(Um, sorry for the rushed chapter. I wasn't exactly, how would you say, in
sync. Again I'm sorry, and I hope this chapter will make up for the bland,
and very rushed, past segment.)
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE MIST OF SHADOWS
Ryo stood on the road leading out of Shinjuku staring at the large gray cloud hovering above it. The cloud seemed to be growing larger, spreading.
Ryo lowered his view to see a large mist flowing out of the city, and into the cloud. "That mist is forming the cloud. But what exactly is it?" Ryo thought.
Namiko opened her eyes and slowly stood up. "Where am I?" she thought.
She did not seem to be standing on any sort of land or ground. A strange gray fog covered everything.
"A fog. There was a fog inside of the hotel. Is this it?" Namiko wondered.
Namiko took a few steps before stopping. Three large shadows began to take form. Namiko tried to grab Akujki, however, she realized the sword was not in its sheath.
Namiko gritted her teeth and looked at the upcoming creatures.
They were huge, resembling ogres of some type. They carried large clubs, each walking semi- slowly towards her.
Seeing no way to combat the creatures, Namiko ran in the opposite direction. However, she almost immediately fell. She was barely able to grab onto the ledge of the body of land she had formerly been on.
There seemed to be land in this place, however, it barely hinged on Namiko's mind as the ogres were reaching her.
She felt her grip loosening. Namiko turned to see semi- large shadows floating over the large abyss.
Seeing this as her only route of escape, Namiko kicked off of the ledge towards the floating piece of land.
She barely made it to the floating boulder before the ogres had reached the ledge.
A sigh of relief escaped Namiko as she easily jumped from boulder to boulder. There did not seem to be anymore creatures, at least, Namiko hoped not.
She finally landed on a large mass of land. As soon as she landed, she remembered Atsuko and Yasuko.
"Atsuko! Are you there?!" she yelled out. Her voice echoed, drifting away. She stood there for a few moments, hoping to hear a reply. Nothing, not even, a single pin drop could be heard.
"What is this place? I'm pretty sure I'm no longer in Shinjuku. But if this isn't that fog, where is this place?"
Namiko wandered around the area for about an hour, at least she estimated that amount of time. There was no one. No entity or living person was in this place. It was completely silent, no noise.
Namiko plopped down on the ground. Suddenly, a screech could be heard. Namiko jumped up to see eleven flying bugs. They each harvested some type of stinger at their bottom.
Namiko stepped back, knowing there was no escape. "It can't end this way. Sensei Sadatake, I won't be able to avenge you," she thought.
Suddenly, six of the creatures fell to the ground. Namiko just stared. "Catch!" She turned around to see Akujki thrown to her.
She grabbed it and quickly jumped up. She then dashed to each of the bugs, killing them.
Akujki glowed with delight at the Yin flowing into it.
However, Namiko heard whooshes of air heading towards her from her backside.
She quickly turned and deflected the shurikens away.
"Who's there?" Namiko called out. A figure began to walk out from the fog.
Yasuko stood there, with a strange smile fixated on her face. "Yasuko? You were swallowed by the fog as well?" she asked.
Yasuko pulled out her daggers. Namiko stepped back and noticed a strange red glow to Yasuko's eyes.
"I'm so very sorry, but Yasuko isn't here," she stated. Namiko held Akujki in front of her. "Who are you?"
The person laughed. "Very perceptive. I am the leader of the Black Dragon, Yasutoki."
Namiko winced. "You mean, you're using Yasuko's body?" Yasutoki smikled. "Why yes. I thought that I should discuss some maters with you. Very important matters."
"Go on," Namiko replied.
Yasutoki took a few steps toward Namiko. "I'm sure by now you understand the Black Dragon needs Akujki. You've become what most people would like to call a nuisance. However, I must applaud you. You have been able to successfully defeat a Black Dragon member. And with the help of your friends, kill one. But I've grown quite tired of this game. I would like you to hand over Akujki to me."
Namiko prepared herself. "I doubt I'd ever do that. But first, answer this question, where are we?"
"We are in the evil realm. A place where hellspawn originate, and where dark energies are strongest."
Namiko gritted her teeth. "Now, where is Atsuko?"
Yasutki grinned. "The girl? You have no need to worry about her. I spared her from being imprisoned here. Besides, this specific affair involves only you, and me."
Yasutoki dropped the grin. "Now, one last time. Give me Akujki. Or you leave me with no choice but to kill you and take it."
Namiko gritted her teeth once more. "I think I'll take option two!"
She dashed towards Yasutoki and slashed. Using Yasuko's speed and dagger, he easily blocked. "I gave you a choice, nut I see you must want to die."
Yasutoki then kicked Namiko hard in the stomach. He then performed a doulbe slash, leaving tow slash marks on Namiko's chest. This knocked Namiko to the ground.
"Don't you see, we don't have to go through this," Yasutoki replied as he kneeled down next to Namiko.
