(A/N: Ok, so here is my next story. This time I'm working on a 'Ninja Scroll' fanfic. It's a cross between both the series and the movie. Yes, there is an anime series, not as good as the movie, but still pretty good, it's worth watching, and it's only 13 episodes. This story is mostly a sequel to the movie with a few references to the series. So, I hope you like it.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"RETURN OF THE NINJA"
Chapter 1: The Queen of the Devils
The Queen of the Devils sighed. She was becoming frustrated. Even with a lifespan as long as hers, she was becoming impatient. It had been 12 years since her Eight Devils of Kimon had been defeated. She still couldn't believe that a single ninja vagabond, an old monk, and a ninja girl were able to defeat them. Especially Himura Gemma, her personal favorite of the group.
'How the hell do you beat someone that can't be killed?' she wondered. 'But if he stills failed, even after I gifted him with regeneration abilities, then he deserves his fate.'
She began pacing. She wanted revenge. Revenge for her servants. She had been so careful in choosing them, yet they had still been defeated. Oh how the fools that dared to mess with her servants would pay. Gemma had managed to take care of the ninja girl, but the monk and the other ninja were still out there somewhere. And damn if she wasn't having a hell of a time finding them. The only information she picked up about them within the past 12 years was when the two had protected some Dragon Stone and the Priestess of Light from the Hiruko and Kimon Clan.
"Where are they?" she hissed, staring at the map hanging on the wall. "Where?"
In her anger, she slashed at the map, shredding it to pieces. Her tantrum was interrupted by a knock at her door. Growling irritably, she turned to the door.
"Enter." The door creaked open and a figure engulfed in shadows entered with a blank look in their eyes. The Queen crossed her arms, and stared at the person. "Anything?"
The shadowy figure was silent for a moment, seeming to try and find the strength to speak. "The monk has been sighted." They said in an emotionless tone, their voice indicating that they were female.
The Queen's red eyes lit up. "Finally some progress. And with a little luck, he will lead us to my true target. After all, he relied on him for help twice now. Maybe he'll go to him again. And once I find that damned ninja," she grinned evilly, looking at her servant, "that's when you'll come in. Now, go find the monk, but try not kill him until he's led you to the ninja."
The other woman remained silent. They simply turned around and exited the room.
The Queen walked over to her throne and sat down. Finally her long awaited vengeance was within her reach.
"Your time has come. Your days of hiding are over. Now you will pay for what you have done, Jubei!"
(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)
Dakuan breathed in the fresh night air. It was strange how most people believed that night was supposedly the time where forces of darkness came out, yet it seemed to be the most peaceful of times.
'Even darkness hides within the light.' He thought, listening to the crickets chirp.
As he continued walking, he looked up at the starry sky and found himself wondering, not for the first time, how his friend Jubei was doing.
'Well maybe not friend.' he thought with a chuckle, remembering how each time he had manipulated Jubei to fulfill his own purpose. 'He may kill me on sight if I approach him again. If I ever see him again. That man is a difficult one to find.'
He thought about how he had first met Jubei. It all started with Tessai, the stone Devil of Kimon. After Jubei had saved the ninja girl, Kagero, from being raped by the monster, Dakuan had seen his potential and persuaded him to help defeat the other Devils of Kimon. It was just a shame that Gemma managed to kill Kagero. Everything went almost according to plan. If the ninja girl had been spared, everything would have worked out.
'Oh well, can't get everything you want. Otherwise I would have gotten that Dragon Stone.'
His mind shifted to the time when he and Jubai, along with the so-called thief, Tsubute, protected the Priestess of Light, Shigure from those two clans.
'That was the last time I saw Jubei. I wonder what he's up to these days.'
He walked over to a tree and sat against it. "Guess this is as good a spot as any. Might as well get some…" he yawned, "some shuteye."
He took a drink from his gourd and pulled his hat over his eyes to shield him from the rays of the sun when it rose. He closed his eyes and sleep began to take him.
