Les Jeux Mystèrieux: The Mysterious Games
AN: The real AN will come at the end, as usual. This is a disclaimer. There is a lot of violence and some blood in this chapter and the ones to come. If this bothers you, you don't have to read. Just don't say I didn't warn you.
Kat: Last episode, the group got to Sailo's Battle Arena.
Luna: Jeff was there, being the Guanjun/Champion.
Max: But in order to meet him, somebody had to compete in the martial arts tournament.
Janna: So we decided to have Chris do it.
(silence)
Jeff: Surprisingly, he actually got to the final round.
Anne: Now he's going to go against Jeff…
(awkward silence)
Janna: Hey, where are Chris and Nick?
Jeff: Last I saw them, they were hiding in a corner from "Episode 17".
Luna: I told them sniffing spray paint would hurt them! But they just didn't listen! (bursts into tears)
Episode 17: Chi no nagare ni uzumeru (Buried in the flow of blood)
(The group watches as Toroki walks towards Tokaki, holding two small metal trident-head things. Toroki, like the rest of the group, is dressed in typical Sailan clothes, but he also has a wooden staff strapped across his back, two scabbards on either side of his waist with protruding handles, two small, wide, empty scabbard-looking pouches, and one long scabbard on his left hip, also with a sheathed sword. He's pretty armed.)
Toroki: Are you ready?
Tokaki: Um…no? Are we really supposed to fight?
Toroki: Of course not. But the audience wants a performance, do they not?
Tokaki: That's their problem! I can't fight you.
Toroki: Very true. I suppose I shall have to handle this.
(Toroki turns away from Tokaki, addressing the audience. Of course, the audience is all around him, so turning away from Tokaki turns him away from a third of the spectators…)
Toroki: (in a voice as loud as the Announcer's) ALL OF YOU, I THANK YOU HEARTFELTEDLY FOR COMING TO THIS TOURNAMENT TO DECIDE THE NEW GUANJUN!
(The crowd roars)
Toroki: BUT I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE.
(The crowd quiets)
Toroki: AS YOU ALL KNOW, TOKAKI IS A CELESTIAL WARRIOR. I AM A CELESTIAL WARRIOR AS WELL. THE PRIESTESS OF BYAKKO HAS COME TO THIS BATTLE ARENA TO FIND ME. IT IS MY DUTY TO GO WITH HER ON HER JOURNEY.
(silence)
Toroki: BECAUSE OF THIS, THERE WILL BE NO FINAL MATCH. NO MATTER WHICH OF US WOULD WIN, NEITHER OF US WOULD ASSUME THE POSITION OF GUANJUN. I LEAVE THE CHOICE OF GUANJUN TO YOU, WITH ANY WHO WISHES TO TAKE THE TITLE BEING FREE TO.
(the crowd takes this in for a moment, then they erupt into angry cries. Toroki quickly moves over to Tokaki, and grabs his arm)
Toroki: Teleport us up to the rest of the group, now.
Tokaki: But…I…
Toroki: It worked earlier, and the crowd is about to get ugly. Do it!
(Tokaki shakes his head and closes his eyes. To the surprise of the spectators, the two Warriors disappear from the arena and reappear.)
(Toroki and Tokaki reappear in the arena's entrance area, next to the other five.)
Toroki: We are leaving now.
Anne: Jeff! Hi!
Toroki: Not now, Anne. There's no time.
Amefuri: You'd make a great cliché'd hero.
(The group follows Toroki's instructions, running into the perimeter hallway. It is mercifully empty, and the seven manage to get out of the Battling Arena with minimal hassle. Outside, the group saddles their horses…except for Toroki.)
Tatara: Oh, do you have a horse?
Toroki: One moment.
(Toroki puts his fingers in his mouth and blows, making an ear-piercing whistle.)
Anne: Wow, he can make that whistle???
Subaru: Can you teach me to do that???
(From somewhere behind the Battle Arena, there is a thundering of hooves. The group watches in confusion as a large black horse runs towards Toroki.)
Toroki: Ok, I'm ready to go.
Karasuki: You can summon a horse by whistling.
Toroki: Of course. Can't you?
All:…
Anne: So, what's its name?
Toroki: How could I forget? Everybody, meet Schnoogums McCuddles.
