Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2021 15:54:03 GMT -5
Kyoto, Then
Takaru Matsui had been forced to defend his family's company's territories against invaders. They had come from nowhere, and had slowly battered down anyone who stood in their way. Takaru called in some favors, he had asked for his friends to come and fight with him. They had failed. In the end, he had found only one man willing to fight this so called 'Order'.
Donzig.
'Whatever happens tonight, Kyoto will be yours, Takaru.' he muttered as he watched the men standing before the building as they motioned them inside.
The man was good, he was possibly great. But Takaru didn't like his arrogance, Takaru didn't like how reckless he was, and Takaru found those things to be increasing every day. He had met Donzig before, and he had been a hard man to understand then. Time had made that worse, but Donzig had no fear of the Order. Donzig had no fear at all, all he had was left in him was rage. Takaru knew the man was angry, but now that anger was like a living thing. It rode Donzig like a beast, and his ally didn't seem to realize how dangerous it was.
They slowly walked into the old abandoned warehouse where music thundered through the empty walls, and bass echoed over the noise of the crowd. The crowd were staring at them silently, many of them wearing masks. They stood in small knots, each normally wearing the same colors. Donzig grunted, rolling his shoulders before he leaned closer to Takaru as he murmured in Japanese. 'Witnesses. The Order has called this challenge to finish it, and these are the servants of the powers.'
Takaru shrugged, eyeing the ranks of fighters as they parted before them. They drew to a halt as the crowd parted to reveal a crude ring, little more then a bare circle of cement surrounded by chains that ran from four steel posts driven into the floor. The fighters chanted, throwing fists into the air before they fell silent. A small robed man stepped forward, glancing at the silent figure sitting on a crude throne beyond the circle. The masked figure was wearing a red and gold lacquered mask, adorned with fangs and long strands of white hair. It stared at the pair, before a hand lifted to remove the mask.
Takaru Matsui was surprised, eyes widened as he saw that the leader of the Order was his own father. The old man glared at him, eyes narrowed before he leaned forward on the throne. 'You have sided with this outsider against your family? You would bring this viper to our lands?'
'Viper?' muttered Takaru, and he stepped forward only to be stopped before he reached the chains by a pair of men who wore the gold and red colors of his father's mask. They were big, and he sneered at them before he drew back a step with a glance at Donzig. His ally said nothing, just watched with that same air of contempt he always did. Turning from Donzig, he glared at his father before he spoke again. 'You have brought disgrace to our name! You have let this Order take our company apart, how many of your own students have they destroyed? This ends tonight!'
The old man snorted, shaking his bald head as he leaned back in the throne. His hands folded before him, and he flicked his silken robes as he glanced at the small man at his side. The little man smirked, and then pointed at Takaru as he laughed. 'You are a great fool! The Order has come here to find the Scourge! Their enemy! You and your father's company got in the way! But it will be reborn as soon as the Scourge has been cast down, as soon as we can find him! You will yield now, and help us! Or you will be destroyed.'
Takaru Matsui was not a man to back down from a fight, and he would not submit to this Order. Or his own father, and he shook his head before he snorted. 'I will not help the Order, I want you to leave Kyoto! I don't know of a Scourge! I make the Challenge for control of Kyoto!'
A rumble ran through the crowd, whispering at each other as they spoke rapidly. Then the little man thrust a hand into the air, and the crowd fell silent before he looked to the old man. The old man laughed softly, shaking his head before the little man spoke again. 'You do not have the standing to make challenge, you are not of the Order. You do not bear a mask or a name! Begun with your challenge, boy.'
Takaru blinked, and his head was lowered in defeat. And then someone stepped forward, and walked past him. It was Donzig, and he said nothing as he stared at the two men before him. He growled a word, and waved his hand angrily as they nodded slowly. They stepped back, bowing slightly to let him step into the ring. Donzig glanced at Takaru before he reached into the battered leather jacket he wore. He drew forth a mask made of metal, a skull that gleamed red in the hazy light before he tossed it into the center of the ring.
Silence fell, and the little man grabbed at his chest as the old man's eyes widened. Takaru blinked, and Donzig spat as he spoke in a cold, hard voice of barely contained rage and contempt. 'You want the Scourge, Old Man? Here I am, and tonight Kyoto is mine. Name your champion.'
