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Description
[This point in the story I was hoping to put in a part of the scene that Ari was going to write for me. My idea was to go back and forth from her scene and my mini-scenes all leading up to the final battle. I’ll just keep mentioning the points where I would switch.]

The cars started to smoke from all the wear and tear of the engine. I crawled into the backseat to check if Ari was alright. She was holding her head and rolling around a little, but when I checked her out she only had a few cuts on her face. I kicked out the window opposite the Yakuza car and climbed out slowly. Ari did more of a fall than a climb, so I guess she was still rattled up. I looked over at the Yakuza gang car to see that Spike was the only one over there. Everyone else must have scattered.

[Flash to armory scene and back to battle]

In an alleyway somewhere, Nekorin stood facing the two Yakuza gang members Ito and Ikari. Everyone had a hand ready to draw their pistols, but everyone was just waiting for some sort of sign. Ikari winced a little as the wound in his upper arm started to sting from the open air. Nekorin’s eyes moved to the wound and saw a little droplet of blood at the tip of Ikari’s fingers. Suddenly it fell and Nekorin had drawn his weapon. The first shot missed Ikari, but the second shot hit Ito in the leg. Nekorin started to back up and continued to fire back and forth. He had started screaming without even knowing it. By this time both Ito and Ikari had drawn their weapons and took aim. They each fired once. One shot tore through the air and implanted itself into Nekorin’s chest. The other bullet tore straight through Nekorin’s stomach. Nekorin’s eyes went wide right away and his gun clattered on the ground. He fell to his knees and stayed there, eyes still wide open and staring between the two Yakuza members.

“That son of a bitch!” yelled Ito. “My fucking leg!”

“Come on...let’s finish him off...” responded Ikari.

By the time each Yakuza member had made their way to Nekorin, he had put a hand over each bullet hole, and he started shaking. Ikari nodded at Ito and they both drew their weapons again. They put the barrels of their pistols against the flesh of Nekorin’s forehead, one over each eye. They both said something quietly and then looked Nekorin in the eyes. He was still shaking, but he closed his eyes right before they pulled the trigger. His head kicked backwards after the bullets tore through, and he fell backwards with his knees still bent under him. Some of his brains splattered on a wwall nearby, but most of it went straight to the floor. Ikari sniffed and spoke quietly.

“I’ll see you in the afterlife, my friend.” He then sniffed again and looked towards Ito. “Hey, you going to be okay there, Limpy McGee?”

“Shut up! This hurts like hell, asshole...” Ito grunted out while trying to walk.

[Armory scene and back to a new battle]

Miki was once again skipping through the streets while humming to a song. Her oversized shotgun was in her hands again, and her pistol was bouncing at her waist. She stopped immediately when something caught her attention. Two figures darted across the street a ways down. She giggled and skipped after them. The two figures were Keif and Reznor who were trying to circle the block to get behind Spike. They went into another dead end alley, but Reznor thought she might be able to pull off a shot through a crack between two buildings. She set up her rifle and took aim, trying to hit Spike while he sat still to reload. Keif was watching the end of the alley to guard Reznor. He heard a small giggle echo through. Keif raised an eyebrow while he turned to see if Reznor heard it too. She had made no sign that she did, so Keif thought he was going crazy. A few seconds later he heard it again.

“That’s it! I’m going to find out whoever is doing that!” yelled Keif

Reznor turned to face him because she had a bad feeling. “Just be careful...I know what I’d do without you,” she whispered into his ear. She then kissed him gently while holding his hand and told him to go. She turned back to her rifle and licked her lips in pride. Keif was holding a pistol as he emerged at the end of the alley. He looked around, but he saw nobody.

“Suprise!” shrieked Miki from behind. Keif turned to face her, but she knocked the gun from his hands and was back in front of him. Keif was so shocked that he jsut didn’t speak for awhile. Keif shufted himself, hoping that Miki wouldn’t see Reznor, but she stood on her toes and spotted her. She giggled once again, but all that was on Keif’s mind was the barrel of the shotgun pointed right at him. He put his arms up for mercy, hoping she would show mercy. Keif had heard that Miki shot two of her own people. Miki giggled at the site of Keif’s surrender. He started to sweat nervously as Miki winked at him.