(Schnoogums McCuddles neighs happily)
Amefuri: Schnoogums…
Subaru: MCCUDDLES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHAT ARE YOU ON????
Toroki: (rubbing Schnoogums's head) I think that it is a nice name.
Tatara: I agree!
Tokaki: We know that if you like it something's wrong with it.
Karasuki: Well, we can go now, can't we?
Toroki: (mounting up) Where are we going, anyways? And where did you all come from before here?
Anne: We'll fill you in on the way. Let me check the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho…(opens pack)
Toroki: Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho?
Subaru: It's the mystical, magical prophecy book…it tells what's gonna happen to us. We'll explain.
Anne: "The group, with the addition of Toroki, rode east." Well, that's simple.
Tatara: We ride west!
(All fall off their horses. Schnoogums neighs in a confused tone.)
*************
(Kutou's Imperial Throne Room. The ugly old Emperor sits on the throne. Two soldiers are kneeling before him)
Soldier 1: We have put the Byakko girl in the jail as you asked.
Soldier 2: The proclamation for the public execution will go out soon.
Emperor: Good, good. This is very good. Now, I have another person to attend to. Leave me.
Soldiers 1+2: Yes, your majesty.
(The two soldiers exit the room.)
Emperor: Shi Ren…you asked to speak to me, did you not?
(From the shadows steps a tall, thin man. He has long black hair, falling perfectly unbound over his shoulders. His handsome face shows confidence.)
Ren: Yes, I did. I have a proposition to make.
Emperor: It is not everyone who can so casually propose things to me.
Ren: I am not everyone.
Emperor: True. If you're going to propose something, do it. If not, get out of my sight.
Ren: Fine. I will get to the point. I believe that a speedy execution of the Byakko Warrior is the best course of action.
Emperor: Really. I had planned to hold the execution in three days.
Ren: It would be better to do it sooner rather than later. More chance that the other Byakko Warriors will find her and complete the summoning ceremony.'
Emperor: I understand your point.
Ren: And?
Emperor: I will think on it.
Ren: (eyes widening) You should do more than that.
Emperor: Oh, really? And you have more authority than I do? (Ren says nothing) Leave me now!
(Ren turns abruptly, disappearing into the adjoining hallway. The Emperor sighs.)
Emperor: Stupid cultists…thinking they know exactly what I want, when they really know nothing. A swift execution…would be the worst thing that could happen right now.
(The Emperor's face turns into a scowl, and for a moment, it looks as if he is consumed in a black miasma)
Emperor: Fools…they could spell the end of my plans, even though they strive for the same goal as I…
*************
(After traveling for the rest of the day through dense woods, the group reaches a clearing by a river.)
Anne: Looks like a perfect place to make camp.
Tokaki: Finally. We can get off these horses.
Toroki: I'll go and get some wood for a fire.
Tatara: I'll go with you.
Amefuri: Who wants to help me set up the tents?
Subaru: I will.
Tokaki: I'll…secure the perimeter.
(The five get to work, with Tokaki teleporting away, Subaru and Amefuri going for the tents, and Toroki and Tatara going into the woods. Anne and Karasuki saddle the horses to a tree and sit down.)
Anne: Um…Karasuki? Could you scry for Katherine? I mean, once we find her we can summon Byakko and go home.
Karasuki: Sure.
(Karasuki pulls out the mirror, setting it on the ground and closing his eyes.)
Karasuki: "Six Warriors gathered here, Combined powers of Byakko, Show us where the last exists, show us where we must go now!"
(The mirror turns completely black. Anne raises her eyebrows, and is about to say something, but the mirror suddenly flares into light. The picture it shows only appears for a second, but it is quite informative.)
(The isometric view of the four countries is shown once again, with a large white spot in the center of Kutou. Karasuki opens his eyes, which are now bloodshot, and the picture vanishes)
Karasuki: (breathing heavily) Wow…that was intense.
(Amefuri looks at him as she sets up the tent)
Amefuri: What are you doing???
Karasuki: No, it's not like that. The amount of blocking…it was so strong, so concentrated. It took all of my effort just to break through it.
Anne: And…Katherine is in the middle of Kutou. (realizes what she just said) THE MIDDLE OF KUTOU???
(Now both Subaru and Amefuri look at the pair on the ground)
Subaru: Whoa, I heard that. What about Kutou?
