Ranger24: And here we go, part two folks. THE WORD COUNT IS OVER 9,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Code 2: Shade
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"So are you now going to finish this dumb story?" Lilo demanded.
"Hey there's a method to my madness," Ranger replied.
"Really I thought you just put down whatever shit came out of your thick skull." Lilo snapped.
"Not funny," Ranger growled back kicking his feet up on the table.
"Just tell the story," Lilo snapped.
"Well maybe I don't want to," Ranger objected.
"You do."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You don't."
"I do!"
"You don't!"
"I DON'T!"
"I just Bugs Bunny'd you again!" Lilo cackled.
"Oh you little..." Ranger started.
"Just tell the story," Lilo snapped.
"Fine," Ranger growled.
"Creatures of the darkness..." Orochimaru hissed in the darkness.
He light a match in his sanctum the flame revealing his pale face. "They writh in shadows and lurk on the border of the sanity of humanity."
In the shadows Shades silent visage watched hm as he light a candle revealing the dark room slightly better.
"Many dispute their existence, some say the are not real only figmants of confused early mortal minds. Surely there numbers would make them an unstoppable force," Orochimaru added.
"Your wrong," Shade stated coldly, holding his sheathed sword Soul Eater close. "They require someone to call them forth since the majority of them that we see on this mortal plane are the weakest caste. They may have freedom of movement, but they lack purpose and indivduality."
His golden eyes darkened in the darkness. "Freedom without individuality is not strength."
"Than can we call such an existence a life even?" Orochimaru quiered.
"Oh their alive alright," Shade replied. "I've killed enough to know that."
Orochimaru smirked picking up the candle.
"I see," he noted opening a side door. "To kill ones so low, hardly seems worth effort."
The two descended down the side passage and lined with bones, not just lined with bones. The walls were covered in bones. Neither seemed perturbed by the macbre scenary around them.
"Catacombs," Shade muttered.
"Oh yes," Orochimaru replied. "These passages are far older than the bones that inhabit them."
He smirked over his shoulder. "Oh if these walls could talk. What would they say?"
Suddenly they came upon a massive chamber.
"Of their master?" He asked.
The chamber had a high vaulted ceiling. At the far end on a massive dias was a statue that was strangely shaped like a angel. Its foot however was nailed into the ground with a nail the size of a tall man.
"A corrupted of the light. One of the seven guardains." Orochimaru explained. "He's among those who were deemed by the half breed Jeremaih as deserving a punishment beyond that of becoming a shadow arm against their will. Instead they a had a much worse fate."
Shade frowned noticing a scratch on a pillar covered in runes, it was stabbed right into the foot of the statue like a spike. He reached out a hand to examine it.
"Don't touch that!" Orochimaru snapped making him pause. "A preist once touched that pillar and no ones quiet sure what happened to him. Either he was turned into a furry or he became a vegtable."
Shade glared at him.
"The writings on the subject are few and the translations are difficult, though the watchers of this place have passed on a saying. Do not believe, what one see's."
"These riddles tire me," Shade snapped.
"We have formed an allaince of mutual benefit Shade, remember that." Orochimaru hissed.
"Only as long as you stay usefull to me. Make no mistake, there is no we." Shade replied.
"Very well then," Orochimaru said relaxing his shoulders. "You however should ensure you remain usefull to me as well."
Orochimaru strood forward clutching the small red leather tome.
"Long ago the darkness and the light collided in war that both defined and broke both powers. The dark's endless cunning and fury, the lights brillance and justicifcation. All of it was laid waste. The two became just as wicked as the other. Those who reveled in this slaughter built an everlasting edifce to the hatred and burning destruction. A tower bridging the darkness and the light. Until at last one who was just as ravaged as the world itself awoke to justice. He drove a great spike into the world to hold the shattered remnants together." He explained before opening the book up to check something.
"There are records in the Dark sword documents of beings of the light and the dark who refused to give up the path of blood and thus had their names stripped of them by Jeremaih." Orochimaru noted.
"Names?" Shade asked slightly put on edge by the statement.
"Far more than mere human monikers of address. For those of the Dark and the Light their names were their power as well as their identity. To strip away the name of one such being was the ultimate punishment." Orochimaru explained. "As a darkside you should know that."
Shade gazed up at the statue and frowned.
"It watches us," he noted.
Sure enough the eyes of the statue gazed down upon them, glaring at Shade with malice and hatered.
"Those eyes are always watching. For 2,000 years they have watched," Orochimaru explained gazing up at the statues eyes. "Oh I could only imagen what he's seen."
"My guess just the inside of this room," Shade muttered.
Shade raised an eye brow but then suddenly clutched at his forehead as intense pain nearly split his skull apart!
"There is a popular theory among occulet experts that those of the dark and light used their names when binding a contract. Binding themselves to a contract in such away would mean whoever broke it would lose all of their power." Orochimaru continued ignoring Shade's pain.
"You presume to much, Orochimaru," Shade hissed.
Orochimaru smirked apologetically.
"Forgive me," he said. "Call it an old mans vanity."
"Not vanity, fear!" A deep voice boomed from the statue.
Then the statue's face broke into a wicked grin and blinding pain consumed Shade's mind.
When his site returned he was in a graveyard, his sword Soul Eater clutched in his hands.
"Behold the gate way of fear!" The great voice proclaimed as skeletal warriors began to rise from the dirt. "The light casts you into its crucible and brings you into a world of your own demise!"
Shade's eyes flashed and he raised Soul Eater; only to find to his suprise it seemed heavier then usual. Then as he raised to his ready grip he realized his arms where that of a frail young man just entering his teens.
