AN: I'm debating on whether I should continue a few of my stories. So I now call upon the ancient power of fandom to decide.
I will be placing a poll in my authors page on which series' (is that the plural?) I should keep/ work more on.
Anyway, here is my Jackie Chan story. Enjoy.
"The mask of Tarakudo" the boy remarked quietly. "A weapon capable of releasing unknowable destruction upon any who oppose the wearer."
The boy smiled inwardly. The stories of Tarakudo and the Oni had been told to him as a child back in his home of Kyoto Japan. But he had never believed them to be true.
Until now, as he sat in the air duct looking down at the security screen. He'd pieced together the information needed to discover the fate of the Oni King. He had been sealed inside his own mask when his generals had tried to blanket the earth in darkness.
"A shame that so strong a ruler is now trapped in a piece of driftwood" the boy smirked. "If only one of his followers knew where he was, so they could break him out of his cell. But who would do that?"
He gazed down at the security card labeled J. Chan hanging around his neck.
"It's me, Taichi, of course. And soon, I will have enough power to take my revenge on Jackie Chan."
Taichi realized that someone had the potential to hear him. He covered his mouth and checked the cameras.
Nobody was coming. The security was out on a donut break.
After all, nobody broke into Section 13 anymore. Why would security be an issue?
Removing a small screwdriver from his backpack, Taichi set to work. Within minutes, the grate was separated.
"Perfect. Nobody heard it" Taichi gloated to himself. Since Tsu wasn't here to witness it, Taichi was sending everything he said to a nearby radio station, so that Tsu would be able to know what was happening.
Taichi skillfully manipulated the cameras to loop the last ten minutes of footage. It would give him a head start.
He pulled on his Shadowhood, concealing his face entirely behind the black polymer. Nobody would be able to catch any footage of his head, or know who he was.
Then again, since the world had physical proof that he was dead, who would recognize him?
Better safe than sorry, in case he was spotted.
He then deactivated the alarm system around the vault. Nobody could know he was here.
Sneaking down the corridors, Taichi made it into the hallway to the vault. This was almost too easy. It was as if Tarakudo was stopping all the guards from spotting him.
Sliding the card, he was given access to the vault. Inside was a small room.
Since Shendu, the talismans, and the individual Oni masks no longer were in this realm, the room was bare, save for a central pedestal sporting a small wooden mask.
The mast in question resembled the face of a tiger, except more humanoid. It looked as though it had not been touched since the day Jackie Chan had locked it in here.
Then again, it probably hadn't.
"Master Tarakudo, I am here to remove you from this confinement" Taichi announced. He knew there was a risk of someone overhearing, but Tsu had heard nothing for several minutes, vso he decided he had to say something.
"Mouse in maze snatches cheese" he said, for no apparent reason.
(AN: Who knows what this line is from? Put what it's from and who wrote it in reviews)
The mask was extremely light. He placed it in his pack, expecting a clean getaway.
Of course, life had to go and bite him from behind.
"What are you doing here?" came a familiar voice from behind him. He knew immediately who it was.
"Ah, the ex-queen arrives to stop the crown's return to her" Taichi said cryptically. "Sorry Miss Chan, but Tarakudo is coming with me."
"How do you know who I am?" The teenage girl asked.
"Oh, everyone knows who you are, Jade Chan" Taichi replied. "Especially me. We have many similar interests. For example. We both enjoy summoning Shadowkahn to do our bidding. And I'm going to have a chance for the first time in mere hours!"
Jade stared hard at her mystery thief. he looked about her height. Had she seen him before?
"I can't let you leave" she concluded. "You are in possession of property belonging to Section 13. Return it to its place, and I will act like this never happened." Jade spoke with confidence. Taichi knew he had to crush that.
"Sorry, that's not possible" Taichi replied. Before Jade could even register his sentence, a kunai came flying toward her. It pinned her jacket to the wall. It was joined an instant later by a second one, effectively trapping her.
"Let me go!" Jade cried.
"You think I'm stupid?" Taichi asked. "You think I'd belive your little speech for even a second? I am one of the most skilled thieves in the entire country! Now good day madame."
With that, Taichi launched several more kunai, pinning the jacket down to the point that it would be impossible for Jade to get out without help.
He closed the vault door, before crushing the controls. Nobody would know what he'd done for several hours.
And Jade wouldn't have a chance to squeal.
He stared down fondly at Tarakudo's mask as he reached the phone booth/ elevator.
The Oni prince, he thought idly. He liked the sound of that.
"Rest assured Tarakudo, your champion has secured you."
But why put on the mask, only to have its power corrupt him? He wouldn't be able to stand having Tarakudo controlling his actions, even if he was the chosen mask bearer.
"Sorry Tsu, but I have a better way of doing this" he said quietly.
Removing several things from his pack, Taichi brought out a large pot, a small cooking stove, and several other ingredients.
He mixed them together before carefully plucking one of his own hairs from his head, and adding it to the potion.
He was Japanese, and his mother had claimed that one of his ancestors was a samouri, so the ingredient was accepted.
Taichi waited for the potion to start glowing, before beginning a Japanese incantation.
Nukeru, He Men Jaaku. Nukeru, He Men Jaaku." he began chanting. In most cases, this incantation would be used to remove Oni masks from their wearers.
This time, he was only removing the power.
As the bluish aura surrounded the mask, Taichi began passing his hand over it. A blue line of Chi appeared, connecting the mask to his hand.
A flash of light insured. He felt the power of Tarakudo surge into him.
And with it came the King of Oni's rage.
