CHAPTER NINE: BETRAYAL
Ryo and Atsuko walked on the dirt road for two hours. Of course, they had no idea where they were supposed o go.
"We have to find Namiko!" Atsuko exclaimed as they turned. Ryo looked at her. "Don't you think I know that? The only thing is where she is."
Atsuko shook her head. "Yeah, but she's with that Black Dragon girl! Do you think she can handle her all by herself?"
Ryo folded his arms. "I don't know, but her disappearing and that fog are intertwined. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the Black Dragon tried to separate us, and they succeeded."
Atsuko kicked a small stone. "I hate this!" she pouted.
"Unfortunately, this is the way it is."
Ryo and Atsuko turned to see Hotsuma appear in front of them.
Ryo smirked. "I'd like to think you know where Namiko and that girl are," he said. Hotsuma nodded. "I do." Ryo rubbed his nose. "Okay, would you mind telling us?" Ryo asked. Hotsuma folded his arms.
"Namiko and the girl, Yasuko, have been transported to the gates of the ancient Glass Palace."
"Glass Palace?" Ryo asked. Hotsuma nodded.
"Two centuries ago, a great palace was created to honor the greatest emperor of that time. However, a great war raged across many countries. By the time the battles had ceased, the palace was shattered. Its ruins resembled those of a broken mirror, thus, people started to call it the Glass Palace."
Ryo scratched his head. "That's very interesting, but how do we get there?"
Hotsuma shook his head. "I only know of one way. And that, is to travel through the Canyons of the East."
Atsuko folded her arms. "So, where are these canyons?" she asked. Hotsuma pointed down the road. "We continue walking this path until we reach a deep crevasse. We cross the crevasse to reach the canyons. From there, we travel the canyons until we reach the gates."
Atsuko jumped up. "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" She grabbed Ryo by his arm and started running full- speed down the road.
Hotsuma stared at them. He shook his head and followed.
"Where the heck are we?" Yasuko asked as she and Namiko climbed down some ledges. "You expect me to know?" Namiko replied.
Yasuko turned to her. "Look, we're not on the same side. So don't talk to me that way." Yasuko started walking off.
"Same side? If that's true, then why did Yasutoki use you instead of allowing you to complete the job yourself?"
Yasuko turned to Namiko. "Yasutoki would never use me. Why would he?"
Namiko took a few steps forward. "You would still say that when he inhabited your body and used you. In my opinion, I would never call someone like that my master."
Yasuko gritted her teeth. "Shut up! You have no idea what my life was like before I joined the Black Dragon. I had no parents, no home. I was all alone, in a world where no one knew I existed!"
Namiko winced. "I never knew my parents either. I think the only time I ever actually saw my mother's face was when I was just a baby. And then, my mentor the only family I ever had, was killed by the Black Dragon. I know how you feel, but do you think Yasutoki cares about you? He's using you to do his dirty work," Namiko stated.
"You're wrong! You have to be." Yasuko sat down on the ground, grasping her knees close to her chest.
Namiko was about to reply when ten ninjas appeared. "What now?" Namiko said to herself.
She took out Akujki and prepared for the fight.
"I see we meet again, little Namiko."
Namiko looked up to see the voice coming from Shizuka, who was standing on a cliff.
"I believe it's time we finished our battle!" Shizuka jumped down from the ledge and took out her fan. It glowed blue for a second, as if powering up.
Namiko was about to attack when the ninjas threw shurikens at her. She back- flipped, only to have two of the ninjas get behind her.
Namiko quickly disposed of one and then kicked the other. She then stabbed it. Akujki turned a bluish color. Namiko dashed at the other ninjas, slashing them, until Akujki was charged up at its maximum power. "Take this!" Namiko cried out as she ran towards Shizuka.
She slashed downward, only to have Shizuka block the attack. "No way!" Namiko cried out.
Shizuka wasted no time. She flipped and kicked Namiko to the ground. She then thre her fan, which broke apart into three separate fans, at Namiko.
Namiko jumped to the side, dodging the fans.