Namiko sat up. "Sorry, but I can't allow you to obtain Akujki." She jumped up and kicked Yasutoki to the ground. "Answer me this question, you had Akujki, why didn't you take it?"
Yasutoki stood up quickly. "It refused. I could have manipulated it, but it seems that in Yasuko's body, my powers have grown weak."
Namiko looked confused. "So, you knew that if I handed it over to you, it wouldn't cooperate?" Namiko asked.
Yasutoki nodded. "I predicted you would refuse, so I decided to test your strength. As of now, I am not impressed."
Namiko rushed at Yasutoki. "I'll show you!"
She started slashing rapidly. Yasutoki smiled. "You don't seem to understand."
He easily dodged each of the slashes. He then grabbed Namiko's arm and threw her to the ground. Namiko back- flipped as soon as she touched the ground. She then dashed behind Yasutoki and slashed Yasuko's body in the back. She then kicked Yasutoki to the edge of the mass of land.
Namiko flipped over to Yasutoki, only to have four shurikens. She barely dodged two, while the other two hit her, causing bits of blood to fly out.
Namiko landed on the ground hard. Yasutoki walked over to her. "Now, prepare to face your fate."
He was about to stab Namiko with Yasuko's dagger, but Namiko flipped and kicked the dagger out of Yasutoki's hand. However, Yasutoki quickly back- flipped, throwing a shuriken straight into Namiko's left arm.
Namiko cried out in pain as she landed on her knees. Yasutoki stopped. "No, no! My powers have weakened from the damage I have obtained." He looked up at Namiko. "Don't you worry girl, we shall meet again."
The red glow disappeared from Yasuko's eyes as she fell to the floor.
Namiko sheathed Akujki away and stood up. She grasped her left arm. It was bleeding.
The fog started to dissipate, leaving the two standing on a ridge of land, placed over a large canyon with many mountains close- by.
"Now where are we?" Namiko muttered as the sun beat down on her.
Ryo stared at the dissipating mist over the city. "The mist's disappearing, what's going on?"
"Ryo!" He looked towards the city to see Atsuko running towards him.
"Ryo, Namiko, she and that Black Dragon girl, they disappeared!" Atsuko exclaimed.
Ryo looked at her. "I have a feeling that strange mist had something to do it."
Namiko walked over to Yasuko. "You all right?" she asked weakly. Yasuko started to open her eyes. "You... What happened?" she replied.
Hitoshi stood on a small piece of land sticking out from small cliff. "Well little girl, it seems all that's left is to take Akujki. And then, I can have my way with those fools."
9Hoped you like the chapter. I'm once again apologizing for the past chapter. Please review.)
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE MIST OF SHADOWS
Ryo stood on the road leading out of Shinjuku staring at the large gray cloud hovering above it. The cloud seemed to be growing larger, spreading.
Ryo lowered his view to see a large mist flowing out of the city, and into the cloud. "That mist is forming the cloud. But what exactly is it?" Ryo thought.
Namiko opened her eyes and slowly stood up. "Where am I?" she thought.
She did not seem to be standing on any sort of land or ground. A strange gray fog covered everything.
"A fog. There was a fog inside of the hotel. Is this it?" Namiko wondered.
Namiko took a few steps before stopping. Three large shadows began to take form. Namiko tried to grab Akujki, however, she realized the sword was not in its sheath.
Namiko gritted her teeth and looked at the upcoming creatures.
They were huge, resembling ogres of some type. They carried large clubs, each walking semi- slowly towards her.
Seeing no way to combat the creatures, Namiko ran in the opposite direction. However, she almost immediately fell. She was barely able to grab onto the ledge of the body of land she had formerly been on.
There seemed to be land in this place, however, it barely hinged on Namiko's mind as the ogres were reaching her.
She felt her grip loosening. Namiko turned to see semi- large shadows floating over the large abyss.
Seeing this as her only route of escape, Namiko kicked off of the ledge towards the floating piece of land.
She barely made it to the floating boulder before the ogres had reached the ledge.
A sigh of relief escaped Namiko as she easily jumped from boulder to boulder. There did not seem to be anymore creatures, at least, Namiko hoped not.
She finally landed on a large mass of land. As soon as she landed, she remembered Atsuko and Yasuko.
"Atsuko! Are you there?!" she yelled out. Her voice echoed, drifting away. She stood there for a few moments, hoping to hear a reply. Nothing, not even, a single pin drop could be heard.
"What is this place? I'm pretty sure I'm no longer in Shinjuku. But if this isn't that fog, where is this place?"
Namiko wandered around the area for about an hour, at least she estimated that amount of time. There was no one. No entity or living person was in this place. It was completely silent, no noise.
Namiko plopped down on the ground. Suddenly, a screech could be heard. Namiko jumped up to see eleven flying bugs. They each harvested some type of stinger at their bottom.
Namiko stepped back, knowing there was no escape. "It can't end this way. Sensei Sadatake, I won't be able to avenge you," she thought.
