Van: This chapter is dedicated to a dear friend of mine. Aoimizuneko. She's the one you should thank for me to continue this ficcy when I nearly felt like giving up. Ha ha ha, ha... I'm so sorry, everyone! DX
Van: So anyway, I will post this chapter here, but the rest will be on Deviantart as indicated on the Author's note I gave before. It's not hard to get an account, and you don't even need one to read. I'll even post the chapter links in the author's summary section in the chapters.
To Dareth (about your review on the chapter before): Huh... So? I'm still going to write it. What business do you have by telling me that? Aren't you being rude much? It's my decision to write again, and you're going to tell me that?
To Dareth (about your review on chapter 16): That was a long time ago, if you even bother to notice. Thanks for your concern, but you're really strange. You talk about people probably already have forgotten about me, and then you encourage me to write more? Are you for real? What kind of weird games are you playing at?
Disclaimer: Brotheeeer, my brotheeeer, tell me why are you suing me, I put the disclaimer see. I don't own Naruto or SK. (Yes I know I got off tune.)
Chapter 18: Family
"Heh. Looks like Otou-san was prepared for our arrival." Ren said smirking at the large mass of Jiang Shi below.
Although there were many, the zombie army isn't strong individually, which was why the confidence was accounted for.
Hakuoh snorted and prepared himself.
"Let's go. BASON! Golden Chuuka Zanmai!"
The Jiang Shi were immediately blasted away similar to how Yen Sid had casted water away in Fantasia. A burst of yellow light and the zombies were tossed in the air.
Ren only went forward, not caring for the rest other than those in his path. As soon as he reached the door, he slammed it shut behind him. Walking slowly through the halls in darkness, the Tao gripped his kwan-dao in agitation. At a pair of Chinese styled red wood glass doors, he stopped. The doors opened for his entry and he came in. The shaman narrowed his eyes at the pitch black. Where is he? He gasped looking at his left.
A large man, of possibly 500 pounds, no... 1,000 maybe. A man of 100 times the body mass of the young shaman leered over. The man's bearded face twisted into a very malicious grin. "Welcome home, Ren."
Ren gripped his weapon. 'I didn't even sense him!'
"You've really grown strong, haven't you? Come on, your dad wants to pat your head." At that, Tao En's right hand rushed toward the shaman quickly.
Ren grunted as he jumped back immediately, seconds before the so-called "pat" could be initiated. He narrowed his eyes.
"What's the matter? I only wanted to pat your head and you act this way? I suppose it's my fault for raising such an impudent child." En shrugged. "I mean you and Jun are both revolting against me."
Ren's eyes widened and he turned to his left. His sister!
Jun was held unconscious by two Jiang Shi minions. She was weak and a bit pale.
"Nee-san!" He rushed to his elder sibling only to be blocked. He stopped seeing his father suddenly in front of him.
The man frowned stern. "The word 'doubt' doesn't exist in the Tao family. The reason why humans and commoners are weak is because of the doubt they have of good and evil. But there is only one truth in this world. The winner is Justice and the loser is Evil. We are the ones who will destroy evil. The Tao family is pure justice."
Ren then suddenly smirked. "The winner is Justice and the loser Evil, hm? Fair enough." The Tao jumped high in the air. "Then I'll defeat you and become 'Justice'!" The shaman held out his hand. "Bason!"
"Yes master!"
With his oversoul activated in seconds he cried, "Super Golden Chuuka Zanmai! Furyoku no Kisen!"
Many strikes and blows plunged into the thick flesh, revealing purple colored furyoku. The wounds were wide and vast.
The Tao heir smirked arrogant. At any moment now, his father would fall to the ground... A dead man. His eyes widened. Something was wrong!
The wounds began to close rapidly. The dark furyoku became hidden underneath flesh. En appeared unfazed. "You doubt, Ren." The man's face grew dark. "Even though you taunted me, you didn't have the confidence to defeat me... You didn't think you could win, did you?"
Ren backed away a bit, sweat poring down his face. What is he...?
"Realizing your loss is your doubt. Foolish son."
En raised his arm smirking. In one quick sweep, he swooped Ren flying across the room, breaking the boy's oversoul.
He didn't even get the pleasure of screaming, as he crashed against the wall. Hissing in pain, he struggled to get up. Ren grunted as he was suddenly not on the wall, but across the hall nearby the stairs. White flashed in his vision and he struggled to get up. He gasped seeing the cause of his sudden location change.
