(Well, I feel that I'll take Dragon Lady9's advice, or else she'll
decapitate me and put my head on a spear. Heh heh. Oh well, I estimate that
I'm going to work hard on this chapter, so, it's going to be long. I
think.)
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE FALL OF THE BLACK DRAGON
The elevator moved along slowly as Ryo leaned against the wall. Atsuko frowned a little as Yasuko touched the point of one of her daggers.
The elevator ceased to a halt, revealing a large chamber with a huge stairway at the end. In the middle of the room lay a large pillar with two stone samurai at each side of it.
"Let's go," Yasuko said as she started walking towards the stairway.
Just as she passed the pillar, the stone samurai on the left stood straight and turned. Yasuko took out one of her shurikens and threw it at the stone samurai. It hit the samurai's shoulder and deflected off of it.
Yasuko winced and took out her daggers. "I'm in a very bad mood today, so don't tick me off!" She ran at the samurai and started slashing it. It prepared its blade, ignoring the blows Yasuko was dealing it.
The samurai slashed down, causing Yasuko to flip out of the way.
Ryo unsheathed his sword and joined in the fray. The other samurai stood up and began to battle with Ryo.
It semi- slowly slashed at Ryo. He blocked it and slashed the samurai in the stomach. Because the samurai was made out of stone, the sword barely scratched the samurai. Ryo winced and jumped backwards.
"Have any ideas?" Ryo asked. Yasuko shook her head. "No. You/" Ryo looked at her. "Why do you think I asked?"
The samurai rushed at them at the same time. They both slashed their corresponding wall, trying to hit Ryo and Yasuko.
Ryo and Yasuko rolled underneath the samurai's arms and jumped forward. They began to rapidly slash the samurai, back, slowly, but surely, weakening them.
The samurai turned and slashed, causing Ryo and Yasuko to duck.
Ryo jumped back. "We need to somehow break their defense." Yasuko grabbed a handful of her shurikens. "If this doesn't work, we can declare defeat."
She jumped at the samurai and dug her shurikens into its higher chest. She forced them in as far as she could, and then started moving them down.
The samurai seemed to be weakening from this assault.
Ryo nodded and stabbed his corresponding samurai in the stomach. He forced the blade in with all his strength and started forcing it upwards.
The samurai seemed stronger than the other one. It slashed horizontally, causing Ryo to move to the side, leaving his sword stuck in the samurai.
As the slash stopped, Ryo turned, jerked his sword out, turned again, and forced it into the samurai's back.
He forced all the way, bursting it through the samurai.
The samurai fell to the floor, yet Yasuko was having trouble.
Ryo grabbed his sword and stabbed the samurai in the back. Yasuko jumped back, but then rushed in and stabbed her dagger into the samurai's forehead.
"You guys okay?" Atsuko asked as she ran up to them. Yasuko placed her daggers back into their holsters. "Come on, we have a battle to finish."
Ryo nodded and followed Yasuko to the stairway.
Atsuko followed without a word.
The stairway seemed to reach into the heavens. "How much farther?" Atsuko asked, practically dragging her legs. "Not much," Yasuko answered, "I think I can see the stars. We'll get there. We have to."
The trio reached the top of the palace. There were many stars scattered across the sky, while an eerie orange glow from two torches filled the area.
Yasuko walked up. "Show yourself Yasutoki."
"Well, it seems we meet again my young friends."
The group turned to see Yasutoki standing behind them. "Did you actually believe you were escaping without a battle?" he asked calmly.
Yasuko unsheathed her daggers. "There's one thing though, we'll be escaping, while you'll be decomposing," she answered.
Yasutoki laughed. "You've always been quite funny Yasuko. But now, I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you all. I hope you're prepared to face your fate."
"What do you two believe you are trying to do?" Hitoshi asked. "We are here to end this," Hotsuma answered.
Hitoshi laughed. "What do you people think you're going to do? You may think you can win, but in the end, you'll both die, and Akujki will be mine."
Hotsuma unsheathed his sword. "We will try."
