Chapter 9: Fresh Blood and a Cold Confrontation

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN InuYasha, Mortal Kombat, or Ninja Gaiden! I only claim this fiction fabricated of my imagination.

UPDATE: Thank Yall so much for your continued patience and I PROMISE you, I will bring forth more chapters, more often my people. Now onto the chapter at hand.

It now seemed as though everyone was traveling the same road towards Naraku.

At the continent, East of the Warring States Country

In another country in a certain remote region, there was a massive courtyard surrounded by slanted protective walls in a forest. There, there were many monk-like warriors line up accordingly. They all took stances, stopped, and divided in sequence. They then made two rows of lined up warriors. They each faced each other and began to spar with one another. They possessed the fighting prowess of the Shaolin. As they were sparring, up towards the different doorways, they were being watched by their superiors. Among them was the high-talented former member of the White Lotus Soiety, Liu Kang, champion of Mortal Kombat. He had started training one of the monks.

"Hmm.. Wuyah!" Grunted Liu Kang as he was doing one of his famous combos ending with a sweep, knockiing down the shaolin monk. "Excellent! Your skills are improving, Hoshi Dao." He said.

"Thank you, master Liu Kang." the young monk, Hoshi Dao answered.

Also, over by the praying grounds a shaolin monk was seen kneeling down, praying. He had long, dark hair in a braided ponytail. Had on a warrior martial arts shirt and pants with a red belt that had red extended sashes at the front and looped around his thighs. He wore a razor-sharp diego black hat. His name is Kung Lao. Liu Kang approached his friend and rival.

"Bring peace to me and my family. See that no evil brings harm to the innocent. Smite down onto those that fight for darkness." prayed Kung Lao.

"Hey, Kung Lao." Liu Kang called out to him.

"Liu Kang." Kung simply responded

"I see you're praying to the gods, Kung Lao." said Liu Kang, who bowed his head down to join him.

"I'm praying in the honor of my familly." said Kung Lao.

"Yes, that's always been like you, Kung Lao. You've never been one to desire just fighting and bloodlust. Peace will come to you and your family, my friend." spoken the mortal kombat champion.

"Thank you Liu. Unlike our ancestor, the Great Kung Lao, I do not share his passion for konquest. I only just want peace." said Kung Lao.

"Yes, as a champion, I can sense that." responded Liu Kang.

They monitored the rest of the training session for the next hour. All of a sudden, a massive earthquake shook the whole courtyard. A portal opened and beasts spilled out from the other side and attacked the academy. The shaolin monks started lining up, preparing to fight. A horde of tarkatans then came out of the portal, slowly followed by their leader, Baraka. He thrusted his hand forward, pointing towards the monks and the tarkatans began attacking. Liu Kang and Kung Lao held their own against them.

"Why are the tarkatans attacking us now? What reason do they have?" pondered Liu Kang, moving his head back, dodging a swing from a bladed arm.

"I don't know, it doesn't make sense. I mean didn't you win the tournament in Outworld? So why are they here now?" asked Kung Lao, also dodging incoming attacks.

"Of course, we freed our shaolin masters." responded Liu Kang.

Suddenly two warriors ran up to Liu Kang and swung their blades at him rapidly. Liu ducked from their attacks and put his hands forward and shot some fireballs at the legions of enemies. He jolts over to the side to dodge away from one of the outworlders who try to lay claim to the Wu Shi Academy. Liu then ran up to him and laid a few body strikes to the enemy, his fists enhanced with an old passive ability known as the fist of ruin. The outworlder was knocked back at least 20 yards in fast velocity and into a wall. The falling savage left an imprint on it.

"... *inches towards the other tarkatan* Come ON!" declared Liu Kang to the other attacker.

Not too far away, Kung Lao was handling his own horde of the tarkatan forces. Two ran up on opposite sides of him. Lao only stood there on his guard and turned towards each of them, beckoning them to begin. Lao was handling himself as his senses kicked in. He spun around and sent a spiral kick to the tarkatan coming from behind him. Kung Lao quickly teleported behind the flying denizen of outworld, dodging an attack from the other one. As the flying tarktatan almost fell on Kung, he sent his bladed hat upward, slicing him directly in half up the middle. The two halves fell beside him as the splattered blood rained on Lao. He performed his spin attack to get the blood off of him.