Takaru blinked, and his eyes met Donzig's as he looked over his shoulder at him.
His one time friend, his ally was gone. All that was in those eyes was darkness, an evil predatory hunger. It was the gaze of that cold arrogant voice that came from him sometimes, the side of Donzig that Takaru Matsui loathed. The small man spoke rapidly to the old man, and Donzig stepped back to his side. Takaru grabbed at his arm, and leaned in close as he growled. 'You! You did this!'
Donzig snorted, jerking his arm away as he glared at the Old Man. 'They did this. And I am going to punish them for it. I promised you that one way or another? Kyoto would be yours, and Matsui Arts would be free of the Order. But now you owe me a favor, that is the price.'
'Are you so sure you will win?' Takaru spat. glancing around at the crowd who had grown restless. They were chanting now, calling for blood. They wanted the challenge to be accepted, and he could see the men in red and gold gathered around his father. They watched the crowd, and glaring at him. Donzig stared at him, then laughed. A cold mirthless sound that sent a shudder through him, a laugh with no emotion. The laugh of a dead man.
'I am the Scourge.' Donzig shrugged, pulling off that battered leather coat before he shoved it into his hands. He slid under the chains, eyes narrowed on the Old Man before he stood over his mask. The crowd was growing louder, and Donzig said nothing as he stared hard at the man on the throne. Takaru felt there was more here than he could see, that he wanted to know.
The small man stepped forward, thrusting his hands into the air. His robes fell around his elbows as the crowd fell silent. His eyes met Donzig's before glancing to the man in the throne, and then he spoke. 'You challenge for Kyoto? Knowing that if you lose your place in the Order is forfeit? Your name will be cast down, and your mask destroyed! You will have no place among us, forgotten and damned! Do you still challenge?'
'Oh, yes.' Donzig purred, and he flexed his fingers.
The Old Man grunted, and the crowd parted behind him to allow a man through. Takaru blinked, recognizing his younger brother. He had always been the apple of their father's eye, and he now knew why he had not helped defend Matsui Arts against the invaders from the Order. He shook his head, saying nothing as his brother stepped into the ring. Shiro Matsui was tall, muscled, and he was fast. But he didn't know if his brother was any match for an angry Donzig, and he tried to call to his ally.
Donzig's gaze was locked on Shiro, his lips drawn back in a wild grin. The little man lifted his arm, and then dropped it as a gong rang from the shadows. And the crowd roared with approval as the pair started to move in a slow circle.
Shiro was fast, and launched a few quick roundhouse kicks at Donzig. The crowd cheered with approval, but Donzig staggered back under the kicks trying to cover. Takaru was not impressed, he knew unlike his brother that Donzig seemed to enjoy pain. Those kicks were nothing but an annoyance, and he was proven correct as his brother went for another. His leg was caught under an arm, and Donzig twisted him with a corkscrew before throwing him aside. Shiro came back up, and Takaru leaned forward as his brother launched in.
He was throwing punches, and Donzig fired back with a few of his own. Battering at his brother's side before he grabbed him to whip him at the chains that served as ropes. Shiro hit the chain, coming off in a fury which Donzig ducked under to grab him around the waist. He charged ahead, screaming in rage as Shiro rained elbows down at his head shoulders. But he was driven into the post, and Donzig stepped back as he stumbled forward. The Old Man frowned, eyes narrowed as he spoke rapidly to the small man. Takaru shouted with the bloodthirsty crowd, wishing Donzig would finish his brother before things got out of hand.
Shiro Matsui was a proud son of a proud family though, and he steadied himself before he grabbed at Donzig. He spun him around, and drove his opponent into the floor with a side suplex. Donzig arched in pain, gritting his teeth even as Shiro ran forward to hit the chain to come off in a flip that crashed down. But Donzig's knees snapped up, and Shiro was knocked aside with a hand pressed to his ribs. Donzig slid to his feet, casting an angry look at the Old Man.
Takaru knew that look, and cursed under his breath. He started to step forward, but the two men moved to block him with slow shakes of their head. Shiro was slow getting to his feet, shaking his head as he stared at Donzig. Then he came forward, throwing more strikes which Donzig blocked before he threw hard punch of his own. Shiro caught it, twisting the arm at the shoulder, shoving Donzig against the chains as he tightened the hold. The crowd cheered as he was forced towards his knees as the hold was twisted again, and Donzig was forced to move towards the post.