Pailong, Jun's faithful Jiang-Shi servant, lowered his foot. His face was covered by none other than the Tao family fuda. He didn't move according to his will, but obeyed his master's call.
"Pailong!" cried Ren in an attempt to bring back the mind of the zombie. "Pailong!"
Jun's soft blue eyes stirred open, her mind beginning to go back to consciousness. "Ren...?" was the soft murmur.
The Jiang-Shi launched a kick quick as a tiger striking prey.
Ren jumped back just in time, his cape lost to the kick now sprawled on the floor. His kwan-dao was flung away due to a quick chop. He gasped as there was a sudden punch to his face. From there, a blow to his gut was given, followed by a highkick hitting him straight under the chin. He was then thrown towards the end of the hall, where Pailong jumped him and landed a flurry of hard punches.
Jun's eyes began to water. She didn't want to see this...
Ren uttered a cry of pain as he was forced up in thin air. With the force of gravity, he fell down the stairs hard. Crimson blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.
"Bocchama!" yelled Bason flying to his master's side.
"Bason... What the heck are you doing? Get away from this place, now!"
The Chinese spirit's eyes widened. "What? No, I won't leave you!"
"Bason, you know it's futile. I have no furyoku left. I can't do Oversoul."
En's huge figure stomped toward the two.
"Bocchama, no!"
"Please... I don't want you to become a slave like Pailong..."
"Bocchama..." Bason cried. He turned to the family head and went in front of his master. "Don't you come near Bocchama!"
"Bason... Just go now!" Ren struggled up.
"But I can't leave you here!"
Ren raised his arm. "I'll say this one more time... GO!"
The Chinese warrrior shut his eyes and flew out of the large manor.
Hinata folded the blankets carefully and brought the futon in the closet compartment. She paused seeing a jeweled comb on the ground nearby in the open area. "What's this?" The girl plucked the comb from the floor and gazed at the engraved letters on the corner of the gold. "Ren?" She whispered. A wham woke her from her thoughts and she quickly pocketed the comb while hurrying outside of her room, just in front of the door that led to the open kitchen. She waited, hearing some very curious things from behind that door.
"Eh? Ren's father?" Horo's voice sounded surprised.
A sound of dropping chopsticks. "I can't believe it. What else happened Bason?"
There was a moment of silence. Apparently they were speaking to the spirit Bason.
"We have to go." A firm voice. Yoh's.
"Are you certain?" Anna's sounding a tad... Worried?
"Of course! Ren's our friend after all! If he's in trouble-!"
Hinata couldn't listen anymore and flung the door open. "What happened to Ren-kun?!"
There was a brief moment of silence between the group. "Hinata!"
The kunoichi then asked once again, "What happened? Is he in trouble?"
Yoh then turned his head. "Explain Bason."
There was a moment of awkward silence.
"Whoops, I forgot! You can't see ghosts, hehe!"
Everyone fell.
"Well, it's a bit personal involving Ren and his father. His father wants Ren to do things his way, but Ren wants to change that, according to his spirit. He's now being held captive and Bason, his ghost, was able to escape."
Hinata's eyes widened. She readjusted her sunglasses quickly. "I... I..."
Horo, Manta, and Tamao leaned forward eagerly.
Anna opened her eyes listening.
Yoh scrunched his face in scrutiny.
Pilika too was watching.
Hinata then bursted, "I have a very special ability to see through objects, so I can help!!"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Silence.
"See..."
"Through..."
"Objects?"
Horohoro's eyes widened. "So you were peeking at us when we hit the showers?!"
"Eh?!" Hinata's eyes widened.
"Honto ni? Oh my gosh, Hinata!"
"Eh?!" Hinata's face grew red.
"To think that Hinata has that secret hobby!"
"EH?!~" Hinata's face went turbo as her endurance was growing thin. She swayed and then crashed to the ground in a faint.
"ACK! HINATA!"
"It's all your fault! You're the one who went to that conclusion, Horo!"
Yoh's laughing did nothing to help.
A person clad in darkness stood over three boys. A hand extends. Red surrounds him. He widens his eyes as something stops him.
In front of one boy stood the transparent outline of a very irritated creature. It snarled protectively over its host.
