(Apologies for the long wait. What with Christmas and yet more work waiting for me afterwards, I haven't had much time to write. I promise I will get each chapter up as soon as possible, and try to make them worth the wait. Now let's get on with the story.)
Chapter 7
Jets of water sprang up from the surface of the sea, propelled by the explosions that were occurring underneath.
Sasuke and Yae were slashing and blasting their way through the bullet-bots. Sasuke was zipping around them and slicing them in two with his kunai, while Yae was taking aim with her bazooka and reducing the robots to scrap. The attackers were trying to take their foes down with machine-gun fire, but the two ninjas were able to utilize their speed well, and avoided fire long enough to strike back at the shooters.
However, they were still outnumbered. The remaining bullet-bots had converged together in one mass and were streaking towards them. Yae and Sasuke knew they wouldn't be able to take down that many all at once. Time for a new strategy.
Sasuke sped forward towards the group. Some bullet-bots were about to open fire, when he suddenly turned to the left and moved in that direction. As the robots watched, bemused, Sasuke zipped around them in a wide circle, not making any attempt to attack. After doing so a couple of times, Sasuke turned around and returned to his original spot beside Yae.
The bullet-bots blinked a couple of times, and then began to advance again. But they hadn't got far when they noticed the bombs. Sasuke had left dozens of his small firecracker bombs floating around the robots like mines. The robots then noticed Yae taking aim with her bazooka. If it had been possible for machines to sweat, there would've been a lot of it going on right now.
Yae gave the bullet-bots a wave goodbye, and pulled the trigger. A missile shot from the barrel and split into several smaller ones. They each hit a bomb and set off a chain reaction.
The Shenron rocked from the force of the underwater explosion, and its' crew were soaked by the spray it tossed up.
As Akasu spluttered and staggered to his feet, he saw Yae and Sasuke leaping out of the water like a pair of flying fish.
"Henshin!"
The two ninjas reverted back to their original forms and landed on the deck. Yae tossed some of her hair back over her shoulder and looked to Akasu.
"That problem has been taken care of. How're Goemon and Ebisu doing?"
Akasu turned around and looked towards the castle.
"Not well." He answered.
(Scene Change)
Hatake's metal form shook with mirth. Those pathetic excuses for mechas were providing him with some Class-A entertainment.
Impact and Miss Impact were skating all over the place, trying to escape the heat-seeking energy missiles Hatake had fired at them. Even though Ebisu was sitting in Miss' cockpit, he couldn't help but feel like it was his rear that the missile was closing in on!
"Ebisu!" He heard Goemon's voice coming through the speaker beside him. "Turn to your right and keep on going. I know how we can end this."
Following his friend's instruction, Ebisu steered Miss to the right and kept running, at full speed. Goemon was doing the same with Impact, and the two mechas were currently on a collision course.
Hatake shook his head. This was the oldest trick in the book. The two of them were going to veer off at the last second and let the missiles hit each other. Giving a mechanized tut, he raised his arms and prepared to fire his projectile claws. It was no problem calculating where they were going to meet. Whether they turned left or right, his claws would hit.
Goemon could see Miss in his screen, and she was closing in fast!
"Now!" He screamed and slammed his fist down on a large red button on the control panel.
Hatake grinned and released the razor-sharp claws from his hands. They flew straight at their targets… who suddenly rose up into the air! There was a clang as Hatake's jaw hit the ground. They could fly? From the soles of their feet, jets of blue flame were shooting, propelling them into the air.
The missiles did indeed collide, sending a big cloud of dust and smoke into the air. Hatake's eyes switched to infra-red. Looking up, he saw a large mass of heat bearing down upon him. Impact was flying down towards him; his fist drawn back and ready to punch! Hatake ran forward and took a flying leap; his own fist lashing out at his opponent.
The two mechas met in the air; both metallic fists making contact. For a moment they seemed frozen in place, but the force of gravity plus Impact's jet engines had given him the extra power he needed. Hatake went flying back, several cracks lining his face, straight towards Miss who had positioned herself behind him.
Crackling energy formed in her mouth, which she released as a bright blue beam. It hit the evil mecha right in his back, sending him flying forward again with electricity sparkling around his body. It was time for the coup de grace.
Goemon gripped the handle on the control panel and pushed it forward as hard and fast as he could. Impact swung his right fist in an uppercut and caught Hatake directly in the mid-section. His fist continued to swing upwards and the force behind the punch sent Hatake sailing into the air.
Impact and Miss watched the sparking mecha continue upwards, until it exploded in a blinding flash. There wasn't a trace left.
"YES!" Goemon pumped his fists into the air. He could hear Ebisu celebrating as well over the speaker.
"Way to go, Impact!" He patted the control panel in front of him. "Nobody messes with Japan while Ishikawa Goemon is around!"
"And Ebisumaru!" His partner added.
Impact and Miss just smiled. They had succeeded in helping their friends and protecting their homeland once more.
(A little while later)
Goemon stood with his hands behind his head and a big grin on his face.
"So Akasu," He looked triumphantly at the ashen-faced warrior. "Still think we're a bunch of 'real idiots'?"
Akasu took a breath and let it out slowly.
"I will admit, you are certainly full of surprises." He turned away from Goemon and looked out across the sea. "But, do not be so sure of yourselves. Gunsho has many more minions, just as dangerous as the ones you fought."
"Well, then we'll just take those ones down too." Said Ebisu. "Right, guys?" He turned and looked up at the Impacts who were towering over the ship.
"Let me guess." Akasu crossed his arms and tilted his head towards the mechas. "You want to bring those along as well."
"Hey, you're the one who keeps saying how dangerous this Gunsho guy is." Said Goemon. "Impact and Miss have never let us down."
Akasu sighed and threw his hands up.
"Fine. But they're not riding on the ship."
"Oh, that won't be a problem." Said Wiseman. "They can walk. My creations are all waterproof." His chest swelled slightly with pride as he said this.
And so, finally, The Shenron was able to set sail. Sakura waved from the dock, calling out,
"Good luck, Ebisu! Don't forget to change your socks, and bring my rolling pin back in one piece!"
Up on the hill, outside the still intact Oedo Castle, the Lord, Princess Yuki and Kurobei were watching the ship leave as well.
"Well, there they go." The Lord said.
"I hope they won't be gone too long." Said Yuki. "It seems that trouble is never very far away from our town."
"Do not worry yourself, my dear." Her father patted her shoulder. "We have just escaped disaster. I choose to take this as a good omen."
They all turned around to go back into the castle. However, Kurobei stopped and twitched his ears.
"My Lord, I think I hear something." He said.
The two humans stopped and listened. True enough, there was a noise. It was like a sort of whistling, like when something is swung very fast through the air. And it seemed to be coming from… above them?
They all looked up. Falling down, through the sky, came Hatake's head! It plummeted like a stone, until it landed, smack dab, on top of Oedo Castle!
The robotic head made a huge dent in the building's roof. From that dent, several cracks spread along the castle walls. Everything was still for about half a second, then the entire structure collapsed. The only thing still standing was a long pipe, upon which a toilet sat. But that too toppled over and hit the ground.
"What was that?" Said Yae.
"What was what?" Said Goemon, standing next to her on The Shenron's deck.
Yae took a look around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Oh, nothing. I thought I heard a noise. It must've just been the waves."
The Shenron continued on its' way, leaving the town of Oedo behind it. Its' destination; the mystical Isle of Habuza.
