Ok, sorry it's taken me so long to get this next installment up, but I
had to get one of my other stories started, and it's a lot of work trying
to get these stories to take off on just 5 chapters! But anyway I'm back
and you shall no longer have to hang off of this terrible cliff I've left
you all on! We shall see what sort of tape and bait Coronsoe has in store
for Sora and company! Read and review, but most importantly enjoy! Please
forgive me all of those profanity haters out there, but I did put a little
bit of language in here this time.
Chapter 13,
Crouching Coronsoe, Hidden Demon!
The tape arrived the following morning at the Spirit World and was rushed to Koenma and the detective s who watched in shock, anger, grief, and awe.
~Tape~
Coronsoe: Hello friends!
His evil grin made Sora angry and she wanted to throttle the TV, she knew he had done something drastic to get their attention.
Coronsoe: Well as you can guess I've got a little proposition for you. A certain little Ian has decided to betray me and go to your aid in this task so Ian if you're watching this I will have my revenge! As for the rest of you I believe you all will be interested to know that I'm going to hold a miniature tournament. It's going to be like the dark tournament but this time there will be several rounds in which it shall be your team against mine, 10 trials in all. You will be told at the end of the tape where to go for your first challenge, and at the end of each one, if you survive you will be told where to head next. And yes you are required to bring everyone with you, including your precious little girl friends! Why should you comply with me because I have several things that may be of value to you! For Yusuke recognize this face?
It was Yusuke's mother! Coronsoe had managed to capture her!
Coronsoe: And here we have, ah yes a certain kitten!
Kuwabara: Nooooooo, not my kitty!
Coronsoe: For Kenshin's group we have your little Megumi.
Sano: That scumbag! If he lays one finger on her,
Coronsoe: Let's see, oh and Sora I'd pay careful attention to this face!
Sora: No, it can't be. A certain red haired man stood in the back round, his face lined with wrinkles and he stood with his hands bound together and he hung his head so that his face wasn't completely visible. His skin was tan, and scars shone on every inch of his body that was visible. The others turned to look at her, as she stood with her jaw hanging open.
Coronsoe: If you want any of them to last the next day then I would quickly leave for that little dojo you were at before. Your first challenge shall be held there. I'll keep in touch! See you soon.
The tape ended and everyone turned to look at Sora with curiosity.
Botan: Sora, who was that man?
Sora: I, I think you had all better sit down; this is going to be hard to explain. After my family was killed I left and traveled the world. One of the places I transported to was Kenshin's world. I ended up wandering the forests at the very edges of Japan. I ran into a man who spoke of his days as a manslayer. I begged him to train me so that I could better defend the people I loved. Kenshin, I wasn't sure before, but in return he had asked me to share with him the ways of happiness. Of course we both were a little short on those, but I had taught him to dance and when I did he made a mistake identical to yours. It was then that knew you couldn't be an orphan. Kenshin he's your father. The resemblance itself is uncanny, come with me I have pictures for you.
She led them all up to her room and dug a picture out of a drawer. It was a photo of the man and Sora. He was smiling and she was holding her first sword. She had several more of just him and one of him and a woman that he had given her to remember him by. He said that they held nothing but empty memories for him now.
Sora: You need to take these. This one is a picture of your mother and him after they were married. She died shielding you from a gappling gun as your father fought off a score of angry samurai. Your father told me that someone picked you up and ran and he never saw you again.
Kenshin later went to his room and thought hard about everything that Sora had told him. Kaoru eventually happened upon him and came in to check on him.
Kaoru: Are you all right?
Kenshin: Yes, it's just a bit of a shock for me, you know?
Kaoru: I can only imagine. Here, may I see the picture.
He handed it over and she carefully traced her fingers over the faces.
Kaoru: They look so happy.
Kenshin: That they do.
Kaoru: (looking at him sincerely) If you ever want to talk about anything I'll always be there to listen, you know that right.