"Behind you!" Namiko turned to see Shizuka swing her fan downward. Namiko blocked the attack and retaliated by slashing upwards.
Shizuka jumped and swung her fan, sending a blue slash at Namiko. Namiko guarded against it. She barely cancelled out the slash to see Shizuka swing her fan six times.
Namiko remembered this move. She quickly jumped from spot to spot, voiding the small explosions.
Namiko quickly ran on one of the cliffs and then jumped off towards Shizuka. Namiko quickly slashed downward. Shizuka blocked the attack, but her fan had grown weak from guarding against Akujki at its maximum.
Shizuka's fan was sliced in half. "Not possible!" Shizuka yelled out. Namiko quickly dashed at Shizuka and slashed her three times.
Shizuka staggered backwards. "It seems, I have truly been defeated."
Namiko sheathed Akujki away. "What do you people want with Akujki?" she asked.
Shizuka grasped her wounds. "I do not know. Master Yasutoki has never informed us of his plans."
"That's a lie, Shizuka. I thought you knew better."
All three of them turned to see Hitoshi standing before them.
"Hitoshi! What are you doing here? I was to acquire Akujiki!" Shizuka stated.
Hitoshi smiled. "It's easy to see you've already failed. I hope you understand Master Yasutoki doesn't tolerate failure. And besides, he transported them to the Glass Palace, or what is left of it, so you would have a better chance of killing them. But you failed."
"And you're here to make up for the failure?" Shizuka replied. Hitoshi shook his head. "I'm here to clean up the mess, you could say."
Hitoshi waved his hand and a strange black aura appeared around Shizuka. "My dark energies have been growing. They are too much for you to handle now."
The aura ignited, causing Shizuka to scream in pain.
"Hitoshi! Stop!" Yasuko yelled.
Hitoshi turned to her. "And you little girl, the Black Dragon no longer has a need for you. As of now, you are no longer part of it."
Yasuko stepped back. "But then, why was I recruited?" Hitoshi laughed. "You still can't see why? You were an easy target. You would have practically gone with anyone. Master Yasutoki just acted like a father figure, and you did what ever he said. But now, you've used up your usefulness."
Yasuko gritted her teeth. "You, you all just tricked me! Used me!" She stopped. "And I cooperated."
The aura around Shizuka dissipated, and she fell to the ground, dead.
Yasuko looked up. "Why is Master Yasutoki getting rid of everyone?" she asked.
Hitoshi smiled. "You don't get it. You see, the Black Dragon has evolved. The game is at its critical point. Those who cannot assist, but only get in the way, should be eliminated, don't you think? Master Yasutoki now knows, obtaining Akujki is a much more difficult task. Why waste time on pathetic pawns, when it is time to take the win?" Hitoshi explained.
Yasuko took a few steps back. "So all this time, Yasutoki used all of us. He's even using you!" she exclaimed. Hitoshi placed his hands in his coat pockets. "Maybe, but I'm not so easily fooled. Besides, I have other things that need attention."
Namiko stepped in front of Yasuko. "Stop! There's no point in talking. You're still after Akujki, and as far as I know, the Black Dragon is cruel, killing those who have no meaning to them anymore!"
Hitoshi laughed. "Yes, you are not part of this specific argument, but you are one of the roots of the problems. So, young Namiko, telling you to hand over Akujki won't work. So, I'll resort to plan B."
Hitoshi jumped on a cliff. A black aura surrounded it. Hitoshi smiled. "I can use dark ninjutsu to manipulate matter. You'll be the first one to witness it!"
The cliff started to take the form of a huge body. Hitoshi laughed. "Let us see how well you can handle a golemn."
The golemn attempted to smash is fist in the ground. A huge shock wave erupted. "Come on!" Namiko grabbed Yasuko's arm and they jumped to another cliff. "You can't escape!" Hitoshi shouted.
The golemn punched the cliff Yasuko jumped down, however Namiko jumped on top of the golemn's arm. She slashed down, only to have Akujki be bounced back at her.
Hitoshi smirked. "It's impossible. The rock has turned completely solid. Not even Akujki can put a dent on it."
