+----+ Chapter 9: Reikai-Kakumei - After the Battle +----+
=== Somewhere in Makai ===
In the Nikko Desert - a lifeless hell that doomed all who entered it to a slow and painful death - lay a huge sand dune, too large to be naturally-formed. A swarm of demons approached over the horizon, dragging a beaten, chained captive - Keyaku. One demon, seemingly the leader of the group, spoke but one word: "Kakumei." And the sand dune - as well as the ground itself - began to shake violently.
As sand fell to the ground in heaps, a large, domed passageway came into view. From its top, there were large pikes, impaling the skulls of those unfortunate enough to have crossed the master of Reikai-Kakumei. This was the Tomb of Enma, where the former ruler of Reikai had been stored away after being executed. The demons scampered into the passage, Keyaku being dragged on the ground along with them.
Inside of this underground base was a glorious visage. Gold covered every inch of wall, and from the ceiling hung elegant crystal chandeliers. Statues of the former king of Reikai lay crumbled on the ground in several places; broken to pieces by demons with grudges against Reikai. And, at the end of a long corridor, there was a large room, decorated differently than the rest of the tomb.
Hanging on the far side of the room was an enormous casket, and a throne was situated in the very center of the room. Sitting in the throne, as you would expect, was the leader of the Reikai-Kakumei. This mysterious leader was rather small, and wore a dark cloak to conceal his features. As the demons entered, they hurled the wounded Keyaku to the ground at the feet of the leader, and he glanced up.
"Keyaku.... You have betrayed us?" came a high voice, like that of a child, from beneath the cloak. Keyaku's reply was to spit at the leader, and he was promptly beaten down by the demons even more. The leader chuckled, and then spoke.
"You know that what you've done is treason.... and treason is punishable by death. I also know that you're much stronger than you look at the moment.... Stand, or I'll slay you where you lie, traitor." With a chuckle, Keyaku stood up and began to shine brightly, the chains binding him falling to the ground in tatters. He smirked, and said, "If you know that I still have most of my strength.... Then you must know that I could kill you at any time I wished...."
High, shrieking laughter echoed through the room, and the cloaked figure replied, "You? Kill me? Foolish boy.... Let me show you what true power is. You there! Demon! Approach!" One of the demons scampered forward, cringing in terror. "Y-Yes my master?"
"Hya-aa-aa!!!!" cried out the leader, bright red light filling the room as Keyaku's eyes widened in horror and his mouth dropped wide open in terror. With a single snap of the leader's fingers, the demon imploded messily, blood splattering all across the room, including on the still-covered face of the leader. The leader removed his hood, revealing a child's face - no older than 10 - with a wicked smirk pasted onto his expression. "So, boy.... Do you still think you could kill me?"
Keyaku was silent, still in shock at the raw power he'd felt. Such energies could only belong to a God, he thought.... But to a young child? No, this was no child.... He spoke in cold tones, hardened by the hardship of many years.... This leader was not who he appeared to be.
In a last-ditch effort, Keyaku bolted from the throne room, knocking away any demons that impeded his progress. With a wave of his hand, the leader stopped the demons from giving chase, and a dark voice spoke from the shadows....
"Katsudo-sama.... Why did you let the boy go? He could prove quite a nuisance to our plans...."
A frail-looking old man stepped into view, his crimson eyes staring deeply at the leader. He was dressed in a traditional white martial arts Gi, decorated with the symbol for 'Demon.' Katsudo merely chuckled.
"Oh, Sei Ma.... What little you understand. Let's have some fun with him first.... then we can string him up by his ankles and make him wish for a quick death." Sei Ma bowed reverently, and replied, "As you wish, milord."
Keyaku ran out of the underground hideout panting, sweat pouring from his brow. The power he'd sensed.... It was far too powerful for any mortal creature.... Who is this Katsudo? No.... WHAT is he?
=== Reikai - Koenma's Office ===
Everyone in the room was silent. Koenma had called out all three Rikutsu Reikai Tantei - Shinrai, Hazumi, and Taisho - as well as Kiyou and two young men none of them knew. In his teen form, Koenma was nervously pacing around the room, occasionally muttering something to himself. After several minutes of this (during which time Taisho went through roughly a liter of saké), the doors opened and in walked.... Keyaku. Hazumi and Taisho went on their guard, but Koenma waved for them to stand down. With a sigh, Koenma said, "Well, it's time we got this started...."
