Chapter 1:
Shibuya downtown: a jungle metropolis, a labyrinth of tall buildings, dark allies and night clubs. For visitors to the city it can be rather confusing but for those that live there it is a gateway into neon lights and dangerous back alley race tracks. Anything goes in Shibuya...well to some extent.
The hum of a motorbike carrying two people, echoed through a narrow back street, the tail lights shattering the imminent darkness.
"You really did it this time." The passenger of the bike shouted over the drone, as the owner chuckled and revved the bike engine even more.
"Well as they say; Rules are meant to be broken." The bike zipped out of the passage and onto a main road which was littered with taxi cabs ferrying people to and fro from clubs.
"Rules yes. Windows of a police car no." The girl that was hanging onto the bike and her cowboy hat snapped, glancing around for the police cars that had been following them.
"Where's your spirit of adventure? Or does that only apply when you're flirtin' with men?" the rider joked, swinging her bike around a corner only to zip back the way they came when there was a cop car waiting for them. "O, persistent aren't they?"
"It's their job."
"Not my fault they were holding the traffic up, besides I only meant to kick the door."
"Pull over here damn it!" the passenger leaned forward and pointed towards an open garage. Jumping off as they entered, they both leapt to pull down the heavy metal shutter just as the police drove past.
"That was close." The owner of the bike laughed, switching the engine off plunging the pair into darkness and silence, until the taller of the two located the light switch. The two girls looked at each other before howling with laughter.
"It's not a night out with you, when it doesn't end with us being crashed by someone." The taller girl donning the cowboy hat removed her thick black rimmed sunglass and leaned against the shutters.
Holding her head high, the owner of the motorbike moved forward and rested her arms on the handlebars. "Well I do have a reputation to live up to."
The two girls looked like polar opposites. The taller girl dressed like a modern cowgirl in a brown strap summer dress, denim jacket, brown and pink cowboy boots and matching hat, her hair was pink natural or not was hard to tell. Her friend looked more punkish, plaid skirt, a blue jacket with a black fur collar and cuffs, a band t-shirt and classic biker boots. Neither of the girls was in appropriate attire for riding a motorbike.
"When should we head off?"
"Sounds like we should be safe." Nodding to each other they raised the shutters and crept out just to make sure before they sped off back into the neon lit maze of Shibuya's night clubs.
"Where the hell, have you been girl?" a tall dark haired business man snapped as the punk girl walked through the door. It was eleven in the morning and she had only just returned to her home in Uenohara: a two hour ride from Shibuya.
"Out." She stated curtly, having no respect for the older man.
"Kiyosawa Rhea! Do no turn your back on me."
Glancing over her shoulder at the greying man, she huffed "Shouldn't you be at work?" scowling bitterly the man stormed out of the front door letting it slam loudly.
"Oh my, another touching father-daughter bonding moment." A stout elderly lady appeared in a kimono carrying a mug of hot coffee.
"I know it brings tears to my eyes too, Obaa-san" Rhea smiled and accepted the beverage gratefully.
"Though out all night again, dear. That's not good for you. That is what I should say but you're so much like me when I was your age." The pair laughed.
"I best get changed, I have to go deliver a few invitations personally." She passed the now drained mug back to her grandmother and headed off down one of the corridors.
"I don't remember the temple being this far away." Rhea panted as she staggered up the mountain pass which was surrounded by an army of thick tall trees. The noon sun was high and beamed down upon her as she exited the forest onto a grassy plain where a secluded temple sat in silence. Rhea took a moment to absorb the atmosphere, she didn't mind the stillness too much only when it suited her though.
"Hello, can I help you?" looking down she locked eyes with a small bald young monk.
Smiling at him she asked, "Is Master Fung about?"
"O yes, he is here." She followed the monk into the temple, clasping her hands together in the long flared sleeves of her blue cheongsam.
"MASTER FUNG? MASTER FUNG YOU HAVE A VISITOR!" the monk hollered.
"There is no need to shout, Omi." An old with a black goatee said calmly, glancing up at his guest he looked most shocked.
"Master Fung, it has been a while." Rhea bowed keeping her sleeves together.
"Indeed it has." The old master returned the bow.