A boot was planted, and he flung himself backwards to release the tension. Shiro broke the hold, cursing as he came back in before he was grabbed. Donzig drove his head against the post, pounding him into once and then twice. Blood ran down his face, and he threw a wild punch before Donzig flung him at the chains again. Shiro bounced off and Donzig caught him, lifting him upwards before he sent him crashing down on the floor with a hard crack.
A shudder ran through the crowd, and the Old Man pounded his fist on the arm of his chair. Takaru glared at him, then looked back to the ring as Donzig made a cover. The small man darted forward, and started to count.
One.
Two.
And Donzig lifted his shoulders, glaring at the small man before he started to laugh. The crowd cheered, and Takaru yelled out for him to stop. But he could see it now, the demon that lived in his ally's heart. The monster. The Scourge. And Donzig sneered as Shiro was brought to his feet, and his brother was battered as he staggered in pain. Donzig spat at the Old Man, and then laced his arms under Shiro's shoulder before dropping him with a picture perfect Double Arm DDT! Shiro went limp, and he sprawled on the cold cement as Donzig came to his feet. A mocking smile given to the small man before he started to pace back and forth, walking along the chains before he glared at the Old Man with a slow smile.
Takaru felt sick, and wished his brother would stay down. But Shiro was stirring, shaking his bleeding head as his arms shook as he tried to rise again. Donzig turned slowly, and his empty black gaze met Takaru's. And then he moved again, driving a knee into his brother's head with a sharp crack. Shiro started to fall, but Donzig whipped him around before he hammered him back into the earth with a DDT. The crowd roared, and Donzig threw back his head with a laugh before he picked Shiro up again. He glared at the Old Man who was livid, lips pressed into a grim line before Shiro was driven back into the ground with a brutal 25:17!
Donzig said nothing, just rolled him over onto his back before making a cover.
1, 2, and 3!
The crowd roared, and he slid to his feet as Takaru ran forward. A wave of a hand, and the two guards drew back to let him run to his brother's side. Shiro was bleeding and unconcious, and Takaru knew the damage would be severe. Donzig stared down at them, then he walked off towards the throne. He shoved the little man aside, knocking him to the floor before he stepped through the chains. A hand reached out, fingers sinking into the robes as he hauled him upwards with a scowl. 'Old Man, Mikari Matsui! Your name will be forgotten, you will be cast out, a stranger to the Order, your men will turn their backs on you! Kyoto is mine now! And you are nothing, less nothing, a ghost!'
Takaru stared at his father, then looked at Donzig. He shook his head, his hand on his brother's chest as his father aged before his gaze. His skin turning grey and ashen even as Donzig leaned closer, and his teeth were bared in a snarl. 'If you leave Kyoto, if you leave the protection of your son? I will be waiting, and I will finish this between us!'
Donzig shoved the Old Man aside, and grabbed the ornate mask from where it sat on the arm of the chair. He looked at it for a long moment, and then he dropped it to the floor. The crowd grew silent as his foot lifted, and hammered it down on the mask with three sharp blows. It shattered, and he kicked the red and gold fragments aside before he raised his fists to the crowd. His cold voice booming through the old factory. 'Kyoto belongs to Takaru Matsui of Matsui Arts, and if anyone tries to take it? They will find me waiting! Now go.'
The crowd bowed slowly, a few of these hard men kneeling before they all started to flow away into the shadows. The Old Man knelt over the pieces of his mask, staring at his sons before a small group of men dressed in white pushed forward. They had kits with them, and knelt beside Shiro as they started to work. And Takaru rose to his feet, fists curled into angry fists as he stepped towards Donzig. 'You did this! You betrayed me!'
'Did I? You wanted Kyoto to be yours, you wanted Matsui Arts to be safe, you wanted the Order stopped. I gave you all that you asked of me, you just don't care for the price.' Donzig said in that cold, dead voice. And he crossed the ring, reaching down to pick up his mask from where it sat beside the post. He stared down at the skull, and then he slowly slid it over his face. His gaze drifting over the Matsui family before he started to walk away.
The small man snorted, and gathered his robes about him. 'The Order will stop you, Donzig! You think you can defeat them, but they will break you!'
'They will try.' Donzig laughed, and he slowly walked into the darkness with the fading crowd.