“Aww don’t worry, sweetie,” said Miki. “It won’t hurt...” She fired. The shell blasted open Keif’s torso and sent him flying backwards. The blast echoed down the alley and was ringing in Reznor’s ears. She turned quickly to see Keif’s body roll backwards and come to a stop on his side facing her. She screamed out and ran as fast as her legs could take her straight at Miki. “Won’t hurt me, is what I meant,” said Miki to the corpse of Keif. She looked up to see Reznor running straight for her. Miki fired the shotgun again, but missed on purpose. She decided to drop and pull out a knife, and Reznor pulled out a knife of her own. Miki got into a defensive stance with a smile as Reznor hurtled Keif’s body and soared through the air. She lunged at Miki, but she barely nicked her arm as she moved out of the way. Miki swung quickly for Reznor’s exposed back, but she fell forward before the attack could hit. Miki lunged again and implanted her knife into Reznor’s thigh. She screamed out in pain, and she tackled Miki to the ground. Reznor was trying to force the blade of her knife into Miki’s eye, but Miki was pushing her arm back. Miki reached out frantically and managed to grab Keif’s dropped gun. She pulled it up to Reznor’s chest and fired. She forgot about the knife for a split second, and this gave Reznor a chance. Miki fired a few more shots, and Reznor went limp on top of Miki. She managed to drive the knife through Miki’s head, and now all the bodies were lying lifeless on the floor.

[Final armory scene and back to the final battle]

I peeked over the taxi and saw Ikari run to Spike and help him out. Ito limped over quickly as well. I looked back down and loaded up my weapons. I looked back over to Ari, and once again she was about to break down. I dropped my pistols, and spun around so I was crouching in front of Ari. I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a little to get her attention. She looked up slowly with tears welled up in her eyes. It pained me to talk so when our eyes met, I pointed across the street to Kensai. He fired off a few rounds then ducked and looked over to Ari. He smiled and mouthed thed words ‘I love you’. Ari laughed, wiped away a tear, then mouthed the same words back.

“Die, mother fuckers!” screamed Ikari from down the road. I looked over the taxi and saw him standing straight up and holding an Uzi in each hand. I ducked just in time because a whole barrage of bullets came for our cars. We all ducked low as they ricochetted off the buildings, the streets, and the cars. Kensai loaded a fresh clip into his gun and waited for the hailstorm to end. The sounds of windows shattering and tires blowing out was almost deafening. Finally he stopped, and this is where Kensai took his turn. He stood up and fired back. Luckily for us Ikari was still standing, so he took three shots to the chest and went down hard. Kensai smiled in triumph, but a bullet to the head stopped that quickly. His knees buckled under him, his head lurched backwards, and he fell flat on the pavement. Ari couldn’t handle the scene. I looked over the taxi again to see Spike laughing heartily while Ari shrieked loudly. I reached out to stop her, but she ran onto the street to go save her now dead lover. I was yelling at her to stop, but I knew she wouldn’t. Johnny was on his feet as well, running for Ari. Bullets bounced off the road all around both of them. They met right in the middle of the street and Johnny scooped up Ari in his arms. He dove for the taxi so I made room for him. He landed hard on his back and rolled behind the vehicle. He lifted Ari up slightly and I could see red splattered between them. Johnny rolled over and placed Ari on the ground gently. I looked in shock as Ari placed her hands over her stomach to cover the hole where blood was flowing out of her.

“A...Ari..” I started out.

“Don’t...worry about me. You finish...finish them off.” She struggled out. I couldn’t do anything but look from her eyes to her wound. She reached a hand out and placed it on my cheek. “Never forget...never...forget us...” were her last words. I felt the warmth of the blood on her hand slide off my face, and I watched as it crashed to the ground next to her. As she passed on her eyes were still locked with mine, and after her arm hit the ground, her eyes slowly closed.

