Mixed Emotions - FINALE

[10:35 a.m., August 9th 2048, St. Petersburg. Frost stands face to face with Drift, who begins to sweat profusely, as his face fills with rage. Electra stands behind him, coming to a realization as his face turns colder. Shin and Yuki look on, as do Katarov and Fetistof]

Drift: No… you don’t mean…

Frost: This is what I’d expect… I’m normally accurate with my assumptions, and that’s what I’d think… one of your men can check for me as well.

[From behind, a scream can be heard, and it comes from Karina]

Shin [Turns]: Rina? What happened? You okay?

Karina [Comes forward, shaking]: He was right… I just checked Seoul news, and the building that Higuchi worked at was set ablaze, with many casualties, including one man which was identifiable, who goes by the name, Higuchi Ren.

[Shin grits his teeth and lunges towards Katarov, who evades him, before Fetistof grabs him and punches him. Katarov looks towards him menacingly, while Fetsitof holds his back, holding the wounded area from previously]

Katarov: Hey, hey, hey, what’re you doing? You think you’re hot shit! Get outta here! I didn’t do anything! I wasn’t here to kill your buddy in Seoul man! That’s that bastard Oskar…

Shin: So you did know him! Bloody bastard!

Katarov: Know him? He trained me with Frost before! Are you dense? Can you not hear?

Shin: Shut up!

[Shin lunges at him, but Katarov punches him in the stomach once again]

Katarov: You moron! This isn’t anyone’s fault here! Frost was trying to capture Yoshino and execute him himself! We were on your side, but you decided to save his daughter and come to us like this! Sure, we anticipated that that would happen, but we wanted Oskar here too, because we wanted to kill him here and now.

Yuki [To Shin]: How do we know if they’re telling the truth?

Shin: We don’t. All bets are off now. Higuchi’s dead – at least that’s what we’ve heard. [Pauses] SHIT. I don’t care. This Frost guy is bad news. He’s bad news. I tried to warn y’all. I did.

Yuki: Shin… now isn’t the time.

Shin: SHUT UP! Higuchi is dead, for Christ’s sake! What do we do now? We’ve been listening to this guy ramble and ramble on and on, and for what? We’ve lost one of our team members. AND WE WERE JUST WITH HIM. SHIT MAN.

Yuki: Shin, it’s okay, it’s okay. We have these gifts now at least… we should be able to combat them well enough…

Drift [Interjects, laughing crazily]: Gifts? Fight against them? What the hell are you talking about? What the hell? Higuchi’s dead! They aren’t to blame! What’s fighting them gonna do? Boost our own depreciated ass morale? [Pauses, then looks Frost dead in the eyes] Why? Why? WHY? Why did he have to go and kill Higuchi? Why? Why couldn’t you have just killed him before? Why?

Frost: We wanted to, but we never had the ability up until now to kill Oskar Yoshino. We’ve only recently been able to pinpoint his whereabouts after we kicked him to the curb.

Drift: Then why did you kick him? Why? What damn reason was there? If YOU had kept him, my friend wouldn’t be dead here, goddamnit! What’s wrong with you?

Frost [Takes a deep breath, then calmly]: Oskar Yoshino had some screws loose. He was a great family man, and tried to be the best person that he could be, but he was more fanatical about these gifts than I ever was, yet, he could never reach the position that I was in, and he always envied me for it. Regardless, he eventually reached a point where he wanted to kill off Aleksander, Katarov’s mate, as well as Higuchi and Electra, who were your mates… believing that to reach your true potential, all sources of weakness must be eliminated. I too, wanted you to be the best version of yourself, but I declined to share that opinion with him, instead believing that all of these extra pieces, whether gifted or not, would still be useful in the future. Of course, with my knowledge and ability far exceeding his, I was able to kick him away from me, but he hid from my sight – I only knew he was somewhere in Korea, I wasn’t too sure where – and only recently was I able to gain leads on him to try and pin him down. That was the secondary goal of this, to lure out Oskar Yoshino and execute him before he’d try anything else, and before he realized we were onto him.

Drift: So what you’re saying is… he wanted to kill Electra and Higuchi regardless…

Frost: That is correct… this just gave him an even greater reason to do so.

Drift: So… you’re saying, we saved a murderous bastard’s daughter… and allowed him to go and kill my fucking best friend?