"Oho? How... Interesting..." A dark chuckle that would send shivers down one's spine emitted from him. As flames surround him, he disappears.
"I'm allowing you to go, only because you requested." Anna says as she adjusted Hinata's jacket string.
Hinata nods happily. Finally she can be of help! "Arigato gozaimasu!"
"Don't be mistaken." The itako pulled the string close.
Hinata's eyes widened as Anna said in a very, very dark tone, "If I find a scratch on Yoh, I'm holding you accountable."
"U-understood."
"Good. Now get going."
Hinata stumbled out of the house just as Yoh popped out behind her from the bushes.
"So, what did Anna say?" The shaman asked, brown eyes twinkling.
"That I have to protect you." Hinata answered.
"Oh! That's what she said to me too!"
"Eh?"
"If I find a scratch on Hinata, I'm holding you accountable, Yoh!" Yoh puffed out his cheeks. "As if I'd let that happen!"
Hinata blinked. Pink tinged her cheeks.
Yoh laughed and smiled at the kunoichi. "Let's go, Hinata-chan!"
Horohoro scowled as Ryu came along side them. "Why'd he have to go with us?!"
Manta laughed. "Eh, I kind of blabbed." The little guy rubbed the back of his own head sheepish.
"Don't be mistaken. I'm just taking this as an opportunity to show off why I, Ryu, have THREE straight wins!"
"Three?! That's incredible!" Hinata cried in awe.
"See? Even the little lady thinks I'm super amazing!"
"Stay away from Hinata, you perv!" Horo bonked Ryu with his board several times as Koro shouts for them to stop.
Tokagero sighed. "Well, boss can be pretty stupid at times."
"Make that all the time?" Yoh suggested evilly.
"Yoh-kun!" Hinata and Manta cried in aghaust.
"What?"
Amidamaru sighed.
The five people and three ghosts stood amazed at the Tao family head house.
"It's huge! The landscape is so high!" Hinata said in awe.
"We better be careful. En is inside waiting for us. Once we enter, we will be in the main lobby Genmei. Above is Ryuuen and above that is Kouka. Tao En is at the very top, Tangen's Room. " said Bason as Manta passed the message to Hinata, "Underground is Jouzai, containing 100 Jiang-Si. Below that is the dungeon, where Ren and Jun are kept."
"Looks like Ren got to 'em pretty good. " said Horo eyeing the battle field full of zombie parts.
Yoh gripped his weapon tightly. "Ready?"
"Yeah." Horo and the others nod.
"OVERSOUL!"
Immediately, they all slid down and crossed the path of corpses and knocked the door open. They blink at the inside.
Intricate designs line the walls and corridor. There was nothing there.
"Eh? What's this? Looks like they didn't expect us coming!"
"NO! That can't be, Tao En is always alert! We're treading on Tao grounds. He knows we're here!" Bason insisted.
"Fine by us." grinned Horo and Ryu. "We can't wait to give him a beating. Let him hit us with his best shot!"
Manta blinked. "Ano... What will I do?"
Yoh blinked as well and then grinned. "It's the duty of the wife to protect the children."
"EH?!" Hinata and Manta shouted in shock.
"Take good care of Manta, ne? Hinata-chan??" Yoh grinned, before being hit by Horo.
"Baka! It's obvious Hinata's going out with me!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Silence.
"Who said anything about that, Horo?" Yoh tilted his head.
"Look out!" Bason shouts just as shiriken hit the floor.
Hinata quickly held up two fingers. "Byakugan!" She looked around quickly. "Yoh-kun! From above!"
"Alright!" Yoh quickly slashed at the ceiling.
Five figures appeared, flipping up to the stairs. Each of them had charms in the front of their faces.
"So you found usss... Very impressivveee...."
"Those guys?!" Ryu shouted.
"This is as far as you gooo.... We of the Gokufusei will not let you intruders pass!"
A boy blinked wearily as he stood up to the open sky of night... He looked around in the darkness. Then paused with realization. Wasn't it supposed to be daytime?! Why is it night?! He jumped with realization that the other two were stirring. He narrows his eyes. This is bad. He moved to stir up his comrades quickly. He then paused.
Strange... He was resting just now, right? What?! He was resting?! He wasn't supposed to rest!