Yes, that’s how it happened. Sometimes at night these days I can still feel her gentle touch on my cheek and her warm lips on mine. It’s unbearable at times. I should have died back then. I should have been left to corrode in the streets with my fellow warriors...my friends. Maybe I was meant to live. Maybe I was spared to tell this story for the rest of the world to hear, and for all of you whom read this to learn how badly things can become between families. Maybe you’re supposed to realize how short life is so that you should always tell the people you love how you feel before it’s too late. If I had never told Ari I loved her before she died, the I’m sure I would have killed myself long before writing this, but once I am finished I will take my life and return to my friends that have passed before me. So then let’s move on.

Johnny placed his hand on the back of my neck as I was crouching over Ari’s dead body. My mouth hung open slightly while I was taking this in. My hands started shaking slowly, and even today they shake when I try to picture it. I remember hearing Spike and Ito laughing loudly, and I heard Spike congratulate Ito on a nice shot. My hands immediately balled up into fists, and Johnny tightened his grip on my neck. I picked up my two handguns, and I broke free out of Johnny’s hold. I started running down the street while screaming and firing each gun simultaneously towards the Yakuza car. Johnny followed me the best he could, and provided covering fire as well. As soon as I was close enough to them, I dove forward while still shooting, and before I hit the ground I saw that I had hit Ito in the neck and in the stomach with my last two shots. I rolled into the side of the Yakuza gang car knowing Spike was just on the other side. Johnny slid up next to me shortly.

“Ah...you’re crazy kid. I’m glad you were on our side,” heaved Johnny. He looked down and saw a red puddle forming under him. “I think I’ve been hit...” he said while seraching for wounds. He then saw that he had been hit in the upper leg. I was about to apologize, but he waved it off. “Nah, I’ll be alright. Let’s finish off this last Yakuza skum.”

His plan was simple enough. He just wanted to circle the can slowly and pin him down. I was to go around the front of the car, and he would go around back. After taking a few blind shots across the hood, I started to move around slowly, and Johnny started to circle around the back end. We both peeked our heads around to the other side, and suddenly Spike jumped on top of the car. He ran across and was carrying two handguns. He fired one at each of us while he ran, so Johnny and I dove to the spot he used to be hiding in. Johnny had taken a few shots back ai him, and he had shot a gun from Spike’s hand. We put our backs to the car again, and Johnny shook his head.

“I wasn’t expecting that. Let’s give it another go, but this time just rush the bastard!” he exclaimed. I nodded and checked my guns. One was out of ammo so I tossed it aside. I put my last clip into the gun I held on to as Johnny loaded his as well. We nodded to each other, and we started to make our way around again. I stopped as soon as I got to the front of the car, and I waited for the signal. Johnny tapped on the trunk twice. We both jumped out from our spots and aimed. The only person I saw in front of me was Johnny, and I was the only one he saw as well. We lowered our guns quickly and looked around.

“Where did that rat bastard run off to?” Johnny asked furiously. I stepped into the middle of the road, but I saw nothing as my eyes searched. Johnny placed himself between myself and the car while he was still screaming and swearing. He asked me a question, but I didn’t hear it at first because a small noise behind me caught my attention. I turned around to see Johnny staring at me. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Two shots were fired right into his back. He fell forward, and I saw Spike lying under the Yakuza car, aiming his gun right at me. I tried to draw my gun, but he fired. My gun flew from my hands, and it slammed into the car. I spun a little after I felt the bullet tear through my shoulder. I had actually landed on my shoulder so a pain shot up and down my body. I clutched my wound and felt the warmth of my own blood on my hand. I tried to prop myself on my elbow to look back at Spike. He rolled out from under the car and stood up. He smiled as he fixed his clothes. The sight of Johnny’s body made him laugh loudly as if he had won the war, but he hadn’t won anything yet. I was still alive on the ground right next to him.