The Skeletal warriors charged him howling hollow battle cries. With a roar Shade meet them slashing at them with Soul Eater trying to slay as many as he could per slash. His skills hadn't left him even if his physical prowess had. They came in waves and he cut them down without hesitation. But even as he cut them down exhaustion began to settle in and his breath became laboured.
Then ones skull bite into his left arm and he gave a grunt of pain. He ripped the skull off and made another vicious slash even as blood trickled down his arm. The undead warriors were surrounding him and he slashed again. Before a spear jabbed into his side right into the side of his chest. He collapsed to the ground left hand grasping the spears shaft trying to yank it out. Soul Eater had fallen from his grip and lay stabbed into the grass just out of his reach. The skeletal army swarmed him.
'I've seen this before...' He thought. 'This is familar.'
Then on the horizon he saw something rising. A large winged angel but with a skeletal visage. The angel of death.
"But what does it mean?" He voiced a loud. "Why are you showing me this!?"
"Fear, regret, lament, hopelessness. All of these pleasures can be yours." The voice proclaimed. "To keep ourselves pure, many of the Light sap themselves of emotion to allow us pure judgement. But when we released the emotions these wonderous gifts revealed themselves."
As the voice spoke the undead viciously stabbed Shade with their blades, blood sprayed from his chest and he gasped in pain. One of them even thrust Soul Eater into him!!
"Gifts?" He rasped.
"An insect like you could never understand. One so small lacks the perspectice to truly view the world around them. You run away."
Then Shade smirked and grasped the hilt of Soul Eater.
"Run away?" He muttered.
Then he yanked his blade out and lifted himself to his fee teyes flashing red. Then he made one great slash and the undead were utterly destroyed, the weapons peircing him were cast to the ground and the wounds healed.
Then his vision flashed again and he returned to the open chamber as the Statues head collapsed from its shoulders just as he had intended. He sheathed Soul Eater turning hiss back on the statue.
"I am no insect." He growled.
"So I see," the statue moaned. "Please give me my name. Give it back to me descendant of Jeremaih."
"I have no name to give you fallen," Shade replied. "You lost it 2,000 years ago."
He then began to stride away.
"A clean slate, lightling. You want a name? Give yourself one." Shade said insincere.
The statue smiled.
"I understand," it whispered.
Then the pillar exploded and its foot was feared. The whole statue began to collapse.
"My name shall be Gouman. When the seven are assembled. Even heaven will not be beyond our reach."
Then statue collapsed utterly into rubble but the voice still spoke.
"The seven bells shall ring and we shall celebrate an ancient evil. The descent of our lord from on high. The bells shall ring soon."
BANG!
Ranger grined sadistically as he pulled the trigger of Luna again and the pistol bucked again. The ghoul he was shooting screeched as its left arm was blown off and Ranger drew out Sol and the two pistols blew off the legs of the walking horror. Now paraplegic the ghoul was helpless as Ranger slammed his boot heel into its face.
"We gotta stop meeting like this, people will talk." Ranger said casually as the ghoul screeched at him. Ranger promptly put a round in its chest.
"Got a little taste for human flesh eh? Thought you'd have yourself a little picnic? Shame you forgot to invite me, my Grandpa makes a great chili." Ranger mocked. Then he unloaded the clips of both pistols into the ghouls ripping what was left of it to gory shreds. He stepped of the corpse shaking his boots.
"Ah damnit, got some on my boots." He muttered.
He rose up to his full height and holster his trusty hand guns. He strood down the street not a care in the world. He passed a side alley where to homeless girls sat together shivering. Ranger frowned at them and sighed.
"Damn me for having a heart," he muttered strooding down the alley opening up his wallet and handing them a twenty.
"You two get youselves something to eat," he said as they looked up at him eyes glowing with suprise at the donation. Then without another word he slipped out of the alley and back down the street.
"Lets see, I'm in the red light district, sleazy end of town. My 'the idoit squads near by' sense is going crazy." Ranger muttered.
After a block or so the sound of metal music floated to his ears and Ranger smirked.
"Heavy metal, only means one of two things. A bars nearby or theres a mush pit and nobody told me. Either way I'm there!" Ranger said following the music.
His search lead him to the former of the two. An old bar with one of its windows boarded up. He shoved the door open wide enough to catch the lyrics.
'Now you've really crossed the line.'
The barkeep didn't even glance over his shoulders.
"Welcome," he muttered without looking at Ranger.
"The music in here sucks," Ranger said trying to at least get he guy to look at him.
The barkeep whirled around looking annoyed.
"All your tastes are in your mouth Yank, this here's a classic."
Ranger seated himself at the bar.
"So you here for a drink?" The barkeep asked.
"No," Ranger replied.
"Have one, I'll know what you like." The bar keeper replied.
Ranger smiled.
"That sure of yourself?"
The bar keeper shruged.
"When you been pouring hooch as long as I have you get some good instincts," he replied.
At that moment there came the crack of a pool stick stirking a billiard ball and he glanced to his left to see two young women of roughly colledge age playing pool.
"And something else tells me your not here for the pool," the Bar keep added.
Ranger smirked.
"Instincts telling you that to?"
The bar keeper gave a huff. "Don't need a crystal ball to predict the obvious, pal."
He got back to work on the a glass.
"Not many pack twin heat and carry a pigsticker like that," The bar Keep said setting down the glass and got to work on something else. "But I'll betcha I could teach ya a thing or two 'bout cuttin'! Watch!"
Then he rose up lifting up a plate with a tomato on it with a knife in the other. Then he spun the plate and made a rapid series of quick slices with the knife. The tomato collapsed into little squares and Ranger smirked
"Not bad pal. You a chef or a serial killer?" He asked.
