Shinigami Twin Ch.26 "Jack Ira"

The final battle is approaching as our heroes… wait a second, this isn't the final battle. Never mind.

Tyrin: So, it's just around here, right?

Boy: Yes, we should be in a few minutes.

Arizo: Good, I don't sense Jack here so we'll probably catch him.

Tyrin: By the way, what's your name?

Boy: Oh, my name is Kyle.

Tyrin: Nice to meet you, Kyle. My name is Tyrin Saki, temporary Commander of Unit 9.

Kyle: Wow, so you're a real Commander?

Arizo: "Temporary" Commander, he doesn't have the job yet.

Tyrin: But, I shall soon.

Arizo: Yeah, we'll see about that.

Tyrin: What's that supposed to mean?

Arizo: Anyway, my name is Dao Arizo, Commander of Unit 11.

Kyle: Awesome. I never thought I get to meet a real Commander. And I get to help too.

Tyrin: That's right. Sorry, for dragging you into this, Kyle.

Kyle: No, it's alright. I'm glad to help out.

Tyrin: So who were those other kids back there? Were they you're friends?

Kyle: Not exactly, they only wanted me to bring them to the secret alleyway. I know them from school, but they never spoke to me before.

Tyrin: That's the only reason? What kind of person would do that?

Kyle: It's alright, really. I'm glad to help out whenever I'm able to. Nobody really ever talks to me though. Girls ignore me, the popular kids hate me, and the teachers are mean to me.

Tyrin: That sounds a lot like… me…

Arizo: Huh? You used to have it like that? I've figured you were a regular student by the way you talk. You know, despite you skipping middle and high school.

Tyrin: No, back then I was in the same situation. I was a complete nobody. But, then I meet someone, a friend who helped me from being lonely. After that, I started to change for the better and here I am today. I'm really glad I had a friend back then after what I've been through. Don't worry, Kyle. If you be yourself, one day you'll find that friend and hopefully even more will come too.

Kyle: Thank you, Mr. Saki.

Tyrin: I'm not really that much older than you, so just call me Tyrin.

Kyle: Ok, Mr. Tyrin.

Tyrin: Never mind, this is getting me nowhere.

Arizo: Here it is!

The three stop in front of the shelter. The shelter was a giant dome large enough to hold thousands of people. The Shinigami are using this to protect the people of Navix, obviously.

Tyrin: Arizo, do you sense him?

Arizo: Not a hint. I don't sense the bomb either.

Kyle: You two should go inside and warn everybody. I'll stay outside and keep a look out for you.

Tyrin: No, Kyle. It's too dangerous, you should leave.

Kyle: I can't. Not while everybody is in danger. I'll do whatever I can to stop that terrorist.

Arizo: I should knock you out, but you do have a point. Alright, let's go inside.

Tyrin: Yeah. Call us as soon as you see him and be careful.

Kyle: You can trust me, I won't let you down.

Arizo and Tyrin enter the shelter

The crowd talk among themselves. They were worried about the safety of their city and if the terrorist, Jack, would be stopped. On the stage, Leon approaches the microphone and begins to speak.

Leon: Everyone, can I have your attention.

The crowd begins to quiet down

Leon: I know this is difficult time for all of you, but we must remain calm. We have already sent two Shinigami to deal with the terrorist at Navix as we speak.

Man: What's the current situation at Navix now?

Leon: We do not know at this time, but we can assure you that it is in capable hands.

Woman: We can we expect the Shinigami to deal with the terrorist?

Leon: From my personal experience with them, I can say that both of the Shinigami sent there are more than enough to handle the terrorist and save the city from destruction. I trust in their abilities.

Man: What are the chances of the terrorist moving to a different location, like the shelter?

Leon: On a scale of 1-10, I would say 1 at most. We also have security safely guarding the shelter as well. So, there should be no worry of the terrorist arriving here.

Arizo and Tyrin approach Leon. Leon was shocked to them, but he kept his cool so he wouldn't worry the people.

Arizo: Leon!

Tyrin: We need to talk to you!

Leon: Um… hold on a second, folks. There seems to be something I need to discuss with these two Shinigami.

Arizo: It's Jack, he coming to the shelter!

Tyrin: And he's bringing the bomb too! We have to get everybody out of here immediately!

Now, if you were worried about terrorist attacking your city, what would you do when you find out the same terrorist was about to come to your location?

Leon: I'm sorry, folks. But, I ask you to please stay calm as we handle the situation.