“So,” he said to me. “This is how it ends, right? I kill you and the history books will forever name the Yakuza more powerful than the Mafia.” While he spoke he circled around me, waving his gun whenever he used hand gestures. “Although we all knew this from the beginning. The Yakuza have always been one step ahead of you!” He leaned down and looked directly at my eyes. “I know it was you whom killed my brother. You and that...that girl! You were the ones who destroyed our boats and our planes! You are the cowards who did this instead of fight us face to face! This is because you knew that you would lose, correct? Answer me!” With this he kicked me in the ribs then put a foot onto the bullet wound in my shoulder. I gritted my teeth in pain, but I would not cry out loud. “If I had any men left I wouldn’t kill you. I would kidnap you and torture you! I would make you go through the most excruciating pain you’ve ever felt!” He ground his foot into my wound, and I grabbed his foot with my free hand. He pulled away, but returned to kick me in the stomach. I rolled over and coughed up some blood. He rolled me back over with his foot and dug it into my shoulder again. He crouched down once more. “I’ve already killed your leader. I would have been happy to be the one to shoot your little girlfriend, but you will be my finest prize. Rarely do you get the chance to kill a man while he is two feet away from you. I find it to be an honor greater than any I could have asked for today. You will make me famous. You will make my family the most notorious crime family in the world. I will see you in the afterlife.” Spike took his gun and placed the barrel between my eyes.

“Hey, Spike!” yelled a voice from behind. Spike turned to see Johnny on his knees with a pistol pointed right for him. “Tell your brother I said ‘Hello’!” Both men fired at the same time. They both landed a headshot on each other, and then they both fell backwards. Spike’s body landed right next to me. He held a suprised glare on his face as the blood ran down to his chin. A small puddle of blood was already forming beneath him, and it was steadily growing.

“You’re wrong.” I stated at him. “I’ll see you in hell.”

I pushed myself up and immediately put my hand over my shoulder. I tore off my sleeve to see the blood run down my arm. I tied the sleeve over my shoulder tightly, using my hand and my teeth. As soon as it was placed, I limped over to Johnny after noticing I twisted my ankle on the fall. He held a very empty stare. His eyes showed no sign of grief. No sign of sorrow. There was no sign of contempt or relief. His gun was already in my hand, for I had picked it up when I went to observe him. I slowly brought the barrel of the gun to my head. My mind raced fervously about all the events that had happened that day. Squeeze. My mind thought back to what Ari said to me while she died. Squeeze. The vision of Michi ending her own life, just as I was trying to do. Squeeze. Finally I pulled the trigger completely. Click. I opened my eyes slowly and dropped the gun next to Johnny’s body. I always figured that the clip was meant to be empty just for me. I climbed slowly into the bullet rittled Yakuza gang car and tried to start it. It wouldn’t go at first. I kept turning the key and the engine finally roared to life. I shifted into drive and just took off. I didn’t know where I was going, but I do know that I was getting away.

So that’s my story. That’s OUR story actually. I could tell you about how I eventually passed out from bloodloss at a stop sign, and how I was carried off quickly to the hospital. I could tell you about the treatment and the tests I had to go through to get mobility back in my arm, but I won’t. I feel now that my purpose in life has finally come full circle. I shall leave this legacy here for police to find after someone calls in that I have killed myself. I still don’t know what you’re supposed to learn from this. Maybe it’s supposed to be nothing. I do know that I was spared for this purpose only. I’m here to clear up the legend about what happened that day. No myths shall be passed on. This is the truth, and I should know. Some may ask why I want to end my life here before getting my story out. None of you would want to live through. I had to watch my friends, people I considered my family, and my one true love die. Some even passed in my arms. Some passed fighting side by side with me in battle. Some have passed on trying to protect me. People always ask what the meaning of life is for those who die young, or those who lead lives only doing what they were told. These people lived and died so that people like you could hear of thier tales and learn something from it so that you may better your lives. I personally could care less what you do or do not learn of this, because in death all of life’s questions are answered. This is all that I want to know. I will now take my life from myself to better the rest of yours. I just made the cuts in my wrist now, and I will continue to write until I can no longer live. I look back on the war today, and I still see the irony. Two families battled for control over one piece of land, but they all ended up dead except for me. I wouldn’t want to control over a city with no population. I would not want to always walk through the tattered remains of my friends...and my love. I am now here to keep the memory of those people alive, but I guess it’s true that nothing lasts fore-

Description
[This point in the story I was hoping to put in a part of the scene that Ari was going to write for me. My idea was to go back and forth from her scene and my mini-scenes all leading up to the final battle. I’ll just keep mentioning the points where I would switch.]

