Disclaimer: Rise of the Guardians belongs to William Joyce and Dreamworks Animations. Okami belongs to Clover Studios.

oOoOoOo

Rising Sun

Chapter 6

oOoOoOo

"Think that's the last one 'ere."

Despite his words, Bunnymund kept his boomerangs out as his ears stood high and rotated, picking up on every little sound the African landscape made. Without his comrade's superior hearing, North could only hold his swords at the ready and turn his head, eyes peering into the distance. Once both picked up on nothing more, Bunny sat down while North took a knee, rubbing his temple. "This is not working as we hoped."

"World's in a worse state than we thought," Bunny replied, smoothing out his fur and stretching his paws. "Think I pulled something against that Obia." He drew his right leg back to his body and recoiled, "Yeah! That's a tendon! Oooh…" Slowly, he let his paw rest against the ground, muttering curses under his breath.

"Think you can keep going?" The Guardian of Wonder voice rattled with weariness, but he wasn't going to give up. He pushed himself back to his feet using his swords for support and pulled them from the ground once he was steady.

"'Course I can." Stubbornly, the green-eyed rabbit rose to his feet, wincing when he put weight on his right, "Jus' give me a second, mate. Need to stretch it out." He grumbled as he slowly stretched his leg and pulled back, seeing if he really had pulled his tendon or if it was just sore. North sheathed a sword to run his fingers through his beard, thinking while Bunny tested his leg again.

"… We could go to Himalayas early. Get snow on your leg."

Bunny turned his head towards North, ears high and lip curled, "Not on yer nelly. See if you can get Frostbite for that round."

North shrugged, "Worth shot asking."

"There's no way yer getting me in those mountains." Standing taller now, Bunny scowled and drew his boomerangs again, "Let's keep going 'ere and get to Europe fast. We still have three continents after that." For the two of them, it wasn't like delivering gifts or hiding eggs. Popping into a chimney or bush barely took any time, but each demon had its strengths and an annoying tenacity to fight back. At this rate, it wouldn't matter how fast they reached the next continents; other demons would just replace the ones they took care of. "Now, should we go west first or north?"

"West. We go towards Atlantic Ocean," North said, pointing with his sword.

Bunny nodded and raised a paw, about to tap twice to summon a tunnel for the two of them when he stopped, ears standing stiffly and turning. Paw still in the air, his eyes sharpened to a leer as his head snapped left and right. His nose quivered as he sniffed. "… North, you hear that right?"

"Hear what?"

Neither of them moved, North attempting to hear what Bunny was while the Pooka was just focused south. It was an airy and high sound, not tinny to his sensitive hearing like most even when it struck a high note. Traveling along the wind with the soft music was the scent of cherry blossoms. If he smelled that then he wasn't just hearing things. When North turned Southward, Bunnymund glanced over, "Hearin' it now?"

"Yes, but could it be?"

"With how long it's been, I wouldn't put it past him." He took several steps forward, "But why 'ere? Shouldn't he be bothering Ammy and Frostbite?"

"Must have reason," North said, swords drawn again, "Bunny! We head to flute!"

Without being told again, the Easter Bunny's foot struck the ground, opening a tunnel for the two of them. North leapt in first and Bunny followed swiftly after. It wasn't a long tunnel such as the one towards the Warren, taking about one second to actually travel before they landed before a desolate village. The music continued, but now the air was saturated with both petals and blood. Bunny cringed and his ears fell as he stepped back. Even North, who lacked his companion's animal senses, could smell it. It didn't mesh well with the fact that the village was void of movement and sound beyond the flute. Dread immediately seized them both when the flute stopped.

"Tragic. They're much more ravenous than in my initial prediction."

Green and blue eyes rose to the closest roof after the voice had spoken. He lowered his wood flute, partially closed eyes focused towards the remains of the emptied village and blonde hair twisting in the wind. Over the several centuries of living, the figure was still adorned in pink and purple, the sleeves of his kimono held back by white ties. The tall red getas didn't even click as he turned to face them, eyes opening a hint to reveal sharp blue.

"Nicholas St. North and E. Aster Bunnymund, what a pleasure to see you both again. Or, should I say Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny instead?" the male asked, eyes closing again as a smirk appeared on his face. "It's been - what - three? Four centuries since we last crossed paths?"