Anne: That's where Katherine is!!!! In the middle of Kutou!
Amefuri: And…?
Anne: She shouldn't be there! Kutou is the enemy! She's in the middle of enemy territory!
Amefuri: Well, if you want I could try to telepathically communicate with her.
Anne: Yeah, that would help. Wait until everybody gets back, though.)
(The boys return from the woods, laden with firewood. Or, in Tokaki's case, laden with nothing. As the sun sets, the group sits around a blazing fire.)
Tatara: It feels like we're camping!
Tokaki: News flash: we ARE camping.
Toroki: So what did you want us to hear?
Karasuki: I was scrying while you were gone, and I found Katherine's location.
Tokaki: Really? Where is it?
Anne: It's in the middle of Kutou. WAY behind enemy lines.
Subaru: (to Amefuri) So, are you going to try to find her telepathically?
Amefuri: I can try. This might take a while, though.
Toroki: We will make some food while you're searching.
(Amefuri nods, and closes her eyes. The middle of her chest glows, and she returns to the star-speckled void of thoughts.)
Amefuri: OK…now to find Katherine.
(Amefuri speeds past all of the normal-sized chi glows, searching for one that is more pronounced than the rest. In about 15 minutes, she sees a very large chi in the distance. It has the distinct Byakko color as well.)
Amefuri: There she is!
(Amefuri heads towards that chi, and all looks well…until as she gets close, a barrier of sorts appears in front of the chi.)
Amefuri: !!!!
(Back in camp, the group is making a large pot of stew. Amefuri is still sitting there, chest glowing…when suddenly there is a loud bang and Amefuri flies backwards as if hit by something)
All: !!!!!!!!
Subaru: Amefuri!
(Everybody stands up, looking at Amefuri, who is now laying on the ground, a bit dazed.)
Anne: Amefuri! Are you all right???
(Amefuri sits up, slowly)
Amefuri: Whoa….that was NOT good.
Tatara: What happened?
Amefuri: Well, I was cruising around people's thoughts…and I saw Kat. So I went to make contact…and this barrier appeared around her.
Toroki: A…barrier?
Amefuri: I'm not sure, I was moving too fast to see what it looked like. But it was certainly a chi barrier, meant to stop mental communication with Katherine.
Karasuki: Wouldn't you have broken through it?
Amefuri: I would have thought so, but the barrier was strong, constructed by somebody far stronger than I am. It completely surprised me, and because I didn't have any defenses up, there was a huge backlash.
Tokaki: Someone way stronger? Could that have been Katherine?
Tatara: Of course not. This is KAT we're talking about, not some person with strong chi.
Amefuri: No, it was clearly meant to seal her off from outside. She wouldn't make a barrier like that.
Anne: Then…who would make something like that? Wouldn't it have to be somebody with chi far stronger than a Celestial Warrior? Is that possible?
Toroki: Could the person that's blocking Karasuki's scrying have put it up?
Karasuki: That's possible…but if that's true, Amefuri could easily break through it. That person isn't at her level.
Subaru: Well, could you try again, Amefuri?
Amefuri: Maybe tomorrow…that took a lot out of me.
Tokaki: It's pretty late anyways…I'm going to bed.
Anne: I think we all should…tomorrow looks like it's going to be an interesting day.
*************
(The group all gets to sleep, separated into their gender-specific tents. All except for Anne, that is. She can't seem to get to sleep, and Subaru's snoring doesn't help at all)
Anne: Must sleep…must sleep…
(Anne's tried everything, counting sheep, holding her breath, doing math…it's not working. So she sits up slowly, careful not to disturb Subaru or Amefuri, and leaves the tent for a bathroom break.)
*************
(It's a bright, beautiful morning. Amefuri slowly opens her eyes, adjusting to the state of wakefulness. She stands up in a rather ungainly fashion, but luckily does not wake
Subaru, who is peacefully snoring next to her. Amefuri quickly dresses, and leaves the tent.)
(Outside, the fire is still smothered from last night. But Toroki is already up, practicing some odd-looking motions with a long, slightly curved sword. It appears to Amefuri to almost be a sort of dance.)
Amefuri: Um…good morning.
(Toroki stops as Amefuri begins to talk, skillfully sheathing his sword in his long scabbard, the only one he is currently wearing.)
Toroki: Good morning. You're up early.
