Dead Future

Chapter 31: What you Can't do Alone

Formally a brother's resolve

Shadow stood in-front of the bewildered Neo while Ariana laid limp on the ground. Shadow was surrounded by a green aura, while two smoky looking aura trails spun round him like a helix. Neo snapped out of his daze and then snickered "you've lost it, you've really lost it now haven't you?"

"Neo...this is our sister!" said Shadow adamantly "this is the girl we searched for. The girl we spent over a year to find"

"What did Mirage do to you back at the south city?" said Neo mockingly

"she took me...to the past" Neo looked stunned "she took me...to the world before the divine rain" Shadow displayed the half with the boy "this is the form I took in the world of the past...which..." he turned back to Ariana "she had with her the whole time" he turned back to Neo "don't you get it? The bonds between us, drew us together. I mean...you wanted to be her, because you thought somewhere that she could be the one"

Neo had a blank expressionless face as he spoke "so...what if she is?" Shadow looked astonished by his answer "so let's say, yes she is your...our sister. How does that change this situation!?" he said in frustration "one of us still has to die!" he said pointing to the wall of light "so tell me Shadow!" Shadow spoke in a calm voice

"It's not now that's important, it what happens after" this seemed to calm Neo down "your right, this fight is unavoidable...only one of us can make it. However" Shadow clenched his hands "I don't give a dam if I die, what terrifies me...is the thought of leaving them...with you"

"oh right" he said mockingly "you're worried they'll start following me and abandon you" Shadow was livid

"will stop being so full of yourself!" demanded Shadow "with you, it's all about me, me me! So tell this oh strong one" he gestured to Ariana "how does hurting an innocent girl prove your strength!?"

Neo didn't have an answer as Shadow spoke "all you've done is prove to us...the coward you truly are. You stolen, held us hostage and landed cheap shots"

"you're just complaining your losing" said Neo taking no notice "now...let us continue" Neo ran at Shadow "Now...where was I? Oh yeah beating you" he struck a punch at Shadow but he found his block punch by a trembling arm "oh...you have a little fire left" Neo tried pushing him back "well...that...can be....arranggggeed" Neo's arm was shaking from the exertion but he couldn't push Shadow back "why...can't I...push...back?" the frustration was showing on his face "fine then" Neo swung with his second arm hitting Shadow square in the face "yeah have that!" Shadow quickly recovered and punched Neo in the stomach. Shadow was stood there panting with his fist in Neo's gut who appeared to be stood still

"I guess...I don't have any strength left" but then he looked at Neo's face. Neo's eyes were widened and red, and his mouth was gaping open "huh?" Shadow then retracted his fist to which Neo staggered backwards holding his gut.

Shadow looked confused as Neo clutched his gut and fell to his knees "what the?" said Shadow falling to one knee from weakness "I didn't hit him that hard...I mean...I don't even have the energy. So...why does he look so hurt?" he then took note of his aura "does this aura give me some power?" he looked at his arm "No...it's...something else" his attention went back to Neo who spoke in painful pauses

"you little...you'll...pay for that" Neo resisted the pain and ran at Shadow striking him with several punches "hey that, that, and that!" with a powerful round punch he sent Shadow flying through the air. Shadow flying through the air, managed to shrug off the blows enough to hit Neo with a beam of energy which seemed to hit Neo hard sending him along the ground while Shadow landed with a heavy crash making him groan.