This is a revised version that I felt was very much needed. Its just a little bit longer but I think its better than the first one. This is the end of this story I'm afraid but the whole story is far from over. Thanks for reviewing; Maiden Samurai, Koriand'r Star, Guardian of Azarath, Realfanficts.
Chapter Ten
My life returns to normal
Before Nayia could run him though a strong hand clamped around her wrist and pulled her back. While flying backward the same hand quickly gripped her shoulder, Nayia then felt her whole body from the neck down go numb and limp. Isard looked down at Nayia with a smile. Nayia could barley raise her head to look at Sagar's savior.
"Sagar," said Isard completely disregarding his wounds. "She isn't Shandrey is she?"
"N-No my lady," coughed the wounded vampire. He still lay on the ground, a small pool of his blood collected beside him.
"Then why did you bring her and not the one you promised me?" Isard's eyes never left Nayia.
"The waterbender…w-was not there!" Isard cocked her head to one side and bent down on one knee beside Nayia. Nayia stared back at her with a small amount of fright mixed with building rage.
"Oooh you do look angry little one, what's your name?" Nayia didn't answer. Isard bent closer. "What is your name?" Nayia spat a wad of saliva up at Isard. Nayia obviously had no clue who it was currently leaning over her. Slightly peeved Isard wiped her face clean then turned her gaze back to the girl. She let that irresistible shine come to her eyes and caught Nayia's. Her mouth parted as her mind began to go as numb as her body. "Now tell me your name."
"N…N-Nayia." Isard's frustrated glare melted into a conniving grin.
"Nayia, that's a very pretty name…for pretty little girl." Nayia suddenly turned her head away and blinked several times. At this Isard backed up somewhat out of sheer surprise. Before now no one had ever been able to fight through a trance of that nature. "Sagar what have you found for me?" she muttered. She stabbed Nayia with a syringe containing a sedative. "Can't have one have the other." She stood up and looked at a growing force about to besiege a certain part of the city. She held Nayia's knife point at her index finger. Staying for much longer was not part of Isard's plan. As she walked past Sagar she gave him a kick in the side. "Get up." She gripped Nayia's wrist and with a swift heave pulled the limp girl over her shoulders. "Is it ever within your power to do things right?"
"You judge without having witnessed my lady," argued Sagar. Isard stopped. She faced Sagar with a strange smile.
"Careful with those defiant words Sagar dear." She softly caressed his cheek with her free hand. Then as she moved her hand downward fiercely gripped his throat. Her smile was also replaced by a dangerous glare. "You may one day find yourself without a tongue with which to speak." Still within her vice-like grip Sagar bowed his head. Isard handed Nayia's weight off to him and walked onward. "Now, leave this place…we have a disciple to train."
"Are you not coming?" Isard ducked her head slightly with a smile.
"I have my own business. Go now Sagar." Sagar obeyed without another word and left his mistress behind.
A spear guard walked along the spot Lee was supposed to be looking after. He sighed into the cold air, tonight was supposed to be his night off; according to the rotation anyway. He beat the end of his spear against the stone rampart with an aggravated grunt. He reached the end of the wall and turned to walk back the other way. As he turned a lone and silent arrow flew up from the darkness and pierced his neck. The arrow was attached to a rope thus the guard was pulled down from the wall.
KYOTO…………
Shandrey arrived in Kyoto without trouble. Somehow she'd managed to teleport on top of a gas station. She quickly ducked down in order to avoid being seen. She carefully looked over the edge to make sure no one was looking then using the wiping fluid offered for cleaning windshields formed a thin column for her to glide to the ground.
"Ewwww," she muttered disgusted. She shook her hands trying to the get the soapy liquid off. She once again made sure she had no audience and forced every bit off of her. "Now, to find a couple hundred people in a city of millions; no problem." She trotted away from the gas station onto the sidewalk. She passed by a lone stranger who did a double take as she passed.
"Excuse me." She stopped and turned back.
"Did you mean me?"
"Yes," he said smiling. "I'm a tourist and I wanted to know if you could take my picture for me." Shandrey shifted her eyes about uneasily.
"Umm…can't you find someone else?"