Amefuri: The same could be said of you. What were you just doing?
Toroki: It is simply a series of movements meant to increase strength, finesse and balance. I do them every morning to wake myself up.
Amefuri: (not quite that interested) Nice. Let me guess…Anne is out doing something?
Toroki: (confused) Anne?
Amefuri: (more confused) Yeah. She wasn't in the tent, so I assumed that she…
(Amefuri's eyes widen slowly as she looks at Toroki's uncomprehending expression.)
Amefuri: Wait a minute…she never came out here?
Toroki: (with dawning comprehension) No, she didn't…
Amefuri: (now worried) Karasuki. We have to wake Karasuki. Anne's not in the tent, she's not out here…oh, shit.
Toroki: You don't think something happened to her?
Amefuri: She's the only one of us who can't defend herself. I can only hope that I'm wrong.
Toroki: Then you're right. I should go wake Karasuki.
(Toroki turns towards the tent. As he does so, there is a "twang" and something whizzes past his ear to land with a "thunk" in a nearby tree. Toroki instantly stops moving)
Amefuri: That was an arrow! DUCK!
(Amefuri and Toroki throw themselves to the ground. But no more arrows come.)
Toroki: (a bit annoyed) I believe that the coast is clear.
Amefuri: (embarrassed) Ok…that whole "duck" thing was just instinct.
(Amefuri and Toroki slowly raise themselves up. Toroki cautiously moves to the tree, where he yanks an arrow out of the bark.)
Toroki: There's a message attached.
Amefuri: Let's see it.
(Toroki unfurls the thin scroll wrapped around the arrow's body, and skims over it, eyes widening.)
Amefuri: What does it say?
Toroki: "I have her. Duel me, or I will kill her."
Amefuri: WHAT???? Who is this from?
Toroki: It is signed………!!!
Amefuri: What????
Toroki: "Sitao"…this is not good. Wake the others.
Amefuri: Who's Sitao?
Toroki: I'll explain when everybody is awake. (Amefuri stands there) Go!
*************
(Toroki goes in and wakes the boys. Amefuri goes and wakes Subaru. In a few minutes, the Warriors assemble outside the tents.)
Subaru: (yawning) Hey, what's the rush?
Tatara: Yeah, and where's Anne?
Toroki: That's why we woke you up. Anne's been kidnapped.
Tokaki: What???? Kidnapped????
Amefuri: That's what it appears. This note got shot at us.
Toroki: (reading) "I have her. Duel me, or I will kill her.-Sitao"
Karasuki: This blows…who's Sitao?
Toroki: He was the previous Guanjun before me…he's quite a swordsman, and very good at focusing his chi. I don't understand why he'd kidnap Anne, though…
Tatara: Sounds like some sort of jealousy issue.
Toroki: That's possible…no matter what, he's dangerous, and Anne's certainly in danger.
Karasuki: Ok, I'm going to scry for her location.
(Karasuki simply takes out the mirror and closes his eyes. Almost instantly, the mirror flashes white, just like his symbol. The group crowds around the mirror, anxious to see where Anne is. Inside the mirror, the group and their small camp flickers on and off. Then the mirror quickly moves in a northern direction to a river, then proceeds along the river east to a small clearing. A man sits against a tree, and a blonde-haired girl lies next to him. The mirror goes dark again.)
Subaru: Didn't you need an incantation to scry?
Karasuki: It helps, but it's not necessary.
Tokaki: Who cares? We know where Anne is, let's go!
(The group saddles up, with Toroki mounting Schnoogums. They ride north to the river, then turn east. Soon, the clearing becomes visible.)
(The clearing is as the mirror showed; a large, grassy area next a river. Trees ring the area, but the clearing is treeless. A man, appearing tall and thin, sits against a tree across from them, several scabbards at his waist.. Also next to him is Anne, who is lying down, motionless. The man looks up as the group enters the clearing with a smile)
Man: Well, look who's here. The current Champion and his little friends.
Amefuri: What have you done with Anne?
(Toroki flings his hand up, silencing Amefuri)
Toroki: Sitao. What are you doing?
Sitao: Nothing special. Just reclaiming my rightful position as Guanjun.
Toroki: I beat you fair and square.
Sitao: That may be, but I am more experienced and a better warrior than you. I deserve that title.
Subaru: What's going on? Who is this guy?
