Chapter Text
You were the strongest person I had ever met.
I could never win against you - and you never went easy.
So why are you are losing?
Director General . . . I don't think I can save you . . .
The blast of the Kaiju No. 9's attack brought dirt and smoke into the air - denying vision of the onlooking Defense Force. Captain Narumi and Kafka wafted through the fog, searching for their Director General.
"Director General!" Kafka felt a wave of relief as the smoke cleared enough to reveal Director General Isao Shinomiya standing. There was an uneasy feeling in Narumi's stomach. Could he have survived that?
He knew his answer when Isao turned his body enough to show his half intact face.
Kafka screamed for Captain Narumi to snap out of his stupor. He had not realized that Isao had risen his hand and pointed at him, charging up an attack.
In the millisecond that Isao fired the attack, Narumi had accepted his death. He closed his eyes ready to feel his body be viciously torn apart - but the feeling never came. Opening his eyes, he could see a bright light deflecting the attack. A kaiju stood in front of him, their hands raised calmly redirecting the attack up into the sky.
"New kaiju reading," Konomi called out from the Operations room. "Something isn't right here, its fortitude level is 8.9!"
"Captain Narumi! Step back from it!" Kafka yelled out as Narumi stumbled backwards.
The kaiju put its arms down, "I . . sa . . o. ." Its voice croaked, as if it hadn't talked in years. "Shi . . no . mi . . ya. . ." Slowly, it stepped towards Kaiju No. 9 and what once was General Shinomiya.
"Ha?" Kaiju No. 9's head cocked to the side, "And who might you be?"
"What did . . you do to Isao?"
Kaiju No. 9 cracked a smile, "Kaiju No. 2 is no longer with us."
"The new kaiju reading is increasing," Konomi informed, "New fortitude level of 9.9, and I don't think it's stopping. All personnel in range of the kaiju need to evacuate!"
"Captain, we have to go!" Kafka lifted Kikoru, "It's too powerful!"
"Give him back," The kaiju growled, a black aura forming around them.
"Hmm?" Kaiju No. 9 hummed, "You look like a fine kaiju. How I wish you had shown up sooner, I would have taken you instead!"
"Isao!" The Kaiju's scream pierced through everyone's ears and sending a chill down their spine. It looked up at Kaiju No. 9 and begged, "Isao! Wake up. Wake up!"
Kaiju No. 9's gave another gravely smile and its face contorted and twisted to reveal Isao's, "I'll let you have one last word with your beloved General."
Isao's face furrowed at the sight of the kaiju, "A . . Akuma. . . Please, protect her, for me." The kaiju began to run towards Kaiju No. 9.
Kaiju No. 9's voice hummed once more, "These memories. . tell me, are you also similar to Kaiju No. 8?"
"Give him back now!" The kaiju roared and commenced an attack on Kaiju No. 9. Its punches sending powerful waves through the air and cracking the cement beneath its feet. With all Defense Force officers backed off, unable to do anything, they watched as the kaiju screeched and raged - taking Kaiju No. 9's lower extremities and forcefully ripping them apart. If Kaiju No. 9 had not knocked the kaiju for a split second and gained distance between them, the kaiju was sure to have killed it. "Give back Isao!"
"Oh no worries, we'll meet again. Akuma, was it?" Kaiju No. 9 asked as its upper body formed wings and began lifting itself up. "I hope you get even stronger. I would love to take your power. For now, I must leave, I'm still recovering from fusing with Isao - and I'm afraid you might actually kill me."
With that, Kaiju No. 9 was out of reach as it flew for refuge. All eyes reverting back to the unidentified kaiju.
"Don't let that kaiju escape," Captain Ashiro ordered over the radio. "Hoshina is on his way to help capture it."
A guttural cry rang out, and the kaiju began to beat its fists into the ground. As if there wasn't enough destruction all around, it began to grab boulders and flung it into empty buildings.
"It's . . throwing a tantrum?" Kikoru stepped back, "What is that thing?"
"Now, now," Hoshina cooed as he walked past Kikoru, Kafka, and Narumi. "Let's calm down now shall we? Akuma, right? Come with us, we won't hurt you."
"Isao!" The kaiju, now being dubbed Akuma the devil amongst the Defense Force, cried out repeatedly.
"It's inconsolable, we'll need to weaken it," Hoshina relayed to Konomi.
"Its fortitude level is spiking from 8.1 to almost 11.8," Konomi rebutted, "It's too dangerous and unstable."
"Hey!" Kikoru yelled out to Akuma. "If you don't get your shit together, they're going to "calm" you down forcefully."
Akuma took deep breaths as their eyes landed on Kikoru, their bright blue orbs sending a wave of fear deep into Kikoru. "Ki. ko. ru."
A stunned silence fell upon everyone, with Kikoru lifting herself off the ground, "H-how do you know my name? And how do you know my dad?" Unsure of the new kaiju's relation was to the prodigal soldier, everyone readied their weapons.
"You're safe," Akuma breathed out as they looked up into the sky. Rising to their feet, they readied themselves to run.
"Answer me!" Kikoru demanded for Akuma's attention, trying to buy more time for the soldiers getting into position with tranquilizers.
Unfazed and unwilling to hear her out, Akuma turned away. "Stay safe. . . Kiku."
"Now!" Hoshina ordered the soldiers to fire. The tranquilizer darts barely missing Akuma, who promptly jumped into the air and vanished in a blink of an eye.
"Kiku? Do you know her Kikoru?" Kafka quizzically turned to Kikoru, whose eyes widened in realization.
"I think she was my childhood friend that disappeared."