Hitoshi laughed once more. "Hotsuma, I forgot we have a duel to finish. Well then, it will be enjoyable to kill the last surviving Oboro member."
Hotsuma held out his sword in front of him. "We'll see."
Hitoshi took out his sword. They then locked blades.
Hitoshi jumped off one of the many pillars in the room and jumped off at Hotsuma. He slashed once, causing Hotsuma to move to the side. Hotsuma slashed downward at Hitoshi, who blocked and counteracted by slashing upward.
Hotsuma jumped to the side and slashed twice. Hitoshi dodged the first and blocked the second.
"Why are you continuing to fight for a lost cause?" "Because I can."
Hotsuma slashed, taking Hitoshi off his guard. He then smashed him with his elbo, followed it up with a high, then a low kick, and then three slashes. The third slash sent Hitoshi crashing through a wall into the next chamber.
Hitoshi started laughing. He stood up, unshaken. "Interesting Hotsuma. But you're going to have to try much harder if you want me dead."
Yasutoki unsheathed his two swords. "I'm curious as to see just how powerful you fools are."
Yasuko gritted her teeth. "Sorry, but I'm going to have to kill you before you get to find out!"
She dashed at Yasutoki, but then dashed behind him and slashed. However, he quickly turned and slashed her dagger out of her hand. She shook it off and slashed with her other one.
Yasutoki dodged the slashes easily. He then slashed Yasuko twice, sending her to the floor.
"Much too easy Yasuko. I expected much more," he said. "Expect this!"
Ryo slashed Yasutoki in the back, causing him to stagger forward. "You fool. You will be the first to die!"
Yasutoki started alternating his attacks at Ryo between his swords. Ryo was barely able to dodge and block each attack.
Suddenly, Yasutoki flipped behind Ryo, and performed a multiple slash attack, sending him to the edge of the roof.
Yasuko jumped off. "Yasutoki!" She threw a handful of shurikens at him. Yasutoki smiled and sheathed his blade away. He then caught each of the shurikens with his open hand.
"Is that the best you can do, Yasuko? I'm quite disappointed. It seems I did not teach you well enough."
"You taught me enough!" Yasuk jumped up and kicked Yasutoki in the face. She then threw her last shuriken at him. The shuriken pierced his lower stomach.
"Why did you waste your last shuriken on my abdomen, when you could hit my heart?"
Yasutoki started walking towards Yasuko. "Fool."
He suddenly teleported and smashed her to the edge of the roof. She slid off, but grabbed onto the edge.
"Now, die." Yasutoki teleported to Yasuko, who was slowly getting back up onto the roof. He raised both of his swords in an attempt to stab her.
He thrust his blades downward, but Yasuko rolled to the side and jumped up. She rushed at him and drove her last dagger into his heart.
Yasutoki frowned, but grabbed Yasuko's hand and shoved her to the ground.
Ryo quickly stood up. "Hey! Forgetting about me!" Ryo dashed at him and slashed. Yasutoki blocked and retaliated by slashing again. Ryo blocked and they locked blades for a moment.
Ryo gritted his teeth. "Take this!" He quickly slashed both Yasutoki's swords apart and slashed him hard in his chest.
Ryo sheathed his sword away while Yasutoki staggered backwards.
"How? Why, did have... to end this way? Tell me... why?"
He collapsed to the ground in a heap of blood.
Atsuko walked up to Ryo. "You did it! You killed him! It's finally over!" she shouted.
Ryo winced. "I hope so."
Hitoshi dashed at Hotsuma and slashed, however, Hotsuma dashed to the side causing Hitoshi to slice a pillar in half.
Hitoshi smirked and slashed again. Hotsuma blocked and countered, but Hitoshi twirled around and slashed Hotsuma in the back.
Hotsuma turned and kicked Hitoshi, breaking his guard. Hotsuma followed it up by slashing, but Hitoshi punched him, stopping his blade.
Hotsuma dashed around Hitoshi and slashed. Hitoshi turned and kicked Hotsuma's sword out of his hand.