Suddenly, six of the creatures fell to the ground. Namiko just stared. "Catch!" She turned around to see Akujki thrown to her.
She grabbed it and quickly jumped up. She then dashed to each of the bugs, killing them.
Akujki glowed with delight at the Yin flowing into it.
However, Namiko heard whooshes of air heading towards her from her backside.
She quickly turned and deflected the shurikens away.
"Who's there?" Namiko called out. A figure began to walk out from the fog.
Yasuko stood there, with a strange smile fixated on her face. "Yasuko? You were swallowed by the fog as well?" she asked.
Yasuko pulled out her daggers. Namiko stepped back and noticed a strange red glow to Yasuko's eyes.
"I'm so very sorry, but Yasuko isn't here," she stated. Namiko held Akujki in front of her. "Who are you?"
The person laughed. "Very perceptive. I am the leader of the Black Dragon, Yasutoki."
Namiko winced. "You mean, you're using Yasuko's body?" Yasutoki smikled. "Why yes. I thought that I should discuss some maters with you. Very important matters."
"Go on," Namiko replied.
Yasutoki took a few steps toward Namiko. "I'm sure by now you understand the Black Dragon needs Akujki. You've become what most people would like to call a nuisance. However, I must applaud you. You have been able to successfully defeat a Black Dragon member. And with the help of your friends, kill one. But I've grown quite tired of this game. I would like you to hand over Akujki to me."
Namiko prepared herself. "I doubt I'd ever do that. But first, answer this question, where are we?"
"We are in the evil realm. A place where hellspawn originate, and where dark energies are strongest."
Namiko gritted her teeth. "Now, where is Atsuko?"
Yasutki grinned. "The girl? You have no need to worry about her. I spared her from being imprisoned here. Besides, this specific affair involves only you, and me."
Yasutoki dropped the grin. "Now, one last time. Give me Akujki. Or you leave me with no choice but to kill you and take it."
Namiko gritted her teeth once more. "I think I'll take option two!"
She dashed towards Yasutoki and slashed. Using Yasuko's speed and dagger, he easily blocked. "I gave you a choice, nut I see you must want to die."
Yasutoki then kicked Namiko hard in the stomach. He then performed a doulbe slash, leaving tow slash marks on Namiko's chest. This knocked Namiko to the ground.
"Don't you see, we don't have to go through this," Yasutoki replied as he kneeled down next to Namiko.
Namiko sat up. "Sorry, but I can't allow you to obtain Akujki." She jumped up and kicked Yasutoki to the ground. "Answer me this question, you had Akujki, why didn't you take it?"
Yasutoki stood up quickly. "It refused. I could have manipulated it, but it seems that in Yasuko's body, my powers have grown weak."
Namiko looked confused. "So, you knew that if I handed it over to you, it wouldn't cooperate?" Namiko asked.
Yasutoki nodded. "I predicted you would refuse, so I decided to test your strength. As of now, I am not impressed."
Namiko rushed at Yasutoki. "I'll show you!"
She started slashing rapidly. Yasutoki smiled. "You don't seem to understand."
He easily dodged each of the slashes. He then grabbed Namiko's arm and threw her to the ground. Namiko back- flipped as soon as she touched the ground. She then dashed behind Yasutoki and slashed Yasuko's body in the back. She then kicked Yasutoki to the edge of the mass of land.
Namiko flipped over to Yasutoki, only to have four shurikens. She barely dodged two, while the other two hit her, causing bits of blood to fly out.
Namiko landed on the ground hard. Yasutoki walked over to her. "Now, prepare to face your fate."
He was about to stab Namiko with Yasuko's dagger, but Namiko flipped and kicked the dagger out of Yasutoki's hand. However, Yasutoki quickly back- flipped, throwing a shuriken straight into Namiko's left arm.
Namiko cried out in pain as she landed on her knees. Yasutoki stopped. "No, no! My powers have weakened from the damage I have obtained." He looked up at Namiko. "Don't you worry girl, we shall meet again."
The red glow disappeared from Yasuko's eyes as she fell to the floor.
Namiko sheathed Akujki away and stood up. She grasped her left arm. It was bleeding.
The fog started to dissipate, leaving the two standing on a ridge of land, placed over a large canyon with many mountains close- by.
"Now where are we?" Namiko muttered as the sun beat down on her.
Ryo stared at the dissipating mist over the city. "The mist's disappearing, what's going on?"
"Ryo!" He looked towards the city to see Atsuko running towards him.
"Ryo, Namiko, she and that Black Dragon girl, they disappeared!" Atsuko exclaimed.
Ryo looked at her. "I have a feeling that strange mist had something to do it."
Namiko walked over to Yasuko. "You all right?" she asked weakly. Yasuko started to open her eyes. "You... What happened?" she replied.
Hitoshi stood on a small piece of land sticking out from small cliff. "Well little girl, it seems all that's left is to take Akujki. And then, I can have my way with those fools."
9Hoped you like the chapter. I'm once again apologizing for the past chapter. Please review.)