Woah, only this and chapter 19 before I can finally write about Ni Tang again. It's just that now when the plot is developing I have to give some attention to other characters too, like I it or not. I don't own Jackie Chan Adventures.

NI TANG

Chapter 18

Shendu brushed a brown wisp of hair behind his ear and looked at the sun. He stood on the deck of a small but nice ship and let his gaze caress the sea shining with sunlight. The sky was beautifully blue anda few white clouds decorated it.

To the fire demon this beauty meant nothing, it just felt so good to be free again. And this time in his own body and full power without an annoying human to disturb him.

He had taken a human form too, the huge wingless dragon would have been too much for humans' closed minds and blown their cover. He had dark brown shoulder length hair, a shade darker eyes and he was dressed up in a black T-shirt with a green dragon and jeans. He didn't feel comfortable in them, but knew he would not get any special attention wearing them.

The air smelled salty and he drew a deep breath. Bai Tsa stood some distance away enjoying the sea much more than her little brother and Hsi Wu was somewhere with the slave. For some reason those two got along much better now when the sky demon had saved her from Shendu.

The previous night had been confusing, they had left the scene fast to avoid curious questions and thought about what they would do. Well, they had only one option, no matter how risky it was.

Chan's uncle had sealed the first five demon portals with his spells and now they needed something more than just the Pan Ku box to open them. Shendu, Hsi Wu and Bai Tsa had never bothered to investigate many chi spells or study them, but Bai thought she knew which spell would get sister Po Kong's portal open.

They had no idea how to open the rest and that's why they needed the mountain demon. She had always showed interest towards spells and had been one of the greatest chi sorceresses in the ancient world. No one else knew as many or complicated spells as Po Kong, and only she could get the rest of the portals open. But now their mission had got much more dangerous. Chan's cursed niece had been able to escape from them when they had not kept an eye on her and she had told her relatives their next location and who were already free.

It would have been so simple if they could go to some other portal and that way avoid Chan, but they would never make it without Po Kong. They just had to take the risk and face Chan in Japan if nothing else could be done.

They were already on their way to Tokyo in a small private ship. The captain was a middle aged man and he hadn't come to demand any payment yet. Shendu had his suspicions about Bai already paying everythingin her own way and he didn't want to think about the details.

From all of his siblings Bai Tsa was the one who Shendu despised the most and the water demonreturned his feelings. They had been arguing with each other since they were children and nothing had changed when they had grown up. They just didn't get along.

Bai Tsa liked to spend time with Po Kong and she was in good terms with Xiao Fung too. Shendu on the other hand, he was a lonely wolf, he didn't feel comfortable with any of his siblings. He was proud and self-confident by nature and couldn't stand Tchang Zu or Dai Gui, who both thought they were better than others. Tso Lan was annoying with his statements about knowledge and Shendu didn't even consider trying to form a friendship with Po Kong or Xiao Fung as long as they kept Bai's side.

Well, there was always Hsi Wu, but Shendu thought the sky demon was just a bit better than Bai Tsa. He didn't count Ni Tang in the family at all, his hate towards Valmont was still fresh and would not cool in few centuries.

Bai Tsa had been very angry with him and Shendu frowned inannoyance and clenched his fists. The water demon had said that they had enough problems already, Shendu didn't have to get a group of assassins after him. Like it was his fault! What could he do if humans were too stupid and didn't understand their own good?

Then again, he didn't mind. They were supposed to keep a low profile until they all were free and were unbeatable, but if someone attacked him first what else could he do than fight? And fighting was what he wanted, he wanted to smell the warm blood and taste it, rip apart and maul everyone who dared to charge at him.

And he would do that to others too when he got the chance. Bai Tsa defended Chan's niece even now when she had got them into this huge danger and Shendu couldn't touch her. But after all of the portals were opened... The girl would not be needed anymore and he could have his revenge.


Jade sighed and stared at her fingers. Boring...

Nothing exciting had happened after they had stepped aboard. Then again, the previous night had been enough for a while. She expected Jackie to come. It would happen at any moment, Jade was sure of it. Soon Jackie would rush from somewhere, save her and Uncle would be waiting with the right spells. That easy.

But time went on and nothing like that seemed to happen and slowly Jade started to get worried. It wasn't like Jackie to be late, he was very responsible person and usually had a good reason if he didn't make it in time. But what reason did he have now? What could be more important than saving her?