"Please, it only takes one eighth of a second." Shandrey sighed halfheartedly. She silently acquiesced by holding out her hand. He handed her his camera, instructed her on the best way to use it within the present lighting, then finally stood before his chosen backdrop. Shandrey took his picture with little gusto. He looked at the digital image on the back. "Thanks!" She rolled her eyes as he gave her a crushing hug. "Okay see ya." Shandrey shook her head as they parted company.
"Freak." She decided to check the log Mitsuhide gave her to see if it might have directions or even a hint. Fishing around in her bag Shandrey's hand failed to locate the bamboo tube. Eyes wide as saucers Shandrey spun around in place. She saw the man looking back at her uneasily. "HEY!" He took off like a speeding bullet. "GIVE THAT BACK!" She sprinted after him but he was a great distance ahead of her. Shandrey remembered the soapy water she used earlier and without a second thought used again. He glanced back and before he could look forward he ran smack into a frozen wall of soapy fluid. He stuck against it like a fly on a window and limply dropped the container into Shandrey's waiting hand. "I told you to find someone else. Hmp!" With that Shandrey went on her way.
JOINING LEE……………….
As Kurando so ardently pointed out there was no way Lee could tell for sure in which direction Nayia's captors went. On that note Lee replied that because of that he would search in a randomly selected direction. Of the four directions there were to choose from Lee chose south, that unfortunately turned out to be the wrong one. Lee spotted some tracks on the ground. He bent down to feel them but stood back up in disappointment. They were too deep to be someone carrying a burden equal to a human girl, more likely they were men on horse back.
"They did not come this way," Lee told himself. 'I will have only time to try one more direction'. He looked to the west as if consulting the direction itself for council. With a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach Lee continued on.
BACK IN KYOTO…………
Shandrey walked through the city of Kyoto with a strange sense of nostalgia. "Wow, it seems so long since I've been in a modern city like this." Shandrey came to a stop outside an arcade to rest for a moment. She took one of her feet in hand and rubbed it. Trying to find a large group of people turned out to be more laborious than she thought. She slid down to the concrete side walk to think. 'If I were hundreds of temporary homeless refugees where would I go?' She wondered if she might try some of the shelters she passed along the way. She mentally laughed at how Toronaga might find the act of receiving food from peasants degrading. Then it hit her. Shandrey stood up. Even if they came in small groups there was no way they would be able to come into Kyoto unnoticed. So where were they? Shandrey lightly beat her forehead against the wall. 'Think..think…..how to find them? How does one find someone else? How do you come up with a place off the top of your-. She interrupted her own thoughts as something clicked. She would find them the same way Moira almost found her.
About ten minuets after her sudden idea Shandrey left a convenient store with three two liters bottles of water. She found her way to a public bathroom and after stopping up the sink began filling it with as much water as it could hold. Once the water level was just barely spilling over the edge she rubbed her hands together. 'Okay, just concentrate…find them'. Using her index finger she tapped the middle of the water's surface. From the tip of her finger a series of never ending ripples spread throughout the small pool. She let her eyes close and her hands hover over the ever moving ripples. "Invenire…." She softly chanted a single word. It was one of the first things Moira taught her, though before now Shandrey never had a use for it. "Invenire…Toronaga-Sangi." She felt something like a magnetic force pull her forward somewhat. Guessing that might be the signal Shandrey opened her eyes and saw the opaque blackness was gone. It was replaced a moving aerial view of the landscape. She stared at the image awed fascination. Finally it came to halt and Shandrey snapped out of her stare. She bent closer and saw close ups of a few people she recognized. Then the view centered on Toronaga himself. They were on the very outskirts of the city in abandoned warehouse. 'Geez, nice place to hold up'.
"That's it then," said Shandrey excitedly. "I did it. I found them!" She looked up but her jovial celebration was cut short when she noticed a woman standing before the sink directly to her right. The woman's bulging eyes darted back and forth between the pool and Shandrey. The whole time she completely failed to notice the woman's entrance. "Uhhh…." The shocked civilian was as much at a loss for words as Shandrey was. Shandrey then smiled sheepishly. "Yes well, I hope you enjoyed the show. I'm here till next Wednesday. If you have any questions…" She trailed off as she could tell the woman was seconds away from screaming her head off. "Okay uhh…really sorry about this." With two words muttered under her breath the woman's eyes grew wide then closed and her head fell forward limply. "Damn I swore I'd never use this," groaned Shandrey. She emptied the sink then walked up behind the woman. "When you wake up you won't remember anything that you saw. You're coming in to use the bathroom. Alright wake up." Shandrey clapped her hands and the woman's eyes fluttered open. "Well see ya later! Oh and don't use that sink over there, its out of order."
