Legends

Gathering of Heroes

Shadow got on the roof, ignoring the flaring in his ribs. Before him was the most wanted man of the Ittori Clan, the one and only Red Baron.

"I have an offer for you, Shadow." Red Baron said smoothly, as he reached inside his red overcoat.

Shadow aimed his sword at Red Baron. "I'm killing you and ending your dishonor of our clan."

Red Baron almost broke into a smile, "Our clan?"

"My clan." Shadow corrected as he tried to extend his stance but his ribs creaked with the sudden stretch and Shadow had to grit his teeth to not make a sound.

"Your Clan? Then what are you doing here in BloodHalo?" Red Baron questioned, pulling out a paper card from within his coat.

Shadow took a step forward his eyes wide for any sudden movement from his enemy.

"You're exiled Shadow, or you'd be holed up in Japan with the others."

"When I kill you I'll be welcomed back." Shadow lunged, swinging his blade high.

Red Baron sighed and easily sidestepped the strike. "Oh man, and here I thought you might have woken up from the brainwashing." Red Baron rubbed the front of his head.

Shadow whirled around holding his blade in a defensive position but Red Baron had not moved at Shadow to take advantage of the opening.

"You dishonor everything the Kakusareta clan taught us, to use our skills to keep our country safe, our people protected." Shadow swung again but his adjusted stance for the pain in his ribs made it short of reaching Red Baron.

A large gust of air knocked Shadow off his feet and into the ground. What the hell was that? He thought.

"Leru, I had that handled." Red Baron said as he turned to a woman stepping onto the roof. Leru had dark skin, silver hair braided, and was as tall as the Red Baron. She was wearing a ripped tank top underneath a bulletproof vest. Dangling from her neck was a grey octagon amulet that had a carved white image of the wind.

Is that one of the amulets, Stone and Tigress are looking for? Shadow thought as he tried to get back on his feet.

"I got bored, and it looked like he was trying to kill you." Leru said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, he seems a bit more stubborn than originally thought." Red Baron admitted. "If you change your mind, Shadow, we'll be in Geneva."

"Don't tell him where we're headquartered." Snapped Leru. Suddenly the air around Shadow felt dry and dangerous.

Red Baron shrugged.

Shadow got to his feet.

"I'm not joining you!" Shadow roared but his voice was ripped away by the sudden loudness of a helicopter blades whirling. Above them was a black helicopter, shining brights on Shadow. Shadow winced and covered his eyes.

When the brights moved away, Red Baron and his companion were gone.

Shadow watches as Red Baron flies away on his helicopter. He reaches for his grappling hook and aims it at the helicopter landing rails but he's too far away. But yet. He fires anyway and watches, disappointed as the hook never reaches the helicopter and falls limplessly down an adjacent roof.

He refuses to give up. Shadow begins his mad dash to the roof's edge. His heart pumps.

Red Baron.Traitor. Redeemed. Home. Red Baron. Traitor. Redeemed. Home. His logic is flawless.