Notes: I feel this story, readers, is growing to be a wee bit repetitive. Also, while I know how I want this story to end, the events between this moment and the ending are scratchy, at best. Any suggestions for future chapters will be considered and appreciated. Now…

Chapter 9: Reveal

There are many sounds one would like to wake to: the chirping of a bird, the pattering of light raindrops, a soft breeze, even total silence, which might called sound-without-sound…

The sound of screaming and clattering down the street is not one of them.

Especially if it was to be followed by a torrent of mad laughter.

Sheng Li had never risen so early, as he darted downstairs, a knife held in each wing. He was surprised to find Xun, Kurisu, and all the rest up just as early, beginning to move out of their rooms. The wolf and the kitten followed him as he practically flew to the ground floor of the inn.

As he had suspected, and slightly feared, Maddohatta stood right in the center of the street. His tail whisked about coolly, and his twirled his cane idly.

"Well, finally! I thought you'd never wake up…forgetting about lil ol' me already?"

The panther batted his eyelashes and cackled.

"You're an idiot," snarled Xun. "There's two of us…"

"Three!" hissed Kurisu.

"…Fine. Three of us, and one of you."

"You think that matters to me? Besides, you seem to be miscalculating."

The wolf tilted his head slightly.

"How?"

Maddohatta grinned.

"Let me cast you a horoscope, puppy-face: instead of one, you discover seven, ready to send you straight up to heaven!"

The panther banged his cane on the street, and seven more, each in masks, all appeared, moving from the shadows of buildings, and even from the rooftops. Their knives were already drawn.

Shen hissed softly, tail feathers fanning out high, bristling in warning. The panthers stood still, tails snapping about, looking ready to pounce at any moment…

"Hold your horsies, boys," Maddohatta grinned. "Shita? Get the box."

One of the panthers nodded quickly, and ran out of the inn.

"I'm glad you could join us today, gentlemen," said Maddohatta, bowing slightly. "After all, I made this in honor of your glorious devices, Lord Shen."

"I detest that title, now," hissed the peacock.

"Really? Can't imagine why…no, really. I can't. I would enjoy such a title."

"Sir…"

"Ah, yes! Thank you, Shita!" chirruped the assassin, taking a small, red box out of his assistant's paws. "This," he said, "is a little something I whipped up in my spare time back in Japan. I came all the way into China, just so I could make it and show it to you people. Now, isn't that nice of me?"

"Is it the illustration on the back of the letter?"

The panther grinned wider.

"Very clever of you to figure that out, kitty-cat. Yes, it is…only this is more dimensional, so to speak. Now…birdy, do you recall what I told you I love most about my job?"

"You get to kill and destroy things, and you get paid. What of it?"

"Well, the only thing I like more than either of those two things is learning, and I learn A LOT."

"So I've surmised."

Maddohatta giggled.

"Well, when I was out in a country called Britain, not only did I pick up a very special book, but I also discovered that your ideas for weapons fueled by gunpowder have reached farther than you can imagine."

"Masters Croc and Storming Ox informed me of that a while back."

"I know."

And that doesn't surprise me, Shen thought, but kept this to himself.

"Anywho, a very nice victim allowed me to get hold of a weapon called a pistol. Now, using that tool, and the things I stole from your cannon factory, I now have created a device so destructive, so perverse, so awesome, it will have your precious Shifu on his knees, offering me anything NOT to use it!"

So saying, he flung open the box, and took the weapon out.

It was the same curved, hollow metal rod, carved in the shape of a dragon, with a sort of trigger set between its handle and the main rod, seen in the design. It was bright red in color, with bits of golden brass strewn about its surface. Its "mouth" was open, revealing gaping black hole.

"Think of it as a more portable version of your beloved cannon," sneered Maddohatta. "Ladies, gentlemen…undecided…I give you: THE DRAGON'S NECK!"

KIEWEESHK!

An eerily familiar and hideous shriek erupted from the Dragon's Neck, and a shower of brightly colored sparks blasted out at a speed that made Shen's flesh crawl.

"Down!" he cried, and all three fell to the floor. The shower of fireworks soared onward and blasted into the wagon of an already horrified merchant, who cried out loudly and scuttled away in fear as his cart burst into flames.

KIEWEESHK!

Another firework screamed towards them. Shen rolled out of the way, while Kurisu and Xun got up and ran. The firework smashed into the street, leaving a great number of smoldering sparks in its wake.

KIEWEESHK!

Amidst the raucous laughter of Maddohatta, third blast came, and Shen barely had time to flip out of its way…

As it slammed into a nearby house.

The building instantly caught fire.

The screams and wails of the house's tenants instantly attracted the attention of Sheng Li.

He glared at the panther with the cane, who lowered the gun and stuck it into his belt – either its ammo was spent, or he was simply bored with using his new toy – before leaning on his cane and grinning smugly at Shen, who glanced back between him and the house.

Xun was not quite so indecisive. He smashed through the window and ran into the burning house.

"Well?" purred the maniac. "What'll it be, bird-boy?"

With a sharp hiss, the peacock flew into the burning house.

"Hmph…pity. A bit more playtime would have been nice."

"Don't count me out."

Maddohatta yelped as something tackled him to the floor. In an instant, he kicked up his legs, throwing it behind him, and landing back on his feet.

He smirked when he saw Kurisu standing, crouched, ready to fight, glaring at him with a look of purest hatred.

He waved a paw at his goons, who were ready to attack, and they sheathed their knives and stood still.

"What do you know about…that night?"

"Your father broke my nose once, as well as my mind, and he got a good deal of bad luck out of it…at least seven years. Now, are you going to try and settle for fourteen? Or help the birdy and dog out, like a good kitty?"

Kurisu glared, silent for a moment.

"This isn't over."

"And you are very trite. Goodbye."

Waving childishly in farewell, the panther dashed away, heading for the dock once more. His henchmen followed him.

Kurisu approached the window, but the family inside – a family of birds – had already been saved. They lay coughing, curled up on the ground.

The Soothsayer hobbled up.

"I'll see what I can help with. The innkeeper's getting some men to put out the fire. You stop Maddohatta."

Shen nodded, and sprinted toward the dock. Xun stayed behind to help…

And Kurisu, after a moment's pause, followed the peacock.

Shen snarled deeply when he got closer.

Not only was he too late for the second time, and not only did he get the pleasure of watching the madman sail off again…but now the docks were on fire, too.

The Dragon's Neck had done its work well.