"Neither, though I am british." The bar keeper replied. "Once again when you've been in the bussiness as long as I have you pick up a few tricks."
He turned back to what he was working on. "Gotta do somethin to keep people from drinking at home."
He then turned about and set, to Ranger's suprise, a fully made pizza right in front of him.
"You're Ranger right? The badass who'll take any dirty job?"
Ranger smirked. "Depends on the payment."
The bar tender frowned and lean forward. "Well theres some really bad shit gonin down round here kid."
Ranger took a slice of Pizza and riped a chunk out of it with his teeth.
"And what do you mean by that?" He asked between mouth fulls.
"Some one, or something, has been killing a lot of people round here. That includes cops." The Bar Tender replied. "It's scaring off my customers as well, bad for business. And in the current economic climate you need to do well.'
"Not my department," Ranger replied reaching for another slice. "You want a cop killer? Find some bounty hunter."
Then right before his eyes the pizza was pulled away.
"Hey! What the hell!" Ranger snapped.
"Well since you aren't going to do a little community service than you have to pay. Thats $8.50 for the pizza, and $4.25 for the drink." The bar tender replied.
"Oh come on! Have a..."
"RANGER!!!!!" Eddy yelled as he came crashing through the doors. Right behind him came a panting Double D and Ed. Eddy slipped the floor with a cry and fell flat on his face.
"Who the fuck put salt on the floor?" He snarled pushing himself up off the floor.
"Thats to keep out demons," the Bar tender replied.
"That only works in some cases, try lining the walls with garlic and crosses." Ed replied.
"Nah that only works mostly on vampires and werewolves Ed," Ranger replied with a wave of his hand.
"Enough yapping out of you!" Eddy snapped standing up. "Ranger why the hell did you cancel the job I set you up with!?"
Ranger smirked. "Sorry Eddy I was taking some time off."
"Don't bullshit me!" Eddy snapped. "This is Sarah we're talking about! If you don't do the job I'm sweat and sour pork!"
"Eddy, you did borrow two hundred thousand to pay off that debt to the brothel." Double D noted.
"Can it sock head!" Eddy growled.
"I'm going to have to pass Eddy," Ranger replied taking back the Pizza. "I kinda like Chinese food. Besides I already have a previous engagment."
"That blonde chick?!" Eddy said
Ranger shook his head. "That girl was Jail bait Eddy, it was a spell that made her look older."
He took a drink and the looked up smirking. "Don't worry though, I'll be back in time to save you scrawny ass from the chop block."
Eddy looked up with a look of pure joy on his face. "You mean it?"
Ranger didn't respond but he rose from his stool and made for the door.
"Hey answer me!" Eddy called but Ranger was already out the door.
Out in the street Ranger glanced up at the sky which was rapidly darkening. He set a hand to the hilt of his sword. A dark look crossed his visage.
"Now then," he whispered. "Down too bussiness."
Back inside Eddy pulled himself up to the bar with a groan.
"I'm dead," he moaned. "Maybe I should skip town."
"Cheer up Eddy, I'm sure that Ranger will come through." Double D said brightly.
"I like muffins," Ed said dumbly.
"I don't see what you're so fussed about, he's the one who flaked on the job," the bar tender noted.
"It doesn't matter they'll still hold me responsible," Eddy moaned.
"Who you owe money too?" The Bar keeper asked. "The mafia? Yakuza?"
"No one that forgiving," Eddy moaned.
"My sister," Ed said stupidly.
"Excuse me," A young woman said walking up. "My friends kinda drunk... well really Drunk."
"And you want me to let he stay here the night rather than let her risk her neck driving home or walking home when she's this easy? Sure." The bar Keeper replied. "Got a blanket under the pool table."
The young woman smiled. She had dark eyes and her dark brown hair was done up in a pony tail.
"Thanks," she siad before heading back to her freind who was slumpped over in a corner. The bar Keep smiled.
"Nice girl there, never drinks at all, probably should offer her a job." The Bar keeper voiced allowed.
"If she keeps the school girl outfit I'd say you'd make a killin'." Eddy muttered only for Double D to smack him.
"Eddy no harassing women," Double D snapped.
"Well back to my problems," Eddy growled. "I've bee doing Ranger favors since he came to this god forsaken town. And now look at what he does?! I swear if it wasn't for the fact that his ass kicking skills are need to make a profit around here I'd have a price on his..."
Suddenly a window was thrown open and Rnager shoved his head in.
"Hey Eddy! Clean up the office you tubby bastard!" Ranger shouted. Eddy practiaclly fell off his stool in alarm. "I'm counting on ya!"
Then he slammed the window shut and was gone. The bar keeper looked down at Eddy and smirked.
"Best do as he says." He noted.
"GOD DAMNIT!!" Eddy yelled.
Meanwhile at the old mansion Shade was sitting an arm chair by the window. He frowned as he flipped through the pages of the book resting on his lap.
'The Dark sword Documents,' He thought as he gazed upon the strange glyphs. 'How can one read them if their written in a dead language.'
He stared at the glyphs frustrated.
'Or maybe its not a language at all?' He suddenly thought. 'These glyphs look more like runes of some sort.'
He muttered a curse closing the book.
"Looks you'll still be of used to me Orochimaru," he growled.
Then he noticed a shadow by a curtian and he frowned.
"Misa, what is it?" he demanded.
The little girl stepped out of the shadows and gulped.
"Orochimaru awaits you in the study," she said terrified of Shade.
Shade nodded and picked his cloak up and swung it over his shoulders, fastening it about his neck. Then he picked up sheathed Soul eater and strood out of the room, Misa shivering as he passed.
He made his way out into the darkend halls, the silence broke only by the click of his boots against the stones. It was a minute or two before he finally arrived in Orochimaru's sanctuary.
