Me: (grin) It's time! It's time!
Yanji: Time for what?
Me: My favorite chapter…(grin) Disclaimer.
Yanji: (staring at me with his curious eyes) Disclaimer: Lady Lizgon does not own Xiaolin Showdown and its characters but her sheng-gong-wu and her ideas. Oh and she don't own the legends of Four Celestials and the other creatures from the What's Beyond the Light too.
Me: (beaming happily) Onto the story! Enjoy!
Chapter 9 – A Sakura Tree…
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During the afternoon around the Xiaolin Temple, a small monk walked on the dojo and paused as the single sakura petal fell on his nose. He picked it off his nose and examined it with a startled surprise.
"A sakura petal?" He glanced upward at the beautiful sakura tree and looked faraway dazed in his silver-gray eyes. Katra…
"Yuiku-yuan…"
Startlingly at the sudden shout, he was almost stumped in the pool of Koi fishes but he restored his balance. The monk whirled around at the direction of the voice and to his surprise; it was only Tai Zu, a Ninjistu from the fourth temple and the older brother of Shin Zu.
"Tai-zhu!" As only a student, Yuiku always called a ninjistu a zhu meaning a lord who owns the fourth temple like Shin Zu. He quickly bowed to him in a warm greeting manner. "What brought you here at the Xiaolin Temple, Tai-zhu?"
A silent ninjistu with long dark hair past his shoulder and a part of his hair over his right side face. Narrowing his cold pale olive eyes at the young monk, he glazed over to the lone sakura petal in the child's hand.
"Still thinking of her, aren't you young student?" He replied softly, tucking his slender pale hands into his long dark blue sleeves. "If only she hadn't left, she would be a great warrior I foresight at her training with a nuisance brat."
Yuiku cringed at Tai's annoyance preferring to Xuan's younger brother, knowing Shinyu's past pranks on Tai in his few visits. He remembered when he was a child, he had seen him dropped a strange-looking bag on Tai's head and soaked him to bone from the roof.
Also, at the same time he had met his first love…
((Young Yuiku blinked hearing a odd noise came from the roof and he glanced up at the nine-year-old brunette haired boy grinned playful at himself, holding an azure blue water bag with his careful hands.
Yuiku blinked.
"What are you doing with this water-bag, Shinyu?" His ten-year-old older brother asked staring seriously at the back of his little brother's head, crossing his arms across his chest in annoyance.
"Oh nothing, Xuan… I was looking for something…" Shinyu whispered innocently, his playful eyes searching down at the dojo field. Xuan narrowed his icy amethyst eyes in annoyance at him and sighed in defeat. "Fine. Don't run to me if you're get yourself in trouble again."
Shinyu shot a sheepish looking glance at his brother's way and returned to his searching for a target. Suddenly, his eyes lit up happily and he grinned wolfishly. "Bingo!"
A small rouge quickly dropped a bag and ducked as an angry yelling from the below. A seven years old child Yuiku in a monk robe turned his head at the sound of his master's friend yelling from the dojo and saw the snickering child rushed out of the temple with his brother.
"Cursed that brat!"
He blinked in surprise to see a streaming warrior with his soaked robe and realized it's only Tai Zu. He sweatdropped at the sight of him and quickly bowed at him as he replied respectfully, "Greeting, Tai-zhu."
Tai Zu grumbled under his breath as he stalked angrily into Xiao's dojo, cursing the little rouge's name.
Suddenly, a familiar voice startled poor little monk. "As usual, my little brother has found a new target for his prank."
He turned his head back to the silent child with icy purple eyes. "Xuan."
Xuan nodded in acknowledged Yuiku. "Be heeding of his useless pranks. You'll be his target next time."
"Don't be so cruel on him, Amethyst." A little girl's voice replied with full of cheerful as Xuan rolled his eyes and looked up at the blue haired girl in the mistress robe sitting on the sakura branch.
"I'm not some jewel you're comparing to, Katra." He glared upward at her, being annoyed at her nickname for him.
Yuiku's innocent silver-gray eyes grew bigger and bigger at her, hanging his jaw closer to the ground. It's the first time he had ever meet a girl in the temple and never seen what a girl look like. Especially in the beautiful sight of her with the falling sakura petals had been stunned him.
The blue haired girl leapt from the branch and landed on the ground in the front of the two boys. The tomboy girl finally noticed Yuiku stood gawking at her beside Xuan and smiled at him. "Oh hello there! I'm Katra Yamachi." She chirped with a beaming grin at Xuan who rolled his eyes. "What's yours?"
"Y-Y-Y-Y…" The small monk blushed and stuttering wildly, not expecting the girl asked for his name…especially in awkward moment either. He gulped whole air in and breathed out. "Yuiku, the first student of Master Tai Zu and soon to be the Master of this Temple."