Takaru Matsui had been forced to defend his family's company's territories against invaders. They had come from nowhere, and had slowly battered down anyone who stood in their way. Takaru called in some favors, he had asked for his friends to come and fight with him. They had failed. In the end, he had found only one man willing to fight this so called 'Order'.
Donzig.
'Whatever happens tonight, Kyoto will be yours, Takaru.' he muttered as he watched the men standing before the building as they motioned them inside.
The man was good, he was possibly great. But Takaru didn't like his arrogance, Takaru didn't like how reckless he was, and Takaru found those things to be increasing every day. He had met Donzig before, and he had been a hard man to understand then. Time had made that worse, but Donzig had no fear of the Order. Donzig had no fear at all, all he had was left in him was rage. Takaru knew the man was angry, but now that anger was like a living thing. It rode Donzig like a beast, and his ally didn't seem to realize how dangerous it was.
They slowly walked into the old abandoned warehouse where music thundered through the empty walls, and bass echoed over the noise of the crowd. The crowd were staring at them silently, many of them wearing masks. They stood in small knots, each normally wearing the same colors. Donzig grunted, rolling his shoulders before he leaned closer to Takaru as he murmured in Japanese. 'Witnesses. The Order has called this challenge to finish it, and these are the servants of the powers.'
Takaru shrugged, eyeing the ranks of fighters as they parted before them. They drew to a halt as the crowd parted to reveal a crude ring, little more then a bare circle of cement surrounded by chains that ran from four steel posts driven into the floor. The fighters chanted, throwing fists into the air before they fell silent. A small robed man stepped forward, glancing at the silent figure sitting on a crude throne beyond the circle. The masked figure was wearing a red and gold lacquered mask, adorned with fangs and long strands of white hair. It stared at the pair, before a hand lifted to remove the mask.
Takaru Matsui was surprised, eyes widened as he saw that the leader of the Order was his own father. The old man glared at him, eyes narrowed before he leaned forward on the throne. 'You have sided with this outsider against your family? You would bring this viper to our lands?'
'Viper?' muttered Takaru, and he stepped forward only to be stopped before he reached the chains by a pair of men who wore the gold and red colors of his father's mask. They were big, and he sneered at them before he drew back a step with a glance at Donzig. His ally said nothing, just watched with that same air of contempt he always did. Turning from Donzig, he glared at his father before he spoke again. 'You have brought disgrace to our name! You have let this Order take our company apart, how many of your own students have they destroyed? This ends tonight!'
The old man snorted, shaking his bald head as he leaned back in the throne. His hands folded before him, and he flicked his silken robes as he glanced at the small man at his side. The little man smirked, and then pointed at Takaru as he laughed. 'You are a great fool! The Order has come here to find the Scourge! Their enemy! You and your father's company got in the way! But it will be reborn as soon as the Scourge has been cast down, as soon as we can find him! You will yield now, and help us! Or you will be destroyed.'
Takaru Matsui was not a man to back down from a fight, and he would not submit to this Order. Or his own father, and he shook his head before he snorted. 'I will not help the Order, I want you to leave Kyoto! I don't know of a Scourge! I make the Challenge for control of Kyoto!'
A rumble ran through the crowd, whispering at each other as they spoke rapidly. Then the little man thrust a hand into the air, and the crowd fell silent before he looked to the old man. The old man laughed softly, shaking his head before the little man spoke again. 'You do not have the standing to make challenge, you are not of the Order. You do not bear a mask or a name! Begun with your challenge, boy.'
Takaru blinked, and his head was lowered in defeat. And then someone stepped forward, and walked past him. It was Donzig, and he said nothing as he stared at the two men before him. He growled a word, and waved his hand angrily as they nodded slowly. They stepped back, bowing slightly to let him step into the ring. Donzig glanced at Takaru before he reached into the battered leather jacket he wore. He drew forth a mask made of metal, a skull that gleamed red in the hazy light before he tossed it into the center of the ring.
Silence fell, and the little man grabbed at his chest as the old man's eyes widened. Takaru blinked, and Donzig spat as he spoke in a cold, hard voice of barely contained rage and contempt. 'You want the Scourge, Old Man? Here I am, and tonight Kyoto is mine. Name your champion.'
Takaru blinked, and his eyes met Donzig's as he looked over his shoulder at him.