Or it would have if he hadn't detected the presence of someone sneaking up on him. Even though he appeared relaxed and on the verge of sleep, he was wide-awake, ready to react should his pursuer strike.
And strike they did, but from a distance. Dakuan shot straight up into the branches as several ninja stars struck the trunk where he had been sitting.
"A little too close for comfort." He muttered. He looked up and noticed that one of the stars had struck his hat. He pulled it out and gave it a worried look. "Make that much too close for comfort."
His eyes scanned the darkness, trying to pick up movement. He saw nothing, but he still sensed that someone was there.
"You've been following me all day now." He said. "You obviously want me dead. Care to tell me why?"
An evil chuckle came from within the darkness. "You are the monk, Dakuan, correct?"
Dakuan narrowed his eyes. Not because the person knew his name, but because they sounded familiar. Well, almost familiar. It sounded like two voices speaking in perfect unison, and he only recognized one of them.
"That depends." He said to his attacker's question. "What will happen if I say yes?"
His attacker, whom he realized was female, chuckled again. "Then this will happen."
The woman jumped out of a tree, throwing several more ninja stars. Dakuan twirled his staff around, deflecting the deadly stars. One still managed to bury itself in his right knuckle.
"Ouch." He grumbled, looking at the star. "She actually hit me. Wow, she's good."
There was movement beneath him. Dakuan jumped out of the way just as a blade sliced through the branch he had been standing on.
'I'm getting too old for this.' he thought irritably. "Would you care to tell me why you wish me dead?"
"Not dead." The woman replied. "Not yet. Not until I find the one responsible for bringing down the Eight Devils of Kimon."
A knife flew at him, and Dakuan ducked at the last second. 'For someone who doesn't want to kill me, she sure is trying hard enough to do it.' Taking cover behind another tree, he addressed his attacker. "And for what reason are you after him. The Eight Devils of Kimon were defeated over twelve years ago."
"I know." Now the woman sounded angry. "They were my servants."
Dakuan froze. He glanced over his shoulder carefully, trying to see his attacker. 'No, it can't be true. It's just a rumor.'
The tree he was hiding behind was suddenly cut down by his attacker's blade. He retreated several feet away and took cover again. "Your servants, you say. And just who are you?"
Another chuckle. "I have gone by many names, but my birth name is Shihira."
Dakuan tensed up. "Shihira? The Queen of the Devils?"
"So you know me."
"Heard of you." Dakuan corrected. "The rumored Ninth Devil of Kimon. You're really real?"
"As real as you."
Realizing that the voice was getting closer, Dakuan began moving. "So you came here to kill me in person. That's surprising. From the stories, you supposedly work through others."
"I do. I am here in mind, not body. You do recall Shijima's ability to possess others."
Yes, now that he thought about it, one of the Devils of Kimon did have such an ability. Shijima was able to move through shadows and control other. He had done so with Kagero, forcing her to attack Jubei. He had also done the same thing with another woman, using her to announce that there was an epidemic.
"Then the stories of your abilities are true?" he asked, hoping they weren't.
He received only a chuckle in response. He decided to take that as a yes. Which meant that the one attacking him was some poor soul that was being possessed, which explained why they spoke in two voices.
The blade of a sword burst through the tree Dakuan was currently hiding behind, less than an inch from his face.
Instead of running away this time, Dakuan ran around the tree, swinging his staff. It struck the trunk as his attacker did a back flip. When they came down, they landed in the light of the moon, and Dakuan got his first good look at his attacker.
"You!" he gasped. "No, it can't be!"
Too stunned to react, Dakuan's cries rang through the night as the woman through another knife at him, hitting her target.
(A/N: There's another Devil around, and she's very angry with Jubei. Poor Dakuan was the first to suffer. What will become of him? And what about Jubei? Who is the person Shihira is possessing? With time comes answers, so stay tuned.)