The cars started to smoke from all the wear and tear of the engine. I crawled into the backseat to check if Ari was alright. She was holding her head and rolling around a little, but when I checked her out she only had a few cuts on her face. I kicked out the window opposite the Yakuza car and climbed out slowly. Ari did more of a fall than a climb, so I guess she was still rattled up. I looked over at the Yakuza gang car to see that Spike was the only one over there. Everyone else must have scattered.

[Flash to armory scene and back to battle]

In an alleyway somewhere, Nekorin stood facing the two Yakuza gang members Ito and Ikari. Everyone had a hand ready to draw their pistols, but everyone was just waiting for some sort of sign. Ikari winced a little as the wound in his upper arm started to sting from the open air. Nekorin’s eyes moved to the wound and saw a little droplet of blood at the tip of Ikari’s fingers. Suddenly it fell and Nekorin had drawn his weapon. The first shot missed Ikari, but the second shot hit Ito in the leg. Nekorin started to back up and continued to fire back and forth. He had started screaming without even knowing it. By this time both Ito and Ikari had drawn their weapons and took aim. They each fired once. One shot tore through the air and implanted itself into Nekorin’s chest. The other bullet tore straight through Nekorin’s stomach. Nekorin’s eyes went wide right away and his gun clattered on the ground. He fell to his knees and stayed there, eyes still wide open and staring between the two Yakuza members.

“That son of a bitch!” yelled Ito. “My fucking leg!”

“Come on...let’s finish him off...” responded Ikari.

By the time each Yakuza member had made their way to Nekorin, he had put a hand over each bullet hole, and he started shaking. Ikari nodded at Ito and they both drew their weapons again. They put the barrels of their pistols against the flesh of Nekorin’s forehead, one over each eye. They both said something quietly and then looked Nekorin in the eyes. He was still shaking, but he closed his eyes right before they pulled the trigger. His head kicked backwards after the bullets tore through, and he fell backwards with his knees still bent under him. Some of his brains splattered on a wwall nearby, but most of it went straight to the floor. Ikari sniffed and spoke quietly.

“I’ll see you in the afterlife, my friend.” He then sniffed again and looked towards Ito. “Hey, you going to be okay there, Limpy McGee?”

“Shut up! This hurts like hell, asshole...” Ito grunted out while trying to walk.

[Armory scene and back to a new battle]

Miki was once again skipping through the streets while humming to a song. Her oversized shotgun was in her hands again, and her pistol was bouncing at her waist. She stopped immediately when something caught her attention. Two figures darted across the street a ways down. She giggled and skipped after them. The two figures were Keif and Reznor who were trying to circle the block to get behind Spike. They went into another dead end alley, but Reznor thought she might be able to pull off a shot through a crack between two buildings. She set up her rifle and took aim, trying to hit Spike while he sat still to reload. Keif was watching the end of the alley to guard Reznor. He heard a small giggle echo through. Keif raised an eyebrow while he turned to see if Reznor heard it too. She had made no sign that she did, so Keif thought he was going crazy. A few seconds later he heard it again.

“That’s it! I’m going to find out whoever is doing that!” yelled Keif

Reznor turned to face him because she had a bad feeling. “Just be careful...I know what I’d do without you,” she whispered into his ear. She then kissed him gently while holding his hand and told him to go. She turned back to her rifle and licked her lips in pride. Keif was holding a pistol as he emerged at the end of the alley. He looked around, but he saw nobody.

“Suprise!” shrieked Miki from behind. Keif turned to face her, but she knocked the gun from his hands and was back in front of him. Keif was so shocked that he jsut didn’t speak for awhile. Keif shufted himself, hoping that Miki wouldn’t see Reznor, but she stood on her toes and spotted her. She giggled once again, but all that was on Keif’s mind was the barrel of the shotgun pointed right at him. He put his arms up for mercy, hoping she would show mercy. Keif had heard that Miki shot two of her own people. Miki giggled at the site of Keif’s surrender. He started to sweat nervously as Miki winked at him.

