A Hero's Sacrifice

"This is it," Hitsu thought, "This is how I die."

Hitsu stared up at the giant shadow with fearful eyes that held a hint of determination. His hands shook by his side but they remained clenched and ready. His breathing was rapid but still rhythmic. On the outside, Hitsu was nothing more than a scared teen, but on the inside, he was a fearless hero facing their final fight.

The giant shadow looked down at its opponent and laughed, the noise made Hitsu shiver due to how unnatural it sounded. The shadow had already beaten Hitsu once and now he was the only thing standing in its way. The shadow exuded confidence while Hitsu exuded weakness. Both of them realized that only one of them would walk away alive, and the odds were heavily in the shadow's favor.

"You did good Sel," Hitsu said to nobody in particular. This confused the giant shadow as it tilted its head. The giant creature continued to watch Hitsu's cautiously not wanting to miss a chance to gain more information. "You held off this freak all by yourself for an impressive amount of time," Hitsu continued, "and you might not know it now, but you figured out for to beat this thing."

Those last three words rang in the giant shadow's head. Beat him? How? How would this scared lone human beat him? What weakness had been discovered? Hitsu could hear those thoughts running through the shadow's head as he watched its face. It was true, Hitsu had found a way to defeat the shadow thanks to Sel and his choice of words.

"Damn it, if only there was some way we could just blow this thing away."

"I think this idea only came to my head thanks to you because I wanted to block it out," Hitsu said with a fearful grin, "but the more I think about it the better option it becomes. Every other idea leads to all of us... Every single one of us... Dying at the hands of this shadow. But if I do exactly what you said... If I blow it away... The only one of us has to go."

Hitsu's words instantly planted some of his fear in the giant shadow. Despite its new feeling of worry, the shadow had no choice but to keep listening, its curiosity driving its mind. Hitsu calmed slightly seeing the shadow's worry, it was as if he had stolen some of its confidence and replaced it with his own fear. Despite this, Hitsu knew this was no time to allow his emotions to control him.

"We can't take down this shadow with small continuous attacks like before," Hitsu continued, "we need one large-scale attack that nothing could survive. It's just as you said Sel... 'blow it away'... That's what I'll do... Because I'm the only one who can.

Panic began to fill the shadow and it instinctually began to attack without thinking. Hitsu watched as its hand slowly began to rise into the air above. He had been in this situation not long ago, the risk of being crushed in one single moment very real, but this time was different. This time Hitsu knew exactly what would bring him victory, what would bring his friend's victory, what would bring those still living victory.

"I'll do exactly as you said," Hitsu shouted with a grin, "I'll beat this monster and pay the ultimate price so you all won't have to. If a harness my power... If I refuse to let it go and I hold it all in... If I build it up and I don't break down... I'll blow it away... I turn myself into a giant bomb... And blow it away!"

Upon hearing those words the shadow threw down its hand to crush Hitsu. The idea of a human blowing themselves up was so outlandish it had never crossed the shadow's mind. It panicked upon realizing that if this boy wasn't lying he could become the one thing to stop it. The giant shadow's hand slammed into the ground in an attempt to crush Hitsu where he stood. The shadow's fears were not vanquished as he saw a glowing Hitsu standing just out of reach. Using a sudden burst of neon Hitsu had avoided the attack and now had a clear shot at the shadow.

With a pink glow surrounding his entire body, Hitsu pushed off of the ground at a high speed. His feet connected with the shadow's arm and Hitsu began to run, keeping his momentum in the process. Hitsu raced up the shadow's arm, his eyes locked on the concerned ones of the shadow. The shadow reacted quickly as it lifted its arm in an attempt to shake off Hitsu, but in mere seconds Hitsu was nearing its shoulder. Before he could be thrown from the shadow Hitsu leaped from its arm and flew through the air.

The shadow's eyes tracked the glowing boy as he glided forward before slamming into its chest. The giant shadow cried out in pain as Hitsu's fist penetrated its skin and neon spread hooking deeper into its body. The shadow threw back its body in pain causing Hitsu to swing and sway violently as he hung from his right arm. Despite the raging shadow, Hitsu neon stayed firmly inside the shadow's body.

"You won't lose me that easily!" Hitsu shouted as he pulled back his left arm. With a grunt, Hitsu thrust his left fist into the shadow's chest and hooked it in place. Once again the shadow screamed in pain and attempted to shake Hitsu loose to no avail. Hitsu grunted as his arms withstood the pain of being thrashed around, there was no way he was losing now.

"It's too late!" Hitsu yelled as his body began to glow brighter and brighter, "I might not destroy all of you but you can't survive with a giant hole in your chest!"

As the seconds passed more and more power built up around and inside Hitsu. A small burning pain spread over Hitsu body as the energy desperately tried to escape his own body. The pain continued to grow as more energy was collected but Hitsu smiled anyway.

"Well, this is it," Hitsu said to his absent friends under the sound of the raging shadow, "This is how my days as a hero come to an end."

The building heat and energy began to burn the giant shadow as well only increasing the severity of its rage and pain-filled cries.

"You know, I'm glad you guys aren't here to see this. I'm glad you left me to do this by myself. It makes this just a little bit easier."

The giant shadow threw back its head and let out one last cry that made the others seem like whimpers.

"I'm sorry we won't get to form that team," Hitsu apologized, "but for a minute it felt like that dream came true... So thank you... All of you."

Tears of sadness began to stream down Hitsu's face despite his constant smile.

"Jinsuke... We just had our reunion after all this time. I knew you better than anyone else and I knew you would be there to help me every step of the way. You're going through some problems, aren't you? I wanted to help but it doesn't look like I'll be able to. I'm sorry."

"Enai... There was so much I wanted to do with you. All this time it feels like you've admired as a hero more than as a friend. I wanted to change that... I wanted to make it so we could be real friends. You're a great person with great power... I'm sure you'll help a lot of people and be an amazing hero... I'm sorry."

"Sel... It seemed like we would have the hardest time getting along. You didn't do anything wrong, my fear would just keep me away from you. Honestly... I was hoping you would be able to help me work through my fear and become stronger. In the end, I think I just made you feel awkward around me... I'm sorry."

"Nox... I find it the hardest to say goodbye to you. I helped you in a time of need and without realizing it you helped me. We got really close and I was okay with that. I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to watch you achieve your dream and become a hero your mom could be proud of. In the end, I won't be there for you... and I even had to lie to you... I had to break a promise... From the bottom of my heart... I'm sorry."

Slowly, Hitsu raised his head and tear-filled eyes to the shadow's face above. As he stared at the monster he held onto images of all the people he knew flashed before his eyes. The townspeople, Takeshi and Juno, his new friends, by sacrificing himself they would all be safe. This single thought brought Hitsu the smallest bit of comfort as his final moments passed by.

"I'm sorry everyone..." Hitsu whispered as he released the overwhelming energy he had built up.

"...Goodbye."

...

End of Episode 46