Kenshin: (smiling at her) You're a good friend Miss Kaoru! I'll remember that.
Kaoru: Good, well I've got to go finish packing.
She got up to leave, but as she reached the door she stopped for a moment and bit her lip. Then decided to run back and throw her arms about Kenshin. After giving him a quick, friendly hug,
Kaoru: Sorry, I don't know where that came from! Um, bye!
Kenshin smiled warmly as he watched her go, and then turned back to the picture in his hands.The old man had the same long amber hair and violet eyes. And Kenshin's mother had long flowing brown hair and green eyes. They stood together and for the first time Kenshin wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. At last he knew who he was. Maybe this would be the chance for him to meet his father! The rest of the day was devoted to hurried packing for their new adventure. It was when Ian showed up as they were preparing to leave that trouble broke out.
Ian: Hi guys I know that I shouldn't be here, but there's something you all should know,
Sano: Save it buddy we know why you're hear and you should just go off and die somewhere. We don't need to drag your sorry carcass around with us!
Ian: Wait, I'm a demon and I can help you guys! I have information for you and if you'll only let me come with you I will prove to you all how helpful I can be. Sora tell them! I told you that I hated working for Coronsoe and dealing with my brother.
Sora's eyes held no mercy for him, and for the first time Ian was actually afraid of her. Her cold blue eyes were like ice and seemed to bore into him.
Sora: (her voice was emotionless and deadly) I have nothing to say to you Rion.
Ian: I can help you guys really!
Sora: And while your doing that you can also worm your way back and help your little master too! Don't beg boy you're already making me sick.
Ian: Fine, I guess you don't want to know how many men Coronsoe will have with him, or where they'll be hiding once you reach the dojo, or,
Sora: Oh shut your sniveling trap already! Fine, you can join us, but you let me (her face was a millimeter from his now and her words stung him like needles) catch you making one ill-fated step and I will personally skin you alive! My Shrikans haven't had demon meat in quite a while and I'm sure they would love to taste it again!
Ian: ** Then I won't let you catch me! **
They left early the next day and Sora would not speak to anyone. She had her "family" decked out in all manor of armor. The horses wore solid steel and chain breastplates with spikes on them and iron facemasks that left only their eyes exposed with a long horn in the center much like a unicorn. They even wore sharpened iron "shoes" on their hooves so that anything they stepped on or kicked would be run through! The Shrikans had their tailpieces, arm blades, chest plates, and other various weaponry clinging to their bodies! Sora herself wore no armor, but there wasn't a single spot on her body where a weapon wasn't accessible. She was in overkill mode, and still in a little bit of shock at the moment; after all she had thought her old trainer was dead. Hadn't she even seen him die? But maybe his wounds weren't serious enough to kill him; she did leave very quickly so it's possible that he was still alive! Oh every part of her wanted to see him again and be able to watch him reunite with his long lost son, but at the same time she was wary. Traps were inevitable on this journey so they would always have to be on the look out. The portal carried them quickly and so they reached the dojo still under cover of darkness. Sora had refused to give Ian any weapons on account of the fact that she still didn't trust him.
Ian: They're going to try and kill me too you know!
Sora: Well, you always have your face, that's a pretty scary weapon in itself!
Ian: That was not very kind. Sora: Well do I look like I'm in a very kind mood right now?
Ian: Whatever, let's just get this over with.
Sora had demanded that her Shrikans remain hidden outside the dojo because she new that given the chance Coronsoe would capture them, if he could, and kill everyone on sight. Upon entering the dojo they were cautious and the air smelled foul. Everyone moved in a tight group, but it was as they began to spread out so as to make for harder targets for any snipers that might be about that trouble started. Yahiko stealthily crept about and as he walked along he headed for his favorite look out spot. Upon reaching it he stumbled upon an unsuspecting marksman and a quick struggle ensued. Yahiko managed to club the man senseless, but another hidden assailant struck the boy from behind and pressed a knife to his throat.
