Kung Fu Wolf:Rising of the Moon
Chapter eleven: Bad dreams
Hiro's P.O.V.
I woke up with a huge grin on my face. My cheek was still tingling where Tigress had kissed it. I got up and silently walked over to the window and took a look outside. The sun was beginning to rise over the horizon, cutting through the thin layer of fog that hung just above the ground.
I looked around the large room, which looked like it could have been part of a military barracks, and noticed that once again I was the first one awake. Of course, it won't be for long. Tigress will wake up soon and wake everyone else up (by throwing them out of their beds if necessary). After that we'll be on our way to our next destination, Tigress is going to decide the route this time. And then we-
Wait.
I looked around the room and suddenly noticed that we're missing someone.
Where is Marcus?
I looked around the room again, but sure enough the massive panther wasn't here. Where could he be? I mean someone as big as he is shouldn't be able to hide easily, right? But there was no sign of him… maybe the guys know where he is.
I quietly crept over to where Monkey was sleeping. He looked absolutely at peace, it almost made me feel bad to wake him… almost. I started poking him in the side of the head. "Monkey, wake up." I said in a singsongy voice. Of course he just rolled over and muttered sleepily…
"But I don't wanna go to school today mom." What?
I poked the side of his head a little harder. "Come on Monkey, don't make me get Tigress in here." He just kept sleeping. I thought for sure that threatening to bring in Tigress would have gotten him up.
"Must hide… almond cookies… behind big pot…" Monkey said in his sleep. Behind the big pot huh? Gotta remember that, those cookies are good.
I poked him in the side of the head harder than before. "C'mon Monkey, I'm really starting to loose my patience." I said sing songy again. A little thing you should know about me, I can usually be patient with people… but if I have to repeat myself, let's say I have a rule about that. I call it my rule of three. Three chances, that's all I give you. If I have to ask something more than three times… that's when I start to get unpleasant.
And Monkey just had his third chance.
"Gonna place banana peels outside Hiro's door." Okay that's it!
"The hell you are!" I grumbled. I then grabbed Monkey by the end of his tail yanked him out of his bed and yelled. "Wake up, dammit!" That did it. Monkey woke up with his startled "monkey screech" which woke everyone else in the room as well.
"Hiro, what the hell!?"
"What? We gotta get ready anyway. By the way, have you seen Marcus anywhere?" I asked. Monkey gave me a flat, "did you really wake me up for this?" look.
"No I haven't, now can I please go back to sleep?" He asked with a displeased look on his face.
"No, we will be getting ready to leave soon." I answered then unceremoniously dropped Monkey on the floor. I then looked around the room at everyone who was awake. I opened my mouth to speak when I noticed that Zoyo was missing too. I looked over to Chin and was about to ask about it, but Chin raised his hand and shook his head to stop me.
"He disappears like this, he'll meet up with us soon." Chin explained. I nodded, that's one mystery solved.
"Has anyone else seen Marcus anywhere?" I asked. Everyone shook their heads. Where the hell was he?
Mantis spoke up. "You know, now that I think about it, didn't he disappear after fighting with those bandits yesterday?" Honestly because of the pain I was going through when they tried to break my legs I didn't notice.
"Yeah, I didn't see him around much after all that." Crane stated. I looked over to Chin who just shrugged.
"Sorry man, I was too busy chatting with the local ladies to notice. After all that stuff that happened with the bandits we became the talk of the town, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to-"
"Anyways." I interrupted. I didn't want to hear about him flirting with the girls around here. And I think I know how everything happened, and it all consisted with a slap in the face. I know this because of two reasons; one, I know the people here, and two there is a hand shaped mark on the left side of Chin's face. "We need to find them or else we won't be able to leave." I said getting my shirt on.
"Can't we sleep in for a few more hours?" Mantis asked. "I mean we're not really on 'training schedule' here."
"No we're not." I admitted. "But we still have a job to do, so I want everyone to be in the lobby in five minutes." I don't normally take charge like this; I usually leave that to Tigress. Feels different to be honest… actually I'm kind of expecting one of them to-
"And what if we just go back to sleep?" Chin asked challengingly.