His one time friend, his ally was gone. All that was in those eyes was darkness, an evil predatory hunger. It was the gaze of that cold arrogant voice that came from him sometimes, the side of Donzig that Takaru Matsui loathed. The small man spoke rapidly to the old man, and Donzig stepped back to his side. Takaru grabbed at his arm, and leaned in close as he growled. 'You! You did this!'
Donzig snorted, jerking his arm away as he glared at the Old Man. 'They did this. And I am going to punish them for it. I promised you that one way or another? Kyoto would be yours, and Matsui Arts would be free of the Order. But now you owe me a favor, that is the price.'
'Are you so sure you will win?' Takaru spat. glancing around at the crowd who had grown restless. They were chanting now, calling for blood. They wanted the challenge to be accepted, and he could see the men in red and gold gathered around his father. They watched the crowd, and glaring at him. Donzig stared at him, then laughed. A cold mirthless sound that sent a shudder through him, a laugh with no emotion. The laugh of a dead man.
'I am the Scourge.' Donzig shrugged, pulling off that battered leather coat before he shoved it into his hands. He slid under the chains, eyes narrowed on the Old Man before he stood over his mask. The crowd was growing louder, and Donzig said nothing as he stared hard at the man on the throne. Takaru felt there was more here than he could see, that he wanted to know.
The small man stepped forward, thrusting his hands into the air. His robes fell around his elbows as the crowd fell silent. His eyes met Donzig's before glancing to the man in the throne, and then he spoke. 'You challenge for Kyoto? Knowing that if you lose your place in the Order is forfeit? Your name will be cast down, and your mask destroyed! You will have no place among us, forgotten and damned! Do you still challenge?'
'Oh, yes.' Donzig purred, and he flexed his fingers.
The Old Man grunted, and the crowd parted behind him to allow a man through. Takaru blinked, recognizing his younger brother. He had always been the apple of their father's eye, and he now knew why he had not helped defend Matsui Arts against the invaders from the Order. He shook his head, saying nothing as his brother stepped into the ring. Shiro Matsui was tall, muscled, and he was fast. But he didn't know if his brother was any match for an angry Donzig, and he tried to call to his ally.
Donzig's gaze was locked on Shiro, his lips drawn back in a wild grin. The little man lifted his arm, and then dropped it as a gong rang from the shadows. And the crowd roared with approval as the pair started to move in a slow circle.
Shiro was fast, and launched a few quick roundhouse kicks at Donzig. The crowd cheered with approval, but Donzig staggered back under the kicks trying to cover. Takaru was not impressed, he knew unlike his brother that Donzig seemed to enjoy pain. Those kicks were nothing but an annoyance, and he was proven correct as his brother went for another. His leg was caught under an arm, and Donzig twisted him with a corkscrew before throwing him aside. Shiro came back up, and Takaru leaned forward as his brother launched in.
He was throwing punches, and Donzig fired back with a few of his own. Battering at his brother's side before he grabbed him to whip him at the chains that served as ropes. Shiro hit the chain, coming off in a fury which Donzig ducked under to grab him around the waist. He charged ahead, screaming in rage as Shiro rained elbows down at his head shoulders. But he was driven into the post, and Donzig stepped back as he stumbled forward. The Old Man frowned, eyes narrowed as he spoke rapidly to the small man. Takaru shouted with the bloodthirsty crowd, wishing Donzig would finish his brother before things got out of hand.
Shiro Matsui was a proud son of a proud family though, and he steadied himself before he grabbed at Donzig. He spun him around, and drove his opponent into the floor with a side suplex. Donzig arched in pain, gritting his teeth even as Shiro ran forward to hit the chain to come off in a flip that crashed down. But Donzig's knees snapped up, and Shiro was knocked aside with a hand pressed to his ribs. Donzig slid to his feet, casting an angry look at the Old Man.
Takaru knew that look, and cursed under his breath. He started to step forward, but the two men moved to block him with slow shakes of their head. Shiro was slow getting to his feet, shaking his head as he stared at Donzig. Then he came forward, throwing more strikes which Donzig blocked before he threw hard punch of his own. Shiro caught it, twisting the arm at the shoulder, shoving Donzig against the chains as he tightened the hold. The crowd cheered as he was forced towards his knees as the hold was twisted again, and Donzig was forced to move towards the post.
