Chap. 5

Back a half an hour ago…

  The two ninja leapt into the air toward each other and vanished in puffs of smoke. They reappeared on top of one of the neighboring houses. They were running side-by-side, across the houses, leaping and trading blows with each other as though they could defy gravity. Shin lunged at Kenji in mid-run and Kenji parried the blow, realizing too late that it was a feint. Shin's knee came up and struck Kenji in the chest, sending him flying off the house. However, Kenji rolled through the air, landed soundlessly on the ground, and disappeared again. Shin was surprised as Kenji reappeared above him, his leg spinning in whirlwind fashion. The twirling kick hit Shin square in the face and he stumbled back.

"Stop this now, Shin!"

"Bakuryu!"

Shin jumped into the air and for a moment it seemed as if he stopped in mid-air. Kenji looked up and saw him glow in a bluish white light.

"Oh, crap. He's changing."

A loud shriek was heard and Shin/Bakuryu landed. Kenji half expected to see him as another mole. But instead Shin had become a bird. He was covered in deep dark blue feathers, many of which were folded in the back of his head like a crest. His feet were massive talons that for some strange reason weren't etched into the roof, but placed nicely in order for the next attack. But what Kenji noticed most were the eyes. They were honey-yellow, but clearly showed the fierceness of a predator. Kenji recognized them. They were the eyes of an eagle. A harpy eagle.

Shin suddenly sent out a slash kick, using the talons to rip apart Kenji's shirt. Kenji backed off and Shin swooped in, using his momentum the push Kenji back to the edge of the house. Kenji managed to keep his balance and saw Shin swooping in again. Thinking quickly, Kenji suddenly fell off the house. Shin looked down in disbelief and flew down. Kenji was nowhere to be seen. As Shin looked around, a mound of dirt slowly rose from the ground. Suddenly, out shot Kenji, now in his mole beast-form. Shin turned too late as the sharp claws came in contact with him, slashing him in several places. In anger, Shin kicked back, slashing into Kenji's furred body. Both backed off from each other, bloodied and hurt. Shin began to move in again when he suddenly began to shriek in pain and hold his head. Kenji watched as he screamed, his transformed state returning to normal.

"That's it. Fight it."

Shin got up, still in pain and Kenji saw that he was reverting to Bakuryu again. With no other choice now, Kenji concentrated his energy, a blink of light emitting from him. He charged toward the defenseless Shin/Bakuryu and let out a quick slash. Stunned, Shin/Bakuryu was totally off as Kenji teleported around him in four places, all the while releasing tongues of fire on him. Then Kenji stopped, leaving only two images of himself and he did another quick slash, this time followed by a trail of fire, completing his Double Inferno beast drive. Shin fell to the ground, just as Kenji reverted to his human form.

"Shin? Are you all right? Shin!"

Shin's eyes slowly blinked open, "K…Kenji."

Kenji held him up. "You're going to be okay."

"I'm…sorry…for…what I did."

"Don't worry. It wasn't your fault."

Neither of them noticed the dark shadow that descended behind them. As Kenji tried to help Shin up, he was suddenly hit from behind. Both boys fell down and the attacker bent down to pick up Shin. Kenji looked up only to see a mechanized ninja leap away with Shin on his shoulder.

Present…

"And that's what happened."

Everyone heard Kenji's story. Uriko began crying and everyone exchanged glances. But it was Yugo who broke the silence.

"That's it!"

Everyone looked at him in surprised as Yugo began to walk toward the door.

Alice jumped up, "No Yugo! We have to stay here and wait for word."

Yugo turned angrily, "And while we wait, Tylon will turn Shin into a cold-hearted killer as well as many other innocent people, if they live long enough to suit them. No, I won't wait any longer! This has to stop now!"

Alice stood in his path, "If you go now, we could lose everything, including you." She pleaded, "Please. Don't go."

Yugo looked into her eyes and he then calmly shut his and sighed, "Alright. I'll wait." He gave a small smile, "But I won't like it."

Alice smiled as well, "That okay. Neither will I."

Jane stood, watching the whole event, "Long, I hope you are okay as well."

Elsewhere…

A man had entered a bar in a dark part of the city. He wore formal clothes and had on a pair of glasses. He looked around the room until he found another man. The guy wore casual clothes and had a glass of alcohol before him. The first one approached him and sat down. The second looked at the newcomer with an amused glance. If anyone else had noticed, they would have seen that both strangers, despite their differences, were exactly the same. As though they were the same person in different lives. A mirror image in alternate realities.

"It's been awhile, Long."

"Same here, Shenlong."