“Aww don’t worry, sweetie,” said Miki. “It won’t hurt...” She fired. The shell blasted open Keif’s torso and sent him flying backwards. The blast echoed down the alley and was ringing in Reznor’s ears. She turned quickly to see Keif’s body roll backwards and come to a stop on his side facing her. She screamed out and ran as fast as her legs could take her straight at Miki. “Won’t hurt me, is what I meant,” said Miki to the corpse of Keif. She looked up to see Reznor running straight for her. Miki fired the shotgun again, but missed on purpose. She decided to drop and pull out a knife, and Reznor pulled out a knife of her own. Miki got into a defensive stance with a smile as Reznor hurtled Keif’s body and soared through the air. She lunged at Miki, but she barely nicked her arm as she moved out of the way. Miki swung quickly for Reznor’s exposed back, but she fell forward before the attack could hit. Miki lunged again and implanted her knife into Reznor’s thigh. She screamed out in pain, and she tackled Miki to the ground. Reznor was trying to force the blade of her knife into Miki’s eye, but Miki was pushing her arm back. Miki reached out frantically and managed to grab Keif’s dropped gun. She pulled it up to Reznor’s chest and fired. She forgot about the knife for a split second, and this gave Reznor a chance. Miki fired a few more shots, and Reznor went limp on top of Miki. She managed to drive the knife through Miki’s head, and now all the bodies were lying lifeless on the floor.

[Final armory scene and back to the final battle]

I peeked over the taxi and saw Ikari run to Spike and help him out. Ito limped over quickly as well. I looked back down and loaded up my weapons. I looked back over to Ari, and once again she was about to break down. I dropped my pistols, and spun around so I was crouching in front of Ari. I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a little to get her attention. She looked up slowly with tears welled up in her eyes. It pained me to talk so when our eyes met, I pointed across the street to Kensai. He fired off a few rounds then ducked and looked over to Ari. He smiled and mouthed thed words ‘I love you’. Ari laughed, wiped away a tear, then mouthed the same words back.

“Die, mother fuckers!” screamed Ikari from down the road. I looked over the taxi and saw him standing straight up and holding an Uzi in each hand. I ducked just in time because a whole barrage of bullets came for our cars. We all ducked low as they ricochetted off the buildings, the streets, and the cars. Kensai loaded a fresh clip into his gun and waited for the hailstorm to end. The sounds of windows shattering and tires blowing out was almost deafening. Finally he stopped, and this is where Kensai took his turn. He stood up and fired back. Luckily for us Ikari was still standing, so he took three shots to the chest and went down hard. Kensai smiled in triumph, but a bullet to the head stopped that quickly. His knees buckled under him, his head lurched backwards, and he fell flat on the pavement. Ari couldn’t handle the scene. I looked over the taxi again to see Spike laughing heartily while Ari shrieked loudly. I reached out to stop her, but she ran onto the street to go save her now dead lover. I was yelling at her to stop, but I knew she wouldn’t. Johnny was on his feet as well, running for Ari. Bullets bounced off the road all around both of them. They met right in the middle of the street and Johnny scooped up Ari in his arms. He dove for the taxi so I made room for him. He landed hard on his back and rolled behind the vehicle. He lifted Ari up slightly and I could see red splattered between them. Johnny rolled over and placed Ari on the ground gently. I looked in shock as Ari placed her hands over her stomach to cover the hole where blood was flowing out of her.

“A...Ari..” I started out.

“Don’t...worry about me. You finish...finish them off.” She struggled out. I couldn’t do anything but look from her eyes to her wound. She reached a hand out and placed it on my cheek. “Never forget...never...forget us...” were her last words. I felt the warmth of the blood on her hand slide off my face, and I watched as it crashed to the ground next to her. As she passed on her eyes were still locked with mine, and after her arm hit the ground, her eyes slowly closed.