"That's one." he said

The second tarkatan then engaged in kombat with Lao. He swung at him, but Kung Lao backed away from his blade and delivered spinning chops, a side knee attack and several kicks to the outworlder's stomach. Kung Lao ended the combo by kicking the tarkatan against a wall, also leaving an imprint on it. Lao and Kang stood with their backs to each other as more hurdled towards the two shaolin monks. Suddenly in a burst of lightening, The Thunder God, Raiden appeared and sent a wave of lightening churning at an extreme velocity, obliterating them all.

"Master Raiden!" shouted Kung Lao.

"Lord Raiden?!" said Liu Kang, also shocked.

"I can sense a fluxuation in this realm. Your victory over the emperor seems to have wrought more disaster." said Raiden stoically, but forespeaking, like he was warning you about something. The two fighters only glanced at each other. "The emperor seems to have disregarded the sacred rules and broken the boundaries between his world and our own." he continued.

"Huh? An invasion?" asked Kung Lao.

"I defeated Shao Kahn in Outworld. What more does that mindless savage crave?" wondered Liu Kang, looking towards his master and mentor for an answer.

"I thought that by saving Kung Lao from the hands of Shao Kahn his focus would've been deterred, and you would've ultimately defeated him. But it seems the visions I've recieved tell me your victory was not the answer I seek to 'He must win'." Raiden concluded

"Hmm.." Grunted Liu Kang.

"In any case, we must gather earthrealm's mightiest forces and assemble them to-Ugh! Ahh!" Raiden began to say but then all of his senses became obscurred by terrible visions. He then saw something strange. A strange, very dark. And when I mean dark, I'm mean a cold, pitch black DARK. It was brief, but he saw the blurry outlook of a man, or if it was even a man at all. He was mostly covered by shadow. Raiden could see only see what looked like a wicked smile and a pair of red eyes, standing over a battered Shao Kahn. This both shocked and terrified Raiden, he did not foresee this possible future.

"What is it, Lord Raiden?" Liu Kang panically asked.

"I've just had a vision of a great battle taking place and the events that transpire in it. Such dark, power... One the likes of which I've yet to ever see before." said Raiden.

"Could it be Shao Kahn?" asked Liu Kang.

"Not Shao Kahn, but something darker, and more sinister. I only caught a glimpse of it." said Raiden.

"I don't understand, who could more vile than Shao Kahn?" Kung Lao asked.

"Perhaps the visions tell me that this upcoming battle will decide the fate of the realms. And this mysterious anomoly is quite possibly the cause of the danger looming in Earthrealm" Raiden answered after he shook his head a bit.

"Whatever it is, they will be stopped just like any threat, master." Liu Kang said.

"Your enthusiasm to defend your realm on a short notice is commendable. Bo Rai Cho has taught you well, Liu Kang." replied the thunder god.

Both Liu Kang ang Kung Lao bowed their heads to the thunder god. As they began to rendezvous with the rest of the soon to be, 'defenders of the earthrealm', they were stopped suddenly as a wicked portal opened up in front of them and they could hear that familiar dark and powerful laugh of the emperor. The academy started to get destroyed and violent winds ripped the grounds to its foundation.

"SHAO KAHN!" shouted Raiden.

His high shout fell on deaf ears as the emperor's extermination squads breeched the realm, wrecking havoc across the temple. The shaolin masters stepped out and engaged in battle with the invaders. Soon their numbers dwindled and the monks were overrun by the lavishing mongrols, thirsty for war. Then their leader, Baraka, appeared out of hiding and joined with Kahn's warriors. From their mighty forces, Shang Tsung stepped and approached Raiden.

"Well, well, well. It would seem fate has other plans for earthrealm, Raiden." Greeted Shang Tsung.