Frost: I’m afraid so. I wanted to eliminate him. I really did. Even Katarov hated his guts. He was the epitome of a bastard, and nothing more. He should’ve been killed years ago, but wasn’t, due to my own personal incompetence, and I take the blame on that. Of course, my words will mean absolutely nothing to you, since your friend has died, and I truly mourn your loss. As much as your leader thinks that it was us behind this… believe me, it was not. I wanted that man dead, no matter what. And I have failed. He likely is dead now, because he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself without his daughter… but still, at the cost of Higuchi – that is still far too great a cost.

Ashe: Um…

Karina [Looks to her]: Oh no…

Drift [Gets up, and walks towards her, chuckling to himself]: Hey girl… hey… hey… what do you want? You wanna comfort me? Is that what you want to do? After my best friend died? Tell me that he’s lying? That your father wasn’t a serial killer like he really was? Is that what you want?

Karina: Drift.

Drift [To Karina]: Shut up. I’m talking here.

Ashe: Drift please… I’m sorry, I really am. But my father… he wasn’t like that, I truly mean it. I’m not looking for you to accept that, but I’m looking for you to see the truth… they’re lying to you about this. It wasn’t my father. I told you what my father was like, and you understood…

Drift: Oh I did… but that was back when I thought you were just a pretty face, and nothing else. That’s when I thought, hey, I was saving a girl who’s worth saving. That’s all bullshit to me now. Your father, whether you like it or not, is the reason Higuchi Ren – the damn man you met! YOU MET HIM! YOU LOOKED HIM IN THE DAMN EYES! YOU’RE THE REASON HE’S DEAD, YOU FUCKING WITCH!

Natsumi [Reaches over to him]: That’s enough, Drift. That’s enough. It’s okay. You can’t blame her for –

[Drift’s false arm reaches for her, and with incredible strength shoves her into the wall, and the sound of bones cracking can be heard]

Shin: DRIFT!

Yuki [Runs towards Natsumi]: Natsumi, are you okay? Drift! What the hell!

Natsumi: Yeah, yeah. I’m okay. Don’t worry. Focus on him. He’s suffering.

Yuki: Drift! Stop this!

Drift: Shut the hell up. Shut up.

Shin: Why the hell are you believing them? That damn Frost bastard came with Katarov! He’s a fucking phony! Why don’t you realize it! He’s egging you on! It wasn’t Oskar, he’s trying to frame –

Drift: SHUT UP SHIN.

Shin: Why the hell should I? I’m the damn leader here, aren’t I? You’re the one trying to kill our people! You’ve gotta realize what you’re doing! Your gift is too strong! It could kill us!

Drift: I don’t give a shit man… it can kill whoever it wants. These fuckwads aren’t lying. There’s a reason why he was able to awaken this gift within me… there’s a reason he knows everything about me, there’s a reason he knew who Oskar Yoshino was and why Ashe Yoshino in specific was picked out. He isn’t a goddamn fraud. He isn’t duping anyone. You’re the morons here. We made a mistake saving this useless, moronic girl.

Katarov [To Fetistof]: Oh man…

Fetistof: We’ll let them handle themselves now, eh?

Katarov: I think so… a death within the crew always riles everyone up.

Fetistof: Yup. I can’t believe it became this easy, after all the fighting we were just going through.

Katarov: That is why you believe in everything Frost says. He knows all and sees all, and is always right in his assumptions. He will never be wrong.

Fetistof: I understand now…

Ashe: Drift please…

Drift: Don’t Drift me now… you had your chance girl. You should’ve told us who your daddy was before. Maybe we wouldn’t be here.

Ashe: I’m telling you I didn’t know! I’m telling you, they are lying!

Drift: They aren’t lying damnit!

Ashe: And how do you know that?

Drift: HE HAD A LETTER FROM MY BIRTH-FATHER, GODDAMNIT. STOP DEFENDING YOUR DAMN PIECE OF SHIT FATHER.

[Drift raises his false right hand towards her, and begins to chokehold her, to which she can’t escape]

Ashe: Please… stop. Please. I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would happen… I would’ve stayed… I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

[Out of nowhere, Electra kicks Drift away from Ashe, releasing his grip on her neck and pushing him backwards, and him and Yuki stand in front of her]

Drift: Oi… so we’re doing this now, eh? We’re picking sides? And you’re siding with the girl? Even you Electra… even after all you went through with Higuchi… did he really mean nothing to you?

Electra: You’ve been acting strange ever since you were awakened… first all of that bullshit, which I can at least brush aside, but this? Hell no. You aren’t gonna kill her on my watch.

Drift: Oh please… you’re choosing her over me?