A boot was planted, and he flung himself backwards to release the tension. Shiro broke the hold, cursing as he came back in before he was grabbed. Donzig drove his head against the post, pounding him into once and then twice. Blood ran down his face, and he threw a wild punch before Donzig flung him at the chains again. Shiro bounced off and Donzig caught him, lifting him upwards before he sent him crashing down on the floor with a hard crack.
A shudder ran through the crowd, and the Old Man pounded his fist on the arm of his chair. Takaru glared at him, then looked back to the ring as Donzig made a cover. The small man darted forward, and started to count.
One.
Two.
And Donzig lifted his shoulders, glaring at the small man before he started to laugh. The crowd cheered, and Takaru yelled out for him to stop. But he could see it now, the demon that lived in his ally's heart. The monster. The Scourge. And Donzig sneered as Shiro was brought to his feet, and his brother was battered as he staggered in pain. Donzig spat at the Old Man, and then laced his arms under Shiro's shoulder before dropping him with a picture perfect Double Arm DDT! Shiro went limp, and he sprawled on the cold cement as Donzig came to his feet. A mocking smile given to the small man before he started to pace back and forth, walking along the chains before he glared at the Old Man with a slow smile.
Takaru felt sick, and wished his brother would stay down. But Shiro was stirring, shaking his bleeding head as his arms shook as he tried to rise again. Donzig turned slowly, and his empty black gaze met Takaru's. And then he moved again, driving a knee into his brother's head with a sharp crack. Shiro started to fall, but Donzig whipped him around before he hammered him back into the earth with a DDT. The crowd roared, and Donzig threw back his head with a laugh before he picked Shiro up again. He glared at the Old Man who was livid, lips pressed into a grim line before Shiro was driven back into the ground with a brutal 25:17!
Donzig said nothing, just rolled him over onto his back before making a cover.
1, 2, and 3!
The crowd roared, and he slid to his feet as Takaru ran forward. A wave of a hand, and the two guards drew back to let him run to his brother's side. Shiro was bleeding and unconcious, and Takaru knew the damage would be severe. Donzig stared down at them, then he walked off towards the throne. He shoved the little man aside, knocking him to the floor before he stepped through the chains. A hand reached out, fingers sinking into the robes as he hauled him upwards with a scowl. 'Old Man, Mikari Matsui! Your name will be forgotten, you will be cast out, a stranger to the Order, your men will turn their backs on you! Kyoto is mine now! And you are nothing, less nothing, a ghost!'
Takaru stared at his father, then looked at Donzig. He shook his head, his hand on his brother's chest as his father aged before his gaze. His skin turning grey and ashen even as Donzig leaned closer, and his teeth were bared in a snarl. 'If you leave Kyoto, if you leave the protection of your son? I will be waiting, and I will finish this between us!'
Donzig shoved the Old Man aside, and grabbed the ornate mask from where it sat on the arm of the chair. He looked at it for a long moment, and then he dropped it to the floor. The crowd grew silent as his foot lifted, and hammered it down on the mask with three sharp blows. It shattered, and he kicked the red and gold fragments aside before he raised his fists to the crowd. His cold voice booming through the old factory. 'Kyoto belongs to Takaru Matsui of Matsui Arts, and if anyone tries to take it? They will find me waiting! Now go.'
The crowd bowed slowly, a few of these hard men kneeling before they all started to flow away into the shadows. The Old Man knelt over the pieces of his mask, staring at his sons before a small group of men dressed in white pushed forward. They had kits with them, and knelt beside Shiro as they started to work. And Takaru rose to his feet, fists curled into angry fists as he stepped towards Donzig. 'You did this! You betrayed me!'
'Did I? You wanted Kyoto to be yours, you wanted Matsui Arts to be safe, you wanted the Order stopped. I gave you all that you asked of me, you just don't care for the price.' Donzig said in that cold, dead voice. And he crossed the ring, reaching down to pick up his mask from where it sat beside the post. He stared down at the skull, and then he slowly slid it over his face. His gaze drifting over the Matsui family before he started to walk away.
The small man snorted, and gathered his robes about him. 'The Order will stop you, Donzig! You think you can defeat them, but they will break you!'
'They will try.' Donzig laughed, and he slowly walked into the darkness with the fading crowd.