Man: We're all going to die!

The crowd screams in horror and scatters around the shelter

Leon: You could've told me about this in private and avoid such an outburst.

Arizo: Sorry, it was out of nowhere. We should've thought this through.

Suddenly, all of the lights turn off. The people stopped and were scared to move any further.

Man: What's going on now?

Woman: This day can't get any worse!

Stage lights scatter across the room

Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman! Put your hands together for the man of the hour… and also the man who threaten my life if I didn't do this… Jack Ira!

Jack slowly falls to the stage from a lift. The lights focused on him, like he was the star of the show or something. This, of course, pleased Jack.

Jack: Good Morning, Navix! How's everyone today? Alright, for today's show I would like to announce my guest.

Arizo: How did he get up there? Where are the security guards?

Leon: I forgot to mention that most of the security guards are fat and have less than a week before we fired them.

Tyrin: We're screwed.

Jack: Here is my wonderful guest who, not by force, would like to demonstrate something to you all! Here he is… Kyle!

Kyle appears from behind Jack. His hands were tied by a rope and sweat was running down his face.

Arizo and Tyrin are deeply shocked

Tyrin: K…Kyle! What are you doing here?

Kyle: I… I'm sorry, Mr. Tyrin. I was trying to call you, but he stopped me.

Jack: Quiet! Now, little Kyle here is going to demonstrate how not shoot to gun.

Jack pulls out a small handgun places it in Kyle's hands

Jack: First off, he's going to try not to kill a Shinigami, like that Commander over there.

Arizo: You crazy son of a… what the hell are you trying to accomplish?

Jack: Isn't it simple? Why is a child up in the first place holding a gun? Aren't you Shinigami supposed to protect poor, defenseless children like him? Now, boy… I want shoot him. *points at Leon*

Kyle frightfully looks at gun. Just feeling to cold steel, made him shake.

Tyrin: Don't do this, Jack! It's me you want, isn't it? So why don't just fight me instead?

Jack: I would love to, but destroying an entire population of innocent people gets the message much deeper. I will die eventually and so will everyone else here. And you want to know why? It's because you failed to protect these people from this disaster. The North Soul Tower has fallen. This is the ultimate proof of that.

Arizo: So killing lives is justified to prove a point, even your own?

Jack: Yes. Scarifies have to be made for the future to become a reality. Some fated and some…

Tyrin: Just shut the hell up!

Jack: What?

Tyrin: You think I give a damn about that crap comes out of your mouth? I'm here to save the lives I can! I don't know what kind of future you want to live in where people have to live in fear being destroyed for one man's purpose! But, I do know that the words you're saying right now don't mean anything to anyone here!

Jack: What are blabbing about now, boy?

Tyrin: This entire situation. Your brother died for whatever reason it may be, but that doesn't mean countless others have to die to prove a point! I'm not even sure you want to avenge your brother right now. What it seems to me is like you're trying to take everything someone cares about for your own self desires.

Jack: You little… how dare you…

Tyrin: Don't give me that crap! I don't want you to say this for your brother or for family! Because this is not what a brother would do his brother, this is what trash does for self-pity!

Jack: That's it!

Pissed, Jack grabs the gun and points it at Kyle's head

Jack: I'm going to kill this kid, and then I'm going to kill you and everyone else in this damn building! Go on, boy! Beg for your life!

On a rooftop nearby the shelter, Joshua prepares his sniper rifle and points it at Jack's head. He prepared to steady his gun, but he nearly dropped it. Joshua never failed to ready himself before a kill. He was always prepared to kill his target.

But, this target was a man he sworn to protect and serve until the very end of his life. For the first time in his life, Joshua was nervous about killing someone. He looked at Jack and noticed the gun pointed at Kyle's head. Joshua couldn't let him kill him, but at the same time he couldn't stop him unless he killed him.

Joshua: (Damn! Is he really going to kill that kid? I can't just let him! I have to kill him now! But… I can't! I'm supposed to protect and serve the Ira family, how am I doing that now by killing him?)

The crowd watches in horror

Tyrin: (I can't let Kyle die! I have to think of something to get him out of there! But how?)

Jack: Dammit! I said beg, boy!

Kyle: Why should I? I don't want to beg for my life for someone like you!

Jack grits in anger. Nothing was going his way like he wanted, his plan was foiled.

Arizo: Don't do it, Jack! Just put the kid and we'll let you go! No one has to die!

Man: Let the boy go!