Sitao: I was the Guanjun before…he came along. He usurped my title, obviously too young to hold the position correctly. So I want a rematch.
Toroki: (pointing to Anne) Then why did you involve her in this?
Sitao: I needed bait; you'd never come to me otherwise. It was pitiful of you to leave your camp so undefended.
Tatara: Why isn't she moving? What have you done to her?
Sitao: Nothing permanent.
Karasuki: What the hell does that mean?
Sitao: It was a simple chi maneuver, putting the victim into a comatose state. It doesn't have any lasting repercussions…unless the victim stays in the trance for…oh, twelve hours.
(Every member of the group stares at him)
Tokaki: You monster! I'll kill you!
(Tokaki is about to jump forward, but Toroki raises his hand again)
Toroki: How is the trance lifted?
Sitao: If I die, then she goes back to normal. Barring that, I can deactivate it anytime I want. But I don't want to; you'll have to fight me in order to do it.
Toroki: I don't want to fight you. We don't have to.
Sitao: (standing up) But that is where you are wrong. I need to fight you to reclaim what I had before. It's just a duel. Me versus you. Any and all weapons. And…don't let your friends intervene, or try to revive the girl. In this state, I can sever the connection between her mind and her body without a thought.
Tatara: How do we know that you'll free her if Toroki duels you?
Sitao: You don't. But it doesn't seem to me like you have that much of a choice.
(Toroki closes his eyes for a moment, and then dismounts.)
Toroki: Fine. I'll duel you. But…I'm not going to lose.
Sitao: Keep dreaming, kid. This time, we're using real weapons; and I've never been beat with my sword.
(The group dismounts slowly as Sitao and Toroki stare each other down.)
Amefuri: Subaru, can you get Anne back to normal?
Subaru: No, I can only age her body. It won't change the state her mind is currently in.
Karasuki: This isn't good. You think Toroki can win?
Tokaki: He better…oooh, I wanna kick that guy's ass SO bad…
Tatara: This is horrible…just sitting and watching.
(Sitao reaches for his waist)
Sitao: You're ready? I don't want to fight you unless you're going to put up a good fight.
Toroki: I don't want to hurt you, Sitao. I'm only doing this for her.
Sitao: Well, all the more reason for me to win. Because I do want to hurt you.
(Toroki's hand moves up to his shoulder, grasping the staff. In a blur of movement, Sitao draws a long, straight sword and jumps at Toroki with a roar, aiming an overhand slash at his head. Almost too quick to see, Toroki pulls his staff out and thrusts upwards with both hands, blocking Sitao's blow with a loud bang)
Sitao: (pushing downwards) Good, good! This is exactly the talent that I need to beat!
Toroki: (struggling) What do I have to do to prove that I don't want to fight?
(Toroki seems to be giving way under the staff, causing Sitao to grin and push harder. Toroki seems to be losing the battle of strength, due to the differences in both weapons and position.)
(The group watches, wide-eyed…until Toroki pushes up hard with his left hand, pushing Sitao's sword off his staff. Continuing the motion, Toroki follows through with the staff, thrusting down towards Sitao's head.)
(The group gapes, in awe of Toroki's martial skills.)
(But Sitao nimbly ducks left, out of the way of Toroki's staff. Toroki, anticipating this, changes the staff's momentum so that the bottom end is now heading up for Sitao's chest. Sadly, Sitao has ducked too fast, and is rapidly moving out of Toroki's range.)
(Sitao grins, and in a blindingly fast stroke, slashes forwards as his momentum continues to carry him out of the staff's range. Toroki pulls his staff up quickly to block the killing stroke, and he does – but Sitao slices clean through his staff, leaving him with two pieces.)
Sitao: Fool. You can't fight against metal with wood.
Tatara: I beg to differ!
(Toroki jumps backwards, expecting Sitao to follow him. Sitao just stands, assuming a defensive stance.)
Toroki: What are you waiting for?
Sitao: Draw your weapon. I won't fight against a weaponless opponent.
(Toroki sighs, and throws his former staff to the ground. Schnoogums whinnies as Toroki reaches to his left scabbard with both hands)
Sitao: One sword? Idiot.
Toroki: We'll see.
Karasuki: Toroki has more than one sword?
