Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Captive Souls ❯ Enter Dusk ( Chapter 2 )

Captive Souls

Chapter 2

“Good evening, Dusk,” A dark voice spoke from a speaker. “Are you ready for tonight’s mission?” The masked figure nodded while he remained kneeling in a dark room. “Good. Tonight, you are to ambush the Mysterious Nightingale inside an old cathedral. She’ll believe there are humans hiding in that area thanks to that spy we hired to do our dirty work for us.”

“If that is what Lord Raizen asks, I shall obey,” Dusk spoke in a harsh voice before standing at full height. He wore a black spandex suit that in the pale light shone red to outline the muscular physique he had. The cloak he wore was a blood-like red that had a golden chain stemming to armor that was the same color tone as the cloak he wore. On his side, he had what looked like a light saber-type weapon on the belt he wore at his waist. His face was concealed behind a black mask that shielded his true identity from all those who dared face him.

“Excellent. I expect that you carry out your mission and see to it that it fails.”

  Chi-chi woke in fright. The nightmare she had was the same every time she tried to sleep ending with her husband succumbing to the army Raizen sent after them. No matter how strong she tried to look on the outside, she cried out internally for this chaos to stop. She wished she could have done some thing different in the dream, but she could not do that or fix the past that had gone astray. She noticed the other fighters gathered around the table discussing tonight’s plans.

“Recently, there was a cathedral that has people hiding inside,” A male spoke in a mysterious voice. They trusted this male with news he managed to get from the underground about the city. “It would do us good if we managed to evacuate that area before Raizen’s troops learn of it.”

“Sounds like a wise idea Milton,” Piccolo agreed. “We’ll head there tonight and evacuate the survivors.”

“Let me go with you,” Chi-chi spoke up.

“Chi-chi, it’s too dangerous,” Krillin admitted. “They’re looking for the Mysterious Nightingale and if you come, they might capture you.”

“I’m not that weak.” Chi-chi growled. True she maybe the weakest fighter; however, she still manages to fight off the guards that come after her during her nightly raids. It is due to this that the surviving humans are forced to wait until she returned with what food and medicine she can get. It was better than losing what they have left to Raizen’s forces.

“Krillin’s got a point though,” Yamcha agreed with the ex-monk. Ever since Krillin lost both his wife and daughter to those monsters, he vowed vengeance; even at the cost of his mortal life here on Earth.

“No matter how much you discourage me, I will find a way to get them to safety,” Chi-chi countered. It’s true that thanks to her, she had found this haven for them, but they feared that it would not last much longer.

“Very well,” Piccolo spoke. “Chi-chi, while you lead them to safety, we’ll keep guard in case we have trouble.”

The old cathedral seemed out of place to be standing since there were buildings that had been reduced to rubble around it. Either Kami himself shielded the sanctuary from attack or the aliens decided to give the humans at least a small bit of hope in this battle torn world. There seemed to be no signs of trouble and the warriors flew around once to make sure it was safe.

“Okay mom,” Gohan spoke in the communicator that he wore on his headband. “You can head in.”

Chi-chi crossed the area and pushed against the door before sliding in. Upon entering, she noticed covers draped over lumps that she assumed were people. Walking up to the nearest one, she pulled back the cover before she realized that it was just a bunch of rubble covered. Before Chi-chi could speak into the communicator to inform them that it was a trap, a blast struck the hand held device. It landed to the ground sizzling and crackling from the damage.

“I don’t think so,” A voice spoke before Chi-chi caught sight of the warrior standing there wearing a mask with no remorse in his eyes.

“Did you set up this trap?” Chi-chi growled while sliding into a fighting stance. She had never met this man before; however, she heard a description of Dusk, the supposed Nightingale Hunter, who was literally Raizen's right-hand man. Perhaps this man was him. “And are you Dusk, the supposed Nightingale Hunter?”

“No and yes to both of your questions,” Dusk vaguely spoke before lunging at Chi-chi. 

