Pain [Bill]

The impact almost shattered my arm. There was no way I'd win this conventionally. I tried doing what Brit suggested. I focused all the energy in my body to my hand, and jumped over my opponent. "Checkmate." I barely even moved, and she flew forward, ramming directly into the wall separating the spectators from us. "Clarice Jackson, eliminated!"

I watched intently. It was almost certain Akumura and I would be the finalists. The fight didn't even last 25 seconds, before I heard, "Jonathan Johnson, eliminated!" Jamie looked concerned. "Are you sure you can win?" I nodded, "Yeah. We know each other well enough, this should be good." Brit shook her head, "I really don't think so," She opened a book, "You and him are similar, since Vampires are direct creations of Demons, but you're only half Demon. You two are equal in power, speed, and strategical abilities. It's really a fight of abilities, which I don't think you can win. All you really have is your speed and strength, but he can regenerate-"

"Never tell me the odds kid." Scorpio crossed her arms, "He can make it. Even so, the only difference between who wins is who the money goes. We've all agreed that we'll move in the dorm together, remember?"

"I know, but still, we're talking about a Demon and Vampire here. It's all a matter of pride. They can't simply have a victor without is effecting the other." Akumura sat next to Naomi, "We're on tomorrow. Try to at least humor me." He raised his hand to his chest. "Please," I grabbed it with all the strength I had, "I was going to say the same thing."

The AstroTurf that was regularly on the edges of the stadium was gone. Akumura and I stood in the center, the rules were simple, an all out brawl. No holding back, no restrictions, just a victor. I shook his hand, and Chasan checked our weapons. "You two are set," He shook Akumura's hand, "Good job on getting this far, and good luck in this match." He grabbed a microphone, "Everyone! May I have your attention!" The stadium went silent. "You all have done stunningly in this tournament, however, it pains me to say there can be only one victor. So, without any further adieu," He grabbed my hand and Akumura's hand, "Let the final round, begin!" He let his wings out, and flew above us. I held my sword at the ready, and Akumura got in a fighting stance. "3! 2! 1!" We made eye-contact, and nodded, "GO!"

We both shot at each other, his fists clashing with my blade. Sparks flew from the collision, but we both stood, unaffected. I shot back, and caught my breath. The worst time. I felt another sharp pain in my back. Worse than before, as if something was pounding to leave, but was still too weak to. "Not now-" Before I could register anything, I flew across the ring. I caught myself, and stood back up. I tried ignoring the pain, but it kept getting worse. I was on the defensive. Akumura relentlessly attacked, each blow knocking me back. "What happened to humoring me?" I couldn't think of a response. The pain began to spread, throbbing in my head. I somehow managed to stay standing, but all my strength was in my legs. Suddenly, I felt something. The skin on my back, started tearing.

I fell down, and screamed. Nerves from my spine were forming. I cursed my human side, even though I didn't even realize a difference. I felt a new set of appendages in my control. Two, hook-like structures sticking out of my back. Akumura stared at me. "Bill?" I tried to stand up, but I couldn't even manage to twitch my finger. Quick footsteps approached, "What's going on?" Chasan's voice was filled with concern, but also fear. "I-I don't know. He just, collapsed, then those grew out of him. I felt something bush against me. Pain shot through me, but I didn't even have the energy to wince. Everything was silent. The flap of wings shot through my ears, and I passed out.

I woke up on a bench. "He should be fine, but you need rest. If something like my arm-"

"I'm fine, Scorpio, this was dulling pain, not healing a wound." There was a sigh, then footsteps. I opened my eyes, Scorpio and Chasan were sitting next to me. "Good, you're awake." I felt my head, "What happened?"

"You, underwent a metamorphosis." Chasan was pale, more than I'd seen him before. "In English?"

"You grew wings. And, your eyes are different."

"Oh Jesus, I don't have horns, do I?!" I felt the top of my head. "No," Scorpio smiled, "You don't." Chasan stood up, "The match has been put on hold until you think you're ready, tell Ms. To-"

"I'm ready."

"A-are you sure? You've only been resting for a few minutes. I'd reccomen-"

"I said I'm ready. I've waited a week for this, no way am I just letting a pair of wings ruin it!" Scorpio looked at Chasan. "Okay. I will inform Mr. Orihara. The match resumes in 5 minutes."

I moved my wing. "So this is what it's like," I put one in front of my face, "That's, different than Jamie's."

"Of course, what did you expect," Brit was leaning on a locker, "You're not an Angel. I've seen this kind of thing before, but, with fairies. I haven't had it happen to me, so all I can really do to help you is say to not let them get in the way. Try to keep the folded under your shirt, or jacket, or whatever."

"I was gonna do that anyway, but thanks."

"Well, it's about time for you to go," she motioned toward the door, "Don't want to keep anyone waiting any longer."

I stepped outside. I shielded my eyes from the blinding sunlight, and gripped my sword. "I refuse to lose." Akumura stood, and looked at me, his eyes glowing. He got into a fighting stance, the same as last time. I held my sword in front of me, directly in the middle of my vision. "3!" I focused on him, "2!" Akumura's hair blew upward, as if there was a gust of wind coming from him, "1!" I placed my foot behind myself, "GO!" I shot off. The force fractured my leg, but I ignored it. I slashed at his legs, and he fell down, his shins flying backward. He stood up, already having regenerated. He ran toward me, and before I was able to react, the cold sensation of steel rushed through my cheek, and I flew sideways. "I." I stood back up. "Refuse." I took off my jacket. "TO LOSE!" I flew toward him, and cut his arm clean off.

Everything happened so quickly. He howled, and rammed his remaining hand in my abdomen. The pain. No, the emptiness. There was nothing where his arm was. "So do I." He started running. I was moving with him. Why? I grabbed his arm, and pushed. I fell down, and coughed up blood. "Bill Walk-" I stood back up. "Not yet." I looked down. There was a hole punched through my body. I fell to one knee. Akumura walked over to me. "Different set-up," he kicked my in the side, "Same results." I felt something coming from my throat. "No," blood poured out of my mouth, "Not yet." He kicked my in the side again, this time, I lost feeling in my legs. I fell on the ground. "I. Win." I looked up, and somehow managed to grab my sword. "Not yet." I stood up, balancing myself on the blade. "Why won't you just stay down?! It's the same ending either way!"

"Brit was right," I wiped my mouth, "It's all a matter of pride." I trusted the blade into his chest, and removed it. I fell down, not able to bare the weight my own body, and Akumura fell on top of me. "Bill Walker, eliminated!"