The golemn attempted to punch Namiko with its other arm, however, Namiko jumped from its other arm down.
"What am I supposed to do?! I can't damage it!" he thought.
"Ready to surrender?" Hitoshi shouted. Namiko shook her head. "Never!"
The golemn began stomping its feet, creating more shock waves.
Namiko avoided them. The golemn then pushed its chest frontward. Strange boulders flew out of it. A red aura enveloped each of them.
They each flew at Namiko. She quickly slashed one. The boulder fell apart. "Yes!" Namiko thought happily. Akujiki gained a bluish aura. Namiko jumped from boulder to boulder, gaining their Yin.
After Akujki was charged at its maximum, she dashed at the golemn, which flew a punch.
Namiko closed her eyes and slashed. She landed on the ground and looked up. The golem's arm fell to the ground.
"Hitoshi frowned. "No!"
"Hey!" Namiko turned to see Yasuko throw some sort of scroll at her. "Use it! Use the Ka'en ninjutsu!" Yasuko yelled.
"Ka'en ninjutsu?" Namiko wondered.
Namiko saw no other choice but to jump up. The golemn's arm uprooted from the ground, giving Namiko a boost. "Well, let's give it a try," she said to herself.
She dashed at the golemn's chest and opened the scroll. A strange orange glow emanated from it.
An orange shield surrounded Namiko, while a devastating explosion hit the Golemn head on.
Hitoshi almost stumbled, but quickly jumped n a neighboring cliff.
The golemn fell apart. Namiko landed on it and jumped down.
"I see. Well, young Namiko, you have surpassed my expectations of your levels. I'd like to finish this at the ruin of the great Glass Palace!"
Hitoshi smiled one last time before disappearing.
Namiko turned to Yasuko. "Thanks. I probably wouldn't have defeated it without your help."
Yasuko shook her head. "The Black Dragon won't use me anymore. I will finish them."
Namiko nodded and started running off towards the palace, with Yasuko close behind.
(Well, that's chapter nine. Review, please.)
Ryo and Atsuko walked on the dirt road for two hours. Of course, they had no idea where they were supposed o go.
"We have to find Namiko!" Atsuko exclaimed as they turned. Ryo looked at her. "Don't you think I know that? The only thing is where she is."
Atsuko shook her head. "Yeah, but she's with that Black Dragon girl! Do you think she can handle her all by herself?"
Ryo folded his arms. "I don't know, but her disappearing and that fog are intertwined. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the Black Dragon tried to separate us, and they succeeded."
Atsuko kicked a small stone. "I hate this!" she pouted.
"Unfortunately, this is the way it is."
Ryo and Atsuko turned to see Hotsuma appear in front of them.
Ryo smirked. "I'd like to think you know where Namiko and that girl are," he said. Hotsuma nodded. "I do." Ryo rubbed his nose. "Okay, would you mind telling us?" Ryo asked. Hotsuma folded his arms.
"Namiko and the girl, Yasuko, have been transported to the gates of the ancient Glass Palace."
"Glass Palace?" Ryo asked. Hotsuma nodded.
"Two centuries ago, a great palace was created to honor the greatest emperor of that time. However, a great war raged across many countries. By the time the battles had ceased, the palace was shattered. Its ruins resembled those of a broken mirror, thus, people started to call it the Glass Palace."
Ryo scratched his head. "That's very interesting, but how do we get there?"
Hotsuma shook his head. "I only know of one way. And that, is to travel through the Canyons of the East."
Atsuko folded her arms. "So, where are these canyons?" she asked. Hotsuma pointed down the road. "We continue walking this path until we reach a deep crevasse. We cross the crevasse to reach the canyons. From there, we travel the canyons until we reach the gates."
Atsuko jumped up. "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" She grabbed Ryo by his arm and started running full- speed down the road.
Hotsuma stared at them. He shook his head and followed.
"Where the heck are we?" Yasuko asked as she and Namiko climbed down some ledges. "You expect me to know?" Namiko replied.
