Chapter 3
The Legend of the Dragon Clan
Haku, Sakura, and Venus lead their guests with a large group of people to another building across from the monastery. Inside was a large theater with room for over 500 people. The stage was a traditional Kabuki theater stage with two runways that stretched out ten feet each. The only modernizations they made to the theater were the electric lights.
Venus, Haku, and Sakura escorted the Hamato family up to a special seat box large enough to hold ten people. It was in a high balcony close to the stage.
"As the guests of honor, you can have the leader's box with me and my family." said Haku.
Venus sat next to Leo in the front. The two blushed at each other. Soon, Kazuhiro joined them in the box and sat in the back behind Leo and Venus.
"Hey, Kameyo- That's your name, right?" asked Mikey.
Venus didn't look over as she looked at Leo. "Yes, Master Michelangelo?"
"What's this play about?" he asked.
Venus smiled, "It's an old clan legend. It's about some ninjas and maiden who saved Japan from the nogitsunes."
"Not the nogitsunes!" said Mikey. He nudged Raph in the arm. "And I don't even know what that is."
Raph scoffed. Kazuhiro spoke up from behind them. "A nogitsune is a type of kitsune, a magical fox creature with up to nine tails. Unlike the zenko, who are benevolent messengers of the god Inari, the nogitsunes are malicious, evil tricksters."
"I'm not gonna enjoy this one bit." Raph mumbled to himself.
"Do you understand Japanese?" asked Kazuhiro, "Or do you need me to translate for you?"
Leo smiled. "We understand both Japanese and English, Master Kazuhiro."
It was true. Although the Turtles spoke and read mostly American English, they could speak and read Japanese, and were easily fluent in both languages. Venus smiled and took Leo's hand as they watched the rest of the clan file into the theater to take their seats. When everyone was ready, the audience lights dimmed and the lights lit up on the stage.
Soothing koto music began playing as a beautiful woman stepped on the stage in a golden kimono. It was almost like she was dressed in a summer theme. Behind her came another group of women, but they wore black fox masks on their faces and had five fox tails tied to their waists. The woman in the front began narrate in Japanese.
"A thousand years ago, Japan was being plagued by the creatures known as the nogitsunes. The beautiful, but dangerous fox demonesses who used magic to cause trouble and misfortune. Immortal and conning, they often took on the forms of beautiful women. To maintain their immortality, they had to drain the life from young maidens and girls. The more of this life force they consumed, they would gain an extra tail and grow in power, becoming stronger."
The music became more sinister and dramatic as the nogitsunes performed a dramatic dance. After three minutes of dancing, the music turned into warm and lively as a group of young girls dressed as 6th century peasant girls came on stage started dancing. Mikey smiled as they performed acrobatic moves. The Turtles watch in stunned awe as the nogitsunes "drained" the life from a group of young maiden girls and gained an extra tail for each girl. They continued dancing as the girls were taken off stage.
After a while, both ninjas and samurai warriors came out on stage and began "fighting" the nogitsunes. The ninjas wore the usual black outfits and masks and the samurai wore armor with intimating masks. The fighting went out onto the runways. Though the Turtles and Karai knew the fighting was staged, the dramatic music made it seem real. When a nogitsune "stabbed and killed" a ninja with his own ninjuto, Venus held Leo's hand in fright. Leo's smile made her feel better before they returned to watching the play.
The narrator spoke again. "Many brave ninja and samurai warriors tried to stop them, but they were too conning and powerful for capture. Many died in battle."
The music changed again as four armored ninjas and a young woman in a white kimono walked on. Venus recognized the woman as her best friend, Mimi. She knew that Mimi was playing the role of the spirit maiden this year. Mimi took a glace up at Venus in the leader's box in a silent "hello". Venus smiled back. The five danced as the narrator spoke again.
"Then hope came from the Dragon Clan. Four ninja brothers and their sister came together to stop the nogitsunes once and for all."
One of the ninja brothers spoke up, "We should ask the spirits of the earth to aid us in destroying these demonesses."
Mimi spoke. "Great spirits, hear our prayers. We are being hunted and terrorized by the nogitsunes. Send your blessings upon me and my brothers, and we will avenge the people of the land."
Just then, fog formed on the stage as five woman dressed as spirits danced in. Each woman was in a different color kimono and held a white crystal amulet.
"The spirits answered the maiden's prayers and gave them five magical amulets with unimaginable power. The Guardian Elements."
The spirit in the blue kimono gave her amulet to one of the ninja brothers. "The Water Element with the power of a fearsome tsunami and able to give life-giving rain for harvests."
The spirit in the brown kimono gave her amulet to the second brother. "The Earth Element with the strength of a mountain and the nurture of the soil."
The spirit in the red kimono gave her amulet to the third brother. "The Fire Element with the destructive capabilities of a volcano, yet able to be wielded into a tool for everyday life."
The spirit in the green kimono gave her amulet to the last brother. "The Wind Element with the gentleness of a soothing breeze and power enough for men to sail the seas."
