The Armor of the Soul

By Dixxy

Chapter Sixteen: The Truth About Madame Shinshu

(Kento)

I made it to a field in a town outside of Boston. "I've got to stop running eventually," I said to myself, catching my breath against a tall oak. I was breathing hard, not at all pleased with my situation. I was in huge trouble, and I was alone. I should have gone with Ria and Sara! Then I could have found some help from Anubis. Yes, help from Anubis and the Senshi would be good.

I sat down and looked up at the stars. I wondered briefly if Rowen was up there, floating amongst the stars. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I remembered he and Ryo thought I was dead. I wasn't even sure if Yuli still believed in us.

"I want to go home," I said. I did miss home. I missed my parents. I missed my little siblings. I missed Mia. I missed Ryo, and Rowen, and White Blaze, I missed everything about Japan I'd grown to love! I missed Sage and Cye, still trapped in the Dynasty. "Damn you, Trulpa."

I stood up and brushed my tears away. I had to figure out a way to get Madame Shinshu off my back. But how? Go get help from the Senshi and damage my male pride? Okay, if I need help I need help, even if it is from females. And Anubis wasn't a female, now was he? Or do I try and take her myself? No, you shouldn't try to take on a crazed demon you know nothing about by yourself. That's PURE stupidity.

"There you are!"

"Crap," I said, barely avoiding her claws slashing into the tree trunk. I leapt a good ways away, landing on a knee, a foot, and a hand. I stared her down, getting aggravated. "What the hell do you want!?"

"You!" The demon that had once been Madame Shinshu leapt out at me again, slashing wildly. This time, she'd shrunken to a deformed little blue. . . thing, in a gray, tattered dress. She still wore the turban, her eyes now bright yellow.

"Okay, next question. What the hell are YOU!?" I asked, backflipping out of the way as she tried to attack me again. "Who do you work for and why do you need me?" Well, if she worked for Trulpa the answer was obvious, but still. . .

"I work for no one. I feed off of the souls of young human males with the gift of psychic powers," said the demon. "I am known as Shinshu. Quite lucky for me that you were a psychic male, ne?"

"I'm not just a psychic!" I said. I reached above my head and summoned my staff. I twirled it around before holding it in a defensive position. I was gonna fight her as a sorcerer. If I fought her as a warrior, then I might destroy some private property I couldn't afford to pay for. Besides, I hadn't used my sure-kill in a very long time and I wasn't sure how rusty I was or wasn't with it.

Shinshu hissed. "A Ronin Warrior!"

"Oh, glad you've heard of us," I said. "But not JUST a Ronin Warrior, Shinshu. A few barriers have broken and I've got the Ronin Senshi's elemental magic on my side, too!" I started thinking over the spells I knew, trying to decide which would be best against my enemy. Something that could at least render her unconscious. Then, I could try and make a break for it to prepare something bigger.

Shinshu laughed. "Ha! I'm twice as powerful as that! You won't be a problem, Hardrock." Well, she seemed pretty damn confident. If I played my cards right, though, she'd be pretty damn dead.

"You wanna bet?" I said, preparing a small energy based attack. I didn't want to revert to anything big. Yet. That would happen when it got really bad and it was that or get killed. Shinshu cawed and leapt out of the way, the attack hitting the oak I'd found temporary relief from.

"Weak!" she said, preparing an energy ball similar to mine. I barely knocked it away with my naginata. I looked at the space where three trees once stood, vaporized by the attack after it struck.

"Ouch," I said, biting my lip. Hmm, this is going to be a little tougher than I thought. . .

Shinshu laughed hysterically, eyeing me once more. "Oh, what's a matter, Hardrock, are you SCARED!?"
"Uh, no?" I said, trying to laugh.

"LIAR!"

"Well. . . maybe," I said, ducking to avoid her next attack.

All right, Kento of the Hardrock, confess.

I almost stopped to listen to the voice of my partner in arms, Keisha, Hardrock of the Senshi. She knew who I was. . . How did you know who I am?

Anubis told us about the Ronins and Sara accidentally identified you. Now, where are you? Madame Shinshu's studio is deserted but Anubis is thoroughly convinced you were there.

Heh, wouldn't you know she turned out to be a soul sucking demon that gives me one look and thinks "dinner".

Want help?

"DIE!" A huge attack was sent my way. I screamed and leapt into the air, transforming into subarmor at the same time. It was my best chance at surviving aside from the Armor of the Hardrock if she actually hit me.

Actually, I'd like that, thank you.

Where are you?

No idea. A big field. If you see fireworks you're on the right track.

Funny, ha-ha.

I know, aren't I?

Just shut up and keep yourself from getting killed.

Easier said than done, she's psycho demon. And a powerful one at that. Plus ugly. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!

Just hold on, we'll get there as fast as we can.

Keisha, if you don't' get here in time, I just want to apologize for not helping you when you were getting possessed.

Kento. . .

I avoided several attacks during that time. She wasn't giving me a chance to create my own attacks. I was getting more and more nervous, and kind of tired. The demon was like the Energizer bunny and wasn't about to give up or pass out anytime soon. Shinshu was going to kill me.

Eventually, she lost her balance and gave me a chance to send an attack her way. It was stronger and faster than my last one, which I hoped would buy me a little more time. Maybe the Ronin Senshi and Anubis could get here before I got killed. I hit her, but she just got mad and her attacks got more frenzied.

"AHH!" Shinshu finally hit me. It was a nice hit to leg, but it sent me to the ground and I could barely stand up. I could feel it swelling beneath my subarmor. I looked over as she began to walk towards me. I tried to think of something, anything that could possibly keep me from getting killed. Before I could cast a spell or make a break, I fell to the ground and hurt my leg even more. I wasn't going anywhere, and that was a pretty darn BAD thing.

"Today's a good day to die, isn't it?" said Shinshu.

"Go to Hell," I said.

Shinshu clucked her tongue. "Now, now, watch that tongue of yours, Kento. You really were my favorite student. Pity I have to kill you now." With that, she snapped her fingers and a giant scythe appeared in her hands.

"I'm not dying tonight," I said. Actually, I wasn't one hundred percent confidant that was going to be true.

"Says you," said Shinshu. "Now, should I render you unconscious before I take your soul, or should I let you be aware of the excruciating pain of your soul being ripped from your body?"

She was getting closer. NOW I was really scared. I couldn't move. "Prepare to die, boy." She raised her arms ready to give me another attack. I closed my eyes, waiting for the attack to hit. So, this is what it's like to know you're about to die. . .

SWACK!

I opened my eyes to see a slender body in orange, white, and black subarmor standing over me. Hardrock of the Senshi had come to my rescue.

"You all right, Kento?" she asked, concentrating on Shinshu.

"Um, I'll be fine once my leg heals up a bit," I said. She looked down at me and smiled sweetly. My partner in arms was a kind of cute African girl with amber colored eyes and soft looking black hair. She had an almost playful, care-free look to her that made me feel safe despite my intense situation. I smiled back at her.

"If you think you can fight, go ahead, Anubis and my friends aren't going to be here for a while," she said. "They were distracted by your old friends the Dark Warlords."

"Great, just what I needed to hear," I said. "I think I can cast a few spells from here, just watch out, she's one powerful demon lady."

Keisha looked confused by what I'd told her, but prepared to fight Shinshu anyways. I hoped she was going to be okay. . .