Sitting down in his chair, Koenma was silent before speaking again. "None of you talk while I'm talking, understood? Good. This is of dire importance. The safety of all three worlds may be in jeopardy here."
Koenma took a deep breath, and began, "We've received word from the Reikai-Kakumei. They have a proposal.... A winner-takes-all tournament. Seven fighters, each the best of both sides, will fight in one-on-one matches, with no rules whatsoever. If our side wins, the Reikai-Kakumei will be dissolved and the head of their leader delivered to us on a silver platter - literally. But if we lose.... Reikai will belong to them. I've called together the seven best fighters of the Reikai Tantei for this mission.... It'll be your choice whether or not to proceed. So, what do you say?"
Silence once again reigned for a time, no one speaking a single word. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Shinrai grinned.
"I say we do it. Let's take down the Reikai-Kakumei once and for all. We owe it to those who fell in their assault on Reikai...."
Slowly, everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement, and Koenma cleared his throat before speaking again. "First, let me introduce three new members of the Rikutsu Reikai Tantei. Keyaku Nakadachi, master of the Naginata and 'Ankoku Raijin no Jutsu.'" Keyaku nodded, and spoke, "I'll win.... You can count on that."
"Tsuki Odori, a swordsman extraordinaire and master of Ki control."
One of the two people in the corner stepped up, a katana sheathed on each hip. His emerald eyes showed the weariness of a battle-hardened warrior. A long cloak hung over him, covered with the symbol for 'warrior.'
"And Hishi Kashira, a wielder of the Tonfa and expert martial artist, formerly of the Hanshu Reikai Tantei before their massacre."
The other person in the corner approached the group, a steel Tonfa in each hand. He wore a dark red and black karate Gi, a blue bandana wrapped around his head. "I'll avenge my fallen comrades...."
"The tournament will take place on Hanging-Neck Island. You'll be sent there immediately, with three escorts to ward off any assaults, should they occur, to conserve all your strength for the battles. Godspeed."
=== Somewhere in Makai ===
In the Nikko Desert - a lifeless hell that doomed all who entered it to a slow and painful death - lay a huge sand dune, too large to be naturally-formed. A swarm of demons approached over the horizon, dragging a beaten, chained captive - Keyaku. One demon, seemingly the leader of the group, spoke but one word: "Kakumei." And the sand dune - as well as the ground itself - began to shake violently.
As sand fell to the ground in heaps, a large, domed passageway came into view. From its top, there were large pikes, impaling the skulls of those unfortunate enough to have crossed the master of Reikai-Kakumei. This was the Tomb of Enma, where the former ruler of Reikai had been stored away after being executed. The demons scampered into the passage, Keyaku being dragged on the ground along with them.
Inside of this underground base was a glorious visage. Gold covered every inch of wall, and from the ceiling hung elegant crystal chandeliers. Statues of the former king of Reikai lay crumbled on the ground in several places; broken to pieces by demons with grudges against Reikai. And, at the end of a long corridor, there was a large room, decorated differently than the rest of the tomb.
Hanging on the far side of the room was an enormous casket, and a throne was situated in the very center of the room. Sitting in the throne, as you would expect, was the leader of the Reikai-Kakumei. This mysterious leader was rather small, and wore a dark cloak to conceal his features. As the demons entered, they hurled the wounded Keyaku to the ground at the feet of the leader, and he glanced up.
"Keyaku.... You have betrayed us?" came a high voice, like that of a child, from beneath the cloak. Keyaku's reply was to spit at the leader, and he was promptly beaten down by the demons even more. The leader chuckled, and then spoke.
"You know that what you've done is treason.... and treason is punishable by death. I also know that you're much stronger than you look at the moment.... Stand, or I'll slay you where you lie, traitor." With a chuckle, Keyaku stood up and began to shine brightly, the chains binding him falling to the ground in tatters. He smirked, and said, "If you know that I still have most of my strength.... Then you must know that I could kill you at any time I wished...."
