the floor! He was standing ahead of them! His hood came off and they found out that what Ban merely damaged was his metal head mask cracking the bottom half, showing the lower half of his flesh face. The man put on his hood again ready for another round. The odds of them getting out alive were slim to none. Ban seemed to be in bad shape as well as Himiko and Shido are badly injured.

“Somebody save us…” wished Ginji.

“Finally, met with whom Ginji calls a monster.” Said Dr. Jackal who just arrived.

“This might not sound right, but for the first time, I’m glad to see you Akabane!” exclaimed Ginji who was relieved that he would not face him alone.

“On contrary, I’m not here to help you defeat him. I don’t fight left-over. Forgive me.” Said Dr. Jackal

“Don’t worry; I’ll finish what I started.” Said Ban, pulling himself together.

“But Ban-chan…” Ginji wanted to stop him but Ban’s feisty eyes tell him he’d better not. They all backed off.

“The shadow clown was right after all. This is one battle I shouldn’t miss.” Said Dr. Jackal. He seemed thrilled to see Ban fighting seriously again. He saw the stance for a second time, his secret move, Serpent Holder which gave him the shame of defeat. To their surprise the opponent’s form was that of the Serpent Holder technique as well. Now all they have to see is whose Serpent Holder technique wins. Then the battle was on. The two of them rushing towards each other and then Clash!

Who won? It was Difficult to tell, they were too fast and both men were still standing. And then Cain coughed out blood, he’s hit on his chest. He fell on his palms and knees. Ban won after all. But he still needed something from him. He picked him up and held him by the collar. “Who taught you these techniques?” he asked again but still he didn’t answer. “What are you doing? You could’ve killed me. You withdrew your attack. You want to die? Is that it? You’re probably feeling guilty of all the murders you committed and death is the easiest way out. Sorry, death would be too kind for a punishment and I’m not giving it to you.” Ban said when he figured out the whole scheme. He let go of his collar and dropped him. “I want no part of this game you’re playing. We’re taking the Dreamcatcher.” Himiko checked the box crate only to find out it was filled with heavy junk.

“It’s not here!” She said.

“Where is it?!” Ban furiously asked. The man stood up, wiped the blood off his lips and pointed to his own head.

“Oh no, Ban-chan you damaged his Helmet. You damaged the Dreamcatcher.” Said Ginji.

“It is still there. The Dreamcatcher is a microchip.” said Dr. Jackal.

“You should’ve said that earlier.” complained Himiko.

“You never asked.” And gave a gentle-scary-Akabane Kurudo kind of smile.

“I see.” said Ban. He then rushed with his snake bite fist again pushing him to the wall. The grip cracked his helmet open revealing his face. Suddenly a dark blur got in between, a shadow! The younger shadow brother took Cain to safety, away from them and into the shadows of the deck where he dominates. They thought they got rid of them. Not just yet “Here Li’l Bro! Catch!” said the older shadow brother as he tossed a simple festival rabbit mask and the younger shadow brother put it on his face.

“The Dreamcatcher, it’s not in his helmet. It’s in his head.” Said Kazuki, who came running. “I just received a call from Miss Hevn that the Dreamcatcher is a microchip that is implanted in the brain.”

“That means, we’d have to actually kill him.” said Shido who seemed not agreeable with the means to complete the mission.

“Do we really have to crack his head open?” asked the disgusted Ginji.

“You need not worry. I’d do the dirty works on your behalf. I’d have to kill him first then deliver his head to our client. It would be a lot messier if we’d get the microchip ourselves.” said Dr. Jackal

“Uh-uh. You’d have to get through me and my Li’l Bro.” he said as they surged to attack him.

“Done then” said Dr. Jackal. He summoned his bloody rain of scalpels and aimed it at the brothers.

“Hee hee.. Haven’t you learned anything? That does not work on us!” He mocked.

“Who said I’m aiming at you? I got it through you as you said.” Dr. Jackal maneuvered his scalpels to their leader’s direction. They rushed to save him, no scalpel should harm him. And indeed no scalpel scratched him as Ban shielded him with his body. He left everyone puzzled. His back was like a pin cushion!

“What’s the noble sacrifice for Ban Mido?” asked the confused Dr. Jackal he summoned back his scalpels and blood spurted all over.

“Nobody hurts her!” he shouted…. He was familiar with her. He knows her.

“Her? Now, the man is a woman? This could not get more complicated.” Said Shido.

Ban was on his feet though his battered and bleeding body was giving up. Then, he called him by her name. “Madison?” He took a few steps closer to her. “Maddie?” She backed further from him and into the light. “Madie, its me… “

“Don’t’ go any closer.” warned the younger shadow brother.

“It’s Ban-ban.” He said getting closer.

“I’m afraid you didn’t hear what my Li’l Bro said. Don’t-go-any-closer.” articulated the older shadow brother, who has seemed to have lost the comical tone of his voice.

“Maddie, Is it you?” he took few more steps and then his body collapsed. She caught him in her arms, his weight pushed her on her knees, and sat on her ankles and his blood tainted her Black leather trench coat with crimson red as his head fell rested on her lap. “I saw a glimpse of your face…It’s you, right?” Ban used what’s left of his strength to reach for her mask and take it off. Behind it were tears pouring from her eyes. Eyes that laid bare fear and confusion… the very silent Cain finally spoke in reply… “I don’t know…”