Orochimaru didn't look up as Shade entered but he spoke.
"About 10 years ago a girl was killed on the edge of town. It was an unsual death. The house had been burned to the ground and feathers from what appeared to be arrows were found all over the place. There were signs of a struggle but the cause of death was unclear." Then Orochimaru lifted a large leather bound tome onto the table and finally turned to face Shade.
"On that same day, one of the forbidden texts was unearthed in an old church. Forbidden for they tell of the days of the great wars between the light and the dark. It was handed over to a researcher who was interested in obscure texts on such events as the wars. He tried to decipher it and for his efforts witnessed a miracle." Then Orochimaru pulled open his shirt to reveal a terrible scar that was oozing gunk.
"The wound still festers from time to to time. Such as it did last night when we encountered the fallen one." Orochimaru recovered the scar and smirked. "The being of the dark who gave me this scar appeared out of nowhere to me. He was a rather mundane beast at best but he opened my eyes to miracles."
"Miracles?" Shade huffed. "An eternally festering wound is hardly something to be thankfull for."
"It's not to you liking? I apologieze, but these are the fruits of hard labor." Orochimaru replied. "Idle hands do the devils work they say."
Then his eyes glinted wickedly. "My hands however have been queit diligent. The first seal is broken and most texts relate to only four. Three remain."
"But seven were mentioned by the first seal," Shade muttered. "The deadly sins: Pride, Lust, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, and Greed."
Orochimaru nodded.
"The first called himself Gouman. It means pride."
"If seven of these beings exist, then so do seven seperate seals." Shade finished.
Orochimaru frowned. "So what is it the Anceint texts failed ot mention? What did the authors overlook?" He scratched his chin. "Or maybe its a test. The first four reveal the secret of the other three."
"Where are the seals?" Shade asked.
"I only knew of the one. But not the remaining three, and certianly not the seven." Orochimaru reported.
Shade sighed.
"Fine, I'll destroy the ones we know of while you research the others.
Orochimaru grinned. "Bravo... and what of Ranger?"
"What about him," Shade growled.
"I tried to bring him in on this, but he refused."
"Not suprising. He has no love for the light or the dark but goes his own way. To much of the Anceint Twilight in him."
"Quiet different from you."
"Ranger never was one to accept his role in the grand scheme of things."
Orochimaru smirked now.
"Its a shame, for now his invovlement is certian, one way or the other. Leave him to me."
Shade raised an eyebrow. "You, old man?"
"I try to maintain my youth as best I can," Orochimaru snapped.
"Well what can you do?" Shade asked ignoring him.
"God loves us unconditionally, but when we break his rules the rodof correction comes swift." Orochimaru answered. "To Spare Jeremaih's direct heir the rod would be to spoil the child perhaps?"
Meanwhile outside night had fallen deep as the young woman from the bar stepped out into the street. She took in a deep breath of the cool night air and gazed up at the black sky.
Then suddenly a flock of strange blue bat creatures flew from one roof into the night sky. She started in suprise.
"Never seen that many bats before," she muttered.
She made her way down the street until she came upon Misa crouch in the fetal poistion by the street side.
"Hey are you okay?" She asked.
Misa didn't look up.
"You lost or something?" She asked.
"I want to go home," Misa whispered without looking up.
The young woman bent over.
"Where'd you live? I'll take you there." She offered.
Misa handed her a roughly drawn map on peice of note book paper. She frowned.
"It's alright lets get you home." She said offering out and hand and pulling Misa to her feet.
Meanwhile on the roof tops above Ranger leapt from roof top to roof top. He smirked as he jumped across the street.
Then he brought his foor down on a large bublous beast which wailed as his foot crushed it!
"Hello folks!" He proclaimed as the other creatures present hissed raising claws and barring their fangs.
"Sorry if I'm interuptting your barmitzvah from hell..." He said setting a hand at the grip of Luna. "But atl east I brought gifts."
The creatures roared and charged! Ranger promptly drew out his trusty hand guns.
"The silver hollowed jacket kind!" He proclaimed before he opened fire.
The creatures fell dead like they'd never even been born. He jumped away from them emptying his magazines before he swung out his sword, hit the edge of the roof, and shot right into the furious crowd of creatures! He cut through his first target like a hot knife through warm butter. Then he back stepped and sliced down another victim with a sadistic grin on his face.
"Step back!" He yelled before back handed stabbing one that came up behind him. He yanked his blade out and beheaded another victim cackeling with the madness of plain simple monster killing.
Then he gave a yell as a sharp thorn like something plunged into his chest from behind! It tore through his coat and shirt and had come half way out hte other end. He whirled about to see another creature this one covered in spikes.
"You son of a bitch!" He snarled. "Do you know what it costs to patch this jacket!?"
He ripped the spike out which began to seal up oddly as he leapt up at the creature and sliced it clean in half!
"Hassan chop!" He yelled before he finished his strike.
Meanwhile the young woman stared at Ranger's shop in confusion as Misa looked up at it mornfully.
"This is where you live?" She asked. "It looks abandoned."
Then suddenly Misa rushed to the door.
"Hey wait up!" She called to Misa following her up the steps.
Inside the place was just as battered on the inside as it was on the inside. Ranger had neglected to clean up the mess from the incident which had damaged his juke box.
"This place doesn't look to safe we should get..." She started but then she noticed Misa was at the desk at the back of the room and was gripping the sole picture tightly. She walked up beside it looking at the picture and frowned. In it was a woman with blonde hair and electric green eyes.
"Pretty," Misa whispered.
"Yeah she is, is that your mom?" The young woman asked.