The boy panicked for a bit, then observed the scenery. In the forest, nothing seems to be broken, nor destroyed. What happened? Why didn't Shukaku come out? He then decided there will be room for questions later and began to arouse his friends awake.
Hinata widened her eyes. "Gokufusei..?"
Immediately Ryu was attacked in front, blood flying in the air. His hair spit into halves, and he fell.
The shamans stared in shock at the speed of the leader.
Within moments, the five surrounded them in the air.
Bason widened his eyes. Such speed! It was the first time he had actually seen the Gokufusei band! One was bonded with the legs of a cheetah, Another with hands of viper, The third had limbs of artillery, The fourth had feet of an elephant's, and the last, seemed human, but was he really? This is bad!
Hinata shut her eyes. "Ah!"
The five instantly assaulted, dust flying in the air.
A deadly silence followed as the dust circulated.
The leader tilted back his charmed head. "Impressive..."
The dust cleared as it was revealed Horohoro had carried all four of them to safety for the moment.
Hinata gasped as the arm held her protectively. 'What..?' It was then that she noticed Ryu on his back, Yoh draped in one arm and Manta tucked in his arm pit. She was held tightly in his other arm. 'He managed to take all of us?!'
Bason floated over from Horohoro's shoulder as well as Kororo. "Thank goodness everyone's fine!"
"Hn. So despite your inferiority, you all manage to dodge. I applaude you for that..." The person stood. "But that alone won't stop us..."
Horohoro gritted his teeth staring at the opponents quickly. "It doesn't look like they're normal... Their limbs and parts aren't human! What are they?!" He laid down everyone and they held their positions.
Bason shook. "We are in trouble. These Jiang-Si are combined with the best parts. They are the highest in Tao En's possession..."
Yoh tilted his head. They must be really good in order for a ghost to hold fear.
Hinata stared closely at the morbid sight. Messing with someone's body to incorporate body parts?!
"Hinata."
The kunoichi turned her head.
"Remember... These people aren't ordinary." Yoh said solemnly gripping Harusame with Amidaru. "They're already dead."
Hinata widened her eyes. "Of course! But how are they animating themselves?"
"With the power of En's Spirit energy... His furyoku. But now's not the time to think on that. Those charms on their faces are what's keeping that control."
She glanced briefly at the paper on their faces. So En is the one controlling them through those things? The world of shamans is very complex indeed.
"Hinata. You can stay put and leave the rest to us." Horohoro offered. "It's better this way, since you need to help protect Manta."
Hinata shook her head. "Iie." She then took off her shades, narrowing her pearl eyes. "I'll help protect everyone."
Van: Okay, for those a tad confused, I had this document sitting in for a while, so I decided to post it here. The next chapter may take a few days since I have summer classes, but I will have this done, I assure you!
AND NOW! FUN WITH MORON AND NEEDLEHEAD!
Moron: Man, it's been a long time, but we're alive! TT_TT
Needlehead: Baw! I thought she would abandon us! Moron!
Moron: Needlehead!
(A flowery background appears as the two embrace.)
Moron: For those of you reading, thank you very much for being such faithful readers. The authoress had alot of personal issues to deal with, and couldn't get to doing the story.
Needlehead: Hm... Wasn't there one reviewer who said that people had forgotten this by now?
Moron: The funny part is that the reviewer in question happened to have faved the story.
Needlehead: Anyway, she says sorry a hundred times and bunnies and cookies for all. (throws at reader)
Moron: Now onto the fun part! Bloopers!
(BZZT!)
In a world where danger is amok...
Anna: YOH YOU BAKA! Twak!
Where trusting others is no option...
Manta: Yoh... I have a new best friend...
One boy must face the challege...
Yoh: But I am not ready!
Silva: Oh... But you are.
Silvia Sinclaire(Silva), Hannah Montana(Anna), and Jet Li(Yoh?) star in...
Sixth sense
Yoh: I see dead people.
(BZZT!)
Moron: What was that?
Needlehead: The worst trailer ever apparently.
Moron: That's nothing to Twilight!
Needlehead: What the heck are you talking about? What's twilight?
Moron: Something that's sweeping the nation with sparkly vampires.
Needlehead: Really? And what?
Moron: Apparently the star is hot?
Needlehead: (stares at the DVD cover) Huh... Not sure about the looks, but the movie can't be that bad, right?
1 hour later...
Needlehead: I am very regretful of my words. I shall eat them now.