Man: Hey boss! I got one!
Coronsoe: (stepping out from his hiding place) Good work. Now everyone stick your hands up where I can see them or the boy's as good as dead.
Everyone obeyed, Sora reluctantly complied, her mind racing to try and find them a way out of their predicament.
Coronsoe: (pointing to Sora) Bring that little whelp to me!
Well, as you can imagine that was much easier said than done, for the second Coronsoe's men tried to drag Sora over to him she fought like a mad thing. It took seven of the men to hold her down while two others bound her wrists and then shoved her to her feet. Her friends, despite their predicament, couldn't help but chuckle as the men struggled to contain the woman. What the captors had forgotten to do was bind her feet because as soon as they grouped around her to lead her over to Coronsoe she leapt on the man in front of her and knocked him to the ground with her feet and began to stomp him into the ground until the knife around Yahiko's throat came much closer to slitting it. The highly amused Coronsoe looked on at the antics of his men and finally they had her standing in front of him.
Coronsoe: Hello darling, my, my hasn't it been a while since we last saw one another?
Sora spat at him and he retaliated with an attempted slap across her face, but he only made a fool of himself. Sora saw his hand coming and leaned back, dodging the slap, but lunging forward again so fast that she was able to get a hold of the back of his hand with her teeth! She bit hard and blood ran down Coronsoe's arm and into Sora's mouth as he groaned in pain. But her moment of triumph did not last long as someone smacked her so hard upside her head that she fell to the ground. Unfortunately she did let go of Coronsoe and stood quickly, spitting blood out as fast as she could.
Coronsoe: You little wench! Look what you've done! But I must remember that I have the upper hand in this situation. You see everyone, I must ask a question. Tell me has Sora told you what happened to her family?
Kuwabara: They died, what else is there to know, normal people don't normally pry into others pasts like that!
Coronsoe: Oh is that so, well Sora you seem to have made lying one of your many talents now a days! I can't believe you haven't told them the truth!
Ian: Ok, I'm even lost now, what the heck is going on here?
Coronsoe: Do they even know who you really are?
Sora remained silent with a deadly frown on her face, she glared defiantly at her captor.
Coronsoe: Well, I'm sorry to be the bearer of ill news but it seems that everything you know about this woman so far is either a complete or partial lie!
Sora: (her voice an angry hiss) You'll gain nothing from this Coronsoe, so why are you doing it?
Coronsoe: Anything to watch you suffer little one! You see everyone, Sora has hidden a great many things from all of you, and once I reveal to you all who she really is then you may go. Killing you now wouldn't be any fun! So first of all, Sora why don't you show them who you really are? Or should I say, what you are!
Sora remained silent, but tried to speak to her friends.
Sora: It's not what you think. He's just trying to turn you all on me. But I want you all to know that everything I've told you is true to a point!
Coronsoe: Then are you going to tell them the whole truth or do I have to get it out of you myself?
Sora: Bite me!
Coronsoe: Hand me my blade!
One of his men brought him a shimmering katana, which he took and readied himself for a direct blow to Sora's midriff.
Yukina: What are you doing!?! He's going to kill her someone stop him!
But they could do nothing, except stand and watch.
Coronsoe: Last chance, either show them or I'll make you and if you refuse to even then, you'll die. They can't get through this without you, you know that!
Sora looked her captor fearlessly in the eyes.
Sora: Bring it on!
And with that he ran her through and slowly pulled the blade back. Sora collapsed onto the ground clutching her stomach and gasping, blood spewing onto the ground from her gory wound.
Sora's friends: No!
Sora: (gasping and holding one hand up to stop them) Don't worry, I'll be ok, just please forgive me for not telling all of you about this sooner.
Everyone was officially freaked out now. But just as they thought their friend was going to die slowly in front of their very eyes something began to happen to her. She began to transform! Her body became glowing white, and grew to a length of over 20feet! Scales replaced her skin and her blue eyes turned golden and slitted! Sora was no longer the beautiful woman they new her as, before them lay a writhing pile of pure demon!