Then Misa's eyes grew wide and her hair flew back! The young woman stumbled back in alarm as Misa lifted off the ground! The billard balls lifted off the pool table and shot about the room crashing into furniture and walls with loud bangs! Then with shreik Misa leapt out of the room and the young woman stared in horror.
"What in the hell...?" She muttered.
Clack.
Ranger paused and turned about. Lying on the sidewalk was the amulet he wore most of the time.
"Ah damnit," he muttered walking over to it.
He picked it up and brushed it off. The chain had broken at one link.
"Must have been damaged in the fight," he muttered. "I knew I should have gotten a coat with pockets."
Unbeknowst to him however Shade and Orochimaru were watching him from one of the colser buildings second floor.
'Do you believe him?' A voice within his mind asked him.
'Who?' He asked.
'Shade,' the voice answered.
'Yes I do,' Orochimaru replied.
'Why?' It asked.
'Because it is greed that drives him. He will be truthfull as long he believes I can deliver what he covets.' Orochimaru answered.
Then suddenly Shade spoke.
"The rules of this game were made long ago," he said. "But I'll break them all to get what I want."
'See?" Orochimaru pointed out.
'And what of Ranger? He is difficult to work with.'
'Quiet the contrary. I will dangle Shade before him and he will come like a moth to a flame.' Orochimaru replied. 'No matter what, Jeremaih's last true descendant will be forced into these events.'
Then there came a wrapping on the door.
"Master," Orochimaru's maid said as Shade vanished into the shadows. "The neighbors have invited you over for dinner again."
Orochimaru quickly stowed away his research and occult objects.
"I'll be but a moment," he answered.
Ranger's foot connected satisfyingly with the door to his shop and he swept inside. He stabbed his sword into the floor boards and mantled over his desk before slapping himself down in his chair. He swung his feet up onto the desk and opened one or two drawers.
"Hmmm... Pliers? Hammer?" He mused.
Then and idea came to him. He tossed the amulet in his free hand.
"You ready?" He said to himself. Then he tossed it high into the air.
"Fire!" He shouted grabbing the chain and crushing the broken links together. He grinned and let it hang from his wrist.
"To easy," he proclaimed setting it back into place around his neck.
Then he noticed something.
The picture was face down. He frowned and straightened it up to find the glass had broken. Casaully he kicked one of the billard balls up from the floor into his hands.
Then he hurled it right through Misa's magical defense and she screamed as she reappeared before him.
"Well look who it is!" He said his voice dripping with mock suprise. "Little miss, I-want-to-be-older-so-I-can-be-pretty! Still selling your soul to try get older eh?"
Misa hissed at him, then she tossed a quick glance at the amulet and rushed out the door. Ranger cursed and threw up his hands in annoyance.
"Christ, kids these days. They've got no manners." He growled.
Inside Ranger's bathroom however the young woman backed in deeper into the shadow by the shower head.
"All running around, hopped up on dope with their hula hoops, and their satanic rituals, and their Hannan Montana CD's. That bitch gives real country fans a bad name." He muttered tossing his coat and battered shirt onto the desk.
"You know sometimes I think the whole damned world would be better off with a manditory sterilization for anyone really fucking annoying." He growled throwing open the door. The young woman held her breath...
Clack.
The amulet slipped off Ranger's neck and land on the tile floor of the bathroom and he muttered a curse.
"Thought I fixed this thing," he muttered picking it up.
He stepped back into the lobby and set it down on the desk before he turned back to the bathroom.
Suddenly Misa leapt down from the ceiling fan and snatched up the amulet!
"What the fuck?!" Ranger said in suprise turning about. Misa ran towards the windows and leapt out the one shattering the glass. Ranger's face screwed up in anger.
"Alright that's it you little bitch! I'm going to rip you heart straight out your ass and make you eat it!" He roared grabbing his coat and sword. Muttering a stream of curses he made for the door. He kicked it open, swept outside, and then slammed it shut.
The young woman waited a moment before running out of the bathroom and out the front door. Things were just way to freaky for her.
Meanwhile Shade slipped on his cloak and picked up his sheathed blade Soul Eater. The time had come for him to get work. He swept out of his room to find Misa, much older looking and dressed in black waiting for him. Around her neck was Ranger's amulet.
"So I take it you still yearned for adult hood like so many girls wishing to be painted whores." He commented.
"Shut up! You bastard!" She snarled.
Shade paused by the stair well.
"I hate you," she hissed. "I hate those eyes of yours, the way they look at me."
"If you're trying to get some bussiness with me try again when I know your not really a twelve year old." Shade replied before leaping over the railing to the ground floor.
"Hey! Where the hell are you going!?" She snapped.
"I tire of you girl, something I'm sure you'll be hearing that from a lot of guys soon enough." Shade answered.
Then he screwed up his face in a scwol.
"Ranger's coming," he muttered.
Meanwhile Ranger was completely lost.
"Well shit," he muttered. "Have I been stood up? Queit the opposite of prom night."
'Wait wait wait hold up!' Lilo shouted.
Present-
"What?" Ranger demanded.
Lilo held up a copy of Devil May Cry 3, Code Vergil. "According to this Dante got stood up at his highschool prom."
"Yeah well I didn't," Ranger shot back annoyed.
"Says who?" Lilo demanded.
"Says me," Ace answered.
Lilo jumped in suprise. "How long have you been there?"
"Hey I'm here to!" TSS snapped.
"And me," Larxene added.
"Yeah and those two aren't even in this story," Ranger pointed out.
"So wait you and Ranger went to prom together?" Lilo asked Ace.
"Yeah, we're dating." Ace replied.
"Wait what?" Lilo said in confusion..
"Lilo, just shut up and let me get back to the story." Ranger growled.