Hotsuma was distracted for a second, one second. Hitoshi quickly stabbed Hotsuma, driving his sword through him.
Hotsuma yelled a silent yell as his blood seeped out.
Hitoshi pulled his sword out. "Interesting. Yet, my sword has been stained with the blood of a member of the Oboro. I have to say, interesting."
"You!" Namiko dashed at Hitoshi and slashed. Hitoshi smiled and slashed Akujiki out of Namiko's hand. He caught it with ease and pushed Namiko away.
"Namiko grabbed her hand, blood seeping out of it.
Hitoshi laughed. "Isn't it amazing how easily you lost Akujki. I could've done that so many times before, but I had to play this game very, very carefully. I had to make sure no one would stop me," Hitoshi explained.
Namiko stared at him. "Is that why you had the rest of the Black Dragon killed? Is that why?"
Hitoshi laughed. "You catch on so very quickly young Namiko. Those fools would just get in my way, get between me and my ultimate goal."
Namiko winced. "And what is that?" she asked curiously.
Hitoshi smiled. "Why don't you watch?"
Hitoshi twisted Akujki around and stabbed himself. Namiko was shocked at what he did.
Hitoshi smiled. "Now Akujki, merge with me. Let us become one!"
A huge red aura surrounded Hitoshi. He started to yell out in pain.
The red aura bursted into a single ray of Yin, which blasted up through the palace.
"Move!" Ryo yelled as he grabbed Yasuko and Atsuko and ran to he edge of the roof. They narrowly escaped the beam of Yin as it blasted into the sky. "What the?!" Ryo thought.
Namiko and Hotsuma watched as the aura dissipated, leaving Hitoshi standing there.
His hair had turned silver, and his eyes had turned cold and red. His veins had become a bright red, causing them to stand out on his body.
He pulled Akujki out of his stomach and threw it to the floor.
"Now, let the true game begin."
(Err. This is the last chapter before the extra, extra long last chapter. Keep your pants on shinobi- crazed man who has taken me hostage in an abandoned warehouse. Also keep your pants on young fans, as this final chapter may take a few days.)
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE FALL OF THE BLACK DRAGON
The elevator moved along slowly as Ryo leaned against the wall. Atsuko frowned a little as Yasuko touched the point of one of her daggers.
The elevator ceased to a halt, revealing a large chamber with a huge stairway at the end. In the middle of the room lay a large pillar with two stone samurai at each side of it.
"Let's go," Yasuko said as she started walking towards the stairway.
Just as she passed the pillar, the stone samurai on the left stood straight and turned. Yasuko took out one of her shurikens and threw it at the stone samurai. It hit the samurai's shoulder and deflected off of it.
Yasuko winced and took out her daggers. "I'm in a very bad mood today, so don't tick me off!" She ran at the samurai and started slashing it. It prepared its blade, ignoring the blows Yasuko was dealing it.
The samurai slashed down, causing Yasuko to flip out of the way.
Ryo unsheathed his sword and joined in the fray. The other samurai stood up and began to battle with Ryo.
It semi- slowly slashed at Ryo. He blocked it and slashed the samurai in the stomach. Because the samurai was made out of stone, the sword barely scratched the samurai. Ryo winced and jumped backwards.
"Have any ideas?" Ryo asked. Yasuko shook her head. "No. You/" Ryo looked at her. "Why do you think I asked?"
The samurai rushed at them at the same time. They both slashed their corresponding wall, trying to hit Ryo and Yasuko.
Ryo and Yasuko rolled underneath the samurai's arms and jumped forward. They began to rapidly slash the samurai, back, slowly, but surely, weakening them.
The samurai turned and slashed, causing Ryo and Yasuko to duck.
Ryo jumped back. "We need to somehow break their defense." Yasuko grabbed a handful of her shurikens. "If this doesn't work, we can declare defeat."
She jumped at the samurai and dug her shurikens into its higher chest. She forced them in as far as she could, and then started moving them down.
The samurai seemed to be weakening from this assault.