Yep, there it is. That's what I was expecting.
I strapped my hanbo to my back then turned to face Chin. "Well, there is this new technique I've been developing and if no one is down there in five minutes, I will practice that new technique on whoever thinks I'm joking, and goes back to sleep." I smiled as I made my way to the door. I turned around once more to see the guys look a little nervous. "And it will probably leave you incapacitated for a few days… still haven't worked out all the kinks yet, you know."
Their faces turned pale as I walked out.
Heh, heh, heh that was kind of fun.
I walked over to the girls room and raised my hand to knock. Before my knuckles made contact with the door, it opened revealing a beautiful female tiger. "Come on! We got to get moving soon so- Oh, good morning Hiro." She said as soon as she noticed me in front of the door.
"Morning Tigress. Getting everyone ready to go?" I asked. She nodded and turned back to the girls in the room.
"Five minutes." She said, which was followed by a chorus of groans. "Breakfast?" She asked me.
"I was just about to ask you that." I answered, smiling at her. "The girls giving you trouble about waking up?" I asked as we made our way to the lobby, my smile growing bigger when I noticed she was still wearing my bandana around her neck.
Tigress shrugged her shoulders. "A little. What about you and the boys?"
"I gave them five minutes to get ready to go, or I'll be practicing a new move on the ones who think I'm kidding." I said, my smile turning into more of an evil grin.
"Good one. Wish I had thought about that." We made it to the lobby and sat down on the chairs provided.
"Why? What did you tell them?" I asked.
"I told them that anyone who stayed behind would be left behind. How much time is left?" I thought about it for a couple of seconds…
"About two minutes, I think." Give or take a couple of seconds. "But we have a bit of a problem."
Tigress took on a look of concern at what I had said. "What is it?" She asked.
"I can't seem to find Marcus anywhere." Tigress frowned.
"What do you mean you can't find Marcus?" She asked me like a parent scolding her child for losing something.
"Like I said, I can't find him; I don't know where he is; he isn't around. Need I explain it further?" Yeah, I tend to be a wiseass sometimes. It doesn't happen often, but it happens.
She gave me a flat look at my wise-assery, and asked. "Well, where did you see him last?"
"I think it was during the battle with those bandits that attacked yesterday, after that he disappeared." I kept thinking to myself about where Marcus could have ran off to when I had realized something. "Hey… you don't think some of those bandits could have carried him off somewhere, do you?" I asked with a hint of worry in my voice. Before she could answer someone to our right caught our attention.
"Oh, they'd have to go through all sorts'a hell to carry me off."
We turned to see the massive panther making his way to us. I let out a breath of relief knowing the big guy was safe. If anything had happened to him it wouldn't make us look very good.
"Morning y'all." He greeted us. Tigress greeted him back, but the first thing I wanted to know was…
"Where've you been? You just disappeared on us after the bandit attack. What the hell happened?" I asked. Some people would think 'hey he's here!' and just leave it at that, but hey, I wanted to know.
Marcus gave me an apologetic look. "Sorry there partner, but after we took care of those varmints…" Varmints? There's another new one. "... I decided to ask around town about if any refugees came around, hoping my sister might have passed through." Ok, I suppose that's understandable.
"Any luck?" Tigress asked.
"Sorta, I learned from a merchant that the other ship, the one my sister was probably on, landed in a place called Shanghai."
The very place we're trying to get to. Works for me.
"Anything else we should know?" A voice asked. We all turned to see a walking pile of black clothes and a black painted hat. Zoyo.
"Yeah, I also heard that the inns over there are taking in the refugees, so my sister should be there." Marcus said with a smile on his face.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going!" We turned to the staircase to see everyone gathering around.
Good, everyone's here. "First breakfast, then we set out for Shanghai." I said.
Tigress nodded. "Alright then. But we're taking the main road!" She said to me. I guess she's still mad about the whole Migong canyon thing.