"My brain hurts," Lilo moaned.
FMC 3-
Ranger glanced up at a wall on the side of an ally to see a sword shoved into the bricks impaling a peice of paper. He tossed his sword into the air, knocking the sword out and catching the peice of paper before he caught his falling blade. It was a map.
"Wow! A map, how conveinet! A map! Couldn't possibly be a trap." He said his voice drolling sarcasm.
"The date is straight ahead," Ranger read. "Well at least it's easier to read than Eddy's maps."
He tossed the map into the trash.
"Tubby bastard can't even spell straight."
"Eddy... Eddy wake up damnit," the bar keeper growled as Eddy lifted his head off the bar. Double D and Ed had already left and the bar was all but empty.
"What?" He moaned knocking over and empty bottle.
"I'm closing up for the night, so scram." The bar keeper ordered.
"Aw come on," Eddy moaned. "You let the girl sleep here?"
"Yeah well I have a soft spot in my heart for the ladies and you smell bad." The Bar keeper snapped.
Eddy glanced out the windows and gulped.
"Aw come on man, can't I just stay here a little longer. I mean, I'm not scared or anything."
"Bullshit man," the bar keep growled. "Just look outside, the moons blood red."
True to the bar keepers word the moon was an erie red color.
"There's some bad mojo floatin' about, I'm closing up for the night." The Bar keeper continued. "I hope your friend Ranger can take care of himself."
"By the way whats your name?" Eddy asked.
"Nukid," The bar keeper replied running a hand through his blonde hair.
"Well this looks like place, Ranger muttered. Then he lifted up his boot and kicked the door clean off its hinges!
"Holy sh!" Someone had time to yell before the door crashed into him.
He stepped inside to find himself inside a large well light room, more like a grand ball room. Standing inside were some dozen people in school uniforms. Ranger stared at them blankly before comprehension dawned on him.
"Oh crap, I'm in the wrong fic aren't I?" He muttered.
"Yeah Ranger, you don't show up until a cameo next chapter." David replied.
"Oh shit this is Code Fiction?" Ranger said alarmed.
"Yeah," Chibi said sweat dropping.
Ranger smiled sheepishly. "Eh sorry about the door." Then quick as a flash he ducked out and made hiis way back up the street.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid." He muttered repeated hitting his fist against the wall of the building.
About twenty minutes later Ranger was outside, suprise suprise, an old church.
"I swear to god, evil nuts need some real estate advice," he muttered.
He swung open the doors and walked down the aisle all the way to the altar without incident and frowned.
"What? No welcoming committe? Depressing," he muttered.
"That depends on who you'd like to welcome you," a voice said behind him. Ranger groaned and turned to see Pockets sitting over the entrance arch.
"Gee so much for creatures spawned in hell not being able to enter churches. Think someones asleep at the wheel." Ranger commented dryly.
"Aw it's not a good idea to mock god in his own house," Pockets commented.
"Since when were freaks like you religous?" Ranger demanded drawing out Luna.
"Oh we have a certian respect. All the orginal demons in hell were once angels in heaven after all." Pockets pointed out.
"Look pal, we can talk religon all night or I could just kill you." Ranger growled. "Now tell me. Where the hell is my amulet?"
"Amulet?" Pockets asked bemused.
"Don't play dumb, your crazy but not stupid," Ranger snapped. "You're little lady Misa jacked it from me."
"I really don't know what you're talking about my half blooded friend." Pockets replied.
Ranger smirked.
"Well I'm sorry," he said sarcastically, flicking of Luna's safety. "It's been fun and all but if we can't be honest in this relationship then we should go seperate ways."
Then suddenly pockets was right infront of him with his finger on the barrel of Luna.
"Ah! That amulet!" Pockets said with comprehension. "I will tell you, but first."
Then he was back on the arch. "A job for you.'
"A job?" Ranger muttered.
"A job worthy of a descendant of Jeremaih the half blood," Pockets admonsihed.
"If its wholesale monster killing, job accepeted." Ranger growled before firing.
Then suddenly floor gave out beneath him and with a cry he fell! He stabbed his sword into falling stone trying to regain control but he lost his grip and slamed down hard on a dais. His sword stabbed itself into the floor in front of him. He pushed himself up with a curse and yanked his sword out of the stone floor and waved it at the hole he'd fallen through.
"You know that was really fucking uncalled for!" He shouted. "Since you didn't give me the specific's I'm charging ya the usual fee! I'll just make it up as I go but when I'm done you'll be getting an itemized bill!"
Then he looked about himself, his eyes slowly adjusting to the low light. Then he saw the massive pool, no, lake of blood with skulls floating around in it.
"Blood and skulls, peachy." He muttered. "This must be where all the Altar boys go when they get to old for the priests."
He sighed.
'This day just keeps getting better and better.' He though to himself. 'Now how the fuck do I get outta here?'
"My lifes a god damned horror flick" He said outloud.
"JEREMAIH!!!" A mighty voice called and Ranger suddenly fell to his knees panting heavily! He felt as if someone had set his blood on fire!
"Jeremaih! I've waited a long time for this day to come..." The voice called again.
'What in the hell?!' Ranger thought barely able to move. 'Can't focus, the fuck is wrong with me?!'
Then out of darkness he saw a form, a massive statue with an angelic form. It's head lay in the blood and it cried tears of the red liquid.
'Years and months, spent trapped down here," It said. "Years and months of repentance and regret. Betrayed by you I wept tears of blood with my shame. The tears became an ocean and now you return. All of my pent up energy from 2,000 years of lonelness. Jeremaih, I can smell you but I can't see you."
Ranger clutched at his sword for support shaking all over. His hands slipped and he split his knee on the sword and his blood poured down it's length. The silver blue moon at the hilt flashed violet.