"Oh it is?" Shandrey shrugged apologetically and left.
REJOINING LEE……………
He passed by a tree on his way back to the city. He stopped and propped himself against it. No sign, not a single trace of Nayia could be found anywhere. It was long past daybreak and Lee was in need of more supplies for his search, that and there was the growing hunger he now felt. He walked over a hillside and nearly turned sick with horror. Smoke was rising from Arisie. Lee forced his tired legs to carry him as fast as they could back down to the city.
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Among the many ruined houses and burning foundations carts were being wheeled by. Some carried unusable weaponry but many more bore the graphic dead and wounded. A soldier with a bloodstained headband helped a limping comrade to a sitting position. Lee slowly entered not through the main gate but through the gaping hole that used to be the east wall. He looked about at the aftermath of the battle. Why of all nights did Dehuai choose this one?
"Lee." He refocused his gaze forward to see Kurando coming towards him. Lee met him halfway.
"Kurando what has happened?"
"You should not have come back Lee," said Kurando with a tone of foreboding. Lee stood perplexed then noticed the ready weapon in Kurando's grasp.
"Why is your sword drawn Kurando?" Kurando gave no immediate explanation but merely ordered what guards were close to secure Lee.
"No Lee don't struggle." Lee looked about in an agitated manner. At Kurando's warning he slowly slid his sword back into its sheath. "Come." A guard from Lee's left pulled his sword from his waist cord and Lee was shoved forward. The small crowd led by Kurando carted Lee up the lengthy hill to the shogun's home. Lee sent a hard stare upward as he saw his father was already waiting for him. They stopped just a few steps away from the military commander and chief. The samurai found himself being pushed to his knees before Mitsuhide.
"Dark is the day when my flesh and blood would betray me."
"I have betrayed no one," replied Lee calmly. Mitsuhide's face grew fierce then drew closer to Lee.
"And what would you call a complete disregard for one's duty in a time of war?" Lee looked away disheartened. "How would describe someone who so blithely ignores his responsibilities as well as lives of the men serving under him?"
"It was Nayia."
"What of her?"
"She was taken!" Replied Lee sternly. "I searched all night and well into the morning. I intend to re-supply and continue my search until I have found her."
"Your plans have slight flaw," said the Shogun quietly. "My scouts have begun searching for Nayia and she will be found in due time. You should have allowed them to do their job by doing yours. Now you face the consequences." Lee frowned in puzzlement.
"I do not understand."
"You have shamed not only yourself, but me, your fallen men, to say nothing of the honor of this entire city!" Lee lowered his head as the reality of his situation fully dawned on him. "I am without reservations when I am forced to dispense justice upon our enemies."
"Father…" Lee paused. "I have shamed you greatly; I have dishonored all of you. I ask permission to end my life." Kurando moved his seemingly emotionless stare from Lee to the shogun.
"You will not receive such a privilege." Lee's eyes narrowed in anxiety. "You will from this day forth be exiled from Arisie without the possibility of return. Should you come within a hundred miles of this city you will be killed on sight." Lee's face gradually fell.
"And Shandrey?"
"You will not be here when she returns." The shogun then gave Kurando a short nod. With enormous reluctance Kurando followed the order and with a sharp knock in the back of the head rendered Lee unconscious. "A shame."
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Lee slowly but surely returned to conscious thought. He became aware of a throbbing pain in the back of his head. His blurred vision refocused and he found he was sitting under the lone cherry blossom tree.
"I thought you'd wake up sooner." Lee swiveled to his left and saw Kurando standing with his back to him. "Don't tell me you've suddenly grown weaker."
"Kurando, you should not be here." Said Lee with a warning tone.
"I know, but I believe your punishment was too severe given the circumstances. However, though I sympathize with your motive we cannot ignore the consequences." Lee rose to his feet.
"I understand."
"Where will you go?"
"I am unsure; I do not even know who it might have been that took Nayia. But I cannot allow meager lack of information to deter me. Kurando I bid you farewell." He sent his friend a short bow of the head.
