Pirates of the Skies

Chapter 15

Chasing Killers

Hazumi flew through the forest. He had given up on finding Kazu and decided to meet up with his family back on the Dream Glider. On his way there was a quick blur that suddenly passed through him. At first it shocked him to stillness after recovering from his initial surprise, he began pursuing the blur.

When he was flying as fast as the running blur, it ceased to be a blur and became a man. He had long, unkempt black hair. His white jacket had long sleeves which widened out at the end and he moved with great agility. He was Kazu Ita! Hazumi looked back at the Dream Glider a small distance away and felt torn. Should he go back and report Kazu's movement or continue pursuing? No, best to follow him and when I get the chance, take him down, Hazumi decided. He turned around and focused his attention on chasing the killer.

/

Riku and Mary entered the storage building and went to where Shuji was trapped under a heavy shelf.

"Don't worry, Shuji, with Riku's help we'll get you out of there in no time." Mary assured him. "Right, Riku?"

Riku nodded in agreement. He grabbed the shelf along with Mary. "Alright on three," Mary said. "One… Two… Three!" They pulled up and the shelf lifted off of Shuji. He was able to crawl out the space beneath before they dropped it with a loud bang.

Both Mary and Riku crouched over him. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah but… like I said, my arm is broken." Shuji said, with his arm laying limp at his side.

"I think I saw a first aid kitt somewhere here," Mary said before walking off.

The brothers stayed there, allowing the awkward silence to grow. At least for Shuji it was awkward, which is why he spoke in an attempt to dispel it. "I see you found your weapon."

"I see you found yours." Riku said.

"Yes," Shuji said raising the rifle with his good arm. "It's a Tomenring single bolt action rifle with a chronomally aiming system."

Riku nodded before raising his sheathed weapon and giving its stats. "This is a katana, its sharp."

"I see." Shuji said, nodding slowly.

"Here it is." Mary said returning with the first aid kitt. "Let's give your arm some support." Mary wrapped the bandage around his arm and a sling around his shoulder. "Sorry it's not as good as a cast…"

"No, it will do." Shuji said. "I guess we better get back to the Dream Glider."

"Yes," she said.

Shuji attempted to get up but it was a difficult task for him as he could not use his hands. "Uh… can you guys help me up?"

Both Riku and Mary had seen his effort of trying to get up without using his hands. "Why don't you use your other hand?" Mary asked with a confused tone.

"I promised that I would never let go of this rifle until it was back with me on the ship." Shuji answered. Mary sighed before she and Riku helped him up onto his feet. They walked out of the building, taking care to avoiding Tobik's body. Riku and Mary scaled up the building with a few diagonal jumps.

"Uh.. guys, I think your forgetting something." Shuji said waving at them.

It was Riku's turn to sigh as minutes later he was piggy backing Shuji again while they jumped from roof to roof.

/

Yuki was desperately running around the forest in hopes of finding Kazu again. She was frustrated that she had lost him. Therefore she was in no mood to be kind when a group of guards ran into her.

"Halt! You are under arrAHHHHH!" The group were blown away by a great gust of wind.

"I don't have time for you people," Yuki said continuing on her way. After some time she gave up, realising that she had lost her target. She was also late for the rendezvous back at the Dream Glider. By now they were probably…

A great shadow blocking the moon above fell onto her. She whipped her head around and up before sighing in relief when she saw the Dream Glider above her. "Hey," Shinji said leaning over the railing of the ship. "You were late in getting here so we thought: if Yuki can't come to the ship then we'll bring the ship to her."

Yuki smiled before summoning an upward whirl of wind to assist her in jumping onto the ship. She sighed sadly at her husband. "I lost him. I had that piece of trash in my fingers and he just slipped through them."

"Hey don't worry." Shinji said rubbing her back to comfort her. "People like him will always rear their ugly heads up again. We'll find him." He assured her.

She gave him a smile and nod. "Is Hazumi here?" She asked looking at Kai.

"No, he hasn't arrived yet." Kai said.

Yuki looked out to the dark forest. "Is it possible that he found him?"

"Well our boy is the best tracker amongst us." Shinji said. "I wouldn't worry about him. He's shown to be able to handle himself."

/

"Wait, why are we not heading to the docks?" Shuji asked while holding on to Riku's from behind. "Isn't that where our ship is?"

"Ma and Pa went to the forest to look for Kazu Ita." Riku said.

"Oh!" Shuji said looking ahead. In the distance in front of the moon, he could see the distant shadow that was the Dream Glider.