"Fool! How dare you steal my power away! I would have been free again if you put the mask on!" Tarakudo's rage exploded inside Taichi's head.
"Sorry master Tarakudo, but it was essential that I not release the Demon Generals along with you, their presence would... complicate things." Taichi replied craftilly, to which Tarakudo was struck speechless for a moment. He had not expected his bearer to be so young.
The other generals, however, had no trouble making their outbursts.
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean? Came the voice of one of the Demon Generals. "Is our presence a threat of some sort?"
"Of course not, great General... whichever Demon General you are. I only meant that you would not see to my plight. This way, I may release you into this world as Tarakudo sees fit. I am your center point. With me, you cannot be defeated."
"I am Ikizuki, so that you know. But what do you mean when you say 'cannot be defeated' young one?" the demon asked.
"As a center point of your beings, I have the ability to send you to any place of your wish. You would have free movement to wherever you want to go." Taichi replied dramatically.
The Demons thought this over for a minute, before one answered.
"I, for one, see this as a great advantage. The boy can be of use to us. He can enter places Demons cannot, and could allow us access to places no demon has ever gone before!"
There was a roar of agreement.
"I require one small service in exchange for being your central point." Taichi cut in.
The generals fell silent. They had been so excited over the prospect of access to riches untold, that they had completely forgotten that the deal would likely have a catch.
I require a small amount of each of your powers. As your host, I cannot go around unprotected, and the power to summon the Shadowkhan would be a monumental asset.
"This small service is all that I require in exchange for your freedom of passage- so long as Tarakudo sees your choices fit."
The generals mulled it over for a while.
"You do not need to answer immediately. I simply will go about a few "errands" while you decide."
With that, he packed up his supplies, and set off.
"Where have you been?" Tsu asked angrily as Taichi entered the abandoned water tower. "You arrive almost an hour after getting clear, you say that you 'have to do' something which I know nothing about, and you expect to just walk in here?"
"Yes, I do" Taichi replied. "You know I'm your most valuable partner. Plus, the Oni is secure. I am ready to activate it."
Tsu raised an eyebrow at Taichi's comment, but said nothing. He knew it was the truth.
"Then put the bloody mask on! Do you think Tarakudo will want to wait any longer? Do it!"
"Yes Tsu" Taichi accepted. He slowly slid the shell of Tarakudo's Oni onto his face.
"A small favor master Tarakudo" he asked mentally. "Is there any way of giving the appearance that the Oni mask is being destroyed?"
"It would only reform, but I can burn it" Tarakudo replied.
"Do it" Taichi said aloud.
"Do what?" Tsu asked.
"Nothing. I just was thinking. But why is nothing happening to-"
His question was cut short as the mask burst into flames. He screamed as the wood was almost immidiately devoured.
"What happened? Why did it catch fire? Did Tarakudo wake?" Tsu began rattling off questions.
"I don't know why the mask burned, but I feel... stronger." Taichi replied shakily "Show me" Tsu commanded.
So Taichi summoned together his power, told Tarakudo to act like he'd just been freed, and drew the King of Oni from his mind.
A roar broke out as The beastial form of Tarakudo materialized. The King of Oni was a fearsome being. With his tiger-style face which matched his mask, he was humanoid, but his skin was a deep orange. His rippling muscles made him look like he could take out a few dozen armed soldiers within a few minutes.
"I, the great Tarakudo, have returned to earth!" the King roared ferally. He turned to Taichi.
"Thank you for releasing me... forgive me, but I do not know your name." he said in a much calmer manner.
"My name's Taichi, but you can call me what you wish." Taichi bowed respectfully.
"Then I shall call you Kumori Mikoto, the Shadow Prince, because you braved the endless shadows to release me" Tarakudo declared. "Kumori for short." He added.
Kumori is Japanese for Shadow, Taichi thought. A decent name. The name worthy of an Oni master.
"I am honored master Tarakudo" Kumori declared solomnly. "But now, I must save my strength. Keeping you in the physical world drains my strength, an I will need it for our first task tomorrow."
Tarakudo raised an eyebrow. "What task is this?"
Kumori smiled devilishly. "I thought we would start by bringing the queen back to her throne."
"You don't mean..." Tarakudo began.
"I do" Kumori replied. "Tomorrow, we have an appointment with Jade Chan."
_
Three miles away, in a small shop, a large man known as Torhu was cataloguing vases. Even though Uncle had tought him all that he could, he still enjoyed working at the shop. It was actually rather fun to find where everything went. He fit it together like some great jigsaw puzzle.
Suddenly, a tingling sensation went down his spine. His massive form shook with some sort of anticipation.
"Tohru? What is wrong?" Uncle asked from the storage room.
"The..." Torhu started to say.
"Spit it out Tohru! Uncle is not patient tonight! Jackie just called to tell Uncle that Jade is nowhere to be found. One more thing! The security panel to the vault in which they keep Tarakudo's mask has been destroyed and is unopenable. They-"
Tohru looked startled at the mention of Tarakudo.
"Sensei" he said slowly. "You say Tarakudo's mask was in the vault that was sabotaged?"
"Yes, Uncle should not have to repeat self. One more thing! Why you say 'was'? The mask is still there... Is it not?"
"I think not" Tohru replied. "I have the willies, and the last time that happened was whenever an Oni was activated. Someone may have taken Tarakudo's mask."
Tohru and Uncle looked at each other for a moment before saying at the same time: "Jade!"
How wrong they were...
AN: How do you like the first chapter? There was not much action in here, besides the vault scene, but there will be more later on.
Even Fire and Ice have a Dark side...