(Sitao once again jumps at Toroki, this time with an attack coming from below. Toroki draws out his long, curved, single-edged sword, easily blocking Sitao's attack. But this time, instead of beginning a strength contest, Toroki lets Sitao's blade slide off of his curved sword, and slashes upwards at Sitao's chest.)
(Sitao's eyes widen, and he is forced to step backwards quickly in order to avoid a large gash in his chest. Toroki slashes again at Sitao from above, catching him off-balance. Sitao throws his sword upwards to catch Toroki's sword, locking the two blades. Toroki starts pressing downwards)
Toroki: Yield!
(Sitao grins, and he forces Toroki's sword upwards with a mighty heave. Sitao rolls backwards nimbly, standing up and once again assuming a ready stance. Toroki recovers quickly, and jumps at Sitao, blade raised.)
(Sitao is ready for him this time, and bats his sword to the side, moving in. But in doing this, he moves into Toroki's sword's reach.)
(Toroki circles his blade around Sitao's, nicking Sitao on the quadriceps, and then following through to push Sitao's invading blade to the side.)
Tokaki: His sword has a longer reach than Sitao's!
(Toroki darts forwards, stabbing at Sitao's chest viciously. Sitao, now on the defensive, brings his sword back to just barely parry Toroki's. Toroki continues the attack, slashing fiercely. Sitao once again brings his blade up, but it is just a feint. Toroki's sword changes direction abruptly, switching attacks from a slash to a stab, piercing Sitao's lower leg.)
(Sitao's eyes open wide as Toroki pulls his sword out of his leg. It's not a deep wound, and not one that will hinder him too badly. Toroki jumps backwards, holding his sword downwards.)
Toroki: Will you yield now?
(Sitao grimaces, but a grin soon replaces that.)
Sitao: But we've only just begun. Why would I want to stop so soon?
Subaru: What's he going to do now?
Amefuri: He can't beat Toroki's sword, not with Toroki's superior reach and curve.
Tatara: The odds look good, but…Sitao doesn't seem worried at all.
(Sitao crouches, poised to jump forwards. Toroki's eyes narrow in confusion, but his eyes suddenly widen and he throws his sword up in front of his body. The group watches, confused.)
(But their confusion is dispelled within a moment, as Sitao pulls a second sword out of his other scabbard. Holding two identical swords in his two hands, he springs at Toroki.)
(Sitao strikes out with his right sword at Toroki's side. Toroki parries as quickly as he can, as Sitao's left sword flies towards his other side. Toroki parries again, but he isn't quite as fast as Sitao.)
(Sitao pushes forwards with the left sword, briefly locking Toroki's sword. In that moment, he drops to one knee and slashes at Toroki's legs, opening a large wound.)
(The group inhales a collective breath. Toroki, although obviously in pain, forces Sitao's left sword away and jumps nimbly backwards, sword held in front of him.)
(Surprisingly, Sitao only stands up and flicks the blood off his blade.)
Sitao: I'll wait. Draw your two swords.
Toroki: That hurt, but I still don't want to kill you.
Sitao: That only gives me the advantage. Draw them!
(Toroki quickly sheathes his sword, and places his hands on the two pouches at either side of his waist.)
Sitao: You're using the sai? Fool. That will be your last mistake.
(Sitao jumps for Toroki as Toroki flips his hands effortlessly. The two trident-head thingys flip into his hands, and he brings them upwards, catching Sitao's two swords in their prongs.)
Tokaki: Oh, so that's what they're used for.
(Sitao struggles to push Toroki downwards, but he can't put his full strength into his pushing. Toroki is also disadvantaged, having to push upwards.)
(With another burst of strength, Sitao forces Toroki to the ground, bringing his two swords down towards Toroki.)
(As Toroki falls backwards, he ducks into a backwards roll, evading Sitao's swords. He lands on one knee, both sai outstretched, parallel to the ground.)
Sitao: This defense won't serve you very well for long.
Toroki: Perhaps…
(Toroki blinks and jumps forwards, sai held behind him. Sitao does not move, a bit confused, but crosses his two swords in front of him.)
(Toroki thrusts out with his left sai, catching Sitao's front sword, and in a surprisingly adept move, twists it, sending it out of his hand and to the ground. Sitao tries to slash with his remaining sword, but Toroki catches that one as well with his right sai.)
