A/N: The next to last chapter, baby! Thank god! Phew!
Please read and enjoy!
Chapter 9
"Did I ever mention how much I freakin'hate snakes?" Cole asks through gritted teeth, standing up. And I follow suit, pulling my mask up as I do so.
"Come on, let's get to the bridge!" I shout, looking down at my still seated boyfriend.
I smile wryly once I spot a cute pout downturn my beau's lips. "Awww man, but the pot roast…" Jay laments, casting a yearning glance at our still steaming dinner.
"Jay, I'm gonna serve you on a silver platter if you don't get up!" Kai threatens over his shoulder, already making a mad dash to the bridge. Sensei Wu, Zane, and Cole had already left the room and were heading there as well.
"Oh, alright…" Jay sighs dramatically and finally rises from his chair.
I croon softly under my breath and reach over his head to pull his hood on. "Let's go. It'll still be here when we get back." His deep blue eyes meet my gaze, but he doesn't comment as I begin pulling him behind me and out the dining room. As we run to meet the others on the bridge, I feel his grip on my hand tighten slightly. I turn my head back to question him, but my words die in my throat. I don't think I've ever seen his eyes look so intense…and I know what he's trying to convey without words:
"I'll protect you."
I return my focus back to the front as we round the corner into the den and through the door leading to the bridge. Yes, Jay… And I'll protect you too… We reach the bridge to find everyone gathered around the radar screen.
"Where are they?" Cole asks, his sights scanning the radar projection map.
"There…" Zane gestures to the map and the v-formation of multiple red blinking dots. "It looks like their near Windway Peaks," he observes. "But why?"
"Could it be another Fang Blade?" I ask.
"Well whatever their doing, you can bet it's not for the good of the community," Jay put in.
Sensei Wu frowns at the overhead projection. "Yes, we cannot let this go unchecked." He then turns to address us. "Shinobi."
"Hai!"
It feels good. It feels so good to be included, to have Sensei's eyes show their faith in me.
"Go forth and find out what the Serpentine are up to, but be wary. Cole, you have another warrior under your command. Please continue to do your utmost to insure that everyone makes it back alive."
Cole bowed. "Of course, Sensei." My new official leader then turns to us. "Okay everyone, I say it's time for a good ol' game of Whack 'a' Snake!"
Jay throws up a hearty fist pump. "Yeah! And plus, we have to pay them back for interrupting our dinner! So come on everyone, FOR POT ROAST!"
"Yeah, for pot—SHUT UP, JAY!" Kai yells vehemently.
I sigh and shake my head. I really do hope the other masters are women… I could use a break from this… Boys…
"Nya," Sensei's black depths are locked firmly on me, "a little word of warning, your weapon does not have the capability to transform into a vehicle, but its powers do hold a secret you will have to unlock on your own. Just trust your intuition and your weapon."
"Yes, Sensei, and thanks for telling me," I say, bowing respectively. After all, it wouldn't be very fortuitous to go leaping off this ship without any prior knowledge to what I can do.
Jay gives my hand a squeeze. "No worries, Nya. I got you."
"Alright! Now let's go everyone!" Cole rallies and runs out the door to the deck with all of us hot on his heels.
"NINJA- GO!" Cole, Kai, and Zane yell as they swan-dive off the side of the ship.
I step on top of the railing and Jay comes up behind me. "Ready?" He whispers quietly in my ear, placing an arm around my waist. The wind is a swirling storm, perfectly reflecting my inner state of being. I look down below, seeing my clansmen dive-bomb to the earthy crags beneath us. I've fought plenty of times before, but why do I feel so anxious now?
(You're a kunoichi—the Kunoichi of Wind… You are who you're supposed be… Now…cast away the shackles…and fly…)
My heart throbs. There's that mysterious voice again. I cannot place it…nor do I have the time to. Steeling myself for the ordeal to come, I give a firm nod, and at once, feel Jay's arm tighten around me. I take a breath, and then…we fall. Feeling the wind rushing past me during our descent is absolutely exhilarating! It's glorious! But the moment is short-lived as Jay takes out his golden nunchucks and we're abruptly confined in the Storm Fighter's cockpit. With fierce velocity added to our plunge downward, we catch up to the others in no time at all.
The Serpentine…
The others were already on the ground before our common enemy, and in a flash of sapphire, Jay and I land amongst our fellow Shinobi and friends. "Well "slither" me timbers! Where's the fire, eh!" Kai suddenly crows, pointing his flaming sword at the snake commander, Pythor.