Yes, that’s how it happened. Sometimes at night these days I can still feel her gentle touch on my cheek and her warm lips on mine. It’s unbearable at times. I should have died back then. I should have been left to corrode in the streets with my fellow warriors...my friends. Maybe I was meant to live. Maybe I was spared to tell this story for the rest of the world to hear, and for all of you whom read this to learn how badly things can become between families. Maybe you’re supposed to realize how short life is so that you should always tell the people you love how you feel before it’s too late. If I had never told Ari I loved her before she died, the I’m sure I would have killed myself long before writing this, but once I am finished I will take my life and return to my friends that have passed before me. So then let’s move on.

Johnny placed his hand on the back of my neck as I was crouching over Ari’s dead body. My mouth hung open slightly while I was taking this in. My hands started shaking slowly, and even today they shake when I try to picture it. I remember hearing Spike and Ito laughing loudly, and I heard Spike congratulate Ito on a nice shot. My hands immediately balled up into fists, and Johnny tightened his grip on my neck. I picked up my two handguns, and I broke free out of Johnny’s hold. I started running down the street while screaming and firing each gun simultaneously towards the Yakuza car. Johnny followed me the best he could, and provided covering fire as well. As soon as I was close enough to them, I dove forward while still shooting, and before I hit the ground I saw that I had hit Ito in the neck and in the stomach with my last two shots. I rolled into the side of the Yakuza gang car knowing Spike was just on the other side. Johnny slid up next to me shortly.

“Ah...you’re crazy kid. I’m glad you were on our side,” heaved Johnny. He looked down and saw a red puddle forming under him. “I think I’ve been hit...” he said while seraching for wounds. He then saw that he had been hit in the upper leg. I was about to apologize, but he waved it off. “Nah, I’ll be alright. Let’s finish off this last Yakuza skum.”

His plan was simple enough. He just wanted to circle the can slowly and pin him down. I was to go around the front of the car, and he would go around back. After taking a few blind shots across the hood, I started to move around slowly, and Johnny started to circle around the back end. We both peeked our heads around to the other side, and suddenly Spike jumped on top of the car. He ran across and was carrying two handguns. He fired one at each of us while he ran, so Johnny and I dove to the spot he used to be hiding in. Johnny had taken a few shots back ai him, and he had shot a gun from Spike’s hand. We put our backs to the car again, and Johnny shook his head.

“I wasn’t expecting that. Let’s give it another go, but this time just rush the bastard!” he exclaimed. I nodded and checked my guns. One was out of ammo so I tossed it aside. I put my last clip into the gun I held on to as Johnny loaded his as well. We nodded to each other, and we started to make our way around again. I stopped as soon as I got to the front of the car, and I waited for the signal. Johnny tapped on the trunk twice. We both jumped out from our spots and aimed. The only person I saw in front of me was Johnny, and I was the only one he saw as well. We lowered our guns quickly and looked around.

“Where did that rat bastard run off to?” Johnny asked furiously. I stepped into the middle of the road, but I saw nothing as my eyes searched. Johnny placed himself between myself and the car while he was still screaming and swearing. He asked me a question, but I didn’t hear it at first because a small noise behind me caught my attention. I turned around to see Johnny staring at me. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Two shots were fired right into his back. He fell forward, and I saw Spike lying under the Yakuza car, aiming his gun right at me. I tried to draw my gun, but he fired. My gun flew from my hands, and it slammed into the car. I spun a little after I felt the bullet tear through my shoulder. I had actually landed on my shoulder so a pain shot up and down my body. I clutched my wound and felt the warmth of my own blood on my hand. I tried to prop myself on my elbow to look back at Spike. He rolled out from under the car and stood up. He smiled as he fixed his clothes. The sight of Johnny’s body made him laugh loudly as if he had won the war, but he hadn’t won anything yet. I was still alive on the ground right next to him.