Shinyu in the bush behind Xuan and Katra snickering quietly at poor monk's embarrassing rush words as he kept covering his mouth from being give-away, smiling evilly.
To the boys' surprise, Katra reached for Yuiku and hugged him tightly, giggling to herself. "You're so cute! Almost as much as my kitty." She grinned at the monk who blushing furiously against her chest and then she finally let him go.
"…" Yuiku blinked and then blushed again. "Can I ask you a question?"
Katra blinked at him and then she smiled, nodding at him. "Go on."
"…" The small monk stuck out his arms toward her and smiling shyly at her, "…Can I… have your… girl hug… again please?"
A silence hanging over in the air as Katra and Xuan stared at him like as if the monk has another head on his shoulder. And then suddenly, poor Shinyu howling in laughter, rolling over on the ground while he pointed at Yuiku with his remark comment about him was being pervert or a blushing machine.
Yuiku was whole red blushing across his cheeks furiously, staring confusedly at the rolling small rogue.
Katra was startled by Shinyu's laughter and glared down at him, being annoyed at him. "I can't believe you!" She growled quietly at the laughing rouge.
Xuan sighed his hand covering his eyes and groaned silently, "This is the worst day I ever have…" He muttered darkly to himself watching at his younger brother teased poor little monk.
Yuiku smiled at the three friends and then blinked in surprise as the lone sakura petal landed on his nose. He picked it off and then he studied it quietly, slowly looking up at the beautiful sakura tree.
Sakura… A good charm for a love, compassion, and a friendship…
Yuiku smiled.))
In ten years later, a seventeen-year-old young monk sighed sadly. It had been seven months since Katra had left Xiao Lin's Temple. And then he opened his eyes, watching the snow-like falling sakura petals around the beautiful oak.
A sad smile on his face, Yuiku tilted his head upward at the breath-taking sight. Katra…
"Yuiku-yuan…?"
Yuiku turned his head back to the direction of the male voice and to his surprise, he only found Tai Zu patiently waiting for him by the gateway door. "Oye! Coming, master!" He shouted, running back to the master in his pure blind panic.
As they left, the sakura tree standing there lonely as the petals falling down from it… As for everyone would have sworn they saw the childhood memory being illusion along with a beautiful oak.
A girl in an illusion sitting on the branch of a sakura tree, beaming happily down at the blushing monk while a monk in an illusion gawked in surprise at her.
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In the battle began, the holy warriors stood in the line watching in caution at the dark warriors and the demons in the line, in the opposite direction from them.
Yuiku's silver-gray eyes quivered at the sight of the evil-looking warriors and demons. Taking a breath in and out, his face remain in the stone expression as he was hoping he's going to be a true warrior in the future.
Suddenly, a hand claimed on his shoulder nearly sends him in a screaming fit before he glanced back behind him in surprise and horror. He didn't expecting Toka sneaked up on him quietly, well… he was kind of expecting Shinyu popped out of nowhere in unexpected way.
"Oh…" Yuiku sighed in relief, secretly wishing he and his friends had to be going back the way in the past where there would be no more fighting for the world. "Toka…"
Toka's eyebrow quirked upward under his bangs at the chest-fallen expression on the monk's face and then he snorted. "What. Are you expecting Shinyu poof-ed out of the nowhere like Grandmaster Dashi and Master Seth?" He said playful, ruffling the monk's ponytail-style black hair which much to the monk's dismay.
"Not really…" Yuiku sighed pushing Toka's hand away from his head and looked over the hill at the dark approaching force. "We got some of magical objects… they got some of magical objects… Like 50-50, perhaps."
"I only got Star Hanabi, Phoenix Flute, Whip of Flame, Cat's Eye Draco, Arrow Sparrow and Black Beetle." Toka peered down at his bag and glanced up at Yuiku.
Yuiku nodded. "Mantis Flip Coin, Changing Chopsticks, Orb of Tornami, Mind Reader Couch, Lunar Locket, Gills of Hamachi, Kaijin Charm and Shimo Staff."
Yuiku turned his head back to Roba and Aaku. "Roba's got Mythic Mirror, Sun Chi Lantern, Reversing Mirror, Sphere of Yun, Culver Crystal, and The Shard of Dreams."
Toka nodded. "Aaku's got Two Ton Tunic, Third Arm Sash, Fist of Tebigong, Cannon Blaster, Big Bang Meteorang, Longhorn Taurus and Armor of Genbu… Geez, what is she? A shield-body guard?"
Yuiku let out a chuckle as Master Seth approached them. "What are you doing?" He asked quietly, a glimpse of being serious in his eyes for only students could see them.