Electra: I’m choosing no one over no one. But we can’t do anything about Higuchi’s death. We can’t. It’s the truth now, and there’s nothing ANY of us can do. We have a problem in front of us. We can’t just sit on the side and fight amongst ourselves…

[Drift reaches towards Electra with the false arm once again, extending the ‘spirit’ arm past its natural boundaries, punching Electra with full force, and knocking him aside]

Drift: Shut up, will ya?

Electra: I’m not moving away from her.

Drift: No wonder you were always second best to Higuchi in my eyes, you piece of shit. You useless, lowlife piece of shit. You never meant shit to me compared to Higuchi. I wish you left us for Korea and he stayed with us back then. You’re nothing but a thorn in my side.

Electra: Big words coming from a guy with one fucking hand, and a guy who saved all of his speech till now. You weren’t this cocky before. Give it a rest, it doesn’t suit ya.

Drift: Shut up kid, and move. I will kill her.

Electra: You’re oft injured now, anyway. What the hell are you gonna do? You can’t by me and Yuki now can you?

Drift: I will.

Yuki: I won’t let you.

Drift: That’s fine. I’ll find a way. I don’t care. I’ll murder her. I’ll move you guys aside if I have to.

Yuki: I won’t let you… I’ll stand my ground.

Naomi [Walks towards them]: Uh… guys.

Yuki: Not now Naomi. Not now. We have…

Naomi [Pushes aside Yuki, and stands in front of Drift, eyeing him up]: You want to hurt Ashe now, Drifto? After all we went through?

Drift: All we went through? It was like two days. I don’t care what you think Mi. She’s dead meat in my eyes.

Naomi: Aw, that’s too bad. I really wanted her to be part of the van squad with us.

Drift: She can’t now, can she?

Naomi: She totally can, what do you mean?

Drift [In tears]: She killed my best friend goddamnit! What do none of you understand!

Naomi: How did she kill her? It was her father if anything, wasn’t it?

Drift: I don’t care… she’s the one that I’m after now that her father’s dead. We saved her and it started this snowball. So don’t get in my way.

[Drift attempts to push Naomi aside, but Naomi grabs his right, spirit arm and moves it, before kicking him and pushing him backwards]

Drift: Huh?

Yuki: Wait… Naomi? What the hell happened here? Naomi?

Naomi [Looks towards them and smirks]: That gift stuff is pretty wild, y’know? I didn’t think I’d ever be this expressive, considering I was cooped in that annoying ass body of her’s for so long.

Yuki: What?

Electra: You’re Naomi… aren’t you?

Naomi: Of course I am… but I’m not regular old Naomi… I’m the awakened Naomi. Her real body and everything are still there, and still existing, and are still moving around no problem. Don’t worry, I got her to safety in the back. This version of me though… this is my inner demon, the side of me that I’ve hid away for so long, that you got to see glimmers off when I killed that one guy back then… yes, yes, yes, I am free. But I won’t let anyone touch Naomi’s friends, and she wants to protect that girl – Ashe – at all costs, because she believes in her. So yeah. You won’t be getting through this body of mine, plus those two, will you now Drifto?

Drift: It doesn’t matter. She should die. Ain’t that right, leader?

Shin: Don’t leader me, you piece of shit.

Drift: What… don’t you think, in your messed up code of ethics… don’t you think she should die? She killed a friend, a beloved friend. All of you guys loved him – especially me. Don’t you think I’m within my limits here?

Shin: Shut it.

Drift: Oh, oh, what do you mean?

Shin: She isn’t gonna die here. That’s playing into their hands.

Drift: Oh how so, how so? Please enlighten me, dear moronic leader. Please do, please do.

Shin: Shut up. I still don’t believe a word they’re saying, and in any case it wasn’t her.

Drift: SO WHAT? SHOULDN’T SHE DIE HERE THEN? SHE ISN’T EVEN ONE OF US!

Shin: Weren’t you part of the band that tried to convince her to join! You’re every bit to blame for this shit too!

Drift: Oh… now you’re blaming me now? Oh… I see.

Shin: I ain’t blaming no one. But I sure as hell ain’t killing her. We just brought her on.

Drift: WHAT DOES IT MATTER? HIGUCHI’S DEAD!

Shin: If Higuchi’s dead, THEN WHAT DOES IT MATTER? HE’S DEAD RIGHT? ARE WE GODS? CAN WE BRING HIM BACK? NO! HE’S DEAD FOR GOOD MAN! LEAVE IT AT THAT! WHY DO YOU WANT TO KILL HER SO BADLY? WHAT DAMN GAIN DOES THAT SERVE FOR YOU?

