Chapter Thirty-Five:
Rageku's Revenge
Okamio awoke on the floor of what looked like her bedroom in the Rin Jyu Ken fortress, confused and lost. But then, she saw her mother, in her human form, sitting on the bed. "Oh… Mother!"
Rageku opened her arms to her daughter. "My beautiful Mei Li."
Okamio scrambled onto the bed, embracing Rageku, holding her close. "Mother!"
The smile was warm. "Darling… it is so good to see you once more and hold you close. You have no idea how much I love you and how much I missed you."
Okamio nodded, but then she realized that if she was with her mother, then that meant…
"I died, didn't I?"
Rageku gave her daughter a sad smile. "Honey, I'm sorry. I know how much you were looking forward to being happy with Rio-chan."
Okamio sighed sadly and she murmured. "I just wanted Shiwa-chan to be happy."
Rageku patted her lap and Okamio curled up in a ball, resting her head in her mother's lap. "Mei Li, I know. I saw. That was a very brave thing you did."
"How could I have been so stupid, Mother?" She asked. "How could I have so blindly trusted Long? All those years, he was using me for his plan to bring the end of the world and all because he was BORED!"
"Honey, you aren't psychic. You could not have possibly known that Long would do that to you. But now do you understand why I tried to keep you from him?"
"Yes." Okamio felt like a complete moron. "But I was so stupid for loving him. I should have known! I should have known!"
"Darling, I suspect that in some twisted fashion that he did love you." Rageku assured her daughter. "But in the end, his love was consumed by jealousy." She laughed. "Although, I do admit that I found it amusing that you left him for Rio-chan. I had hoped you would."
"You did?" Okamio looked up at her mother.
"Of course I did." Rageku. "I knew right away that he was the man for you." She smiled. "Long made a mistake underestimating how far I would go to protect you."
The knowledge that her mother had set her up with Rio because she knew that a romance with Rio would involve her finally finding the love of her life brought joy to Okamio's heart.
"Mother, I'm never going to see him again…" Her voice grew soft. "I'm never going to hold him close to me again, and I won't be able to save him from Long's plans. What am I going to do?"
Rageku felt for her daughter. She knew she had to be hurting. "Darling, don't you worry." She smiled. "You and I will have our revenge."
Ken felt like he'd been running forever when he finally caught up with Shiwa. "Shiwa, you can't quit being a Gekiranger now." He told her. "We need you to help defeat Long. If not for us, for Dark Okamio."
"Mei Li." Shiwa corrected.
"What?" Ken asked.
"Her name was Mei Li!" Shiwa turned to face Ken, her eyes full of tears. "Her name was Mei Li and she was my best friend and she didn't deserve to be alone for four thousand-some years! I always wondered what happened to her. I thought she died… alone… with no one… and we finally reconnect… and then she dies! She died because of ME, Ken! I should not have listened to her!"
"Shiwa, she died protecting you!" Ken pulled her into his arms. "Shouldn't that tell you how much you meant to her?"
Shiwa sniffled. "Ken... it wasn't fair. She deserved to be happy. She's probably been miserable and alone all these years and then happiness was within her reach and she decided that my happiness mattered more…"
Ken wiped away a tear from her eye. "Shiwa, I know how much Mei Li meant to you. That is why for her, you have to keep fighting. We have to defeat Long or her sacrifice would have been in vain." He held out the Wing Changer. "You are Unbreakable Spirit. Don't let Long beat you now."
"How sweet." Long appeared and Ken got in front of Shiwa, the SaiBlade ready for action. "You're mourning that disgusting little wolf."
Shiwa quickly took the Wing Changer. "You're a real piece of work, you know that, right?" she asked. "What, killing Okamio wasn't enough for you?"
"I'm easily bored." Long smirked. "When you get to be as old as I am, you look for new ways to amuse yourself."
"Ass." Ken hissed. "I should cut you in half. I'm sure I can do it."
Long opened his mouth to say more, but he was struck down by pain. Lines that looked like jellyfish tentacles appeared on his skin and he forced himself to retreat. "Don't get too comfortable!" He yelled. "I'll be back!"
Ken was stumped. "Ummm… what the heck was that?"
Shiwa was smiling. "Let's go back to SCTRC… I think Mei Li may have sent us a message."