"Wait." Lee paused and turned back around. Kurando walked closer and held out Lee's katana. "I think you'll be wanting this." Lee took the sword with another bow. "I will tell Shandrey what has become of you." Once again grateful Lee took his leave without another word.
Upon entering the city Kurando was met by Mitsuhide and two guards. Kurando paused and almost reached for his sword. "Keep your calm, Kurando." Mitsuhide excused the guards. "I have something I want you to do."
The quiet cold surrounding the hilltop above Arisie remained still. The tranquility was soon interrupted as a bright flash of light appeared. The light suspended leaving Shandrey in its wake. She shook off the shivers of the journey then gazed down at Arisie with longing.
"Home sweet home." Shandrey wasted no time in speed walking down from the hill to the main gate. However as she drew nearer the immensely damaged wall caught her eyes. "No…" She ran toward it and after entering the city through the hole looked about for the one she knew was in charge of that section. Panic rose up within her when Lee was nowhere to be found.
"Shandrey."
"AH! Oh Kurando…" Said Shandrey calming from the sudden fright he gave her. "I wish you people wouldn't sneak up on me like that."
"Apologies."
"What happened?"
"Dehuai attacked with a great force, we were beyond fortunate to hold him back. Many lives were lost but we believe the numbers of his forces have diminished beyond his ability to plan another attack. For now it would seem we have won."
"That's good news," said Shandrey. "But where's Lee? He's okay isn't he?" Shandrey grew tense as she noticed a hint of remorse coming over Kurando's hard face. Shandrey felt weak at the knees and let herself sit upon a piece of stone. "What is it?"
"Lee…and Nayia have departed the city." He answered rather quickly. So swift that it took a moment for Shandrey to register what he said. She stood back up and looked him square in the eye.
"What do you mean they departed?"
"Simply that, following the intense battle they gathered what supplies they could carry and quietly took their leave. They left no indication as to where they were going." Shandrey refused to believe it, none of what he just told her made any sense at all.
"B-But they wouldn't just leave," she said with an incredulous smile. Kurando continued to look at her vacantly. Her smile faded away at the sight of his face. "No, they-they wouldn't go without m…." Her words became stuck in her throat. Why would they leave without me? Breathing hard she pushed past Kurando and hurried down a stone path. He began to call after her but held his tongue.
"Lee?" Shandrey's voice could be heard as she drew closer and closer to the home she shared with them. Shandrey slid open the door and her face fell at the sight of….nothing. The furniture was gone, their rooms were cleaned out, even his samurai suit of armor was no longer displayed for all to see. Shandrey staggered out of the house and held onto the doorframe for support. Despite her best efforts tears welled up in her eyes and it wasn't long before they leaked past her eyelids. After she allowed her body to vent her feelings she quickly gathered up her bag, slung it over her shoulder and prepared to leave. But as she was walking away Shandrey looked back at the house. It looked very different today, dark and unwelcoming. With another tearful gasp Shandrey turned away from the house and began running. She ran as fast as she could away from Arisie. Who was I kidding? I don't fit in anywhere, I should've left along time ago! Shandrey was so absorbed in her troubled thoughts that she only recently noticed the sound of a stream nearby. The heartbroken waterbender slowly approached the trickling water. With nothing but conviction Shandrey ripped her birthday comb from her hair and threw it into the water. Fine! If they don't need me then I don't need them! And without a second thought Shandrey turned away from the place she called home.
Shandrey hadn't gone far when she slowed to a stop at the sight of someone waiting for her. Isard stood with a placid smile though Shandrey had no clue who this strange woman is.
"The bad news is you're all out of friends." Shandrey quirked an eyebrow. "The good news; I'm here to help." She began walking toward Shandrey who in turn backed away.
"Who are you?"
"Isard Triton, I've come to bring you to your new home." Shandrey gulped, she could feel a dark aura coming from this woman.
"I don't want your help. Leave me alone!" Isard chuckled derisively.
"Consider yourself for a moment dear child, where will go? Who would take in such a strange person?" Isard steadily moved closer and closer. "The answer, I would. I can see you are very special and you need someone who can help you develop that special talent of yours." Shandrey's mouth parted. How did she know? But more importantly why was Shandrey actually considering it? She made herself look away for a fleeting moment. It was Isard's charm that made all the difference. Everything she said was with a cool and seductive tone; it was mesmerizing to say the least.