Drift [Chuckles]: That’s a shame then… all of you would turn your back on family then.

Shin: Family? WE ARE A FAMILY? WE LOST ONE MEMBER BECAUSE WE WERE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO LEAVE HIM IN KOREA! I DIDN’T PLAN FOR IT! I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY! BUT SHE, SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! AND YOU’RE BEING PLAYED LIKE A FIDDLE BY KATAROV AND HIS CREW!

Katarov: Keep telling yourself that Shinzo. I’d be in the same boat as him if someone like that died…

Shin: THAT’S BULLSHIT! YOUR FRIEND ALEKSANDER DIED AND YOU HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING LIKE DRIFT IS DOING RIGHT NOW. YOU’RE A CUNNING BASTARD, Y’KNOW?

Katarov: Oh… if me and Aleksander were like we were all those years ago… fine, fine. Maybe I’d be the same… but he told you too… we drifted apart. We’re changed people from before, and nothing will ever bring back the old relationship we had. Us two, right now, were nothing like Higuchi and Drift, from what I’m seeing.

Shin: Never mind talking to you, you insidious bastard. You’ll just talk more and put even more ideas into Drift’s brain.

Drift: Oh no, no, no. My mind’s made up.

Shin: Eh?

Electra [Realizing]: Oh shit… no, no, no, NO.

Drift: If all of you are gonna turn your back on me… that’s fine, really it is.

Electra: Drift don’t do this.

Drift: Don’t Drift don’t do this me. Tell me right now. Are you gonna move and let me kill the girl, or are you gonna fight me?

Naomi: I don’t know about these two, but I’m sticking with her to the end.

Yuki: Drift… we aren’t choosing between you or her. We want both of you. Please, make this easy. Don’t do this.

Electra: Drift… no… Wilhelm… don’t do what you’re gonna do.

Drift [Chuckles to himself]: Fine. Whatever. I won’t fight you guys.

Yuki: Huh? Really?

Ashe [Sighs]: Oh thank god…

Drift: Not yet.

Electra: Shit.

Yuki: What?

Drift: I only came to Japan with y’all because I lived with you and Higuchi, Elec. I only came here because we got that call from Takuya all those years ago. I only worked with Naomi, and these morons, because it was the only way we could have lived. I only wanted to fight Katarov and these others, because I wanted to uphold my own sense of justice.

Electra: No… stop it.

Drift: But now… Higuchi’s dead. You guys are protecting the family of the person who killed my best friend. I don’t have any ties to any of you guys besides you Elec… all of you others are friends and nothing more. I wanted to beat down Katarov because I believed in Shin’s story… I hated him because of Shin and what happened to Ichigo, I didn’t hate him because I personally hated him.

Electra: Stop…

Drift: And now… the throne of Albania lies in my reach. All I have to do is reach out and grab it. Isn’t that sweet? So what reason do I have to side with you guys anymore. You guys won’t even let me kill this damn girl in peace. So fine, I’ll fight you on my own terms, whenever we meet up. [He looks at Katarov] Yo, Kat. You got room for a traitor?

Katarov [Smiles menacingly]: Of course we do… but best believe, double cross us here and you will die.

Drift: I wouldn’t. I have no one else to turn to. Electra matters, but not as much as I thought he would after how he acted today. And Higuchi is dead. The rest are the rest. One thing though.

Katarov: Yessir.

Drift: Give me Ryo as my second-in-command.

Ryo: Huh?

Katarov: What?

Drift: Make me in charge of whatever department Ryo heads. I want him to bow down and worship me for the rest of time, for putting my name on that list. Do that, and you have yourself a deal.

Ryo: Wait –

Katarov [Looks at Fetistof, then Frost, then nods]: Deal.

Drift: Perfect, perfect. Now we’re talking.

Shin [Jumps at Drift, punching him]: The hell are you doing?

Drift: Whadya mean? Isn’t this normal? I have no reason to side with you, and I have a throne waiting for me with them. What do I have to lose?

Shin: What the hell do you mean?

Yuki: DRIFT? DIDN’T YOU CONSIDER US FRIENDS?

Drift: Of course I did… but your true colors showed today. I can’t fight beside someone who isn’t willing to lay down everything to save their friend.

Shin: SAVE? HE’S DEAD MAN! GIVE IT UP!

Drift: And you can keep saying that, for as long as you want my friend. Matter of fact is… he shouldn’t be dead. Matter of fact is, you should’ve let me kill him. Matter of fact is… you screwed up keeping her over me.