Ryo nodded and stabbed his corresponding samurai in the stomach. He forced the blade in with all his strength and started forcing it upwards.
The samurai seemed stronger than the other one. It slashed horizontally, causing Ryo to move to the side, leaving his sword stuck in the samurai.
As the slash stopped, Ryo turned, jerked his sword out, turned again, and forced it into the samurai's back.
He forced all the way, bursting it through the samurai.
The samurai fell to the floor, yet Yasuko was having trouble.
Ryo grabbed his sword and stabbed the samurai in the back. Yasuko jumped back, but then rushed in and stabbed her dagger into the samurai's forehead.
"You guys okay?" Atsuko asked as she ran up to them. Yasuko placed her daggers back into their holsters. "Come on, we have a battle to finish."
Ryo nodded and followed Yasuko to the stairway.
Atsuko followed without a word.
The stairway seemed to reach into the heavens. "How much farther?" Atsuko asked, practically dragging her legs. "Not much," Yasuko answered, "I think I can see the stars. We'll get there. We have to."
The trio reached the top of the palace. There were many stars scattered across the sky, while an eerie orange glow from two torches filled the area.
Yasuko walked up. "Show yourself Yasutoki."
"Well, it seems we meet again my young friends."
The group turned to see Yasutoki standing behind them. "Did you actually believe you were escaping without a battle?" he asked calmly.
Yasuko unsheathed her daggers. "There's one thing though, we'll be escaping, while you'll be decomposing," she answered.
Yasutoki laughed. "You've always been quite funny Yasuko. But now, I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you all. I hope you're prepared to face your fate."
"What do you two believe you are trying to do?" Hitoshi asked. "We are here to end this," Hotsuma answered.
Hitoshi laughed. "What do you people think you're going to do? You may think you can win, but in the end, you'll both die, and Akujki will be mine."
Hotsuma unsheathed his sword. "We will try."
Hitoshi laughed once more. "Hotsuma, I forgot we have a duel to finish. Well then, it will be enjoyable to kill the last surviving Oboro member."
Hotsuma held out his sword in front of him. "We'll see."
Hitoshi took out his sword. They then locked blades.
Hitoshi jumped off one of the many pillars in the room and jumped off at Hotsuma. He slashed once, causing Hotsuma to move to the side. Hotsuma slashed downward at Hitoshi, who blocked and counteracted by slashing upward.
Hotsuma jumped to the side and slashed twice. Hitoshi dodged the first and blocked the second.
"Why are you continuing to fight for a lost cause?" "Because I can."
Hotsuma slashed, taking Hitoshi off his guard. He then smashed him with his elbo, followed it up with a high, then a low kick, and then three slashes. The third slash sent Hitoshi crashing through a wall into the next chamber.
Hitoshi started laughing. He stood up, unshaken. "Interesting Hotsuma. But you're going to have to try much harder if you want me dead."
Yasutoki unsheathed his two swords. "I'm curious as to see just how powerful you fools are."
Yasuko gritted her teeth. "Sorry, but I'm going to have to kill you before you get to find out!"
She dashed at Yasutoki, but then dashed behind him and slashed. However, he quickly turned and slashed her dagger out of her hand. She shook it off and slashed with her other one.
Yasutoki dodged the slashes easily. He then slashed Yasuko twice, sending her to the floor.
"Much too easy Yasuko. I expected much more," he said. "Expect this!"
Ryo slashed Yasutoki in the back, causing him to stagger forward. "You fool. You will be the first to die!"
Yasutoki started alternating his attacks at Ryo between his swords. Ryo was barely able to dodge and block each attack.
Suddenly, Yasutoki flipped behind Ryo, and performed a multiple slash attack, sending him to the edge of the roof.
Yasuko jumped off. "Yasutoki!" She threw a handful of shurikens at him. Yasutoki smiled and sheathed his blade away. He then caught each of the shurikens with his open hand.
"Is that the best you can do, Yasuko? I'm quite disappointed. It seems I did not teach you well enough."