"I already told you I don't want your help."
"That may finally not be up to you." Before Shandrey could make a move Isard hurled blazing ball of fire at her. Shandrey drew water from the stream nearby to form a shield. Once the attack was fully deflected Shandrey stared at Isard with wide eyes.
"Y-You're a firebender?" Isard smirked.
"Oh no, my blood has such high acidity though…anything could happen." She finished her last words with a loud chuckle. "Now my pretty waterbender, dance for me!" Shandrey found herself having to run and dodge a seemingly endless wave of fire. It reminded her very much of how Moira would attack, deadly and merciless. Shandrey took the stream's contents again and cut her way through Isard's next attack. She formed a row of ice around the vampire allowing her to slide around Isard like a rollercoaster. As she rounded her Shandrey let several icicles and razor sharp frozen disks fly at Isard. Isard growled in pain as at least three of the spiked pieces of ice stuck deeply in her. Shandrey slid off her ice ramp and stood ready. Eyes blazing red with animalistic fury Isard melted the ice in her and waited for the wounds to seal up. Shandrey's mouth gradually parted again at this sight. What was this woman? In the blink of an eye Isard left her original spot and was behind Shandrey. But Shandrey got a fair warning by sensing her enemy. As a result Isard's fist impacted a raised ice wall instead of Shandrey. The Chinese girl quickly turned the wall to flowing water and with it grabbed Isard's wrist and threw her several hundred feet away. Shandrey felt now was her chance and thusly looked for an open space to teleport from. A long distance away Isard picked herself up from the ground. The few scratches on her face sealed up and disappeared within seconds.
"Very well witch, you and I shall meet again some other time."
The shogun sat in his home quietly enjoying dinner. Kurando made an entrance and bestowed an almost forced bow.
"You sent for me."
"You knew Lee well didn't you?" asked Mitsuhide without looking at the samurai next to him.
"I would like to think I did my lord."
"Then knowing him as you did do you believe he will honor the exile and make no attempts to return?" Kurando thought only for a second.
"I do believe he will my lord."
"Unfortunately I do not share you faith." Kurando regarded him with suspicious curiosity. "We have given him every reason never to return but his mind is strong and his will reckless. Thus you will accompany my finest ninjitsu and insure he does not ever return." Kurando's mouth slacked open.
"My lord his exile makes no mention of assassination." Mitsuhide seemed passive. "My lord may I speak openly."
"Very well."
"I took him away myself, I emptied his home, I even lied to that poor girl how can you burden me with such an iniquity?!"
"That is simple enough, by ordering you to do so."
"I will not." Mitsuhide looked up at him for a long moment. Then stood and patted him on the back.
"Very well, I understand your position. You have earned much to be able to refuse me in such a way." Kurando shifted his eyes about. "I know how dreadful it would feel killing an old friend but I wonder…" He grabbed Kurando's attention. "How more dreadful would it be if your family were to be refused reentry?" Kurando's face grew livid. "What would become of them in this dangerous world we live in?" Kurando could barely keep his rising temper under control.
"You…demon."
Mitsuhide began walking away triumphantly. "I'll accept that as a 'yes' then."
"He is your son!" The shogun whirled around.
"MY SON! My son perished along with the hundreds of soldiers stationed beneath his wall. No son of mine sacrifice our security in such a way. Now take whomever you need. Remember my son didn't rise to his position at such a young age because of his looks. Good night." With that Mitsuhide walked away to his bed chambers, leaving Kurando with yet another shameful task.
ALMOST A WEEK LATER…………….
Lee hurriedly ran across a rooftop then jumped to another. He landed with a soft thud and quickly jumped behind a large generator. Not long after he left Arisie he was relentlessly pursued by assassins. Over the next several days he found himself in America, once again on the run. Sirens could be heard in the background. His telepathy alerted him to the nearing presence of several swift figures. He carefully drew his sword and waited. He heard multiple footsteps touch down on his roof. The assassin taking the lead was met with a quick end as Lee leapt out from behind the generator and cleaved his opponent's throat. The air was then filled with the clangs and whistles of swords clanging against one another. One of Lee's attackers threw a series of shurikans. Lee performed a flawless aerial to avoid the bladed disks. They instead struck exposed circuitry on the generator causing it to malfunction. Lee jumped away just as the generator he once used for cover exploded with a quick boom.