"Master Seth, what did you got?" Toka asked ignoring Yuiku's protest about his manner toward the master.
Master Seth quirked his eyebrow in interest at the Dragon of Fire. "Cane of Reincarnation, Double Blade Staff, Sapphire Dragon, Crystal Glasses, and Eagle Scope. Grandmaster Dashi does have Eye of Dashi, Falcon's Eye, Crouching Cougar, Emperor Scorpion, Ying Yo-Yo, Yang Yo-Yo, Tortoise's Shield and Chaos of Orb…"
Toka's head jerked up in surprise and Yuiku's eyes widened in horror. "WHAT!" They screeched in union as Master Seth cringed at their tone.
"Chaos of Orb! It's forbidden to making it. Isn't he the one who said that orb is too dangerous for to wield!" Yuiku protested.
"It's his decision… as a grand master." Master Seth replied softly, silencing the students at his sharp word. And then the old master left them; Toka and Yuiku glanced at each other.
"It'll be bad." Yuiku whispered to Toka. "It's too strong… even for Dashi."
"Yep."
"I wish we had strong backup plan like Zalo and Jiro does…" As Yuiku was right, Jiro only possessed the few wu that she likes control with her elemental power but she's still missing. Zalo's gone… so is his Blade of Aqua, Coyote's Dark Claws and Shroud of Shadows…
The magical objects returned to its rightful place as the grand master's silent command with Emperor Scorpion's special ability.
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The Heylin Tiger of Lightning dropped the sack next the dead tree silently, looking up at the mountain where the cave can be seen. His dark forest eyes narrowed at the cave with a little lit light; he knew where his brother might be.
His sack revealed Serpent's Tail, Golden Tiger Claws, Shard of Lightning, Thorn of Thunderbolt, Map Pose… The Brazilian held the favorable Rod of Lightning, Sword of the Storm and Fancy Feet.
It was strange…
He had always felt the pull, the power, and the strength. The feeling was like a secret that only it knew, and it would never tell him, because it always felt delight out of making him think.
So that's what he would do.
He would think, and think, and think, and he would do this day after day, night after night until the sun would set, and it would be time to leave again on a journey that seemed endless.
Sometimes he would contemplate such thoughts of eternal emptiness and tragedy. What was endless? Did it really last forever, like it said it did? Did it really not have a certain shape, or certain endpoint where things would have to be released?
It did not appear so.
Where was his end? Was his end endless? He would think for a long time, and he could never understand the relevance of that.
He wondered if he could do it.
But he can't… because Xuan's still his brother and he can't kill his own sibling because of what the white tiger god said in his dying death.
His beloved Heylin Clans… They're slowly disappearing as long as the dark force returned and claimed his clan… It already gave Heylin Clans a bad name and even worse the entire world despised the sound of the vile name to their ears and sights.
It had to be stop before too late.
"Xuan…" Shinyu whispered softly, climbing over the rocky cliff and the childhood memories rushed through his mind.
((The small child laughed out of his delight as his mother continued sewing the torn-looking shirt. "Mom. Where's Dad?"
His mother blinked at him and then she smiled gently at him. "He's out fishing with Xuan. Probably he fell in after a fish slip out of his grasp… again."
"And you're right." A dryly voice in an amusement tone behind her, causing the little boy squealed in surprise and happy as he rushed over to his dad and hugged him in greeting way.
The silent boy stood behind the father, watching quietly at his baby brother as the small smile on his face.
"Xuan…"
Xuan blinking in surprise, being startled out of his trance and glanced over at his brother who stared back at him in curiosity. "Yes, Shinyu?"
"What did cha got?" Shinyu asked bouncing forth and back, waiting impatiently for his brother's answer.
Xuan ducked out of the way and stared at the floor while a small blush out of embarrassing across his nose. "Ano… Not really… I don't think I can catch a sneaky fish like Dad did…" He laughed sheepishly, remembering the fishing spot.
Shinyu cocked his head over his left shoulder, studying his brother. Suddenly, he grinned playful at him. "Hn. Whatever. Let's play ball!" He ran back to the white ball, looking over his shoulder to expecting his brother to join with him.
Xuan let out a rare laughter as he quickly followed after his carefree-like brother. "Shinyu… Wait until I win!"
Yes… You always win…
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Few years later after they meet Master Seth in his youth and the mean-looking Tai Zu because of Shinyu's prank… but at the same time they meet Yuiku and Katra…
On the day of where they meet Zalo in the village for the first time. 13 years old Shinyu bumped onto him and fell on the floor at same time.
"Ow!" Shinyu groaned, rubbing his hurtful spot while he opened his eyes and stared at the angry-looking face of a brown/red-eyes boy.
