Day Five: Evening

[Yamu]

The pair now sat in their makeshift campsite enjoying the rest of the cans of food Yamu had scavenged from the Farm. No sense in letting them go to waste, and they would need all of their strength for the Finals. They were both in an odd calm, preparing themselves for the Hell that would soon ensue. As Yamu sat reflecting he was amazed at how much one man had changed the way he viewed not only Dante, but life itself.

In the one moment where the Arlian Guardian had thought he had lost everything, his Totem was smashed, his companions were all dead, and his final goal ripped away from him. Koola had marched in and with an ironical carelessness filled him poured purpose into him once again.

Where Kari had been broken, Yamu now had a shiny new Ki Shotgun, a weapon that was a perfect fit. The Shotgun slipped between his hands like gloves, the rugged weapon seemed destined for him. He had used he own unique shotgun attack so often, having the recreation of his signature move filled every cell with pleasure and confidence.

When crippling loneliness had nearly overcome Yamu in the Abyss, Koola himself had stepped into the void. While their conversations were usually short, they were growing more frequent as nerves built up to the Finals reared closer and closer. In truth, the Arlian Guardian enjoyed the arrogant banter from the amethyst prince. The mirror into his own rage that the changeling acted as helped center him, see how his own actions and personality were affected by his emotions. It gave him purpose.

Purpose. That had been the third and most important thing Koola had bestowed upon Yamu without even knowing it. When Burter?s name had rung out across the island the veiny titan and thought everything was lost. He had entered into the black tempest that was the Abyss as a penance to Arlia. Like a crazed dog he had focused all of his attention on paying that price he owed with Burter?s blood. There was no greater sacrifice he could offer to his Totem of Atonement then the life blood of the man who he sometimes saw as a father, sometimes a brother, and always a friend. Yamu had thought he was lost, but Koola?s presence had given him a new path of repentance?winning Dante?s Abyss.

When the final victim?s blood was sprinkled over Kari, the weight from his bare shoulder would be lifted. It was not his plan starting off, but as he sat in the Elite Eight, with the taste of winning watering his mouth it sure seemed possible. The title would go to Arlia. The title of Champion of Dante?s Abyss was by far huge enough in the Quadrant to thrust the planet to greatness.

Yet, it was not only the game Koola had changed for Yamu. All the things that had been lost had been restored by one man. Life could not be planned, and plans could not be wept for. There was always another way, there were always other roads. This path was no longer as strait or wide, but it would give Yamu what he longed for.

A peace of mind.

Koola had saved Yamu in the game?the least the Arlian guardian could do in return was to kill him honorably when they reached the Final Two. Before that last stand?Yamu trusted the amethyst prince with his life. Different in so many ways, and probably enemies if they had met at any other time, in this moment they were both in this game for vengeance. They could both rely on the other.

The Leopard and the Lion. The Two Hands of Death. As long as there were Saiya-Jins out there, Koola and Yamu were a dangerous pair. A dangerous pair with a lot of firepower.