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A few blocks away the Teen Titan known as Cyborg was stopped in his tracks. His robotic sensors alerted him to a disturbance barely half a mile out. He looked in the direction his read out gave and saw smoke rising.
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Lee was on a knee using his sword for support. He took in steady breaths as he looked at the battle about to end. He had reduced a force of eight down to a tired two. One masked assassin sheathed his sword and removed a small dagger instead.
"Traitor." He kicked Lee hard across the face making him fall over onto his back. The assassin then stood over him with his dagger raised. Before he even started to bring it down however another sharp blade was thrust through his back and out his chest. The other assassin removed his bloodstained sword from his comrades sagging body. After stowing his weapon away Kurando pulled his mask off.
"Yo! Hands where I can see em'!" He glanced to his side and saw Cyborg with his sonic cannon at the ready. "I said raise your hands now!"
"Wait," said Kurando holding his hands out defensively. "You do not know what has transpired here."
"We can figure that out later," replied Cyborg curtly. "Now put your hands on your head, you're coming with me." Kurando instead bent down and gathered up Lee. He approached Cyborg and without warning shoved the limp samurai into Cyborg's arms. "Yo, what are you-"
"Get him out of here," cut in Kurando. "And make sure he is not seen in public for at least three weeks."
"Listen man I don't know who you guys are or what kind of a go around yall got into but-"
"There is little time," said Kurando pointing downward. Cyborg followed his pointing finger down to the street where a number of police cruisers were gathering. When Cyborg looked back Kurando was gone. He stood utterly bewildered but was quick to leave before he and Lee were found among the slashed bodies lying motionless.
LEAGUE OF SHADOWS………………
Shandrey slowly walked into the entrance to the cave housing the League of Shadows. She somberly trudged further and further into the cold dark depths of its tunnels. As expected she saw a guard by the entrance to the tunnels working about the various rooms. He stood before her.
"Out of the way, I'm not in the mood." But the guard took no heed of Shandrey's warning. She began walking forward. The guard lowered his short spear to intercept her but that was a mistake. As soon as he was close enough Shandrey took his shoulder and his whole person was frozen solid. Tipping him off balance as she went Shandrey made out the shattering sound of her powers behind her.
"I have to admit I never thought I'd see you again." Moira stepped out of a small space after Shandrey passed her.
"Go away Moira, leave me alone."
"Now Shannon is that anyway to greet family? I'm pleased to see that you've somehow developed a dark side but I think I deserve better." Shandrey wheeled around and brought spheres of water to her palms.
"Do you?"
"Bring it on then," taunted Moira. But as Shandrey told the late guard, she was not in the mood. Moira smiled and lowered her flaming hands. "Gladio on the other hand always knew you'd turn up at some point. And he's been aching to give you a special assignment." Shandrey let her eyes fall to the ground.
"Fine." Shandrey then allowed Moira to lead her to their leader. As she walked Shandrey rubbed the back of her neck. "So, what does he really want to see me for?" Moira had to smile. Shandrey's quick wit never ceased to amuse her.
"You did run away you know. And Gladio does not appreciate it when those who've sworn their very souls to him just up and leave."
"I had my fingers crossed," muttered Shandrey. Moira laughed out loud and used the cave wall for support. Still giggling somewhat she faced Shandrey with a look of disbelieving hilarity.
"Now that is cute Shannon, truly it is. But I'm not going to so blithely let you avoid punishment…" She grabbed Shandrey by the collar and forced her to look at her back. Moira pulled up her robes to show Shandrey dozens of marks left by a whip. "…Especially if I've already been chastised for allowing you to escape." She roughly let go and led on. And that was it. I knew my life was back to normal because I was miserable again. And to be perfectly honest that's fine by me, if I could live with it then I can certainly do so now.
The End
There! That's better. I know in KotD Lee talks about how Isard fought with Shandrey, so that had to be added. Plus I didn't think Moira and Shandrey's conversation was long or good enough. Basically that's where this story leaves off until Maiden Samurai's "Sisters", or my "Kiss of the Dragon." Neither of us have written it yet but Shandrey and Lee meet again somehow and Lee joins Shandrey in the League. So that about wraps it up hope you all liked this little origin story. Peace out!