Rio had gone back to what was left of the mountain dojo. He lay in the bed he'd shared with Okamio and finally lost it, breaking down in tears. He had lost everything dear to him. Okamio was dead, having died defending her friend, his family was dead…
But then came the burning need for revenge. Long had destroyed everything and now it was time for him to destroy Long. If for no other reason than just to avenge Okamio's murder. She didn't deserve to die that way. But he knew how fiercely loyal she was to her friends… and he also knew that he would have done the same thing for her.
But that didn't lessen the pain in his heart
But for her honor, he knew he had to fight.
As he rolled over on his back, he noticed that Maku's head had been proudly mounted on the wall of her bedroom. He almost jumped, and then allowed himself a chuckle. Long's head will be joining Maku's soon enough…
But he'd also had enough of Long deciding his path. He was going to strike out on his own. No more Rin Jyu Ken. He knew it was time to leave the darkness behind before it consumed him as it had consumed Okamio.
He also knew that Mele and Dark Retsu thought the same way. Perhaps it was time to close the book on Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata.
As he was lost in thought, he though he felt someone caress his face and murmur his name.
He sat bolt upright in the large bed, his heart sinking a bit. The touch felt like Okamio's. The voice had even sounded a bit like hers. But he knew it couldn't be hers.
"Rio-chan…" The voice repeated and Rio looked up.
Standing before him was a woman he did not recognize, She looked a lot like an older Okamio, but unlike Okamio, who had golden-black eyes, this woman's eyes were a deep blue color. She was dressed in a white and blue dress and seemed to shimmer… like a ghost.
"Who are you?" Rio asked.
"You don't remember me, Rio-chan?" The woman had a coy smile. "Well, here is a hint… I was the one who taught you to embrace jealousy and envy… and I was the one who gave birth to the love of your life."
Rio's eyes widened. "Master… Rageku?"
"That's right. You are quite smart, Rio-chan." She smiled. "I wanted to tell you how happy it made me to know how much you loved Okamio and how happy you were together. It warms my heart to know that I had a hand in helping her find true love."
"Is Okamio all right?" Rio had to ask. "Is she safe? At peace?"
"My darling Mei Li is with me, Rio-chan. But unfortunately, you cannot see her spirit now. I wish you could, for her sake as well as yours. " Rageku's smile was sad. "But she does miss you so much. She asked me to tell you that she left a parting gift that will make it easier to defeat Long."
"What sort of parting gift?" Rio was curious.
"Never underestimate how much I loved my daughter." Rageku replied. "When she died, she unleashed my venom on Long that will turn his jealous fury into poison that will slowly kill him. She said it was the least it could do."
Rio smiled. Leave it to Okamio to find a way. "When you see her, Master Rageku… will you tell her I love her?"
Rageku leaned close to Rio and kissed his cheek. "I will make sure she knows."
Shiwa was still racked with the guilt of Dark Okamio's death, but she knew she had to return to SCRTC to tell them about Okamio's parting gift to Long.
She was unsurprised to be given a warm welcome by Jan, who rushed to her and hugged her and asked her if she was going to be a Gekiranger again.
Shiwa could not help but smile. Even after a loss, leave it to Jan to brighten her day.
As soon as the room, Dark Retsu and Mele included fell silent, Shiwa told them how Long had appeared before her and Ken with the intention to kill them both.
"And when I saw the tentacles on his skin, I knew." Shiwa said. "Mei Li has left us a parting gift."
"What sort of gift?" Gou asked.
"Proof of how much Rageku-sama loved her daughter." Shiwa smirked. "Taking down Long will now be a much easier task."
"Oh, she used her venom, I see." Sha-Fu chuckled. "Rageku's venom is incredibly potent and powerful."
"What Mei Li must have done is somehow get the venom into Long while he tried to kill her and now, it's starting to take its toll." Shiwa said.
"Which should make it easier for us to defeat him!' Jan punched his fist. "Mei Li was kenakena!"
Shiwa smiled.
"Now, this would be easier if we knew where Rio-sama was." Mele said. "Shouldn't we wait for him to return before we take on Long? I know he is itching for the chance to avenge Okamio-sama."
"I think that would be smart, myself." Okamio said. "As good as it is to know my darker half has left us a way to defeat Long, we must know Rio is still alive."
"You think Long will kill Rio?" Ran asked.
"Are you joking?" Ken asked. "Long is beside himself with jealous rage. He said himself that he finds humans annoying life forms. He elevated Okamio to the status of a goddess, and gave her everything her heart desires… but she still left him for Rio. If I were him. I'd be furious, too."