“So,” he said to me. “This is how it ends, right? I kill you and the history books will forever name the Yakuza more powerful than the Mafia.” While he spoke he circled around me, waving his gun whenever he used hand gestures. “Although we all knew this from the beginning. The Yakuza have always been one step ahead of you!” He leaned down and looked directly at my eyes. “I know it was you whom killed my brother. You and that...that girl! You were the ones who destroyed our boats and our planes! You are the cowards who did this instead of fight us face to face! This is because you knew that you would lose, correct? Answer me!” With this he kicked me in the ribs then put a foot onto the bullet wound in my shoulder. I gritted my teeth in pain, but I would not cry out loud. “If I had any men left I wouldn’t kill you. I would kidnap you and torture you! I would make you go through the most excruciating pain you’ve ever felt!” He ground his foot into my wound, and I grabbed his foot with my free hand. He pulled away, but returned to kick me in the stomach. I rolled over and coughed up some blood. He rolled me back over with his foot and dug it into my shoulder again. He crouched down once more. “I’ve already killed your leader. I would have been happy to be the one to shoot your little girlfriend, but you will be my finest prize. Rarely do you get the chance to kill a man while he is two feet away from you. I find it to be an honor greater than any I could have asked for today. You will make me famous. You will make my family the most notorious crime family in the world. I will see you in the afterlife.” Spike took his gun and placed the barrel between my eyes.

“Hey, Spike!” yelled a voice from behind. Spike turned to see Johnny on his knees with a pistol pointed right for him. “Tell your brother I said ‘Hello’!” Both men fired at the same time. They both landed a headshot on each other, and then they both fell backwards. Spike’s body landed right next to me. He held a suprised glare on his face as the blood ran down to his chin. A small puddle of blood was already forming beneath him, and it was steadily growing.

“You’re wrong.” I stated at him. “I’ll see you in hell.”

I pushed myself up and immediately put my hand over my shoulder. I tore off my sleeve to see the blood run down my arm. I tied the sleeve over my shoulder tightly, using my hand and my teeth. As soon as it was placed, I limped over to Johnny after noticing I twisted my ankle on the fall. He held a very empty stare. His eyes showed no sign of grief. No sign of sorrow. There was no sign of contempt or relief. His gun was already in my hand, for I had picked it up when I went to observe him. I slowly brought the barrel of the gun to my head. My mind raced fervously about all the events that had happened that day. Squeeze. My mind thought back to what Ari said to me while she died. Squeeze. The vision of Michi ending her own life, just as I was trying to do. Squeeze. Finally I pulled the trigger completely. Click. I opened my eyes slowly and dropped the gun next to Johnny’s body. I always figured that the clip was meant to be empty just for me. I climbed slowly into the bullet rittled Yakuza gang car and tried to start it. It wouldn’t go at first. I kept turning the key and the engine finally roared to life. I shifted into drive and just took off. I didn’t know where I was going, but I do know that I was getting away.

So that’s my story. That’s OUR story actually. I could tell you about how I eventually passed out from bloodloss at a stop sign, and how I was carried off quickly to the hospital. I could tell you about the treatment and the tests I had to go through to get mobility back in my arm, but I won’t. I feel now that my purpose in life has finally come full circle. I shall leave this legacy here for police to find after someone calls in that I have killed myself. I still don’t know what you’re supposed to learn from this. Maybe it’s supposed to be nothing. I do know that I was spared for this purpose only. I’m here to clear up the legend about what happened that day. No myths shall be passed on. This is the truth, and I should know. Some may ask why I want to end my life here before getting my story out. None of you would want to live through. I had to watch my friends, people I considered my family, and my one true love die. Some even passed in my arms. Some passed fighting side by side with me in battle. Some have passed on trying to protect me. People always ask what the meaning of life is for those who die young, or those who lead lives only doing what they were told. These people lived and died so that people like you could hear of thier tales and learn something from it so that you may better your lives. I personally could care less what you do or do not learn of this, because in death all of life’s questions are answered. This is all that I want to know. I will now take my life from myself to better the rest of yours. I just made the cuts in my wrist now, and I will continue to write until I can no longer live. I look back on the war today, and I still see the irony. Two families battled for control over one piece of land, but they all ended up dead except for me. I wouldn’t want to control over a city with no population. I would not want to always walk through the tattered remains of my friends...and my love. I am now here to keep the memory of those people alive, but I guess it’s true that nothing lasts fore-