Shin [To Yuki]: Now what?

Yuki: I don’t know. Shit.

Shin: This had to be part of their damn plan… it had to be damnit. It had to be.

Yuki: Fuck. No. [Looks at Drift] Drift… please. Don’t do this.

Electra [Puts his hand around her]: Drift. You know what you’re doing, right?

Drift: I do my friend. I do.

Electra: Is this your final decision then?

Drift: It is. It truly is. You guys drew a crossroads for me, so I chose to abide by them. I am not fighting you guys here. But we will meet, and we will fight. And I may have to kill you guys. But I’ll make sure that I kill that damn witch – you, you Ashe Yoshino.

Shin: Quit talking about her like that.

Drift: Oh shut up, ‘leader’. You’re a worthless sack of shit, y’know. You’re worth nothing. You had a damn good motivation, but what a weak, sack of shit you are. Truly. You’re nothing like your brother. Nothing. You spoke of him so highly.

Shin: Just like I will always respect Higuchi… not for your rotten sake, but for his own, because I treasured him… don’t disrespect my brother like that again. [His eyes light up in rage]

Drift: Oh… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

Martial [From behind, creepily]: Hey guys…

Shin: Martial… what do you want?

Martial: I’m done with you… Shin Taiki. I’m done with Eastern.

Shin: And what could that mean?

Martial: I’m joining you Drift! That speech, your passion… oh, it riles me up so much! It riles me up! It excites me! I love it! I love it so much!

Katarov: So you want to abandon your men and join us too then?

Martial: Yes… yes I will… I’ll do anything.

[Martial laughs hysterically and then grabs Kohaku]

Kohaku: Maki… Maki, what are you doing? Maki?

Martial: I’d even stab my own sister! I’d even do that! Oh this excites me so much!

Shin: MARTIAL STOP!

Karina: KOHAKU!

[Martial stabs her in the back, and she falls forward]

Martial: Hahahahaha. I’m sorry… ahhahaa. I’m sorry. You held me back girl… I feel so alive. I’ll always feel so alive. I’m sorry sister… I am…. But this is my calling. Do you accept me, Katarov?

Katarov [Smiles menacingly]: You will be under Drift’s care… if he agrees.

Shin: DRIFT! IF YOU WANT TO KILL ANYONE, KILL THIS FUCKER NOW!

Drift [Looks up, and stares lifelessly at Shin]: No. No, I don’t think I will kill him. No. I think he’ll be a fine addition to my group here.

Shin: DRIFT! YOU’RE A MADMAN FOR DOING THIS! KILL HIM!

Martial: Oh shut it Shin… Drift is right… you’re no fun. You’re a loser.

Shin: YOU BASTARD!

[Shin lunges towards Martial, but Drift’s right hand protects him, and drags him towards Drift]

Drift: You now… you are with me now, Martial. Okay?

Shin: DRIFT! WE’LL FUCKING GET YOU! KATAROV! YOU FUCKING DEVIL! YOU KNEW ABOUT ALL OF THIS DIDN’T YOU?

Katarov [Sticks his tongue out]: Who knows my friend… who knows… but as Frost says… it is time for us to go… it is time for everything to end. We cannot stay for very much longer. We have acquired two more gifted members, and have killed one of your own… all in a days work.

Kohaku [Slowly]: Maki… why.

Yuki [To Kohaku]: Don’t talk…

Kohaku: It’s okay… this wound is mortal… it’s okay. Maki… I’m sorry if I wasn’t a good sister… I’m sorry.

Shin: DRIFT!!!!!!!!!

Drift: I’m sorry Shin… but this is how it shall be.

Martial: Shin Taiki… it was fun… but this man and these people excite me more than you ever could. Dreadknight will live on!

Katarov [To Frost]: Warp us.

Frost: All of us?

Katarov: Yessir.

Shin: I KNEW IT! YOU LYING, FUCKING BASTARD! YOU ALWAYS WERE IN KAHOOTS! FUCK YOU!

Katarov: Sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all… isn’t it, Frost?

Frost [Looks to Katarov and smiles]: Why yes… it is.

[Frost warps himself, Drift, Katarov, Fetistof, Martial, Ryo and the two other men away from their location, leaving the others stranded]

Shin: Fuck… fuck, fuck fuck. What do we do now? Shit man. Shit.

Yuki: We really… we really lost…

THE END OF PART 1 – EPILOGUE WILL BE RELEASED SOON