 “Mom? Mom! Did you find the people?” Gohan spoke frantically in the communicator that had fallen silent. He grew worried about his mother and before he could charge in, a blast struck the side of the cathedral.

“We got company!” Yamcha yelled. At least a hundred of Raizen’s troops surrounded the warriors and easily outnumbered them.

“We won’t go down without a fight!” Vegeta yelled, transforming into a Super Saiya-jin and lunging at the soldiers.

Inside the cathedral, Chi-chi was knocked off her feet by the impending blast at one of the towers. She felt the punch in her gut by Dusk before she fell back a few feet. Landing on the ground with a thud, she spat up a bit of bile in her throat before she gathered herself up slowly. The last blow felt inhuman; it left Chi-chi winded while she paused to catch her breath. How could one be that strong?

“Is this the famous Mysterious Nightingale I heard so much about?” Dusk scoffed at the woman’s feeble attempts. “You’re a pitiful fighter if I ever seen one.”

Chi-chi was insulted by this male’s taunts. She had been trained by her father at a young age before she met Goku. Within time, she had fought against him in the World Martial Arts Tournament. He long since went on to protect the world countless times and sacrificed his life not twice, but three times. For Dusk to go that far in stating she was weak and considering she couldn’t hold a match against her own children anymore has angered the woman. Lunging at him, Dusk was taken by surprise when Chi-chi fired a blast of her own at him. He barely deflected the blast before they traded blows against one another.

“Still think I’m a pitiful fighter?” Chi-chi growled at the male.

“Not bad, but not good either.” Dusk boasted and pulled his arm back in preparation to throw a punch at her face. Chi-chi closed her eyes and thought that he would punch a woman in the face. When the blow did not come, she saw Dusk had vanished. Looking around, she located him at the top of the cathedral.

“What’s going on?” Chi-chi asked.

“My honor does not allow me to defeat an insignificant worm like you. Until the day you grow stronger, our duel has been postponed.” Dusk vanished moments later while Chi-chi stared on in disbelief. What kind of arrogant fighter was she dealing with? And why in the hell did he spare her when Raizen himself wanted her dead or alive?

“They’re pulling back!” Piccolo yelled while the troops that Raizen sent retreated from them.

“Krillin’s been hurt bad!” Gohan yelled from the ground while holding the monk in his arms.

“Hang on Krillin!” Piccolo growled while landing.

“No… I think… I think I won’t make it…” Krillin’s breathing grew worse and it felt like the very world was against him before he drew one last breath.

“No! Krillin!” Gohan yelled angrily. The snow began to fall from the sky almost like it was shaken from the heavens above.

“We can’t do anything for him now,” Vegeta growled. Gohan glared at the Saiya-jin Prince before removing his shirt and wrapping the monk in it. Digging a hole in the ground with his bare hands, Gohan made a grave for the fallen warrior. Anger fueled him to do this rather than give him the same burial the others gave their loved ones. After finishing, he prayed before the now burning cathedral.

Chi-chi ran out and noticed Krillin’s dead body wrapped in what they could provide as a coffin. She fell to her knees and began to sob for another life lost. Piccolo knelt down and helped Gohan finish digging the shallow grave before they lowered Krillin in the ground. Burying him, Gohan found a couple branches and tore a bit of the blue shirt he had before tying the branches into a cross and shoved it into the ground. One by one, the warriors flew off. Gohan remained behind until Chi-chi was done crying.

“Come on mom,” Gohan spoke softly.

“This is my fault,” Chi-chi whimpered. “If I hadn’t of made us come here…”

“Mom, what happened back there in the cathedral? I couldn’t reach you.” Gohan questioned.

“Dusk attacked me. He said I was…” Chi-chi quieted. Gohan noticed the pain in her eyes and held back a growl in his throat. Almost reading her mind, he did not think that his mother was weak; especially when she gave up far more to help her family and those left on Earth.

“I’m going to train you when we get back to our sanctuary.” Gohan vowed before helping Chi-chi up on her feet. Quietly, the two took off into the sky; leaving the grave of another warrior lost in the midst of the chaos.

To Be Continued…