"What do you speak of, sorceror? How many times must we send outworld with yet another defeat?" Raiden retorted, not pleased that these fools decided to invade his home realm.

"An interesting question, but it is you, who will taste defeat this time, Raiden." argued the sorceror.

"No! You are wrong, sorceror! You were there, I defeated Shao Kahn at the coliseum. There's nobody left for you to hide behind." snapped in Liu Kang.

"The emperor is revitalized and is commencing the invasion as we speak. All of our forces prepared. Our warriors, laced with an urge to shed earthrealm's blood." said Shang Tsung.

"COME ON, BRING IT!" yelled Kung Lao, ready to throw his hat right through the sorceror.

There were slights growls coming from both Baraka and Sheeva. Baraka unsheathing his blades, ready to pounce at the shaolin monk. A hand rested on his shoulder. The sorceror beckoning him to stand down.

"As much as we would love to put you down right now Raiden, I'm afraid we are only here to deliver this message. Earthrealm's dark light will be the day of your reckoning! The emperor will take every soul in earthrealm with the soulnado!" declared Shang Tsung.

Raiden and the others kept a strict guard until he realized there stood only Shang Tsung, Sheeva, Ermac, and Baraka. Where were the rest of Kahn's generals he wondered. By this time, Nightwolf, Sonya Blade, Jax, and Johnny Cage had arrived. They joined with the shaolin monks and the thunder god.

"The cavalry has arrived!" announced Johnny.

"What's the situation, Raiden? asked Sonya, glaring at the forces of darkness.

"Excellent! It seems your little group of heroes have assembled! Now we take your souls with us." threatened Shang Tsung.

"As the sorceror just implied, we are being invaded by outworld. They're planning to capture every mortal soul with the soulnado, a powerful black magic conjured by Shao Kahn." Raiden explained to Sonya.

"We will never allow this to happen! Prepare yourself Shang Tsung, this ends right here, right now!" Liu Kang shouted out.

The warriors of the earthrealm took a stance, prepared to fight. The outworld denizens did the same and were at a stand off. Baraka's blades were unsheathed and cocked back, ready to strike. Ermac's hands were glowing green and he levitated himself off of the ground. Raiden and his defenders slowly treked towards the enemies until suddenly, both groups charged each other at remarkable speeds. 4 against 7 would normally be an advantage in earthrealm's favor, but since outworld had an army of tarkatans with them, it made for a pretty even fight.

"ANNIHILATE THEM!" Echoed Shao Kahn through the portal

Liu Kang was the first to attack as he went after Shang Tsung, but was intercepted by Baraka. Baraka took a swing at the mortal kombat champion, but Liu quickly ducked and layed some jab combos to the tarkatan and quickly uppercutted him. Liu's fist covered in flames, burning him as well, all before Baraka could react to the opening attack. Kung Lao ran up to Sheeva to start his battle with her. The fearsome shokan slammed her four fists on the ground, stumbling the fighters. She tried to go for an attack, but Lao teleported from aand appeared right behind her.

"What the- quit running around and die with honor, human." Sheeva said, thrusting all her hands forward.

Sheeva shot a stream of fireballs at Kung Lao who dodged them with almost perfect proficiency. However, he slipped, and a fireball somewhat grazed and burned his left arm.

"Aghah!" Lao groaned, clutching his arm.

Sheeva tried to go for a back swing at Kung Lao while he was hurt, but he countered, spinning around. He put his hands up, blocking the attack. Lao then turned his horizontally, flew at Sheeva spinning like a spiral. He kicked her several times in her sternum, hitting his spinning windmill kick. He then hit a flying kick to her chest, pushing her back and threw his hat at her, cutting and slicing at her chest and upper body. While this was happening, Jax and Sonya were battling away at the tarkatans, while also dodging giant debree thanks to Ermac' telekinetic abilities.

"Damn! I'm taking the freak with the pycho powers!" said Jax, picking his enemy.