"You taught me enough!" Yasuk jumped up and kicked Yasutoki in the face. She then threw her last shuriken at him. The shuriken pierced his lower stomach.
"Why did you waste your last shuriken on my abdomen, when you could hit my heart?"
Yasutoki started walking towards Yasuko. "Fool."
He suddenly teleported and smashed her to the edge of the roof. She slid off, but grabbed onto the edge.
"Now, die." Yasutoki teleported to Yasuko, who was slowly getting back up onto the roof. He raised both of his swords in an attempt to stab her.
He thrust his blades downward, but Yasuko rolled to the side and jumped up. She rushed at him and drove her last dagger into his heart.
Yasutoki frowned, but grabbed Yasuko's hand and shoved her to the ground.
Ryo quickly stood up. "Hey! Forgetting about me!" Ryo dashed at him and slashed. Yasutoki blocked and retaliated by slashing again. Ryo blocked and they locked blades for a moment.
Ryo gritted his teeth. "Take this!" He quickly slashed both Yasutoki's swords apart and slashed him hard in his chest.
Ryo sheathed his sword away while Yasutoki staggered backwards.
"How? Why, did have... to end this way? Tell me... why?"
He collapsed to the ground in a heap of blood.
Atsuko walked up to Ryo. "You did it! You killed him! It's finally over!" she shouted.
Ryo winced. "I hope so."
Hitoshi dashed at Hotsuma and slashed, however, Hotsuma dashed to the side causing Hitoshi to slice a pillar in half.
Hitoshi smirked and slashed again. Hotsuma blocked and countered, but Hitoshi twirled around and slashed Hotsuma in the back.
Hotsuma turned and kicked Hitoshi, breaking his guard. Hotsuma followed it up by slashing, but Hitoshi punched him, stopping his blade.
Hotsuma dashed around Hitoshi and slashed. Hitoshi turned and kicked Hotsuma's sword out of his hand.
Hotsuma was distracted for a second, one second. Hitoshi quickly stabbed Hotsuma, driving his sword through him.
Hotsuma yelled a silent yell as his blood seeped out.
Hitoshi pulled his sword out. "Interesting. Yet, my sword has been stained with the blood of a member of the Oboro. I have to say, interesting."
"You!" Namiko dashed at Hitoshi and slashed. Hitoshi smiled and slashed Akujiki out of Namiko's hand. He caught it with ease and pushed Namiko away.
"Namiko grabbed her hand, blood seeping out of it.
Hitoshi laughed. "Isn't it amazing how easily you lost Akujki. I could've done that so many times before, but I had to play this game very, very carefully. I had to make sure no one would stop me," Hitoshi explained.
Namiko stared at him. "Is that why you had the rest of the Black Dragon killed? Is that why?"
Hitoshi laughed. "You catch on so very quickly young Namiko. Those fools would just get in my way, get between me and my ultimate goal."
Namiko winced. "And what is that?" she asked curiously.
Hitoshi smiled. "Why don't you watch?"
Hitoshi twisted Akujki around and stabbed himself. Namiko was shocked at what he did.
Hitoshi smiled. "Now Akujki, merge with me. Let us become one!"
A huge red aura surrounded Hitoshi. He started to yell out in pain.
The red aura bursted into a single ray of Yin, which blasted up through the palace.
"Move!" Ryo yelled as he grabbed Yasuko and Atsuko and ran to he edge of the roof. They narrowly escaped the beam of Yin as it blasted into the sky. "What the?!" Ryo thought.
Namiko and Hotsuma watched as the aura dissipated, leaving Hitoshi standing there.
His hair had turned silver, and his eyes had turned cold and red. His veins had become a bright red, causing them to stand out on his body.
He pulled Akujki out of his stomach and threw it to the floor.
"Now, let the true game begin."
(Err. This is the last chapter before the extra, extra long last chapter. Keep your pants on shinobi- crazed man who has taken me hostage in an abandoned warehouse. Also keep your pants on young fans, as this final chapter may take a few days.)