Sora: That's right I'm a demon, and my demon form is a Cobra!
This was no ordinary cobra; her scales shimmered in the sunlight and shone a silvery white. Her slitted eyes glistened in the light. But the strange thing was that she had legs, and talons. She resembled a legged cobra dragon without wings. And instead of having only two fangs like a normal snake, she had not only fangs, but also a mouth full of serrated teeth. Sora's forked tongue flicked in and out of her mouth, tasting the air. Then, a most extraordinary thing happened, she began to shed her skin, and upon her completion of exiting her old scales her wound was completely gone! Only a slight scar remained to tell the tale of her horrid scrape with death. She was the spitting image of the tattoo on her back, minus the legs. And the same four Japanese symbols, Loving Mother, Ruthless Killer spanned the width of her hood. Her friends starred on in a mixed silence of shock, confusion, and amazement.
Coronsoe: All right, enough of the crap; either change back now or the boy dies. I'm not in the mood for slaying snakes today!
Sora: I will have my revenge soon Coronsoe, you had just better hope that I'm in a good mood once I get a hold of you!
She slowly changed back and the men let Yahiko go. They then left hurriedly, leaving the group to talk amongst themselves about what had just occurred.
Keiko: And I thought I'd seen everything.
Sora: Listen, guys I'm sorry I didn't tell you all before, but I just couldn't it would've been too weird!
Sano: Oh and like this isn't? I just watched a woman go from a snake back to a woman again!
Sora: Listen, I know I've got some explaining to do, but can we first all go inside. It's already late in the afternoon. We need to look for some sort of a clue to as to where to go for our next challenge too.
They all went inside and set up several futons to rest on as they talked. Sora was made to sit where everyone could see her.
Hiei: We want to know everything because there will be no further questing if we can't even tell one another what we are!
Sora: Fine, I'm over three hundred years old first of all. And I'm a pure demon, no human in me whatsoever! My family has been working on things like the Shrikans for centuries. They are what Coronsoe is after, and I'm just the bonus because he wants revenge. My family, and I'm ashamed to be saying this, but they were like the Quakers of the Demon world. They didn't believe in fighting. Well, they also didn't ever marry anyone who wasn't of the same type of demon as them. Eventually Coronsoe and several other big demons began coming after us and my father was tired of running. He wanted to stand and fight, which of course the rest of the family didn't approve of. He left and went exploring for a while and met my mother. Realizing that his family would never let them be together he married my mother while staying on with her family. He brought her back with him to meet his family who of course pitched a fit. My mother was a fighter and had even won the dark tournament once, way back when. The family didn't approve of her, but since they loved my father so much they decided to let them stay. They lived in the big house and that's why it's so very large, in order to accommodate all of us. My father's mother was always very protective of him, and she was the leader of our tribe. My father had only one older sister who despised him and was very strict and kept to our codes. She hated him because he was to be the heir to the family leadership and she wasn't going to get anything because she was a girl. Plus, my father, she had argued wasn't even a good follower of our beliefs. She had an even bigger fit after I was born, because now, even if my father didn't have a son I was the rightful heir to the throne. Everyone, despite my mixed blood loved me greatly. Coronsoe eventually found us though and killed off many of our family members. The traumatizing thing about it though was that I always happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed almost all of the slaughterings of my relatives! My aunt always hated me and after my grandmother was killed she tried everything to overthrow my parents. She eventually did succeed in convincing them to annul my rights as future queen and my mother and I were shunned from the family I was still young then. But my father never stopped loving us and so one day I just couldn't stand Aunt Rose's vileness anymore and left. That's when I met Kenshin's dad. Well after I had left I had instructed one of my birds to alert me immediately if ever I was needed to come home. I spent many a happy year under the instruction of your father, but that was interrupted when Coronsoe found me and tried to kill him. I got away. It was then that I decided I had best go home. I was sad and needed the words of my family to comfort me. Upon reaching my home it was a dark welcoming indeed. They completely ignored me, and for once I realized how awful it was to be shunned. I came into my old bedroom and found my aunt standing there.