"Fine with me. These small chumps won't even be a problem." Sonya replied

As she said that, the tarkatan horde came at her with high speed. 3 of them surrounded her, each of them musing to cut her apart with their blades. They ran up simultaneously at general Blade, but she stood on her hands and turned her body like a torpedo, kicking them all away. She ran up to one of them and threw hands with tarkatan lunged his bladed arm right into Sonya's face, but she weaved and punched him hard right between his eyes on his nose. He bled and growled.

"I will take your heart!" he screamed.

The other tarkatans ran beside the first one and attempted to rush her. Then suddenly a hurl of lightening struck down two of the vile demons of outworld. Their heads splattered like watermelons. Nightwolf came rushing in with Johnny Cage as Nightwolf summoned his spirit power and tackled an incoming tarkatan and Johnny shadow kicked another one and side uppercutted the first one that Sonya was fighting. They rush to her.

"Thank you guys, I really appreciate your help." said Sonya Blade.

"Whoa! You're thanking us?! Not so cold as steel after all, are you, beautiful?" teased Johnny Cage.

"I take it back. Thank you Nightwolf, that was sweet of you." Sonya said, unamused by Johnny's whits.

"Aw come on!" the hollywood movie star whined.

"The pleasure is mine, miss Blade. Don't be so stubborn at a time like this." Nightwolf said, turning towards Johnny.

The latter glared at Nightwolf, but turned back to the situation at hand. A few meters away, Jax was scruffling with Ermac. Jax walked up to Ermac as the latter was generating power.

"Jackson Briggs." Ermac said, thousands of souls circulating around his arms and body.

"Uh-huh, yeah you remember me don't you? Time I get your ass for taking my arms!" Jax declared.

"You cannot stop us. Our fearsome power cannot be matched! We will BREAK the rest of you!

Ermac came flying right at Jax and laid some quick combos and side kicks to Jax's face. Jax then threw somee giant haymakers. Thanks to the cybernetic enhancements/replaced cyborg arms, his strength is quadrupally increased. Ermac was sent flying back but he caught his ground and he teleported back.

"Hmm, the earthrealmer seems to have gotten stronger. No matter, it is of no concern to us." thought the enigmatic vestige of souls. Ermac floated up into the sky and generated some power. Almost all of the broken pieces of the courtyard began to rise up slowly. Jax kept a swift guard up and took of his leather shirt. He stood there with his black special forces cargo pants, black combat boots, and a pair of dog tags. The most distinguishing part were his metal arms that picked up a bright glare.

"Bring it Ermac!" said Jax.

Ermac then started to throw each of the boulder-sized debree. at Jax. Jax side stepped stone after stone, keeping the battle zoned in. Raiden in the meantime walked up to Shang Tsung as the sorceror did the same. Suddenly the latter went right in for an attack at the thundergod. Raiden and Shang Tsung traded blows with each other.

The sorceror landed a few hits, followed by a side head chop. Raiden turned his fist sideways and threw his right forearm up, blocking the incoming attacks. Raiden then teleported with lightening speed to the other side of Shang Tsung and laced a celestial combo on him. He struck him with a straight jab, causing him to groan. Raiden quicly followed up with a back-hand blow, a charged hit, then the thundergod swept him and sent a stream of lightening from both his hands, at Tsung's falling body.

"Cease your attack on Earthrealm sorceror, you have lost." said Raiden.

"You are wrong.. Raiden. We are.. not yet.. lost. Not while.. we are gaining at the.. moment.. new warriors. Specifically from Earthrealm." said the sucker of souls, panting from pain.

"Huh?" Raiden mused.

Shang Tsung then fired a deadly fireball at Raiden. Raiden teleported away just in time. Shang Tsung then ran up and threw a flurry of punches to the god of lightening. He then rushed up and lunged his hands right into the chest of Raiden. Shang's hands glowed green as energy and the essence of Raiden started to get sucked into Tsung. Raiden yelled in pain. Afterwards, Shang Tsung drove his knee right into Raiden's jaw, breaking and dislocating it. (X-Ray) This sent Raiden flying back several feet with a hard thud. Raiden groaned in pain, but he didn't let it show too much, he quickly recoverd. Raiden then charged electricity through his body and shot a barrage of lightening balls zipping through the air like speeding comets towards Tsung rapidly. Tsung then met his blasts with his own fireballs. They were at a deadlock.