(BZZT!)
Horohoro stood up on the pedestal sky high. "I'm so cool and totally awesome! Hinata-chan would definitely go for me!" He turned towards the next pedestal. "Well?! On with it!"
The other boy sighed. "Dattebayo."
(BZZT!)
Moron: Wow... Yeah, I kind of noticed they had that hair thing, but wow...
Needlehead: They're kind of the same on intelligence too.
Moron: I don't wanna talk about it right now. How about the next one?
(BZZT!)
Anna frowns as she looked into what some reviewers have to say about pairings. "Huh. And if Yoh is actually going to be with Hinata, then who am I going to be with?"
Pirika groaned. "Nobody said anything about oniichan!"
Tamao meekly looked. "W-well, Renhina did get a bit more supporters."
Anna scowled. "That doesn't help one bit! What should we ladies do if Hinata gets all the men?!"
Hinata walks in. "Eh? What are we looking at?"
The itako grabbed the kunoichi. "Hinata, perfect timing!"
"Eh?"
Anna points at the screen. "Look at how popular you are!"
"Eh?!"
Pirika piped, "They say you're good with all the men!"
"EH?!"
Anna then pointed at the poor Genin. "HURRY UP AND GET A GUY SO WE CAN GET OUR SHARE!"
(BZZT!)
Moron: Wow... Now that's something.
Needlehead: Well, when you think about it, no one really cares for any other kind of pairing. Why...? Hmm... Onto the next one!
(BZZT!)
Yoh stood on the stage. "Being a shaman is totally hard work."
Horohoro looked onto the mountains. "I don't want to be held down if it's not going to make me king."
Ren jogged down the road onward looking at the sky. "I have alot going ahead of me."
Ryu pressed the piano keys while looking at the music sheets. "I want to achieve my dreams."
Yoh then looked at the camera as everyone was suddenly beside him. "That's I want to be one less..."
Horohoro raised his fist. "One less!"
Ren followed suit. "One less!"
Ryu did the same. "One less!"
Yoh then looked toward the sudden sunset. "One less affected by Anna."
(BZZT!)
Anna: (storms in the room) You two... (cracks knuckles)
Moron and Needlehead: Uh... Oh...
Anna: FINISHING STRIKE!
(Lightning appears and breaks the whole studio)
Moron: (cough) ...Needlehead...?
Needlehead: (cough) ...Yeah...?
Moron: I (huff) Hate you...
(BZZT!)
Brick Ashley: Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down!
(BZZT!)
Needlehead: What was the point in that?!
Moron: Cause I hate you!
(BZZT!)
Deidara stared at the report that Kisame had made. "Itachi... Is in another world, un?"
Sasori scowled. "Perfect. To think that Itachi has foiled the plan. Of all people!"
"(Funk!) Why the heck didn't you do anything!" Hidan yelled.
"Hey! I had company!" Kisame yelled back.
"Oh (Hits!) What kind of company, (Donkey)? I didn't think anyone would wanna go out with the likes of you!"
"The heck?!"
"I would have to agree with Hidan. How could you be so stupid!" Sasori growled.
"Enough! We should all consider how much loss Itachi has cost us! Each of those keys are worth billions. BILLIONS!"
"Money, money, money as always, Kakuzu! Shut the (Shell!) up!"
"I'm hungry."
"I as well."
"There's a corpse out back, you idiot!" Hidan pointed.
"Everyone, silence!" Cried Pein.
"But-!" Hidan widen his eyes when Konan glared.
"Shush."
"It can not be helped. We will proceed as planned. Is there anyone who wish to share their concerns?" Pein asked before getting ready to dismiss.
The one person who hasn't spoken again in a while slowly leaned forward. "Itachi is gone..."
The other Akatsuki members stared.
"HALLELUJAH! AHAHAHA! HALLELUJAH!" Deidara ran through every single chamber of the Akatsuki base. "HALLELUJAH!!! ITACHI IS GOOOONNNEEE! AHAHAHAHA!!!"
(BZZT!)
Moron: Be sure to check out deviantart from now on!
Needlehead: Yeah! And we're also introducing our special segment! Ask Moron and Needlehead!
Moron: I'm sure you have plenty of questions, so why not ask us?
Needlehead: We also take requests if there's a certain blooper you have in mind.
Moron: So don't hesitate!
M&N: Byebye!