A week later, the four of them were in Kyoto, where "even Devils
would tread cautiously," according to Iilana.
"Why are we even here?"
"Back-up."
They walked towards a grand house with a large garden, led by Iilana.
"Stay close."
Just seconds later, two panthers shot out from behind some boulders. Gabriel was about to release the Tojo blades when Iilana gave the panthers a smack on the nose.
"Shirra (Evil)! Raven! Shame on you!"
To the trio's surprise, they now looked as tame as kittens. They licked her palms. She smiled.
"Long time no see."
"Same thing here."
All turned-to see a figure, who sped away into the house. All followed.
Iilana broke down the door. The room was big and dark. She looked up. No one. She looked down. Nothing either. Carl then took a step forward. Unknown to him, several ninjas waited below the floorboards, their kodachis (smaller form of the katana) ready. Years of instinct honed by training under ninjas kicked in at once.
"Carl, NO!"
Iilana cried, yanking his robe. She leapt forward. In seconds, kodachis slammed out of the floorboards like deadly daises, giving a new term to the phrase, "blades of grass". She grew wings, yanked some of them out and slammed them back in. Speckles of blood appeared on her face. Three seconds later, she unsheathed her katanas and spun them, deflecting the shurikens thrown at her. She missed one and it was embedded into her neck. She yanked it out. To their surprise, the wound healed instantly.
"Perhaps there's something good about Erik's brand,"
She thought.
"STOP!"
All went silent. The curtains were pulled open. A woman in a blue kimono glided down the stairs. The floorboards were replaced with an army of ninjas. Some were hurt but none were killed. (A/N: Dialogue with () is in Japanese)
("How did you get past our panthers and warriors, Demon?")
Almost naturally, Iilana replied in Japanese.
("Demon? Is that how you greet an old friend, Tae?")
Tae responded by drawing a wazakachi-a smaller form of a kodachi-and charged at Iliana. Both fought for a short while before finding each other's blades at their necks. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Or, you could drop it –and burst out laughing.
"I don't understand them, Gabriel."
"Neither do I Carl."
Both men nodded in assent.
("Is it you?")
("Of course, Tae.")
("But how-?")
("Long story.")
Tae barked out orders for the men to leave-and for Iilana to follow her.
"What are we, chopped liver?"
muttered Gabriel sacarstically.
He was answered by a shuriken flying at his head. He dodged just in time.
"If you don't shut up, you will be,"
hissed Tae in English.
The hot springs eased the pain of Iilana's body.
"Refreshing,"
she breathed aloud. Tae tied her hair up before joining her in the bath.
("Like it? I specially designed it.")
("Indeed.")
("Tell me your story. After Master killed himself, what happened to you?")
("You first.")
("I escaped-then, it was here I could ameliorate myself. End of story, You?")
Iilana told her tale and the current situation she was in.. Tae was in total awe after hearing it.
("And I presume you came here not just to talk to me, am I right?")
("Yes.")
("Let me see...you need help?")
("YES!")
("Of course I'll help. Its been a while since I had any excerise. But first, some tea?")
Tae and her tea... Sighing good-naturedly, Iilana accepted it.
Iilana appeared an hour later.
"What's her answer?"
asked Gabriel testily, referring to Tae.
Two panthers came from behind her followed by Tae.
"What do you think?"
asked Iliana, smirking.
"Why are we even here?"
"Back-up."
They walked towards a grand house with a large garden, led by Iilana.
"Stay close."
Just seconds later, two panthers shot out from behind some boulders. Gabriel was about to release the Tojo blades when Iilana gave the panthers a smack on the nose.
"Shirra (Evil)! Raven! Shame on you!"
To the trio's surprise, they now looked as tame as kittens. They licked her palms. She smiled.
"Long time no see."
"Same thing here."
All turned-to see a figure, who sped away into the house. All followed.
Iilana broke down the door. The room was big and dark. She looked up. No one. She looked down. Nothing either. Carl then took a step forward. Unknown to him, several ninjas waited below the floorboards, their kodachis (smaller form of the katana) ready. Years of instinct honed by training under ninjas kicked in at once.
"Carl, NO!"
Iilana cried, yanking his robe. She leapt forward. In seconds, kodachis slammed out of the floorboards like deadly daises, giving a new term to the phrase, "blades of grass". She grew wings, yanked some of them out and slammed them back in. Speckles of blood appeared on her face. Three seconds later, she unsheathed her katanas and spun them, deflecting the shurikens thrown at her. She missed one and it was embedded into her neck. She yanked it out. To their surprise, the wound healed instantly.
"Perhaps there's something good about Erik's brand,"
She thought.
"STOP!"
All went silent. The curtains were pulled open. A woman in a blue kimono glided down the stairs. The floorboards were replaced with an army of ninjas. Some were hurt but none were killed. (A/N: Dialogue with () is in Japanese)
("How did you get past our panthers and warriors, Demon?")
Almost naturally, Iilana replied in Japanese.
("Demon? Is that how you greet an old friend, Tae?")
Tae responded by drawing a wazakachi-a smaller form of a kodachi-and charged at Iliana. Both fought for a short while before finding each other's blades at their necks. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Or, you could drop it –and burst out laughing.
"I don't understand them, Gabriel."
"Neither do I Carl."
Both men nodded in assent.
("Is it you?")
("Of course, Tae.")
("But how-?")
("Long story.")
Tae barked out orders for the men to leave-and for Iilana to follow her.
"What are we, chopped liver?"
muttered Gabriel sacarstically.
He was answered by a shuriken flying at his head. He dodged just in time.
"If you don't shut up, you will be,"
hissed Tae in English.
The hot springs eased the pain of Iilana's body.
"Refreshing,"
she breathed aloud. Tae tied her hair up before joining her in the bath.
("Like it? I specially designed it.")
("Indeed.")
("Tell me your story. After Master killed himself, what happened to you?")
("You first.")
("I escaped-then, it was here I could ameliorate myself. End of story, You?")
Iilana told her tale and the current situation she was in.. Tae was in total awe after hearing it.
("And I presume you came here not just to talk to me, am I right?")
("Yes.")
("Let me see...you need help?")
("YES!")
("Of course I'll help. Its been a while since I had any excerise. But first, some tea?")
Tae and her tea... Sighing good-naturedly, Iilana accepted it.
Iilana appeared an hour later.
"What's her answer?"
asked Gabriel testily, referring to Tae.
Two panthers came from behind her followed by Tae.
"What do you think?"
asked Iliana, smirking.