Very closeby, Baraka was still fighting Liu Kang when he sensed Shang Tsung's and Raiden's fight. Liu ran up to attack Baraka, but the tarkatan leader backflip kicked Kang away and quickly ran to the thundergod and the sorceror. Once Baraka rejoined Tsung, Shang stopped his onslaught and called everyone back. Sheeva jumped back over and Ermac was still in a scrabble with Jax. Ermac held Jax in the air with his telekinesis. He then waved his hand down rapidly. Jax was then bounced up and down off the ground, his face smashing down on the solid ground. Seeing him become weary, Ermac held Jax up and folded his hand in a clenching motion, choking the life out of the special forces commanding officer.

"ERMAC! THAT'S ENOUGH!" Shouted Shang Tsung.

Nightwolf, Sonya, and Johnny Cage made short work of the invading tarkatans. They met back up with Raiden and Kung Lao and Liu Kang also.

"Wait a second, where's Jax?" asked Sonya, worried.

Jax then slugged himself towards the group suddenly. Sonya helped him back over. They had succeeded in saving the wu shi academy and the shaolin monks, most of them anyways.

All the generals of outworld gathered together at the portal. They were about to retreat before the sorceror had final words.

"We would love to stay and eviscerate your souls Raiden, but it seems we must be on our way." said Shang Tsung

"NO! Stand and fight." shouted Raiden, his voice echoeing at the sound of thunder in the distance.

"In time, thundergod, in time." responded the other

He turned towards his warriors and stopped.

"The place will be my island once again. Liu Kang!" he shouted

Liu Kang looked up warily.

"Make sure you attend champion, for the fights will begin with you. For the fights will start with you." Shang Tsung said.

"Sorceror! who did you refer to by 'new warriors'?" Raiden asked.

"My, very interested are we? All you need to know about mainly is our new ally, the demon of the jewel of 4 souls.. Naraku" the vile sorceror said.

"Naraku?" Raiden asked, his voice overwhelmed with confusion.

"The tournament will commence on my island in 3 days. Until that time, the invasion shall continue to happen, just to keep things interesting." Shang Tsung said to the earthrealmers.

"Urgh, bastard!" said Sonya, who was pissed off.

"We'll stop your plans Shang Tsung! You will never get away with this." said Kung Lao

The sorceror and the others laughed and began into the portal. As they did, they heard Shao Kahn's voice rumble throughout the academy.

"EARTHREALM WILL BE MINE!" Shao Kahn declared, his voice seeming to come from everywhere.

"We will see emperor." said Raiden

The enemies dissappeared. As the group recollected themselves, Nightwolf approached Raiden.

"Haokah, What did Shang Tsung mean by 'demon of the jewel of 4 souls'?" asked a curious Nightwolf.

"I do not know, the only thing I can surmise is the being I saw in a vision I had not too long ago is perhaps this, Naraku fellow. Strange, in my knowledge of demons, I don't ever recall coming across a 'Naraku'"... Raiden explained.

"So what, is he like this wicked magician or something with a bag of tricks?" Johnny mockingly said

No one bothered to respond to Johnny's wisecracks, much to his dismay. Afterwards the earthrealmers went back to prepare for the upcoming war that will go down.

Inuyasha and his friends and Ryu Hayabusa were now traveling on their way to the lost sea. They're just halfway out of their country of Japan, and reaching the shoreline of the big ocean ahead.

"All right you guys this is it! This time we're going to put an end to Naraku and his schemes once and for all!" declared Inuyasha

"Yes, it will be very pleasurable to put this to an end." said Sango.

"I'm a little worried about what we're getting ourselves into. I've never heard of this 'lost sea' in all my teachings as a monk." said Miroku

"What're so shaken up about? If anything appears out of the ordinary, I'll just hack it away like any other demons." said Inuyasha

"But why all the way out here? What's his purpose?" asked Kagome

Everyone was in thought. Kagome then noticed Ryu not saying anything.