Finally, the spirit in the white kimono gave her amulet to Mimi. "And the Spirit Element with the ability to summon spirits of the earth and perform great feats of magic."
The ninjas and Mimi the maiden slipped the elements over their necks and started dancing in a circle with the spirits. They continued to dance for about two minutes.
"With the power of these elements, the warriors and spirit maiden then gathered together the nogitsunes' one mortal enemy that could unveil their true forms—cats."
Another group of dancers came out onto the stage, dressed as cats with cat masks. The cats danced around the nogitsunes, who now had women face masks over their kitsune masks. Mikey grinned as the cats grabbed the fake women masks and swiped them off. The nogitsunes began preforming an angry, hateful dance. They tried to run from the cats, but were herded around the ninja brothers and Mimi.
The five held up the amulets towards the sky as the lights started to dim. There was an explosion of sparks and smoke on stage and the lights flickered out for a few seconds. When the lights came back on, the nogitsunes had vanished. The Turtles were startled and amazed by this dramatic disappearance.
"The four ninja warriors and the spirit maiden were able to expose and defeat the nogitsunes with the cats and Guardian Elements." said the narrator, "Japan was saved from a great danger and life went on. The battle became a legend, cats were honored as protectors, while the Guardian Elements were looked after by the Dragon Clan for all time."
The rest of the cast, minus the nogitsunes, came out onto the stage and honored the warriors and spirit maiden by bowing. After another five-minute dance finale, the music finished and the stage lights faded. Everyone applauded. The lights came back on, and the whole cast came out and made their bows. When all the lights came back on, the Turtles got up.
"So," asked Venus, "Did you like it?"
"That was awesome!" said Mikey, beaming.
"I should eat my words." said Raph, smiling, "I actually enjoyed that."
"So did I." said Karai.
"Masters Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, please come with me." said Venus, "I want you to represent the four warriors for the cleansing ceremony."
Venus and the Turtles walked out of the box and into the entrance of the theater. Splinter was left in the leader's box with Haku, and Sakura. Kazuhiro lead them up to the stage were all the cast members were. Mimi smiled as she gave each of the Turtles an amulet, keeping one for herself. Venus took a bowl of water and went with Kazuhiro to an alter on the stage.
She spoke a prayer-like chant in Japanese holding her hands over the amulets. The whole time Kazuhiro whispered instructions into her ear. She blessed the water and chanted another prayer. She and Kazuhiro stood and faced Mimi and the Turtles.
"Master Ninja Turtles, please kneel and present the Guardian Elements to the keeper with our Spirit Maiden." said Kazuhiro.
The Turtles stepped forward with Mimi and knelt on their knees, holding the amulets out. Venus took the amulets and placed them on the altar. Venus made a silent prayer as she dripped the elements in the blessed water and set them inside a jade box with dragons craved on it. She stepped back and made a final prayer chant. With that, the dull-looking gemstones suddenly became as bright and brilliant as diamonds.
"The Guardian elements have been cleansed." said Venus.
With that, everyone got up and started to chat and leave. The ceremony was complete. Mimi and the four ninja warriors took the box and left with Kazuhiro.
"Sorry about dragging you into this." said Venus to the Turtles, "During the cleansing ceremony for the Guardian Elements, we have four ninjas of another clan present the elements with our chosen spirit maiden. The keeper cleanses them before placing them into Dragon Box. My mother was supposed to perform the ceremony as the keeper, but I had to take her place."
"That's alright." said Leo, "You don't need to apologize. Does your Mother usually do this?"
"Yes," said Venus, "My mother's family has been looking after the elements for nearly a thousand years. A duty passed on from parent to child for generations."
"So one day, you'll look after the Guardian Elements yourself?" said Leo. "That's nice."
Venus looked sad. "Maybe, but my mother won't let me unless I agree to be a virgin kunoichi."
"Do you want to be one?" asked Mikey.
Venus shook her head. "No. I don't. Anyway, it's my father who decides who looks after the elements."
"And what do you want to do?" asked Leo.
"I want to travel around and have adventures, to see the world other than my home."
"Why don't you?" asked Donnie.
"Because my mother and sensei won't let me." relied Venus, "They never leave me be and they keep me away from men. Everything I do is their saying."
"No offense, but that's stupid." said Raph, "Uh, I mean, what your mother and sensei are doing. You're like, what? Twenty years old? Only babies and kids should be treated like that."
"That's just the point." said Venus, "They won't let me grow up."
"If you want to, you can come visit us in New York City when you get the chance." Mikey offered.
Venus smiled. "Thank you."
"Kameyo!" A voice caught Venus's attention. She saw Mimi waiting in the doorway in her costume and waving. "Kameyo! We're going to go dancing again!"
"I'll be right there!" Venus bowed to the Turtles. "Thank you for watching the play with me. It was nice meeting all of you."
Venus left them and went over to her friend as she left with her. Leo gazed after her, savoring his secret time with her earlier. He vowed to himself that he would have her.