"Cut the chit-chat! What're you doin' here, fruitcake?" Bunny demanded, boomerangs drawn. North didn't have his swords raised, but he did mutter under his breath in Russian, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. This didn't need to be happening right now, but again, the Guardian of Hope's temper got the best of him quickly. The new male paused at the nickname, his lip quirking, but only for a split second.

"Moi? I have come here for the same reason you have. Alas, I didn't arrive here in time. Had I not begun my exterminations in Amérique du Sud, perhaps it would be another story." He crossed his arms and tapped his chin with his wooden flute before he shrugged, "You two were here. None of us traveled swiftly enough…" With a shake of his head, he waved a hand, "The Kholomodumo shouldn't have gotten too far."

"You mean you haven't taken the blighter out?!"

"I just arrived a mere moment before you. If I didn't, you both would be on the West coast and allowing this one's existence to continue." The nonchalant reply from the man made Bunny's fur stand higher. Still, before he could properly express his frustrations towards the enigmatic figure, a building rocked and crumbled into dust. He didn't move, but North did step forward, raising his swords. Bunny's ears rose immediately and he shot a glare back towards the man.

"Once we're done with the clean up, I'm after you next."

That coy smirk curled a little more and the blue eyes opened barely a slit, "Non. We all have our places to go right now and parts to play. Though, if we do run into each other again, consider it a duel. Until then, gentlemen…" His bow was all flare and he stood tall again, "Au revoir." In a blink, he was gone much to the ire of Bunnymund.

"Bloody show pony…"

"Bunny, is no time to concern with him." North's attention was still on the creature lumbering from the dust, fanged jaws opened to monstrous proportions. Spindly, finger-like claws dragged its body forward as its large nostrils wrinkled, elongated muzzle drawing back as it sniffed at the still intact homes. Its body was bizarre, thick with muscles, but still, its ribs could be seen with each inhale and exhale and leading down to its slightly distended stomach. Gangly legs, much too long for the body's overall size, bent against its side, kneecaps threatening to burst from the leathery skin covering it. Its tail snapped sharp, sending another home collapsing to the ground. Kholomodumo popping yellow eyes soon turned in their direction, nose finally catching their scents. All its awkward limbs twisted around its body and it charged, limbs barreling through any obstacle in its path.

Bunny hit the ground, a tunnel appearing big enough for the two of them, "North, I'll lead this dill out of 'ere! Get ready to head it off!" The Kholomodumo was charging towards them, but North disappeared into the tunnel. Bunny stored his boomerangs and turned on his heel, bounding to the right. Fangs sunk into the dry earth and retracted, spraying dry chunks of dirt from its fangs with a furious rumble in its throat. "Come on ya drongo! I'm over 'ere!"

His yelling caught the Kholomodumo's attention, its eyes rolling around once to refocus. Limbs tangled over each other as it ran after the swift rabbit now racing further across the grassy terrain. He maintained a pace that the demon could manage, making sure to avoid straight paths. As warped as its body was, the beast was quick, gaining several steps on Bunnymund when one direction was held too long. Branches and trees that dared attempt to halt it snapped and crunched beneath its charge, leather skin merely being grazed by jutting edges. Stealing a glance over his shoulder, he found himself tucking his legs farther beneath his body as the lanky claws missed his by a hair, "Crikey!" Behind him, several trees crumbled as their trunks were sliced cleanly through and crushed.

Taking several more bounds, the distance between them grew once again, but he held a straight line. His tunnel placed North right where the forest became plains; the old man should be able to hear the crashing by now and preparing. Bunny stole another glance, noticing the Kholomodumo barely three meters away and closing. "Just a bit more…" His paws pounded as the claws thundered, becoming louder as the distance shrunk to two. Feeling its breath on his back, his next turn sent it barreling head first into a thick cypress where it immediately crumpled, stunned.

"Bloody hope you're ready, North. Buying this much time…"

Bunnymund pulled out several eggs and chucked them as the monster came around, two exploding on its neck where they barely left a mark. As its eye rolled and settled on the rabbit, the final egg exploded in its pupil. The ground was shredded as it flailed, a horrid yowl ringing through the woods and grating on Bunny's ears. Its flailing brought it upright, putrid black blood now dribbling down its face as the damaged organ shut tightly. He was already off on all fours again, those claws behind him tearing through the forest faster in pursuit.

The distance put between them almost immediately closed and Bunny turned, head snapping back when the previously lumbering monster now seemed better coordinated. His old method weren't working either. The Kholomodumo was almost predicting when he would change directions, but it didn't seem to catch on to his actual intent. It was focused on capturing the rabbit that injured its eye and left it partially blind.