We all made our way out of the hotel and to a small restaurant to grab a quick bite to eat. Once we leave, it'll take us a few days to get to Shanghai; we'll have to go through a few towns. But thanks to going through the Migong Canyon we cut off a week of travel…
...But some people, I'm not going to say who *cough* *cough* everyone *cough*, are still a little pissed at me for choosing that route. I don't get why everyone is still mad at me, I got everyone out alive, didn't I?
"Hey Tigress, can I ask you something?" I heard Viper ask.
Tigress shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose."
"Why are you wearing Hiro's bandana?"
Uhh… well… I guess I forgot that everyone would ask questions about that. I noticed out of the corner of my eye, everyone had their eyes intently set on Tigress. Well sort of, Di Foon was actually glaring at Tigress, while Chin was glaring at me.
"That's none of your business." She answered simply. Everyone's eyes then landed on me.
"Hey, if she isn't going to tell you, I'm not going to tell you."
No one's P.O.V. Bandit Brigade hideout.
Late in the afternoon, the cold hearted leader of the army of soldiers, now turned bandits, looked out on his loyal men as they practiced their drills and spared with each other to keep themselves sharp and ready for any battle that may come their way.
Zhou Feng Gu felt a sense of pride well up in his chest, although they were abandoned and left for dead by the very man they had all pledged their loyalty and services to, he knew that his men would never turn their backs on him… he'd run his sword through them if they tried.
A commotion on the western end of the encampment had drawn his attention, he then calmly walked over to see his most trusted lieutenant Bao Zhi return from his mission. Zhou looked around for the rest of the men whom he had sent with Bao Zhi, as well as the jewels he was supposed to obtain, only to find… nothing.
"Bao Zhi." Zhou said in an icy voice. "Why is it that you've returned to me alone… and empty handed?:
The water buffalo kept his head down, too afraid to look his leader in the eye. "Forgive me sir, there were complications."
Zhou had already drawn his sword and everyone within the immediate area took a few steps back. They all knew blood was to be drawn, and they prefered it not be theirs.
"What kind of complications?" Zhou asked the now terrified water buffalo.
"There was a large group of kung fu masters and the Dragon Warrior there. They helped the guards protect the jewels. I only managed to get away." Zhou frowned at his lieutenants story.
"Why would a large group of kung fu masters be in such a small town? Are you sure you're not just trying to save your hide?" Zhou asked taking a few steps closer to
Bao Zhi raised his arms in a futile attempt to protect himself from his captain. "I swear sir! They were helping someone search for his sister, he was one of the refugees from Japan. They were on their way to Shanghai!" Zhou lowered his sword and began to contemplate what he was told.
A group of kung fu masters could prove to be hazardous to his plans. He needed to take care of them… but first…
"Thank you Bao Zhi. You've done well to give me this information." This shocked not only Bao Zhi but everyone present. Zhou Feng Gu was known to be a lot of things, but "forgiving" was not one of them.
"But you that I can't stand failure." Zhou snarled, and swung his sword at the water buffalo, the tip of his blade carving its way across his face; cutting out his left eye. Bao Zhi screamed in pain and brought his hands up to his injured face. "There, all is forgiven. Now that wasn't so bad was it?" Zhou asked in the same manner as when he killed the rat, Fong.
Bao Zhi spoke between sharp breaths. "No sir… thank you… for… giving me… another chance."
"Well, let's hope you don't squander it." Zhou said coolly as he began to think on what to do with the meddlesome masters. He wouldn't be able to continue his plans of taking over China as long as they were around. Maybe not now but soon the kung fu masters would stand in his way. Better to take them out now rather than them be a nuisance later.
As Zhou paced around he suddenly got an idea. "Oh, Bao Zhi!" He called. The water buffalo walked up to his captain with a dirty cloth wrapped around his head to cover his left eye.
"Yes sir?" Bao Zhi warrily asked.
"How soon can you get to Shanghai?"
Hiro's P.O.V. That Night.