Woman: You monster!

Man: I rather die, and then let someone like you terrorize our city!

Man: The Shinigami are not the ones to blame, but you!

Back on the rooftop, Joshua's finger slightly twitches on the trigger. He had to make a decision, but his emotions wouldn't let him.

Joshua: (Damn… just shoot him already! I can't kill the master! It doesn't matter, a boy is about to die because of you! Don't let his life end this way, not like… damn…)

Jack: Trash… trash…

Memories begin to play in Jack's mind. The memories were the ones when he spent his time with his brother, Devon. As a kid, Jack was always bullied by older children for his lack of intelligence.

Jack: The all of you…

A memory of Devon petting Jack's head as boy plays in his mind. Devon would always cheer Jack up whenever he cried. Devon was a role model for Jack, a nice kind man who always sought to protect his family. That was something Jack admired about his brother.

Devon: (Hey, little bro, don't cry, I'll always be here to protect you… No matter what happens, I'll always be by side.)

Devon smiles as the memory fades away back into reality. Jack's eyes begin to whelp up as the memory fades. He realized his brother was gone. He hated the Sakis for taking him away from him. He wished nothing but to kill them, nothing but sweat death. Jack was prepared to even give his own life for that dream. The dream of finally seeing them pay for taking Devon away.

Jack: The all of you should just die already!

Arizo: Don't!

Tyrin: Kyle!

Joshua fires the rifle sending the bullet straight through Jack's skull. Jack's body falls backwards as a single tear leaves Jack's lifeless eyes. Everyone is deeply shocked by what happened.

Tyrin: What… what the hell just…

Joshua drops his rifle as he staggers back in horror. He couldn't believe what he has just done. It felt like he betrayed everything he believe in.

Joshua: What… what have I done…? I… I killed him…

A faint sound begins to start. The sound was like a tick.

Leon: What's that sound?

The bomb on Jack's chest begins to light up

Arizo: The hell? The bomb is going to…

Leon unsheathes his sword and releases his spirit

Leon: "Barrier!"

A tri-fold of blue energy barriers surrounded Jack's body as the bomb gives off within it. Everybody shield their eyes from the light it gives. The light begins to dime down and barriers break down. Tyrin opens his eyes notices Jack's body is gone. It was destroyed completely by the explosion, not a single trace of it was left.

Tyrin: His body… was completely destroyed…

An hour later

Reida: So, he was killed by a sniper?

Arizo: That's what we saw. From the suggested route I say it came from that rooftop over there. It's a perfect shot from where Jack was standing.

Reida: I see…

Reida notices Tyrin sitting down on the stage. She felt pity for him.

Reida: I'll ask you for a full report later.

Reida walks over to Tyrin

Reida: You alright?

Tyrin: Y… Yeah. I'm just surprised, that's all.

Reida: If you need some time off, I'll understand.

Tyrin: I'm alright, thanks.

Reida: Look, I'm not one to cheer someone up, but you did what you were able to do, so… good job.

Tyrin: Thanks, Reida.

Reida leaves

Arizo: So what did Reida say to you?

Tyrin: Peep talk.

Arizo: Seriously? That's surprising. She's really not the type to cheer someone up.

Tyrin is silent. Arizo wanted to say something, but he didn't have the heart.

Arizo: I'm not one either, but… never mind… I'll probably make you even more depressed.

Leon: Hey, guys.

Arizo: Leon.

Leon: I wanted to tell you that we found the sniper's rifle on a rooftop close by. Whoever it was must have just bought because he did a sloppy job leaving it behind.

Arizo: What do you mean?

Leon: He left all the bullets, the rifle itself, and he dropped some kind of communication device. We're still trying to piece it all together, but we already found fingerprints on the device, so we'll get an I.D. tomorrow. I'm sure Eda will probably call for a meeting tomorrow for all the details.

Arizo: Thanks and sorry for embarrassing you up there.

Leon: No problem. Hey, Rookie.

Tyrin: Yes?

Leon: Good job.

Tyrin: Thanks.

Leon leaves

Arizo: Well, I better get that report ready. You going back yet?

Tyrin: I… think I'm going to sit here for a while, I'll be back soon.

Arizo: Alright, take care.

Arizo leaves

Tyrin stares at the hole where the bomb exploded on stage. In truth, he felt sadden by Jack's death. He felt like he could've prevented it from happening. He felt responsible for what happened.

Tyrin: Jack… Ira…

End of chapter