~Flashback!~
Sora: What are you doing here?
Rose: (snickering evily) Oh, just welcoming you home.
The fireplace was glowing as a flame danced in it and its light reflected in Rose's eyes. Sora: Where are my parents?
Rose: (sarcastically) Oh haven't you heard? They were killed. Foolish people died trying to fight off that dreadful Coronsoe again.
Sora: You lie! My bird would've warned me.
Rose turned and threw the dead bird at Sora's feet, an arrow protruding from its chest.
Rose: I didn't want her to interrupt your training!
Sora: (tears in her eyes now) What have you done!?! Where are my parents I must speak with them!
Rose: (holding up an invitation and cackling) Their funeral is tomorrow afternoon, but I'm afraid your words shall only fall upon deaf ears!
Sora: (now wiping tears from her face and coldly starring down her aunt) You think I should need an invitation to my own parents' funeral!
Rose: Of course not! That's why the fires lit!
Then smiling with more evil happiness than she ever had before she tossed the invitation into the flames!
Sora: NOOOOOOOO! What have you done!
Rose: Dear, it's something called survival of the fittest. And we as a whole have decided to turn over a new leaf.
An engagement ring glimmered on Rose's finger.
Rose: I had a talk with that little Coronsoe and we decided that we would be better off working together rather than fighting one another all of the time!
Sora: (shock and anger both vied for position amongst her features) You, you mean to tell me that after all of these years, after I watched over half of my family die, (her voice was shaky now) and after I wasn't even told of my own parents death you've gone and married the one man who's responsible for all of my suffering.
Rose: Well we're not married yet, but, well I'm sorry but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Sora: You, I have sustained your criticisms and be-ratings over all of these years and then you wish to torment me even more with this!!!!
Rose: (holding something behind her back) Well darling that's why I'm hear now, you see, before Coronsoe agreed to marry me I had to promise him that I would end your suffering.
She snapped her fingers and all of the rest of Sora's family showed up, armed with anything from swords to rocks.
Sora: (looking around at all of them) Ok, I see how it is,
Rose: Sorry it had to end this way darling, any last words?
Sora: (darkly cackling) Yeah, all of you, do me a favor and just go and burn in hell!
Rose: (pulling forth the fire poker from behind her back, it's end red hot) Oh, but I think it will be you who's going to be doing the burning.
~End Flashback!~
Sora: It was then that for the first time ever I transformed. No one else in my family could do that, but apparently my mixed blood had endowed me with this power.
Botan: And what happened?
Sora: I killed them all! Every last mother f****** one!
Kaoru: That's dreadful!
Sora: But it felt great. And that's only the half of it, Coronsoe wants revenge on me for many things but also wants to use me as a weapon. Well, that's obviously not going to happen. (tears began sparkling in her eyes) And of course there were many more encounters with him throughout my life, but I just want to go to bed now. I hope you all got what you wanted. You know I never did get to tell my parents goodbye, but I'll never forget them.
The others of course let her go, but they sat quite still for a bit, contemplating her words.
Yusuke: She's insane!
Hiei: Not really, if she were insane she would've murdered us all in our sleep by now.
Yusuke: Well that's a comforting thought.
No one noticed that Ian had gotten up and left too. He had followed Sora out of the room unnoticed. She raced down the hall and into a room, sliding the door shut behind her. Ian walked slowly, not wanting her to hear him.
Ian: ** Why am I doing this? I don't even know why I'm following her, but I feel like I owe her an apology for not saying something. I shouldn't have let them force her to tell them so much about her past, something like that is obviously painful even for someone as tough as Sora. **
He reached her room and quietly slid the door open. She lay on her side, facing away from him, her face buried in her futon, and he could hear her soft crying.