After a completely uneventful day of walking we made camp on the side of the of the road. We made a lot of progress today, in fact I think we will make it to Shanghai the day after tomorrow.
Right now everyone is fast asleep, except for me and Zoyo who was on watch duty. But I knew I was about to nod off. I hope it would happen soon, because I've got the next shift in a few hours.
*Yawn*
Yep, gonna happen… any… minute…
Dreamscape
I opened my eyes, I was standing ankle deep in water. I looked around and I couldn't say where I was. It was dark, and everything was eerily still. I looked up to see the moon, no stars just the moon…
It was red.
I then looked down at my right arm to see the effect a crimson moon would have on me.
There wasn't any.
The markings on my arm didn't shine, and that gave me a feeling of dread.
"Hello!" I called out.
"Hello!" "Hello!" "Hello!" My echo answered.
Yeah this place is giving me the creeps. Time to get the hell out of here.
I turned around, hopefully to leave, to see a wispy shadow like charging at me with a sword prepared to take my head.
I ducked out of the way and whipped out my hanbo. The… shape came at me for a second attack, only this time I was ready. I brought up my Lunar Sphere and started knocking away all the swipes, slashes and chops the sword wielding shadow had thrown at me. Whoever this guy was he was good. His sword managed to get past my defenses and cut me a few times.
After a few more minutes of fighting I found an opening and swung my hanbo to make contact with the shapes skull, only to have my weapon meet nothing but air.
The shape disappeared. I looked around trying to find my attacker, but saw nothing…
Until I looked down to see the tip of a sword protruding from my chest.
Real world
I woke up.
I was short of breath, my clothes were soaked with sweat.
What the hell was that?
I never had a dream like that before, it didn't feel like a dream. It fell way too real. That shape that attacked me, the red moon and the moment of my…
Like I said, way too real.
"Bad dreams?" A voice asked.
I whipped my head to the side to see Zoyo sitting by the fire, his cloak and hat removed, revealing the dark furred fox. The markings on his face, similar to mine, glowed in that sickly purple light. The other night he had told me he was a trainer of half-bloods, whatever that meant. I tried to get information out of him about my last dream about a wolf lady in white. But I couldn't get anything out of him.
Might as well try again.
"You going to ask if I saw the lady in white again?" I asked.
Zoyo's crimson eyes landed on me and said. "No, because you didn't dream of her."
How the hell can he know that?
"When people like us dream, we don't dream like everyone else. We see things that transcend time and the mortal limits of this world." He said looking back at the fire. I had no real idea on what that meant but I threw out a guess.
"So I… had a vision of the future?" I asked. He just shook his head.
"No one can truly see the future, because the future is never assured. The choices we make in the present have a very strong influence on the future. What you saw was a possibility. Something that might happen. So there is no real need to worry."
Ooookay then. I guess I'll take his word for it.
"You can go back to sleep if you can." He said.
I gave him a confused look. "But it's my turn to watch-"
"It's alright." He interrupted. "I'll be fine. Right now you need to sleep that dream off."
I didn't argue with him. I just lied down and tried to sleep again.
It didn't take me long to fall asleep and dream again… only this time the dreams were better…
Tigress was in them.
A/N.
Hey guys! Once again I'd like to apologize for being gone so long, but my personal schedule is just crazy.
Ok couple things before I go, first of all I'd like to thank everyone who has placed their votes for Hiro's new weapon. It will be announced in a couple more chapters (at the story's climax) so there is still time to vote on what weapon you want to see (or read) Hiro use.
Once again the choices are
A pair of Wakizashi
A new pair of hanbo
A pair of twin hook swords.
So let's get those votes in.
Another thing, the art contest is still going on. If anyone has any questions please PM me.
And one last thing, I'd like to give a shout out at one of my favorite fans; The Silent Reader (You know who you are) Thank you for being a fan of my stories from the Kung Fu Wolf series to The Okami Files (which hasn't been getting a lot of love lately (come on, give it a chance))
See ya next time.