(Sitao instantly moves his other hand to his remaining sword, trying to overpower Toroki's one-handed sai. It is his first mistake.)
(Toroki thrusts viciously at Sitao's abdomen with his left sai. Only Sitao's quick movement saves him from a vicious skewering. Instead, the sai stabs into the right part of Sitao's abdomen with all three prongs.)
(In shock, Sitao stops moving abruptly. Toroki pulls out the sai, leaving three bloody holes, and jumps backwards. The sword falls from Sitao's hand, and he kneels down, hand over his side.)
Toroki: I warned you. Are you finally ready to yield?
(Sitao says nothing, just nods.)
Toroki: Fine. I'm taking her back now.
Sitao: I'll…release the enchantment.
(Toroki sheathes his sai, and then moves over to Anne. Sitao gets up slowly and meekly picks up his weapons)
Tokaki: Um…that was abrupt.
Amefuri: It really ended quickly.
Karasuki: Sitao doesn't seem like the type to just stop like that…
(Toroki kneels next to Anne, feeling her neck. He looks confused.)
Toroki: (head turned from Sitao) Sitao, release the enchantment. She's still in the state.
(Sitao turns slowly towards Toroki, swords held in each hand. Suddenly, he twirls them into a fighting stance and runs at Toroki's oblivious self.)
Subaru: Oh, no! Toroki!!! BEHIND YOU!!!!
(Toroki's eyes shoot wide open, and he briefly looks at Anne's inert body, lying beneath him. Sitao jumps high into the air, swords held above his head, poised for the killing blow. It doesn't seem like Toroki has enough time to react…)
(There is an incredibly loud clang of metal against metal and a flash of white light, and when the light fades, Toroki is kneeling in front of Anne, back to her. He has two straight swords out, much the same as Sitao. They are crossed above his head, and he is using them to block Sitao's killing slashes.)
Toroki: (struggling to hold up his swords) I should have known…you weren't done…
Sitao: (angry, but smiling) Fool! I am not so weak that one pierce will do me in! Now, I finally have a chance to kill you!
(Sitao presses down, hard, with both his swords. He is stronger than Toroki, and Toroki is pushed backwards. Toroki grits his teeth and forces Sitao's weapons off his, pushing him backwards in turn and standing up.)
(Toroki takes the quick offensive while Sitao is off-balance, lashing out with his left and right swords at the same time, one going for his neck and one going for his waist. Sitao manages to block the neck attack, but Toroki gashes his waist, pivoting around Sitao's right side with the movement so that he is no longer in front of Anne.)
(Sitao follows Toroki's turn with a sword pierce, adding his momentum to that of the sword's to head for Toroki's chest. Toroki parries that stab, using his other blade to stab again at Sitao. Sitao brushes that stroke off with his other sword, and slashes at Toroki's right side.)
(Toroki parries the stroke, but is caught reasonably off-guard when Sitao aims an overhand slash at Toroki's right shoulder with his left sword. The sword slams into Toroki's shoulder joint, jarring against bone, causing him to convulse and blood to flow out of the wound.)
Amefuri: Oh, shit!
Tatara: Toroki!!!
(Toroki doesn't look badly hurt, as the sword only hit the bone, but he does look a bit shaken. His next attack, a slash to Sitao's leg, is without his usual vigor, and Sitao blocks it easily. Sitao lashes out with both swords at once, catching Toroki on both obliques, drawing a large amount of blood.)
Tokaki: He's losing it…
Subaru: Toroki!!! Don't give up!
(Sitao slashes slower at Toroki's face, giving him time to cross his swords in front of it. Another weapons lock results, with Sitao pressing against the weakened Toroki. Sitao's eyes, sensing victory in sight, open maddeningly wide as Toroki's eyes start to close, not wanting to see the weapons lock he's losing.)
Sitao: See! I am the superior warrior! I'll kill you, and then I'll kill that girl you seem to like so much!
(Toroki's eyes, which had begun to close, open widely as Sitao's last phrase registers.)
(There is a huge flash of light, blinding the spectating group. When the light clears, Sitao is lying on the ground, staring in horror at Toroki, who stands above him. A bright white character glows on his forehead, and his swords glow faintly in his hands. His eyes regard Sitao with passive anger.)
Toroki: (deeper voice) How sad…that your last comment would be your doom.
