Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Alrighty, it was a long way in coming thanks to FODHMC, but here at last is chapter 6 of Shaman King: UndisputedRemix.

Chapter 6 finally reveals the dark and sordid history of the enigma that is Satoshi. But unbeknownst to them, the dark lord is already amassing his armies…

Chapter 6: Candle Ever Brief in the Shade of Night

Campfire

The embers rose of themselves into the sky, appearing to Morty similar to lost souls. Ever wandering against the dimming backdrop of the heavens they could not reach beyond, each smoldering particles floated on the winds, without a chance of finding a place they could call home and yet continuing to hope and search, before they simply faded into the void, their spark exhausted by the fates.

Morty looked up at them, and for only a second, several of them formed what might have been a thin red thread of fire. It curled around for only a minute and then disappeared, but when it did it maintained that same shape.

If the time or place had been less urgent, he would likely have considered how bizarre that was, but more pressing matters were called for. Namely Kikyo, who had begun to speak almost as soon as the fire had roared up.

"As you no doubt have determined, Morty, I am not an ordinary woman, not by any means. Because of who I am and why I still exist, I am hunted and sought out by the demons and wicked humans whom I myself turned against…"

"So you really are the legendary priestess Kikyo, aren't you?"

"Correct, although the "legendary priestess" part is more of an honorific, one I would rather not hold, yet still do. Were it not for that title I would have died an ordinary girl as I had once hoped, but because of it I am still here. That title is also the reason Satoshi has done battle with me for so long."

Morty was already piqued, in spite of the fact that this had little to do with defeating his enemy. But Kikyo was indeed getting to that.

"I first met him 52 years after my death, the circumstances of which are complicated and rather painful to begin with. However, my death and the consequences of it were of little interest to Satoshi. He had something far worse in mind…"

Kikyo slid back on her log seat, allowing her sad and tired eyes to grace the sky. Yes, she remembered what happened on that fateful day. She remembered it all in horrific clarity.

"Before my death, Morty, I was consigned to what many would consider a great honor and privilege. I was deemed the guardian of a totem of power known as the Shikon no Tama, or the Jewel of Four Souls. At the time I had no idea what would arise from that duty, nor did I imagine the later consequences of it.

"From what I have heard Satoshi came down from the mountains around the time of my resurrection, for reasons that did not seem alien to most anyone at the time. However, within months he had gained a horrific reputation as a conqueror, murdering anyone and anything he disliked or that stood in his way. Soon enough he became infamous for his crimes, and some said he would topple the standing shogunate and establish himself as the new ruler of the land."

"So why didn't he? I mean, if what I've seen of him is his real power, than he could surely have beaten down anyone alive."

"He could, and he did. I have seen him in battle before, Morty, and he does not enjoy victory as much as he enjoys slaughter. If he can murder a thousand soldiers at the cost of a million, he will gladly do so. To make matters worse, he does not care if the people he kills are men, women, or children. He is a peerless butcher, sweeping into towns and laying them to waste without any warning at all. But his bloodlust cannot be sated, nor will it be until he accomplished his ultimate goal here: my death."

Morty stepped back at this, somewhat terrified by what had just been said. He could not believe it; why would anyone want Kikyo dead in the first place? She seemed like such a kind and tragic woman, so what grudge could anyone hold?

Any idiot could read the expression on his face at this point, and Kikyo had to admit it flattered her.

"Do not be surprised by his hatred of me. My position has made me no small number of enemies over the past years, and Satoshi despises me the most by far, largely of what happened between us during that time.

"You see, Satoshi's family is no ordinary band of killers; in fact, they are royalty. Known as the Daiou Satoshi clan, they are moutain dwellers who established their own separate kingdom after being dethroned from their positions in power in the lowlands. As powerful as their kingdom in the mountains was, however, they always desired to control both worlds. And this is where I came into the picture...in a manner of speaking.

"Morty, Satoshi's hatred of me goes beyond a simple grudge. It goes back many years, to a war waged between his clan and the mikos of this land, a war which has formed a severe abhorrence in that clan for any priestess and those who confer with her. And in Satoshi's case this hatred was magnified by his own inner darkness. He is not a sane man, nor is he well-adjusted; his family saw to that by subjecting him to horrific torture, in particular being forced to watch his father slit his mother's wrists. This made him the perfect killing machine by numbing any senses of emotion he had, and once he had died inside he was molded into an entirely different state of being. Satoshi no longer had a soul, was little more than a deranged murdered with delusions of grandeur his family had engrained within him. What few morals he had been allowed were soon quenched, and sure enough he came to lead the clan by beheading his father.

"Satoshi's delusions, however, go beyond merely becoming shogun or even emperor. He wishes to transcend the power of the gods and supplant himself as an absolute deity, and he shall stop at nothing to get that power."

"Hang on a second, Kikyo. How do you know all of this personal stuff about Satoshi?"

The priestess gave him an eerie smile as she continued to stoke the flames.

"It is very simple, Morty. He told me so himself."

"You're joking."

"No. Satoshi may be brusque and psychotic, but he is not one to manipulate using lies. His method is more direct, as you saw in his battle with Yoh, and I doubt he would lie to someone he though was going to die."

Morty considered what she meant by this. It did not take him too long to see it.

"Wait, does that mean…"

"Yes, I did battle him, and in spite of some difficulties I managed to best him for the time being. Unfortunately, I could not land a killing blow, which led him to more…innovative…methods of attack. He never uses the same tactic against someone twice, and when he does strike you again he will bear in mind what he learned of you in his last battle, and this alone makes him very difficult to defeat. He even went far enough at one point to hire the Zakuriku mercenary clan.

"But in Yoh's case, it will not be so effortless, and that is why he is hunting him. The Shaman King has always posed a serious threat to the power of the Daiou Satoshi clan, and this is particularly true with the latest one. I was only able to seal Satoshi and break his power, but Yoh has the potential to kill him once and for all…that is, if he can overcome these inner demons that conquered his soul."

"How is he supposed to do that? Satoshi's broken his spirit, along with a sizeable number of his ribs; he's not going to be fighting anyone anytime soon."

Morty knew that Yoh was strong-willed, of course, and if Kikyo was any judge of character - as she clearly was - then she would know it too. But with his fighting spirit crushed as it was, it was doubtful that would be enough to surmount his doubts and fears of what had happened to him…

"Morty, do not worry about this at present. My suggestion is that you get some sleep for now. I've already set up some sleeping bags in the tent for you, and you are welcome to what food I have."

"Thanks, Kikyo. But what exactly are we going to do? If Yoh's the key to our victory, we need to get him ready to fight again."

At this, Kikyo turned her back to the fire, and looked at her palm for a moment.

"I know that, which is why I need you to sleep. Tomorrow we're going to head out for Kyoto."

"Huh? What's in Kyoto?"

To herself the priestess smiled warmly. Thinking about where they were going to always gave her a good feeling, even in the darkest of times.

"To see an old friend of mine. If anyone can help Yoh now, it's him."

To Be Continued

Well, not quite what I expected, but it's good enough for me.

Anyway, chapter 7 goes into the beginning of Kikyo and Yoh's journey to Kyoto. Who is this new friend of hers, what has Satoshi planned, and what does Spirit World have to do with anything of it?

You'll see in chapters to come. Until then, see ya in Apocalypse!