"Ah Jeremaih, your blood. Your beloved blood." The statue moaned.
Then Ranger let loose a long loud shreik! The pain was unbearable!
"I've wait 2,000 years for it. Jeremaih." The statue said.
Then suddenly Ranger lunged at it sword raised! He slashed with his sword and wave of jet black energy blasted from his sword and shattered the statues nose! It shreiked in agony and Ranger bounced off it's chin and landed back on the dais panting.
"Forgive me if you've heard this one before," Ranger snarled. "How do you stop an asshole from smelling? Cut the fuckers nose off!"
He straightened. "I don't care if you got some two thousand year old grude with an ancestor of mine but I couldn't care less! All I want is for you to shut the fuck up and to get my amulet back!"
The statue roared and a spike shot from one of its wings! Ranger back fliped and it passed over him and smashed into the wall! He landed and grined He felt alive! He felt energized.
'What's this power coursing through me?' He wondered.
He shot forward!
"Eat it bitch!" He shouted shoving his sword into the wings shattering them!
"Jeremaih," it groaned. "Give me my name..."
"I can think of plenty of things to call you and none to flatering." Ranger shot back. "I don't like to repeat myself so listen up."
He smashed off the statues arms!
"You've got the wrong guy!" He shouted.
"NO! YOU MUST GIVE ME MY NAME!" The Statute screamed.
"NOW FOR THE BIG FINISH!!" He roar and with one mighty slash he sliced the statue's chest in half and sent the sea of blood flying into the air from the momentum. Then he saw its hands however. They were chained to a rune covered spike.
"Jeremaih," it moaned. "Give me my name..."
Ranger sniffed idignant.
"Weren't your parents supposed to do that? Let me guess rough childhood?" He said with a wave of his hand. Then he forze. The skin was darkened to a strange almost violet shade, the fingers were clawed and knotted. He looked himself over and saw his whole body was like that. He raised his sword and in its reflective edges he saw his hair was now a wild jet black and his eyes blood red. He snarled brandishing his sword.
"The hell did you do to me?!" He snapped.
"Give me my name," It moaned. "The name you took from me 2,000 years ago, give it back!"
"If I had known you'd make this much noise I would have shattered your mouth first." Ranger growled. "If I wanted to be nagged endlessly I'd move in with my mother."
Then Ranger heard a sound and he hurled his blade at its source. Pockets gave a yell as he barely avoided being impailed.
"Well look who decided to join the party," Ranger growled. "You got three seconds to explain what the hell that was all about savy?"
Pockets picked up his fallen hat.
"Counting down fat ass," Ranger warned. "One, two..."
"No wait this the job!" Pockets procalimed. "You are a descendant of Jeremaih, you must give him his name!"
Pockets walked across the stone floor to him.
"All you must do is say 'I shall name you,' and he'll be satisfied." Pockets said.
"Name him?"
"2,000 years ago your ancestor took his name away; and for all time he has been trapped here. His name is his honor; it means everything to him! Worth even more than his pride to beg you like this." Pockets opened his palms imploringly. "Please give him back his name, his honor!"
Ranger frowned yanking his sword out of the wall.
"Ah, that old chestnut eh?" He muttered. "The sins of the father."
He turned back to Pockets hefting his blade onto his shoulder. "So I'm supposed to name him eh? Well answer me this." His eyes darkened. What happens if I name him?"
Pockets's smile didn't falter.
"You see, you're really determined to have me name him. So I got to wonder exactly what details you're conveniently leaving out?" Ranger said walking closer. "I ain't naming shit and in case you've forgotten..."
Then he yanked out Sol and smirked. "You might want to remember what it says on my bussiness cards, I'm a slayer. Remember?"
Then pockets clapped his hands and Ranger felt and intense pressure on his shoulders! He fell to the floor Sol clattering away.
"I have to warn you Ranger, I lose my temper and you lose your head." Pockets said. "Poor descendant of Jeremaih, clinging to weak twilight rather than embracing his dark legacy. So much power could be yours if you wanted it."
"Fuck you..." Ranger snarled.
"Thats definantly the kind of answer I'd expect from you, your just like a weak human. Is vengance that much of a drive?" Pockets mocked.
"Revenge? I'm in this for money!" Ranger hissed.
"You lie badly, like a human," Pockets replied. "Don't you remember that day? When you swore vengance against those who had commited the murder of your master? Your slaying is you damned soul's excuse to hunt your foes."
Pockets began to pace around him. "Am I wrong though? Is this truly all the strength you have? You've wanted the strength to be untouchable. Embrace the power I offer and you would be invincible."
"Quit your Star Wars esque, turn to the darkside bull shit!" Ranger snarled pushing himself up, to Pockets's suprise. "I'm me and thats it!"
Suddenly something shot down and with a violet blast the stone pillar shattered! Ranger was blasted off his feet and Pockets was thrown clean across the room! The blood from the floor began to fall like rain. In the midst of the destruction, Shade sheathed Soul Eater.
"In the name of Jeremaih, the half breed. I shall name this seal." He proclaimed.
Then the statue gave a roar of delight as Ranger righted himself watching in alarm.
"Choose," Shade ordered.
"My name is 'Sloth'," The statue moaned. "We shall meet again."
Then it crumbled into dust. Pockets floated up high over Shade.
"Why did you open this seal?!" Pockets demanded. "You were to open the second seal!"
In a flash Soul Eater was out of its sheath and pockets hat flopped in half.
"Shut up," Shade growled sheathing Soul Eater.
Ranger rose to his feet, he had returned to normal now as had his sword. He strood towards Shade, his blade scrapping the stones.