(Toroki jumps at Sitao, too fast to see anything but a white after-glow. His swords stab at Sitao, who vainly tries to block them. There is another white flash.)
(When the group finally looks again, Toroki kneels on one knee between Sitao's legs. His two swords are stabbed through Sitao's chest up to the hilts, clearly piercing both lobes of the lung. Sitao is bleeding freely, and his eyes seem frozen open in shock. Rather, they are frozen open in death.)
(Toroki stands up, his character beginning to fade. In fact, the whole white glow thing is beginning to fade. Anne's body moves once, and then she opens her eyes. The group stares in a mix of horror, amazement, confusion and awe.)
(Anne sits up abruptly, looking around, confused. She sees Toroki standing there, and when she sees Sitao with two swords through his chest, her eyes open wide. Toroki sees her and smiles gratefully through the pain.)
Toroki: (weakly) Nice to see you again.
Anne: Wha…WHAT'S GOING ON?????????????
*************
(The group leaves the clearing quickly after Toroki buries Sitao. Subaru heals Toroki's wounds, and the group is on their way again.)
Anne: Wait, so let me get this straight. I was kidnapped, and then Toroki had to duel this guy to save me?
Amefuri: Exactly.
Tatara: (ecstatic) You should have seen the duel! It was sooo cool! They were fighting with staves, with swords, with these little pronged thingies-
Toroki: Sai.
Tatara: (not letting Toroki bring down his mood) Sai, and more swords! They were soooo cool, and so good, and-
Tokaki: Tatara. Spare us.
(Tatara frowns, and begins a small pout, letting his horse trail behind the others.)
Karasuki: He's only happy to see that you're all right, Anne.
Anne: Yeah…but…ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
(The group watches in confusion as Anne starts screaming)
Subaru: Um…Anne?
Anne: I HATE BEING SO POWERLESS!!!!!! I WANT POWERS TOOO!!!!!!!
(The group sweatdrops as Anne screams. Toroki finally taps her on the shoulder, breaking the screaming)
Toroki: Aren't we supposed to be looking for Katherine?
Anne: Oh, yeah. Let me look in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho.
(Anne reaches into her saddlebags, luckily still on her horse, and pulls out the Jin Ten Chi Sho. She opens it up and skims it)
Anne: Hmm…"kidnapping"…"duel"…."aftermath"….!!!!
(Suddenly, Anne's eyes open wide and she looks very closely at the scroll.)
Tokaki: Anne? What's wrong?
(Anne holds the scroll downwards with one hand and puts the other in front of her mouth.)
Anne: Oh my god…Katherine…
Katherine: HELL NO. I want to know what happens to me!!!
Nick: I'm sure you die. Or something.
(Katherine kicks Nick far, far away)
Chris: (wiping forehead) Thank god! Nothing bad happened this chapter.
Janna: Bad?
Chris: Cross-dressing.
Janna: (understanding) Bad.
Luna: (patting Anne) There, there. You'll get some powers sometime.
Anne: But I hate being saved! I want to be able to save people!
Max: In essence, Anne wants to be a prince.
Jeff: (sighing) Anyways, the next episode is called "Tsuki no nai yoru."
Nick: (returning) Or, "The moonless night." These titles sure are getting unhappier…
AN: Yes! A sword battle! I've been waiting to write this chapter since the beginning of the story! I love sword battles! I don't know if this came out ok, or not…you'll have to decide.
Jeff's sai are handheld, three-pronged weapons that look like a trident head with a small handle. They're metal, and curved, with the middle prong being far longer than the other two. They're used primarily as sword catchers, but if they're sharp they can even punch through armor. If you saw Matrix: Reloaded, in the weapons scene, there are sai. The asian guy gets his arm stuck in one, I think.
Sitao isn't really based on anybody. He reminds me of Saionji from Utena, but he's not based on him (otherwise he'd be slapping Anne instead of putting her to sleep). And about that sleep thing; Sitao, and most other warriors, are assumed to have a heightened level of chi. This comes from their inner strength, which is basically what chi is. So Sitao has sufficient chi to create an enchantment of that caliber.
And when I warned you about violence and gore…I wasn't kidding. Notice how incredibly not happy this chapter was as well (except for Tatara and Schnoogums, two of my favorite characters ^_^). This general mood change (as mentioned in previous AN's) isn't gonna reverse for a while, so…live with it!