High, shrieking laughter echoed through the room, and the cloaked figure replied, "You? Kill me? Foolish boy.... Let me show you what true power is. You there! Demon! Approach!" One of the demons scampered forward, cringing in terror. "Y-Yes my master?"
"Hya-aa-aa!!!!" cried out the leader, bright red light filling the room as Keyaku's eyes widened in horror and his mouth dropped wide open in terror. With a single snap of the leader's fingers, the demon imploded messily, blood splattering all across the room, including on the still-covered face of the leader. The leader removed his hood, revealing a child's face - no older than 10 - with a wicked smirk pasted onto his expression. "So, boy.... Do you still think you could kill me?"
Keyaku was silent, still in shock at the raw power he'd felt. Such energies could only belong to a God, he thought.... But to a young child? No, this was no child.... He spoke in cold tones, hardened by the hardship of many years.... This leader was not who he appeared to be.
In a last-ditch effort, Keyaku bolted from the throne room, knocking away any demons that impeded his progress. With a wave of his hand, the leader stopped the demons from giving chase, and a dark voice spoke from the shadows....
"Katsudo-sama.... Why did you let the boy go? He could prove quite a nuisance to our plans...."
A frail-looking old man stepped into view, his crimson eyes staring deeply at the leader. He was dressed in a traditional white martial arts Gi, decorated with the symbol for 'Demon.' Katsudo merely chuckled.
"Oh, Sei Ma.... What little you understand. Let's have some fun with him first.... then we can string him up by his ankles and make him wish for a quick death." Sei Ma bowed reverently, and replied, "As you wish, milord."
Keyaku ran out of the underground hideout panting, sweat pouring from his brow. The power he'd sensed.... It was far too powerful for any mortal creature.... Who is this Katsudo? No.... WHAT is he?
=== Reikai - Koenma's Office ===
Everyone in the room was silent. Koenma had called out all three Rikutsu Reikai Tantei - Shinrai, Hazumi, and Taisho - as well as Kiyou and two young men none of them knew. In his teen form, Koenma was nervously pacing around the room, occasionally muttering something to himself. After several minutes of this (during which time Taisho went through roughly a liter of saké), the doors opened and in walked.... Keyaku. Hazumi and Taisho went on their guard, but Koenma waved for them to stand down. With a sigh, Koenma said, "Well, it's time we got this started...."
Sitting down in his chair, Koenma was silent before speaking again. "None of you talk while I'm talking, understood? Good. This is of dire importance. The safety of all three worlds may be in jeopardy here."
Koenma took a deep breath, and began, "We've received word from the Reikai-Kakumei. They have a proposal.... A winner-takes-all tournament. Seven fighters, each the best of both sides, will fight in one-on-one matches, with no rules whatsoever. If our side wins, the Reikai-Kakumei will be dissolved and the head of their leader delivered to us on a silver platter - literally. But if we lose.... Reikai will belong to them. I've called together the seven best fighters of the Reikai Tantei for this mission.... It'll be your choice whether or not to proceed. So, what do you say?"
Silence once again reigned for a time, no one speaking a single word. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Shinrai grinned.
"I say we do it. Let's take down the Reikai-Kakumei once and for all. We owe it to those who fell in their assault on Reikai...."
Slowly, everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement, and Koenma cleared his throat before speaking again. "First, let me introduce three new members of the Rikutsu Reikai Tantei. Keyaku Nakadachi, master of the Naginata and 'Ankoku Raijin no Jutsu.'" Keyaku nodded, and spoke, "I'll win.... You can count on that."
"Tsuki Odori, a swordsman extraordinaire and master of Ki control."
One of the two people in the corner stepped up, a katana sheathed on each hip. His emerald eyes showed the weariness of a battle-hardened warrior. A long cloak hung over him, covered with the symbol for 'warrior.'
"And Hishi Kashira, a wielder of the Tonfa and expert martial artist, formerly of the Hanshu Reikai Tantei before their massacre."
The other person in the corner approached the group, a steel Tonfa in each hand. He wore a dark red and black karate Gi, a blue bandana wrapped around his head. "I'll avenge my fallen comrades...."
"The tournament will take place on Hanging-Neck Island. You'll be sent there immediately, with three escorts to ward off any assaults, should they occur, to conserve all your strength for the battles. Godspeed."