"Well isn't this just concidence, running into you like this Shade. Fitting that its a graveyard since you won't be leaving." He said.
"Sorry to disappoint but I'm all out of witty rejoinders," Shade replied.
"You never did have much of a sense of humor." Ranger noted flicking Sol into its holister with his blade. "Been along time, I hardly recognize you." Ranger added. "Wish I could say the years had been kind."
Then he hefted his sword onto his shoulder.
"Odd crowd you run with, freaks and nut jobs? Surely you can do better."
"It's been a long time my former host, theres a lot about me you wouldn't understand." Shade replied.
"Oh just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand." Ranger answered spinning his blade. "You came by recently didn't you? Looked like your handiwork in that alley. Sorry I missed you."
"Yes I'm sorry to."
"Not as sorry as you're going to be." Ranger said yanking a skull onto the tip of his sword a pointing it threateningly at Shade. "I don't normally kill creeps for free but in your case I'll make an exception."
"If your trying to impress me, try harder." Shade answered with a smirk.
"Now that I think of it you wouldn't have something to do with all the work I've had lately. Been a lot of people getting hurt and killed by increased supernatural activity. Good for bussiness though, do I have you to thank for that?"
"Hardly, as a matter of fact I'm about to put you out of bussiness." Shade replied.
"Ya don't say?" Ranger said sentimentally.
"When I'm done the world will be writhing in darkness." Shade answered and Ranger's eyes widened. "I shall erect a tower, the tower of fear shattered in ancient times. The road sealed by Jeremaih." His eyes darkend. "I shall restore it, open the realm of darkness and the world will tremble at my name."
"Are you insane?" Ranger demaned pushing passed him..
"What is sanity?"
"First of all nobody trembles at the name Shade, and second of all nobody even knows what that myth even means." Ranger snapped.
"I do," Shade replied. "And I shall open the door."
"And where's this door located?" Ranger asked. "Wait let me guess! Haunted castle? No! A mausoleum! Those old bastards sure loved little strips of hell."
Then he paused. "Don't make me have to kill you." Ranger warned.
"You're welcome to try," Shade answered.
Ranger whirled about drawing his pistols but Shade already had Soul Eater drawn at him.
"Fire arms and Ddraig s Caul? So like you." Shade noted.
"What about you? Soul eater? It suits you," Ranger replied. "Don't do this Shade."
"I'm going to the dark realm. Anyone who stands against me." Shade replied.
"I knew you weren't right in the head. But now your as bad as the bastards who killed the master!"
Then suddenly Ranger's half of the amulet fell down to the ground near by and Ranger's gaze shot to the jewelry. He dropped Sol and reached for the amulet. He gave a cry however as Soul Eater cut into the palm of his hand and the chain of the amulet wrapped around Soul Eater. He swung the chain into his hand and caught the amulet in his hands. Ranger fired Luna furiously but Shade dodged them defetly. One round however slipped over Shade's head and he sliced the bullet into tiny shards and flung them back at Ranger who cursed as the shards sliced inton him.
He stumbled back yanking up his sword.
"Give it back Shade," Ranger growled.
Then as if predestined the chain around Shade's neck snapped and an amulet identical to Rangers fell into Shade's open hand. He stared at the two amulets silently.
"No!" Pockets said in alarm. "We need both amulets or Baradur won't help us!"
"Shade!" Ranger roared.
Then Shade flung one of the amulets to Ranger and it wrapped around his sword blade.
"You gave it back?" Pockets said incredulous.
Shade flashed out Soul Eater and Pockets's head flopped off.
"I can take it any time I want." Shade growled before vanishing into the darkness.
Ranger frowned and hefted his sword into place before heading up the stairs and out of this hell hole.
"Splendid," Orochimaru said in his sancutm. "In only three days three of the seals have been opened. Everything proceeds as I have foreseen."
'We need to get ready,' the voice in his head said.
"Oh, yes I know." Orochimaru said. "The opening of the gate is imminent. Preparations must be made." Then he snuffed out the candel on his desk. "Now let the cermony begin."
Meanwhile...
"What is evil?" Shade asked. "Evil was my Ancestor, of that I am certian."
He strood to the window staring out over the city.
"Yet... Isn't 'Evil' simply a point of view?" He wondered. "Can a mouse understand how a bird of prey feels? You are the child of a human... only know the sky as you see it when you look up. Such simple happiness."
He picked up a wine glass and took a sip before setting it down.
"Ignorance is bliss afterall." He continued. "This immense world. The instant you realize the infinite span of the sky you shall surely die in despair. That the sky is blue you shall understand before you make even one revolution around the world. My name is 'Greed'. And despite my thirst for blue skies, I shall now sleep for a while..."
Then he turned to Misa who was writing feverishly on a page.
"You get that?" He asked.
"I still doubt this will get you your own DTV show," Misa noted.
"Screw the rules I'm fucking awesome!" Shade snapped.
"And thats the whole friging story until we get to FMC 3 in full." Ranger finished.
"Is it just me or did you get your ass handed to you in that fight?" Lilo asked.
"Lilo shut the fuck up," Ranger growled.
"Okay so is that all we've got?" Lilo asked.
Ranger nodded. "Yep."
"So what now?" Lilo asked as Ranger picked up his sword.
"Prepare for tommorrow night." Ranger answered.
"Why Ranger? What are we doing tommorrow night?" Lilo asked.
"The same thing we do every night Lilo," Ranger answered. "TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!"
They're Lilo, They're Lilo and Ranger Ranger Ranger Ranger Ranger!
Ranger24: Thats all for now and thats this fic. Wait for more FMC 4 and then hopefully FMC 3! Anyways read and review! This was my longest chapter ever written!