Hsi Wu stood next to her and they didn't really speakto each other. From the three demons Jade considered him to be the best one, he had saved her from Shendu. It still didn't mean she liked him, not at all. She just stood him now when there was no other option.


They arrived in Tokyo after few hours and left the ship with the rest of the passengers. Everything would have been so easy if they could have just gone to Po Kong's portal, but Bai had to find out what chi spell would undo the charm Uncle had cast.

The water demon was optimistic, she was close with Po Kong and believed she would find the right spell at least ina few days. It of course demanded that she worked alone, she didn't even want to think about what it would be like to go through books with someone as impatient as Shendu and Hsi Wu.

She pursed her lips in thought and placed a hand on her hip. She had to dump the others somewhere where they would not cause problems before she was ready.

"Find yourselves a good place to stay, something where we can spenda few nights. I'm busy looking for the right spell so you will have to make it without the big sister," she said to her two brothers just to annoy Shendu.

The fire demon grinned and shrugged.

"Don't worry sister dearest, everything isunder control," he said and Bai Tsa sighed rolling her eyes. She didn't understand Shendu at all. All of the demons were self-confident and proud, but sometimes she felt like Shendu had got more than enough of both characterisations. A real demon could be humble and modest when needed, but Shendu had never been able to do either. He was arrogant and thought the world was going in circlesaround himself.

"Let's hope that, because if it's not I will rip your heart out when I return," Bai commented and despite the cheerful tone of the water demon Shendu knew that if he somehow ruined this his future would not be happy. He frowned at his sister's back and turned to face Hsi Wu and Jade.

"We will find a good hotel," he announced with the tone of a leader and Hsi Wu tilted his head in confusion.

"How do we get in? We don't have the money humans use and Bai Tsa is not here to use her body," he said and Shendu slit his eyes dangerously. He snorted like he was really offended.

"Bai Tsa is not the only one who can charm humans. If she can do it, I can do it," he said proudly and started to walk on the street.

Hsi Wu and Jade glanced quickly at each other and grinned before rushing after the fire demon.

"I've got to see this!" Jade muttered to herself and giving Hsi Wu a glance. She could almost imagine they were just two friends going to see something really funny.


Shendu leaned against the desk and smiled at the receptionist, who lifted her glasses and gave him an odd stare.

"Yes mister? Can I do something for you?" she asked taking a pen in her hand and Shendu nodded eagerly. This was going too well! He was brilliant, born into it.

"Yes miss, I would be very delighted if you told me where such beautiful women come from. I'd like to move there," he said making the woman's jaw drop. She blinked unsure and bit her pen.

"Excuse me?" she asked and Shendu sighed. Just his luck to meet the most stupidest female human!

Jade leaned on the wall and followed the fire demon's attempts to charm the woman. Hsi Wu did the exact same next to her and Jade felt like she should say something to him. Maybe it was just because she was talkative and couldn't stand silence like this, or the fact that at the moment the sky demon seemed so much like a human.

But part of her didn't want to say Hsi anything, why to waste her time with the demon? Or should she? Maybe she would find out something useful? She didn't have to make this decision at all, because Hsi Wu was the one who opened his mouth.

"Pathetic," the sky demon sighed slitting his eyes and watching Shendu. The fire demon couldn't get the woman understand what was going on and Jade had to admit that Hsi was right. If this continued they would never get a room. If things got really bad they would be kicked out.

"We all are notthat bad charmers, Shendu has never known how to get what he wants by using something else than violence. We others can be very charming when we want to," Hsi Wu said meaning Bai Tsa and himself. Jade glanced at him a brow lifted, she wouldn't call a demon charming before she saw it herself.

"Your eyes sparkle more brightly than all the stars in the sky," Shendu said and Hsi Wu stared at him disbelieving.

"What is he doing?" he asked and Jade shrugged.

"I think he's trying to be romantic," she said beingunsure.

"But that woman's eyes don't sparkle for even one star! Is romantic the same as a liar?" Hsi asked touching his temples. Jade rolled her eyes.

"You really are ancient! Women like it that someone praises them, even if it's not true."

"We didn't need this romance before! All you had to do was to tell the slave what you wanted or pay a visit in some village and that's it. Everything was taken care of nicely without stupid games like this," the sky demon snorted.

"At least Shendu knows how to be modern and adaptable. If you were there instead of him we would have flown out already," Jade said and Hsi glared at the frowning.