Riku and Mary finally reached the end of the town and stopped at the foot of the forest. This is where Riku unceremoniously dropped Shuji down on his butt.

"Ow!" He said as he got up. "What was that for?"

Riku looked back at his brother who was getting on his feet. "You're not coming with us."

"What? Why?" Shuji asked.

"You're not useful in a fight like that." Riku said gesturing to Shuji's broken arm.

"What? This? This is nothing!" Shuji said trying to play it off.

"Wait for us at the docks," Riku said, ignoring his claims. As Shuji was about to say something else, he ran into the forest.

"The docks are that way." Mary pointed helpfully before she followed after Riku.

"Wait… this is not how you should treat your older brother!" Shuji shouted to the forest. He sighed before heading to the direction of the docks.

/

The sun began rising over the forest, illuminating the dark and sending the creatures of the night back to their places of rest. Kazu had grown tired and had decided to rest, prompting Hazumi to hover above him as he sat down cross-legged on the forest floor. Hazumi glanced back at the ship which was getting closer. He was tempted to leave Kazu while he was stationary and go back to the ship to direct his family to the wanted man. However, his hopes of leaving were dashed when Kazu got up and resumed his frantic run through the forest.

Hazumi began wondering where he was going. Kazu stopped in front of what looked like a small hill of branches and leaves. Hazumi floated for a while, waiting to see what would happen. Kazu parted the foliage to reveal a contraption hidden beneath.

"An air skiff!" Hazumi said, surprised. The skiff had two propeller turbines on the side and unlike a sky ship, the much smaller vessel had sails and kite like wings on the side to help it glide the air currents. Hazumi realised that Kazu would try to use the skiff to escape. Hazumi realised that it would take some time for Kazu to get the skiff in the air, so he quickly flew towards his family to inform them of Kazu's position before he escaped using the air skiff.

/

Mary and Riku were running through the forest. They were heading for the Dream Glider but unbeknownst to them someone on the ship already had their eye on them.

"I see Riku and Mary." Kai said looking at them from the telescope.

"Do they have Shuji with them?" Yuki asked.

Kai looked at his mother and shook his head sadly.

"Oh no, what could have…" There was a sound of the ship getting damaged that interrupted her.

"What be that?" Shinji shouted as he ran down to the deck. He looked over the side and on the bottom he could see Mayor Branson. He was wearing a black overcoat and his white hair glinted from the distance above. "Hey ye jerk, what do ye think ye be doing?" Shinji shouted down at him.

Branson had with him two of his subordinates. One was holding an axe in each hand while the other had a thick chain that he was dragging around. "Finally," Branson said as he took the chain from the man. "I can take these pirate-scum down." Branson took one of the two sided axes from the other man and wrapped the thick chain around its wooden handle. He then c****d his hand back and threw the axe.

The axe sho9t for the ship with a slight curve in its trajectory while trailing the thick chain behind it. The axe hit the hull of the Dream Glider, causing a whole before coming out next to the hole it made with a newly created hole, as if it was a boomerang. Branson caught the axe as it returned to his hand. There was static electricity and a wheezing sound as he planted his feet to the ground. Electricity and the sounds of something humming emerged from Branson as he planted his feet to the ground, making small imprints in the grass.

"Hey, stop damaging me ship!" Shinji shook his fist at the man before the ship stopped, throwing them all of balance.

"What's going on?" Omoi asked, too afraid to look down.

"I-I can't believe it." Kai said in awe as he watched Branson put the ship's movement to a stop by pulling the chain attached to it back. "He's pulling the whole ship!"

"Is this land lubber some kind o' +Human?" Shinji asked.

"Pirates!" Branson began, his voice having some measure of strain. "I order you to give up and if you have Kazu Ita with you, hand him over!"

"What a jerk," Shinji said. "We not be havin' Kazu Ita yet, now leave me ship alone!"

"Sir!" One of Branson's subordinates brought him to the attention of two fast approaching figures. It was Riku and Mary.

"Keep them occupied while I hold the rest of the pirates." Branson said.

The subordinates took a fighting stance in front of Branson and each withdrew their sabre as Riku and Mary ran for them. Riku put on slightly more speed than the thief and thereby getting in front of her. Mary intuitively understanding what he was planning stopped running and let Riku handle the two men alone.

Riku charged on at the two men and at the last moment ran to the side, thereby focusing his attention on one of them. This took both the guards by surprise and Riku's target was barely able to recover and block Riku's s***h. The other guard ran towards them, eager to assist his comrade.