"Perhaps we should go look for Rio." Ran suggested. "But where would we start?"
"While those ideas are good ones…" Retsu had finally come out of his jaguar body long enough to speak. "Long also wants to kill us for ruining his plans. I don't know about you, but I don't want to die the way Mei Li did."
The sickening crunching sound as Long had bit down on Mei Li echoed in Shiwa's mind and she cringed.
"Shiwa…" Ken put his hand on her back.
"No one deserves to die that way." Shiwa's voice had a quiet rage in it. "As much as I don't want to wait to see if Rio is alive, I don't' want anyone else here to endure what I have endured. We will train… and we will wait."
Two days passed and still no sign of Rio. Everyone was on edge, hoping that Long was not out and about, waiting to crush Rio beneath his heel… or anyone else for that matter.
Shiwa kept having nightmares about Mei Li's death and it had driven Ken to the point where he was cranky and irritated and frustrated that Shiwa was suffering and he could do nothing.
And he unleashed his pent up unhappiness on Gou, who, although he denied it, was partially responsible for what had happened. Had he not left Okamio for Ran, they probably wouldn't be in this mess, but Long was devious. He likely would have found another way.
Their fighting had gotten so bad that at one point, Shiwa and Ran had to yank them apart. Ken had been yelling about how Gou was a jerk and how everything that had happened was his fault and how he should have let the damn thing with Rio go and how that stupid grudge and his disrespect to Okamio caused the downward spiral and Gou had hit him and it had turned into a huge brawl.
And while she watched this, Mele worried about Rio, Dark Retsu doing his best to comfort her. But he knew, Mele still had deep feelings for Rio and had grown to care for him deeply. But to Dark Retsu, the chance of losing Mele to Long kept him from honoring her desire to search for Rio.
He felt bad about it, but the risk seemed far too great.
But Mele would not be stopped and she left the (relative) safety of SCRTC to go to the one place she knew she could find Rio: The Rin Jyu Ken fortress.
Dark Retsu had to chase after her.
"Are you sure this is wise?" He asked as he followed Mele through the woods. "It could be a trap."
"I won't leave Rio-sama to die alone." Mele told him, firmly. "Okamio-sama would come back from the dead and kill me if I left him to die at the hands of Long."
"That's not why I didn't want to do this." Retsu said. "Don't you think that you're a target, too?"
"It's worth the risk," Mele told him. "Okamio-sama would want us to make sure Rio-sama is safe."
He couldn't argue with that. Okamio and Mele had shared a deep devotion to Rio and he was not surprised that Mele had taken it upon herself to go and find Rio and drag him back to SCRTC before Long could find him. "But she would also not want us to suffer the fate she suffered."
"We don't even know if she suffered." Mele said.
"She did suffer." Dark Retsu's voice was quiet. "I don't want to lose you that way"."
Mele stopped. She looked at him. "What?"
"Mele, I do not want to lose you as Rio-sama has lost Okamio-sama." His voice was soft. "Rio-sama looks as though his world has collapsed. I… I never want to know how that feels. I want to be with you always… no matter how long that may be."
For a moment, the Phoenix-ken couldn't say anything, but then, she became aware of the presence of fire.
"Fire?" Retsu asked.
"Come on!" Mele grabbed him by the hand and they raced through the forest only to be greeted by a shocking scene:
The fortress was awash in flame.
"Oh my gosh…" Mele gasped. "Rio-sama!" She moved to rush into the flames, but Retsu grabbed her.
"Mele, no!" He yelled. "It's not worth it!"
"But Rio-sama… he could be in there! He could be dying!' Mele was struggling against Retsu's arms.
"Mele, please!"
"Mele, you worry too much." Rio's voice came from behind them. "I decided it was time for us to leave Rin Jyu Ken behind."
Mele almost hugged Rio. "Rio-sama, we thought…"
"As much as I miss Okamio, I wouldn't kill myself to be with her again." Rio sighed as he; Retsu and Mele watched the fortress burn. "I am going to avenge her death… wait, what are you two doing here?"
"We came looking for you." Retsu said. "Everyone is worried about you and waiting for you to com e back so we can fight Long. Mei Li left him a parting gift."
"I know about that." Rio said.
"Do you? What happened? How'd you know?" Mele asked.
Rio said nothing and turned away to lead them and the charred remains of Rin Jyu Den behind.
Mele and Retsu exchanged a look and shrugged, following close behind.