"WHAT THE HELLS! ARE YOU THINKIN, BRAT!" He growled rudely, standing up and suddenly bumped into the not happy-looking Xuan.
"Do you think you are doing by insulting my brother?" Xuan said calmly, crossing his arms and stared down at the 13 years old grumpy boy.
"Feh!" The boy scoffed, sulking past the silent brother and then he turned his head over his shoulder looking down at the carefree brother. "This brat? Not like I care."
Shinyu laughed shaking his head. "Xuan, relax. I'm sure I'm fine with being called a brat… unlike Tai Zu…" He muttered the last sentence under his breath. "I'm Shinyu Pedsora. This is my brother, Xuan Pedsora."
The boy with the red brown eyes blinked in surprise at the boy's sudden change of attitude. "Zalo… Just Zalo…" He hesitated about revealing his full name and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm leaving."
"You think you're leaving with those stolen coins?" Xuan replied, raising his dark eyebrow and seem amused at Zalo's expression cringing at his calm words.
Zalo glared at Xuan and darkly muttering under his breathe before he replied, "Feh. What do you think? Turning me in those idiot guards?" He jerked his chin toward the searching guards. "Ha. Sorry to burst your bubble… Bye!"
The boy nearly ran over Xuan, disappearing into the alley. Shinyu turned his head and staring at him with his amused look. "What did you think?"
Xuan smirked. "I say… we follow him."
After few weeks they had become friend with Zalo and a few close calls because of the guards from the emperor… One year later they meet Yanji the thief and after Zalo's few swearing and cursing at the white werewolf, they had again become the best buddies.
Until then, the Temple called them forth because of Master Seth had found them wandering around the village where Dashi live.
After that, they meet the new groups – Roba, Kisara, Aaku, Katra (who was suddenly disappeared), Jiro, Toka, Yuiku, and Dashi.
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Three months ago before Xuan's betrayal… Shinyu run down the dojo where the beautiful sakura tree was in the sight and he looked around until he found Xuan sitting on the pouch near his favorite tea.
"Xuan…" He said softly, causing his brother turned his head over to him. "Zalo told me you're have been acting strangely."
The icy amethyst eyes widened and then softened, the silent boy turned back to watching the falling sakura petals in silence.
The young rouge sighed in annoyance as he walked to the end of the pouch and sits down next to his brother. "Xuan… Please tell me."
Xuan glanced upward at the night sky, silent thinking of the many past memories he had possessed. "Shinyu…" He said softly looking back to his little brother as his amethyst eyes suddenly look like it came to alive again. "Do me a favor…"
Shinyu blinked. That was unexpected things came from his brother! "Yeah…?" He replied hesitating, not sure what the silent brother do want from him.
"…No matter… how it seem hopeless and lost." Xuan said glancing up at the sky again. "Of all false promises… and betrayal… I do want you to continued from what you start and you will be the one to end it all."
"Xuan…" Shinyu began but he was cut off by Xuan's sharp word echo through his ears.
"Say you will accept that vow from me!"
Shinyu startled, staring confusingly at his brother and decided never questioning his brother's strange behavior he wondered about in previously before. "I accept." He answered with a sharp nod.
Xuan looked relieved and relaxed again, smiling a little at his little brother. "Thank you." ))
Shinyu smiled sadly at the precious memory as he looked up at the night sky. "Now I understand what you meant… No matter how it seem hopeless and lost when you left us…I'll still continued from what I started and I'm the one who is going to stop you!"
Suddenly, a cold voice startled him. "Very well done! You have come for yourself, little brother. Even without your friends' help either!"
He turned back and glaring at the snake spirit in his brother's body. "Ariko…"
The icy golden eyes replacing Xuan's icy, yet soft amethyst eyes seem taunted so cruel yet playful at the Tiger of Lightning. "Let all the fun… began!" He yelled, widening his arms almost as if he were the magician to the audiences. His words echoed to the night sky as the fire, ice, lightning, and all other attacks from the distance exploded when it clashed each other.
The roaring and snarling can be heard from the same distance.
The Dark War now had began…
Shinyu narrowed his dark green eyes, gripping his gold rod tightly as Ariko smirked evilly at him, standing on the cave cliff looking down at him as the brown haired boy glared up at him in the attack stance.
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A lone sakura petal fall on the ground where the dying sakura tree in the temple... The one that once held full of joyful and sad memories...
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End of the Chapter 9
Me: Okay, Now it's time for looking far back into Xiaolin Dragons and Heylin Tigers' past… In each of chapters before we'll look at what happen during the Dark War against the Heylin Demons. And we'll found out how Xuan had rejected Ariko out of his body and died in Shinyu's arms.
Shinyu: I think you're still blabbing out to them.
Me: Oh! Fine. (to Readers) Please read and reviews this… Thank you!