Yasuko turned to her. "Look, we're not on the same side. So don't talk to me that way." Yasuko started walking off.
"Same side? If that's true, then why did Yasutoki use you instead of allowing you to complete the job yourself?"
Yasuko turned to Namiko. "Yasutoki would never use me. Why would he?"
Namiko took a few steps forward. "You would still say that when he inhabited your body and used you. In my opinion, I would never call someone like that my master."
Yasuko gritted her teeth. "Shut up! You have no idea what my life was like before I joined the Black Dragon. I had no parents, no home. I was all alone, in a world where no one knew I existed!"
Namiko winced. "I never knew my parents either. I think the only time I ever actually saw my mother's face was when I was just a baby. And then, my mentor the only family I ever had, was killed by the Black Dragon. I know how you feel, but do you think Yasutoki cares about you? He's using you to do his dirty work," Namiko stated.
"You're wrong! You have to be." Yasuko sat down on the ground, grasping her knees close to her chest.
Namiko was about to reply when ten ninjas appeared. "What now?" Namiko said to herself.
She took out Akujki and prepared for the fight.
"I see we meet again, little Namiko."
Namiko looked up to see the voice coming from Shizuka, who was standing on a cliff.
"I believe it's time we finished our battle!" Shizuka jumped down from the ledge and took out her fan. It glowed blue for a second, as if powering up.
Namiko was about to attack when the ninjas threw shurikens at her. She back- flipped, only to have two of the ninjas get behind her.
Namiko quickly disposed of one and then kicked the other. She then stabbed it. Akujki turned a bluish color. Namiko dashed at the other ninjas, slashing them, until Akujki was charged up at its maximum power. "Take this!" Namiko cried out as she ran towards Shizuka.
She slashed downward, only to have Shizuka block the attack. "No way!" Namiko cried out.
Shizuka wasted no time. She flipped and kicked Namiko to the ground. She then thre her fan, which broke apart into three separate fans, at Namiko.
Namiko jumped to the side, dodging the fans.
"Behind you!" Namiko turned to see Shizuka swing her fan downward. Namiko blocked the attack and retaliated by slashing upwards.
Shizuka jumped and swung her fan, sending a blue slash at Namiko. Namiko guarded against it. She barely cancelled out the slash to see Shizuka swing her fan six times.
Namiko remembered this move. She quickly jumped from spot to spot, voiding the small explosions.
Namiko quickly ran on one of the cliffs and then jumped off towards Shizuka. Namiko quickly slashed downward. Shizuka blocked the attack, but her fan had grown weak from guarding against Akujki at its maximum.
Shizuka's fan was sliced in half. "Not possible!" Shizuka yelled out. Namiko quickly dashed at Shizuka and slashed her three times.
Shizuka staggered backwards. "It seems, I have truly been defeated."
Namiko sheathed Akujki away. "What do you people want with Akujki?" she asked.
Shizuka grasped her wounds. "I do not know. Master Yasutoki has never informed us of his plans."
"That's a lie, Shizuka. I thought you knew better."
All three of them turned to see Hitoshi standing before them.
"Hitoshi! What are you doing here? I was to acquire Akujiki!" Shizuka stated.
Hitoshi smiled. "It's easy to see you've already failed. I hope you understand Master Yasutoki doesn't tolerate failure. And besides, he transported them to the Glass Palace, or what is left of it, so you would have a better chance of killing them. But you failed."
"And you're here to make up for the failure?" Shizuka replied. Hitoshi shook his head. "I'm here to clean up the mess, you could say."
Hitoshi waved his hand and a strange black aura appeared around Shizuka. "My dark energies have been growing. They are too much for you to handle now."
The aura ignited, causing Shizuka to scream in pain.
"Hitoshi! Stop!" Yasuko yelled.
Hitoshi turned to her. "And you little girl, the Black Dragon no longer has a need for you. As of now, you are no longer part of it."
Yasuko stepped back. "But then, why was I recruited?" Hitoshi laughed. "You still can't see why? You were an easy target. You would have practically gone with anyone. Master Yasutoki just acted like a father figure, and you did what ever he said. But now, you've used up your usefulness."