Jay promptly face-palms, while the rest of us turn our heads to stare at Kai in bewilderment. "This is why they think we're so stupid…" Jay groans miserably. "…Must be downright humiliating to be beaten by us time and time again…"
"But Kai," Zane scratches his hooded head with a Shuriken, "what fire do you speak of? I see nothing but our adversaries."
Cole slams the hilt of his scythe down, causing a small tremor. "Argh! You really are a fire dork! Why are you so cringe-inducing, man?! First, it was: "Not so fast!" And now it's: "Slither me timbers?! "Slither me timbers!?" You are from here on out banned from saying the opening line!"
"Well fuck! That sounded way better in my head," Kai laments, stomping his foot in frustration.
"Well, you should've just kept it there, because that just sounded ridiculous…" I emote dryly.
Pythor hisses and slithers towards us. "Hmph! You imbecilic Ninja are so predictable… Let it be known that your luck has run out today!" He spreads his arms wide. "Look around! There is no Fang Blade here! You idiots have fallen into an elaborate trap set up by yours truly," the pink-eyed snake finishes cockily, pointing to himself.
His forked-tongue glides out with a contemptible hiss as his slitted gaze glares heatedly at us. "Now…prepare to meet your god! ATTACK SERPENTINE!"
"Heh…I always wanted a nice pair of snakeskin boots…" I say, and charge at the Constrictai in front of me. The blades on my gauntlets extend like switchblades and glisten in the fading rays of sunlight. I deliver a quick and powerful right hook to the axe-wielding serpentine, with the force of my blow cleanly decapitating him. Dark green blood gushes from the massive neck wound, but I'm not done yet. I spin from my defeated opponent and using my momentum, perform a tornado kick towards my next victim, the claws on my feet slicing open the side of his face and sending him careening into a Fangpyre. Momentarily without an opponent, I scan the area to see how the others are doing.
Kai's slashing skillfully away at two Fangpyre. Zane had frozen a Venomari, saving Cole from being spit in the eyes. The earth ninja then leaps into the air and carves his wickedly curved blade into the ground, creating a schism and causing several Serpentine to fall into the divide. Good, it looks like the battle is going well, but… My pulse starts to throb in my ears when I realize that a comrade is missing, and not just any comrade…
Where's Jay!? My gaze scours the battlefield frantically, the diverse colors of scales erupting before my vision before I find him. Jay! My boyfriend is surrounded on all sides by a group of Hypnobrai! My eyes widen in alarm and my feet move to rush to his side, but two Constrictai block my path.
"Out of the way lizard lips!" I scream, flipping over them. I land and dodge an incoming attack from a Fangpyre. Wait…this feels…sort of familiar… My body seems to move of its own volition as I perform an axe kick to an attacking Venomari, removing an arm from his torso. Poisonous blood spills…
This is it….
"NINJA- GO!" I shout fiercely, and let my instincts take care of the rest. Gales of purple and magenta swirl and cocoon around me, creating a funnel of cutting wind. This is my Spinjitzu! This is my tornado of power! Holding on to the exhilarating feeling, I briskly move to Jay's side and slice through the surrounding Hynobrai. Yes, I will use this power of mine to protect those who are precious to me. After the enemies are reduced to nothing more than bloody chunks on the battlefield, I dispel my Spinjitzu and come to stand beside Jay.
"Wow…thanks, Nya," he says gratefully with a nod. His deep blue eyes are knowing, as if he expected me to be as strong as I am. It's reassuring, but I can't allow myself to get up in the moment.
"No problem," I reply back, and look around. After all this fighting, it still looks like we hadn't put a dent in their numbers. I feel instantly uneasy. "But what's going on? Something doesn't feel right…"
"You feel it too, sis?" Kai leaps to my side and the others regroup around us. "Something's up…"
"We are being pushed back," Zane warns us sharply, narrowly avoiding a Fangpyre's snapping bite.
I see Pythor slither to the side and motion to someone above him. I follow the obvious signal and spot the heavily-muscled black form of Skalidor…and a massive formation of boulders above us. "Guys!" I yelp in fright, pointing up. The others snap their heads up and follow the direction of my hand.
"Aw shit…" Cole curses lowly.
"Farewell, Ninja-scum!" Skalidor bellows, and with one mighty swing of his tail, the boulders come tumbling down on us.
A/N: I actually forgot about this fight scene, so it was a real delight to rewrite. I have to admit that I just adore action scenes! And my gawd was this chapter short! LOL!