Ian: ** How could such a pretty little thing mask such terrible truths? **
He rapped lightly against the doorframe and spoke softly,
Ian: May I come in?
Sora's body froze at the sound of her voice.
Sora: What do you want?
Ian: I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry about what happened today. They shouldn't have made you tell them so much.
Sora: Why do you care so?
Ian: To be honest I really don't know, I just felt like I had to come talk to you.
Sora: (harshly) Now is really not a good time.
Ian: Ok, I'm sorry to have bothered you; I'll see you tomorrow then.
And with that he slid shut the door. After discovering that the rest of his friends had gone off to bed he snuck away from the dojo. He knew he had to be careful, the Shrikans were still out and about. The moon was his only light as he snuck away to the place where he was to meet Coronsoe.
Coronsoe: You're late!
Ian: Sorry! They wouldn't stop talking to me.
Coronsoe: Here's the next place where they need to go, tell them you found it out by the well. And next time be sure to be earlier!
Ian: Of course, oh um sir, if it's not to much trouble why do you want revenge on Sora?
Coronsoe: She killed my fiancé, not to mention the fact that she maimed me for life.
Ian: How's that? Coronsoe: Boy you of all people have seen my demon form!! You should know that I've never been able to function at my full potential ever since my first brawl with her. She was lucky then, but this time I'll show her why I'm as powerful as I am!
Ian: Fine. Oh, keep your attention focused on the girls; most of them can't fight worth a darn so they'll be a great weakness for the team.
Coronsoe: Haha, you've done me proud boy. Get back to your job now, I'll expect another meeting from you after the next challenge.
Ian: All right.
With that he headed back to the dojo. He had just entered through one of the side gates when all of a sudden he felt something cold and sharp press against his back.
Unknown voice: Where have you been Rion?
Ian: (putting his hands up in the air) Who are you?
Unknown voice: Hahahaha, why does it matter? It's not like you'll live long enough to tell anyone who I am anyway!
Oooooooooooo, espionage is definitely not as easy as it looks! What has our little friend gotten himself into now? Will Sora be ok? I can't wait to tell all of you who it is that's jeopardized Ian's life! Hang in there; have you all missed me? It's been awhile but I had to get another fic started. Until next time! ow H
Chapter 13,
Crouching Coronsoe, Hidden Demon!
The tape arrived the following morning at the Spirit World and was rushed to Koenma and the detective s who watched in shock, anger, grief, and awe.
~Tape~
Coronsoe: Hello friends!
His evil grin made Sora angry and she wanted to throttle the TV, she knew he had done something drastic to get their attention.
Coronsoe: Well as you can guess I've got a little proposition for you. A certain little Ian has decided to betray me and go to your aid in this task so Ian if you're watching this I will have my revenge! As for the rest of you I believe you all will be interested to know that I'm going to hold a miniature tournament. It's going to be like the dark tournament but this time there will be several rounds in which it shall be your team against mine, 10 trials in all. You will be told at the end of the tape where to go for your first challenge, and at the end of each one, if you survive you will be told where to head next. And yes you are required to bring everyone with you, including your precious little girl friends! Why should you comply with me because I have several things that may be of value to you! For Yusuke recognize this face?
It was Yusuke's mother! Coronsoe had managed to capture her!
Coronsoe: And here we have, ah yes a certain kitten!
Kuwabara: Nooooooo, not my kitty!
Coronsoe: For Kenshin's group we have your little Megumi.
Sano: That scumbag! If he lays one finger on her,
Coronsoe: Let's see, oh and Sora I'd pay careful attention to this face!
Sora: No, it can't be. A certain red haired man stood in the back round, his face lined with wrinkles and he stood with his hands bound together and he hung his head so that his face wasn't completely visible. His skin was tan, and scars shone on every inch of his body that was visible. The others turned to look at her, as she stood with her jaw hanging open.