Yasuko gritted her teeth. "You, you all just tricked me! Used me!" She stopped. "And I cooperated."
The aura around Shizuka dissipated, and she fell to the ground, dead.
Yasuko looked up. "Why is Master Yasutoki getting rid of everyone?" she asked.
Hitoshi smiled. "You don't get it. You see, the Black Dragon has evolved. The game is at its critical point. Those who cannot assist, but only get in the way, should be eliminated, don't you think? Master Yasutoki now knows, obtaining Akujki is a much more difficult task. Why waste time on pathetic pawns, when it is time to take the win?" Hitoshi explained.
Yasuko took a few steps back. "So all this time, Yasutoki used all of us. He's even using you!" she exclaimed. Hitoshi placed his hands in his coat pockets. "Maybe, but I'm not so easily fooled. Besides, I have other things that need attention."
Namiko stepped in front of Yasuko. "Stop! There's no point in talking. You're still after Akujki, and as far as I know, the Black Dragon is cruel, killing those who have no meaning to them anymore!"
Hitoshi laughed. "Yes, you are not part of this specific argument, but you are one of the roots of the problems. So, young Namiko, telling you to hand over Akujki won't work. So, I'll resort to plan B."
Hitoshi jumped on a cliff. A black aura surrounded it. Hitoshi smiled. "I can use dark ninjutsu to manipulate matter. You'll be the first one to witness it!"
The cliff started to take the form of a huge body. Hitoshi laughed. "Let us see how well you can handle a golemn."
The golemn attempted to smash is fist in the ground. A huge shock wave erupted. "Come on!" Namiko grabbed Yasuko's arm and they jumped to another cliff. "You can't escape!" Hitoshi shouted.
The golemn punched the cliff Yasuko jumped down, however Namiko jumped on top of the golemn's arm. She slashed down, only to have Akujki be bounced back at her.
Hitoshi smirked. "It's impossible. The rock has turned completely solid. Not even Akujki can put a dent on it."
The golemn attempted to punch Namiko with its other arm, however, Namiko jumped from its other arm down.
"What am I supposed to do?! I can't damage it!" he thought.
"Ready to surrender?" Hitoshi shouted. Namiko shook her head. "Never!"
The golemn began stomping its feet, creating more shock waves.
Namiko avoided them. The golemn then pushed its chest frontward. Strange boulders flew out of it. A red aura enveloped each of them.
They each flew at Namiko. She quickly slashed one. The boulder fell apart. "Yes!" Namiko thought happily. Akujiki gained a bluish aura. Namiko jumped from boulder to boulder, gaining their Yin.
After Akujki was charged at its maximum, she dashed at the golemn, which flew a punch.
Namiko closed her eyes and slashed. She landed on the ground and looked up. The golem's arm fell to the ground.
"Hitoshi frowned. "No!"
"Hey!" Namiko turned to see Yasuko throw some sort of scroll at her. "Use it! Use the Ka'en ninjutsu!" Yasuko yelled.
"Ka'en ninjutsu?" Namiko wondered.
Namiko saw no other choice but to jump up. The golemn's arm uprooted from the ground, giving Namiko a boost. "Well, let's give it a try," she said to herself.
She dashed at the golemn's chest and opened the scroll. A strange orange glow emanated from it.
An orange shield surrounded Namiko, while a devastating explosion hit the Golemn head on.
Hitoshi almost stumbled, but quickly jumped n a neighboring cliff.
The golemn fell apart. Namiko landed on it and jumped down.
"I see. Well, young Namiko, you have surpassed my expectations of your levels. I'd like to finish this at the ruin of the great Glass Palace!"
Hitoshi smiled one last time before disappearing.
Namiko turned to Yasuko. "Thanks. I probably wouldn't have defeated it without your help."
Yasuko shook her head. "The Black Dragon won't use me anymore. I will finish them."
Namiko nodded and started running off towards the palace, with Yasuko close behind.
(Well, that's chapter nine. Review, please.)