"Are trying to say that I can't be romantic?" he asked. Jade crossed her arms in front of herself.

"Yes I am! You couldn't be charming in thousand years," she said. Not that she wanted it. Jade didn't know anything as boring as romance and if the nicest one of the demons turned into a blabbering idiot she would lose her mind.

Shendu changed his position and tried to keep his perfect smile alive and charming. Admitting it hurt, but he really couldn't do these things. Not even in his own form, a huge dragon was not expected to be show romantic feelings and he had never learned the skill.

When a demon didn't know how to do something it was usually explained that he wasn't born into it. But it wasn't really like that, demons could learn anything if they really tried. And Shendu was not an exception, he and Hsi Wu were the cleverest ones of the family and would not lose a fight easily. But charming women was something he just couldn't do.

He sighed and the receptionist looked at him with compassion.

"I could call the boss here," she suggested helpfully and Shendu flinched. That wouldn't do at all, he really didn't want a man here to ruin everything.

"No! Wait, maybe we can come up with some other option!" he said quickly and grabbed the woman's hand before she was able to tap the number. She let out a heavy sigh and frowned.

"What do you want, mister? If you are trying to get a room, do it now," she said not really managing to keep the sharp tone away from her voice. Shendu let go and considered what he should do. The easiest option was of course to take a room, but they would be forced to leave soon and with hurry when people found out they had no way to pay for it. Then again, this woman was clearly immune to his advances and he didn't want to embarrass himself anymore.

"We'll take a room," he said angrily and pointed at Hsi Wu and Jade with his thumb. The receptionist's expression brightened and she leaned forward.

"Your children, mister?" she asked in interest and Shendu shook his head.

"My brother and his girlfriend," he answered and the woman nodded taking out a form and a pen not noticing how Jade and Hsi Wu coughed and seemed to have some big problems.

"I have younger siblings too. Could you write your name here?" she asked and gave the pen to Shendu, who thought for a while before signing in.

"Thank you," the woman said and gave the form a quick glance before putting it away.

"Goodbye," Shendu said shortly and turned his back to her to avoid seeing her. What a horrible creature! For the whole time he had been trying to charm her he had felt Hsi's and Jade's eyes in his back and that was what made the situation so bad. He had failed and no one should have been there to prove it!

"Come. We have to wait until our sister arrives," he said and the two followed the fire demon into a corridor with a soft carpet and dim lamps. There were some paintings on the wall on plastic plants here and there.

"This is our room," Shendu said pushing the door open and stepping in. Jade and Hsi Wu followed and the girl shut the door.

The room was not very big or even nice, everything was disgustingly orange and somehow confusing. Shendu sat on the sofa and closed his eyes. This was so frustrating!

It was of course an improvement that he had his own body and he didn't have to share it with anyone, but Valmont had had some advances. Like money. If he could use the man's empire now he wouldn't have to flirt with human females.

Playing with humans was more like Bai Tsa's game, she was the most talented charmer of the family and enjoyed greatly when she could have some fun with human males. At this point they had made it with Bai's skills, but it would not work forever. Even she couldn't get them anything and they had to get money from somewhere.

But that had to wait for a while, first they had to free sister Po Kong. After that the power in this growing group would be hers, not Bai's, and Shendu couldn't have been happier. Now Bai couldn't behave like she owned the world and they would be lead by someone who had some intelligence.

Despite what the impression was, Po Kong wasn't a stupid demon. She was intelligent, very skilled with chi spells and she wasn't weak either. On top of that she was the oldest after Tchang Zu, which made her a very dangerous enemy. It would not be wise to argue with her.

Jade sat on a chair next to a window and looked out. She had already got familiar with their room and she wasn't impressed. It had only one bed and she was sure Bai Tsa would take it to herself. She, Hsi and Shendu had to find another place but the girl had decided she would not give up the sofa without a fight.

She wanted back home. Usually she didn't let herself get depressed too easily, but now she just couldn't go on anymore. For a while she had forced herself to be cheerful and to believe Jackie would come and save her, or that she would come up with something herself, but it was no use. Who did she think she was fooling?

Three demons were already free and the fourth one was coming, Uncle would never be able to banish them all back before they had caused too much trouble. If he ever banished them.

She had called Jackie and told him to come to Japan. So why wasn't her uncle here? What reasons did he have?

Jade sighed and leaned her chin on her palm.

To be continued...