"12 Noble Samurai Form: Glancing Blade Strike!" Riku forced the man's sword blade down before sliding his own along the length of the other sword only to cut a part of the other man's dominant arm. The man's numb hands dropped his sword and Riku took advantage of this by slicing him in the knee.

The man fell to a knee while Riku turned around to face his remaining opponent. The other guard tried to put more power into his sword s***h by usng his momentum but Riku was able to meet the attack head on with his blade and without losing any ground. They traded blows a few times before Riku was able to use the same previous move to cut the man's arm and disarm him of his weapon. The man held his bleeding forearm and screamed before Riku stepped past him and cut his leg to the bone. He elbowed the man in the back which sent him flying into the other vanquished combatant who was trying to get yup. They both fell in a pile on the ground.

Now that the lesser fighters were dispatched, Riku focused on Branson. He lunged forward and with his sword point thrusting towards the mayor. Branson manipulated the chains he was holding and was able to wrap them around Riku's sword and arms, stopping the deadly lunge inches from his chest. Riku grunted in pain as the chain constricted around his arm and stopped any blood flow. The sword fell from his quickly numbing hands.

"His hurting Riku!" Kai said. "This guy hurts Riku and more importantly he damages the ship. You should take him on and beat him up, dad!" Kai said to his father passionetly.

"Yeah, I should." Shinji said pulling up the red sleeves of his jacket. "Wait, where's my gun?" Shinji said realising that his gun was not at his hip. "Nah, forget it. I can take this guy on with my bare hands!"

"Oh, you're soooo cooooool Dad!" Kai said fawning over his father.

Shinji was about to move forward before Yuki placed her hand in front of her husband. "No, I'll do it." Yuki said before smiling at her husband and then adopting a more serious look before jumping over the rails and down to the ground below. Using her powers, she slowed down her descent as no normal human could survive a jump from that height.

"Hey…!" Branson heard an aggressive voice from above him. He looked up to see Yuki dropping, her sandy brown raggedy dress fluttering upwards, revealing glimpses of her orange panties. "Leave my son alone!" She released an Air Torpedo which blew both Branson and Riku apart. Both men slid along the ground from the attack before stopping. Yuki landed gently on the floor and looked back at her son. "Oh, I'm sorry baby, are you okay?"

Getting up, Riku simply nodded.

"Good. Where is your brother? You said you'd save him."

"He's okay, I told him to wait for us at the docks."

Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. "Good." She said before she noticed movement in her peripheral vision. She turned around to fully face Branson who was getting up. "You? You try to execute my son; you put another in jail and then you try and destroy our home? You will pay for your wrong doings against my family!" Yuki said pointing a finger at him.

"You're no better than a pirate!" Branson angrily said. "You are not good enough to stand before my shoe!"

"It's time I put you in your place, mud peasent." Yuki spat.

"Careful ma," Riku interjected, "he has a…"

"No need to tell her, I'll show her!" Branson shouted before grabbing his overcoat and tearing it from his body. Underneath he wore a metallic breast plate. It had sleeves of grey steel with moving gears on the elbow and shoulder.

"A strength vest." Riku said.

"What is that, dad?" Kai asked.

"It's called a strength vest." Shinji said, watching the events unfold below the ship. "It amplifies the strength of the wearer ten-fold."

"A strength vest? I don't really know what that is," Yuki said walking towards him. "But it's probably another cheap trick I'll have to easily overcome before I give you the beating you deserve."

"Mother." Yuki stopped in her tracks at the ghostly sound of her son.

"Hazumi!" Yuki said smiling while looking up. "You're back!"

"Yes, I found Kazu." Hazumi began. "He has an air skiff that he's going to escape with."

"Well, I'm a bit tied up." Yuki said looking at Branson. "You can handle this, right Riku?"

Riku picked up his sword which was lying on the ground beside him, having also been blown away with Yuki's attack.

"Okay, I'll lead the way." Hazumi said. "Partial Corporal Mode: Chest!" Hazumi's chest began glowing silver. "Just follow the silver light." Hazumi said before flying away.

Riku looked back at Mary who had overheard the conversation. She was about to follow when Riku raised his hand to stop her. "Stay here and help ma." He said before he runs after the silver light that is Hazumi.

Branson saw Riku run past him, making sure to keep his distance. "Where do you think you're going?" He said producing one of two axes form his back. He was about to attack when a powerful wind stopped him and gave Riku the window of opportunity to slip by him.

"Help your mother? I think I should get out of her way." Mary said under her breath when she saw that.

"Your fight is with me, mud peasent." Yuki said.

Branson smiled at Yuki before twirling his fireman axe in a skillful manner. "You are so dead, lady."