Coronsoe: If you want any of them to last the next day then I would quickly leave for that little dojo you were at before. Your first challenge shall be held there. I'll keep in touch! See you soon.
The tape ended and everyone turned to look at Sora with curiosity.
Botan: Sora, who was that man?
Sora: I, I think you had all better sit down; this is going to be hard to explain. After my family was killed I left and traveled the world. One of the places I transported to was Kenshin's world. I ended up wandering the forests at the very edges of Japan. I ran into a man who spoke of his days as a manslayer. I begged him to train me so that I could better defend the people I loved. Kenshin, I wasn't sure before, but in return he had asked me to share with him the ways of happiness. Of course we both were a little short on those, but I had taught him to dance and when I did he made a mistake identical to yours. It was then that knew you couldn't be an orphan. Kenshin he's your father. The resemblance itself is uncanny, come with me I have pictures for you.
She led them all up to her room and dug a picture out of a drawer. It was a photo of the man and Sora. He was smiling and she was holding her first sword. She had several more of just him and one of him and a woman that he had given her to remember him by. He said that they held nothing but empty memories for him now.
Sora: You need to take these. This one is a picture of your mother and him after they were married. She died shielding you from a gappling gun as your father fought off a score of angry samurai. Your father told me that someone picked you up and ran and he never saw you again.
Kenshin later went to his room and thought hard about everything that Sora had told him. Kaoru eventually happened upon him and came in to check on him.
Kaoru: Are you all right?
Kenshin: Yes, it's just a bit of a shock for me, you know?
Kaoru: I can only imagine. Here, may I see the picture.
He handed it over and she carefully traced her fingers over the faces.
Kaoru: They look so happy.
Kenshin: That they do.
Kaoru: (looking at him sincerely) If you ever want to talk about anything I'll always be there to listen, you know that right.
Kenshin: (smiling at her) You're a good friend Miss Kaoru! I'll remember that.
Kaoru: Good, well I've got to go finish packing.
She got up to leave, but as she reached the door she stopped for a moment and bit her lip. Then decided to run back and throw her arms about Kenshin. After giving him a quick, friendly hug,
Kaoru: Sorry, I don't know where that came from! Um, bye!
Kenshin smiled warmly as he watched her go, and then turned back to the picture in his hands.The old man had the same long amber hair and violet eyes. And Kenshin's mother had long flowing brown hair and green eyes. They stood together and for the first time Kenshin wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. At last he knew who he was. Maybe this would be the chance for him to meet his father! The rest of the day was devoted to hurried packing for their new adventure. It was when Ian showed up as they were preparing to leave that trouble broke out.
Ian: Hi guys I know that I shouldn't be here, but there's something you all should know,
Sano: Save it buddy we know why you're hear and you should just go off and die somewhere. We don't need to drag your sorry carcass around with us!
Ian: Wait, I'm a demon and I can help you guys! I have information for you and if you'll only let me come with you I will prove to you all how helpful I can be. Sora tell them! I told you that I hated working for Coronsoe and dealing with my brother.
Sora's eyes held no mercy for him, and for the first time Ian was actually afraid of her. Her cold blue eyes were like ice and seemed to bore into him.
Sora: (her voice was emotionless and deadly) I have nothing to say to you Rion.
Ian: I can help you guys really!
Sora: And while your doing that you can also worm your way back and help your little master too! Don't beg boy you're already making me sick.
Ian: Fine, I guess you don't want to know how many men Coronsoe will have with him, or where they'll be hiding once you reach the dojo, or,
Sora: Oh shut your sniveling trap already! Fine, you can join us, but you let me (her face was a millimeter from his now and her words stung him like needles) catch you making one ill-fated step and I will personally skin you alive! My Shrikans haven't had demon meat in quite a while and I'm sure they would love to taste it again!