"Hey Ryu, is something on your mind?" Kagome asked.

Ryu only slightly turned and eyed her. He then turned back while shaking his head.

"It's nothing." he simply said.

"What's your deal anyway? You still haven't really told us about yourself, why you being so secretive, huh?" Inuyasha asked, testing the ninja.

"It is of no concern to you. I've been thinking about my home village and the danger I will soon face." the ninja replied

"What kind of danger?" Kagome asked, very curious.

"When I went to outworld and met wth my ally, she also told me that my enemy has stolen the demon statue my clan kept in safe keeping." Ryu answered

"Demon Statue?" asked Shippo, only to be "shhhed" by Inuyasha.

"The demon statue is an ancient artifact of the dark deity vigoor. This statue is among several, discovered by my clan's ancestors. They were called the dragon lineage, a tribe that protected innocent people from the evil deities." Ryu continued to explain

"Fascinating. I heard my fair share of stories of ancient tribes. Not sure I ever heard of the Dragon Lineage." said Miroku.

"I don't get it, what's so bad about it?" wondered Inuyasha.

"The evil deities descended upon the earth in ancient times. They mated with the innocent humans, mixing their blood and creating these new beings, the fiends. Terrible monsters that only know one thing; to kill. Kill, with a savage bloodlust." said Ryu.

"That's horrible." Kagome said

"My clan's ancestors have been at war with them ever since. Throughout the generations, our clan, the hayabusa clan, are still currently fighting them. Now that our rivals, the black spider ninja, have stolen the statue, the seal we placed on Mt. Fuji has broken, releasing the thousands of fiends." said Ryu.

"And you're worried they'll attack your clan?" asked Sango.

"Yeah. After we get to the sea and train, I may part ways with you all for the time being. I have to make sure my clan is safe." said Ryu

"Sure, don't let us stop you. Think you can handle em all yourself?" challenged Inuyasha

"The light of dawn.. drives away the darkness always." said Ryu.

"Hmph, Whatever." said Inuyasha simply

"Inuyasha! Can you not be so rude?" yelled Kagome

"What?! I'm just being real about it." said Inuyasha

"Truly, sensitivity is unbecoming of you." said Miroku.

The others nodded in agreement. Inuyasha only grunted. They reached the end of the forest and out at the docks. The feudal era may not have been as advanced as modern times, but the local townsmen still had the means to make a decent prophit. A boat transportation business surely attracted the local commoners. As they were about to step board on the dock, Inuyasha quickly caught a familiar scent. He slightly shivered briefly, realizing the implications.

"Wait a minute guys. I'm sensing someone, can you feel it?" he asked

The others stopped and checked the area. Ryu caught the aura of someone approaching them. Then suddenly they saw spirits swim in the air, soul collectors to be precise. Out of the forest behind the gang, stepped out a beautiful priestess. She wore a white, blouse-like shirt, red kimono pants. Long dark hair tied in a pony tail. She had a huge bow and arrows on her back.. Kikyo. Kikyo approached the group with a purpose.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha screamed

Miroku and Sango, both also said her name in surprise.

"What is Kikyo doing here?" thought Kagome.

"Inuyasha. We have to talk. It's about Naraku." said Kikyo stoically.

"Naraku? Hah, What about him?" Inuyasha asked, annoyed by the thought of his most hated enemy.

"Naraku must obtain the rest of the shikon jewel shards and make the jewel whole." explained Kikyo

Everyone except for Ryu Hayabusa gasped in shock.

"What the hell do you mean KIKYO?! You're NOT making any sense!" yelled Inuyasha in anger.

Kikyo only stared at the group with a cold determinaton.

There it is folks! Chapter 9 has finally arrived. This was a long chapter for me, but it also helps make up for the lost time. Also if you have any ideas recommended for a future chapter, that would be great as well, just leave it in the comment section. AS always thank you guys for sticking this out and I will update soon. Review and subscribe. Peace.