Its left arm shot forward, claws nearly raking over Bunny's back as he turned again, sending the Kholomodumo barreling into another cypress. However, both were stunned. As close as the swipe had passed over his back, the turn had become much sharper than before as the force propelled him further. The result was pain flaring in his right leg and his hind paw rolling before his body followed, tumbling several times before he halted himself. He pushed himself up knowing North wasn't that far now, but his right leg gave out the moment he prepared to spring. "Ah-!"

Hissing reminded him of the Kholomodumo bending lanky limb over limb as it rose again, opened eye rolling around in its socket and snapping to a halt, keyed in on the downed Guardian. Its jaws opened wide, revealing a jaw structure similar to that of a shark, rows of brutal fangs sinking into its maxilla and mandible. One snap and he'd be swallowed whole, unable to climb out. Gaunt claws scraped forward in a charge to end this, fangs flashing as the large head lowered to scoop him up and he tried to scramble to his feet.

"Hah!"

North dropped onto the massive maw, forcing it shut and a sword plunging down. The blade's point appeared from the taunt leather skin stretched around its mandible. Kholomodumo tossed its head, trying to dislodge both Guardian of Wonder and his sword, but it wasn't working. Instead, more black blood rained down, discoloring the earth and resulting in plants wilting at once. It raised a claw high to swat him off only for be deflected by a boomerang, its edges just as sharp as any steel blade and made further by magic, slicing several appendages off. Bunny grunted, leaning against a cypress trunk, but pushing away to catch his boomerang as it returned.

"Finish it, North!" Bunny yelled, tossing his boomerang again. It tore through layers of wrinkled leather skin on the Kholomodumo's foreleg, causing it to crumble.

"I got it!" The burly Russki ripped his second sword free, allowing that terrible screech to erupt from the demon. He slid down the bridge of its muzzle, both swords back until the right moment. It threw its head back and he used the momentum to soar into the air. The Kholomodumo nearly followed with open jaws, but the second boomerang slicing across its wrinkled throat made it bow down, shrieking. North dropped, weight and force behind his swords aimed directly at the exposed forehead. Both blades pierced bone and the Kholomodumo seized, freezing as multiple alarming cracks rung together. Its skull had caved beneath North, broken shards ripping down. Bones throughout the monster's body had rattled, but it did nothing more; at least, not until North withdrew his swords and jumped off, purposely kicking it one final time so the large demon fell on its side with a resounding crash.

Waving the blood from each blade before sheathing them, he walked over to Bunny, "How is your leg?"

"Not good…" Putting his boomerangs away, Bunnymund ran a paw over his face in frustration, "What about the villagers?"

North's brows furrowed and he stroked his beard, thinking. He turned to face the body, but stopped when he noticed the black smoke retreating from the corpse and splattered blood, coming to gather above the remains. As swiftly as it rose, the threatening shadows retreated just as fast into the distance, the presence of evil leaving with it. What remained of the Kholomodumo itself was coming apart, fresh grass, flowers, and trees blooming as it sunk into the earth. Tangled in the foliage were all the consumed villagers, each who began to come around, all befuddled to see the fresh life.

"… We should go. Get your leg looked at," North said quietly, turning towards Bunny. There was no reply, but a firm nod and green eyes watched without a word as a snow globe was drawn from heavy red robes.

"To the North Pole."

oOoOoOo

A/N: Yes, I know. Ammy and Jack are presently getting Tachigami, but I didn't know how to make it interesting precisely. Of course, as I write that, I do. Why does the mind have to work that way? Oh well, a chapter on what Bunnymund and North have been doing. I'll probably have a chapter to Toothiana and Sandy, too.

Kholomodumo is a monster which is part of the creation mythology of the Sotho people of Lesotho. It is said to have swallowed every human being apart from one woman. The woman gave birth to twins, who killed Kholomondumo and set the others free (Wikipedia). There was no description of this available from the myth, but it's apparently been used as a Final Fantasy creature. This one is not that.

Last note, sorry I don't answer questions. I feel like if I begin with one, I'll end up spoiling something from the story. I know where I'm going so don't fret. Still, I will say this: Issun will not be in the story outside of dream images or flashbacks. The fate of Poncles themselves is still up in the air for me right now.

That's all for now. Until next chapter!