"Who is she Master Fung?" Omi questioned, just as three other monks entered the scene with a small gecko like creature at their feet.
"Are just in time to meet out guest." Gesturing to the girl stood behind him, "This is Rhea Kiyosawa an old student of mine. Rhea these are my new apprentices and dragons in training."
"Nice to meet you all." She smiled 'All this smiling is hurting my cheeks'
"My name is Omi. I am the most experienced dragon in training." The small monk boasted walking around on his fingertips.
"Hi, I'm Kimiko." The only girl of the monks waved cheerily.
"The names Raimundo." The monk with the auburn hair stated, his outward persona didn't seem exactly monk like.
"It's nice t' meet ya, I'm Clay, Ma'am." The blond cowboy introduced tipping his hat forward
"So what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Master Fund asked leading Rhea into the building, where Kimiko and Dojo the small dragon prepared some tea, as they sat down at the table.
"I'm here on business." Rhea then produced a scroll from out of her sleeves and handed to Master Fung across the table. As he opened it and began to read it's contents, Rhea explained. "I am hosting a martial arts tournament in one week and I hoped that my old master would contemplate entering. Of course your young dragons here would be more than welcome to enter too."
Omi was the first to become very excited over the news, "O pleeease Master Fung! I would very much like to go!" looking at his Master with puppy dog eyes.
"And what do the rest of you think?"
"It'll be a piece of cake of us!" Raimundo announced confidently.
"It'll be a test of our training." Clay said offering a more logical reply.
"Why not?" Kimiko seemed the least interested but she had been out voted.
"Very well, we shall attend." Master Fung had no choice but to accept the invitation now.
"Wonderful! I look forward to seeing you there. Don't lose that scroll either, it's your entry pass. Now I must dash I have other business to attend to." She rose to her feet "I will see you in Shibuya in one week. Train well young monks." Rhea waved and took her leave.
"Jack will you get rid of her already!" a small spectral being with a colourful mask spat angrily, motioning towards the small blond girl toying with a mechanical robots.
"She won't listen to me." The red haired teenager known as Jack whined.
"But she will listen to me." The bickering pair looked towards the figure that was looming at the bottom of the staircase. "Long time no see Jack-chan." The older girl stepped out of the shadows and stood behind the small child. "Oi! Pipsqueak, home time."
The girl almost jumped out of her skin, "You can't do anything to me! I'll tell my mommy-" she squealed when the visitor picked her up and dropped her roughly into a large cardboard box.
"Tape." She half demanded, which Jack pretty much threw at her in a panic. After the box was securely tapped up, the words 'Demon child, do not open' were scrawled into the top and a few air holes poked in. Showing some surprising body strength, the older girl hauled the box up the stairs. Jack and the ghost heard brief laughter followed by 'Thanks Mrs Spicer'
"How come you couldn't do that?"
"Heh, it's an art." Jack shrugged, as the girl placed a tray with coffee and cupcakes on the large metal table.
"What no hug for your big sister?"She looked a little hurt but pulled Jack into a headlock and ruffled his hair.
"It's great to see you again, Rhea. I've been busy; you know evil deeds and stuff."
"I wasn't aware you had a sister."
"He doesn't, I'm just a really good friend." Rhea laughed, finally releasing Jack from the embrace. "So who's the ghost?"
"This is Wuya. She's a witch, trapped inside a puzzle box my dad sent me."
"Huuh." Rhea looked perplexed as she passed her hand through Wuya's form, "That's odd. O yeah! Almost forgot, here you go." She tossed the evil boy genius an envelope. "An invitation, next week Shibuya, front row seat. You better be there."
Jack looked ecstatic, "O really you got it set up? Oooo! I can't wait!" he chirped holding the envelope like it was gold.
Rhea chuckled, nibbling on one of the delicious cupcakes Jack's mother had baked. "Yeah, I finally found enough time to organise it. My grandmother helped me too since she knows the masters of a few dojo's. If you have any friends that want to come, they can."
"Like this fool has any other friend." Wuya chipped in.
"Your ghost is very mouthy."
Rhea stayed chatting to Jack for a few hours before noticing the time and leaving the boy genius to his work.
-Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. So study hard and be evil.
Beginning