"Shiwa, you shouldn't have worried about me." Rio told the Eagle-fist upon returning to SCRTC. He'd been surprised with the relieved and warm welcome he'd received. It was almost off-putting; knowing so many had been worried about him. "I can handle myself."
"Against a golden dragon consumed by jealousy and rage?" Shiwa sighed as she pushed a cup of tea towards him. "Long is a hakaijin, Rio. He could destroy you by flicking a finger."
"I am not worried about that. If what Master Rageku told me is true, the poison Mei Li left behind will take care of him for us." Rio took a sip.
"I would be more comfortable if we destroyed him ourselves. ' Shiwa said. She rubbed her eyes.
"You haven't been sleeping much, have you?" Rio asked. "You look like shit."
"I keep replaying what happened between Mei Li and myself as she died over and over." Shiwa was exhausted from the nightmares. "She wasn't scared at all of dying… she seemed to already accept it… I could tell in her voice though, there was sadness that she couldn't have the happiness she'd ached for for so long." She winced as she remembered the crunch and Mei Li's scream. "I really wished she could have spent her last moments with you and not me."
"I'm glad she spent them with someone she cared for instead of dying alone." Rio sighed. His heart was feeling heavy again.
"And I'm glad she's not alone on the other side." Shiwa murmured. "It makes me happy to know Rageku-sama is with her."
Rio nodded. "You know… was Master Rageku ever known for playing matchmaker?" The question caught Shiwa off-guard, but the tone in which it was said…
"Let me guess." Shiwa chuckled, understanding. "Rageku-sama told you she set you and Okamio up in hopes that you would find true love with one another."
"How did you…"
"Oh please…" Shiwa laughed. "Rageku-sama was always concerned with finding Mei Li a decent husband. She was constantly playing matchmaker, hoping to find someone other than Long with whom the chemistry seemed to just click. The moment I saw you two together, and then the gleam in her eyes… well, I just knew." The eagle-fist then finished her tea. "So tell, me, Rio-chan…" She put on her best impression of Rageku, "…. did it work out?"
Rio looked thoughtful for a moment and then allowed himself to remember how happy, for the first time in a long time, he'd been when they'd been together. It had started out as a rivalry… a competition to see who was more worthy of the Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata throne, but it had grown into something much more satisfying. And it was amusing to know that Rageku had set it all up.
"Yes…" He said. "It did."
Even though her other half was dead, Okamio, who was beginning to suspect she'd never regain a proper human form again, was still having flashbacks to the times in their lives when they had been one body. And most of these flashbacks, much to her distress, involved Long.
Mei Li, who by the age of 17, had taken on the name of Okamio in this new Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata society Maku was creating, hated rain. As she stood on the covered balcony surrounding the mountain fortress, staring out over the wet landscape with golden eyes, she cursed.
So much for her and Shiwa being able to train outside today.
"Beautiful lotus, why do you look so sad?" A voice, sweet like honey, purred from the shadows.
Reflexively, Okamio got into her fighting stance, her sharp ears guiding her towards a figure in gold and red robes, a hood pulled over his head. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Relax… I'm not here to hurt you." A chuckle. The hood slowly came down to reveal the face of a fairly handsome man, with dark eyes and golden hair. "I am here… to help you."
"I don't need any help." Okamio snapped. "Now, leave. NOW."
"Hear me out, beautiful girl." The man murmured. "All I'm asking you to do is listen to me and once I'm finished, you may kick me out if you so wish."
"Who are you?" Okamio sniffed his scent for a moment. He didn't smell like anything familiar to her. "What do you want with me?"
"I am Long." The man said with a half smile. "And I can help you."
"Help me with what?"
"Why, achieving your greatest victory, of course. Victory against the very man who helped give you life, but gives you nothing else but fury… victory against your father, Rin Jyu Bear-ken Maku."
"How do you know about me and my father?" Okamio asked.
"I know that he despises the fact that instead of Rageku bearing him a son who can grow strong and powerful, she gave birth to a daughter who, like her mother, will be demure and weak."
Okamio's eyes narrowed. "I am a lot of things, but weak is not one of them." She growled.
"Don't worry… I know that, but you see, your father does not. He doesn't believe that you will ever be worthy of the Rin Jyu Ken throne… even though as the daughter of Kenma, it rightfully belongs to you if they pass on." Long moved closer to Okamio. "Your father hates you simply because you are a woman, am I right?"
Okamio had never been clear on the true reasons why her father despised her, but she had always suspected that it was because instead of being a son, she had been born a daughter. It stung to know she'd been right. "Yes." Her voice was soft. "My mother tells me I can be stronger than any man because women are better equipped, but my father holds me back and restricts my training. He says I don't deserve to even exist, much less become a Rin Jyu Ken. I'm only here because Mother forced him."
"Poor little lotus…" Long's fingers caressed her bare shoulder. "Someone so beautiful and powerful does not deserve such treatment."
She gave him a suspicious look and he took note of how those golden black eyes seemed to shimmer almost dangerously. He continued his gentle caress, hoping to win her over with touches, sweet words, promises of power… and perhaps, if he had to… win her heart.
"All right… you have my attention." She was a bit uneasy about it, but he seemed all right. It wouldn't hurt to just hear him out. "Tell me more."
He smirked, his fingers still stroking the bare skin. "I can give you anything and everything your heart desires." He murmured, his mouth close to her ear, his breath making her shiver. "I can give you power… and pleasure… both of which will be so far beyond anything you could possibly imagine or desire…" there was a chuckle and a smirk and Okamio shuddered briefly, warmth beginning to pool low in her body. "I can give you the power you crave… enough to be the best warrior Rin Jyu Ken Aku Gata has ever seen… and more than enough to overthrow your father."
He had her now, judging by the way she was looking at him.
"What sort of power?" She inquired, a dark eyebrow rising slowly.
He laughed. "Now, now… let's not go asking too many questions. You only said you would hear me out, Okamio. I have told you what I have to offer."
"No, you haven't." There was a lustful gleam in her eye. "You only told me you could offer me power… I want to know…" She smirked. "…If you come with it."
He raised an eyebrow. Maku's daughter was very bold and brazen… he liked that. "If that is what you so desire…" He purred. "I am here to serve you, Okamio-sama. Rin Jyu Ken's once and future queen."
"And if I say that is what I want?"
"Then I will give you what you want." His eyes seemed to glow almost golden. "I will cater to your every whim and give you the entire world but as with everything it comes with a price."
"No price is too steep for what I want. That is what my training is about. I will train and push myself to my limits if that is the price for me to be a legendary Rin Jyu Ken."
Long eyed her carefully. She was young, still human, but he could fix that if she did not do it herself. He knew she was fond of her human body… all curvy and gorgeous but also strong. And as with just about everything, he knew she would only become more beautiful with age. He could not have picked a better time to approach her.
"Tell me, Long…" She murmured, moving closer, their lips almost touching. Her voice was breathy and soft. "What price do you want in exchange for me getting what I want?"
"I'd tell you to name your price, darling…." His hands slowly slid up her back, his fingers mentally committing the lines and curves to memory. "…But I did come here with something specific in mind."
"Oh, by all means, do tell me…" She licked her lips, teasing him. "…Don't make me wait to find out."
"I will give you the power you desire in exchange for just one thing… your body." His voice was smooth; almost sensual… it felt like fine silk caressing her ears. "You give yourself…all of yourself to me… and I will give you everything you could ever hope for."
"Everything?" She asked, her eyes shimmering with delight and interest. Her victory was now almost within reach.
"Everything… and anything."
Her lips curved into a wicked smile. "Well, Long… when you put it like that… how can I ever say no?"
Okamio's eyes shot open as the memory faded and now she knew there was only one way to calm Long down and put an end to his rampage.
She had to honor their deal.
As Long lay in his den, his body wracked with pain, he cursed Okamio and her mother. Only a jellyfish sting could cause such agony. He was dying, he was sure of it.
Stupid girl. He thought, infuriated. I should have killed her when I had the chance… before she had a chance to do this to me…
"Long…"
He thought he was dreaming, his delusional mind imagining the Okamio who had once adored him.
But the voice returned. "Long…."
His mind a haze, he sat up.
It was the good Okamio, standing before him, wearing a white robe.
"YOU…."
"Shush… I have come to honor our original agreement… you gave me what I wanted…" She dropped the robe. "Now, I must give you what you want."
Despite his pain, Long chuckled. "I knew you would return to me." He purred. "I'm just so sorry that I had to destroy half of you to get you back. I would much rather have had two than one…" He laughed, and despite herself, Okamio felt the twinges of arousal.
She also felt sick. But she knew she had no choice. It was either give herself to Long… or watch him destroy everything and everyone she loved out of jealous rage.
She'd rather give her body to Long.