Ian: ** Then I won't let you catch me! **
They left early the next day and Sora would not speak to anyone. She had her "family" decked out in all manor of armor. The horses wore solid steel and chain breastplates with spikes on them and iron facemasks that left only their eyes exposed with a long horn in the center much like a unicorn. They even wore sharpened iron "shoes" on their hooves so that anything they stepped on or kicked would be run through! The Shrikans had their tailpieces, arm blades, chest plates, and other various weaponry clinging to their bodies! Sora herself wore no armor, but there wasn't a single spot on her body where a weapon wasn't accessible. She was in overkill mode, and still in a little bit of shock at the moment; after all she had thought her old trainer was dead. Hadn't she even seen him die? But maybe his wounds weren't serious enough to kill him; she did leave very quickly so it's possible that he was still alive! Oh every part of her wanted to see him again and be able to watch him reunite with his long lost son, but at the same time she was wary. Traps were inevitable on this journey so they would always have to be on the look out. The portal carried them quickly and so they reached the dojo still under cover of darkness. Sora had refused to give Ian any weapons on account of the fact that she still didn't trust him.
Ian: They're going to try and kill me too you know!
Sora: Well, you always have your face, that's a pretty scary weapon in itself!
Ian: That was not very kind. Sora: Well do I look like I'm in a very kind mood right now?
Ian: Whatever, let's just get this over with.
Sora had demanded that her Shrikans remain hidden outside the dojo because she new that given the chance Coronsoe would capture them, if he could, and kill everyone on sight. Upon entering the dojo they were cautious and the air smelled foul. Everyone moved in a tight group, but it was as they began to spread out so as to make for harder targets for any snipers that might be about that trouble started. Yahiko stealthily crept about and as he walked along he headed for his favorite look out spot. Upon reaching it he stumbled upon an unsuspecting marksman and a quick struggle ensued. Yahiko managed to club the man senseless, but another hidden assailant struck the boy from behind and pressed a knife to his throat.
Man: Hey boss! I got one!
Coronsoe: (stepping out from his hiding place) Good work. Now everyone stick your hands up where I can see them or the boy's as good as dead.
Everyone obeyed, Sora reluctantly complied, her mind racing to try and find them a way out of their predicament.
Coronsoe: (pointing to Sora) Bring that little whelp to me!
Well, as you can imagine that was much easier said than done, for the second Coronsoe's men tried to drag Sora over to him she fought like a mad thing. It took seven of the men to hold her down while two others bound her wrists and then shoved her to her feet. Her friends, despite their predicament, couldn't help but chuckle as the men struggled to contain the woman. What the captors had forgotten to do was bind her feet because as soon as they grouped around her to lead her over to Coronsoe she leapt on the man in front of her and knocked him to the ground with her feet and began to stomp him into the ground until the knife around Yahiko's throat came much closer to slitting it. The highly amused Coronsoe looked on at the antics of his men and finally they had her standing in front of him.
Coronsoe: Hello darling, my, my hasn't it been a while since we last saw one another?
Sora spat at him and he retaliated with an attempted slap across her face, but he only made a fool of himself. Sora saw his hand coming and leaned back, dodging the slap, but lunging forward again so fast that she was able to get a hold of the back of his hand with her teeth! She bit hard and blood ran down Coronsoe's arm and into Sora's mouth as he groaned in pain. But her moment of triumph did not last long as someone smacked her so hard upside her head that she fell to the ground. Unfortunately she did let go of Coronsoe and stood quickly, spitting blood out as fast as she could.
Coronsoe: You little wench! Look what you've done! But I must remember that I have the upper hand in this situation. You see everyone, I must ask a question. Tell me has Sora told you what happened to her family?
Kuwabara: They died, what else is there to know, normal people don't normally pry into others pasts like that!
Coronsoe: Oh is that so, well Sora you seem to have made lying one of your many talents now a days! I can't believe you haven't told them the truth!
Ian: Ok, I'm even lost now, what the heck is going on here?
Coronsoe: Do they even know who you really are?
Sora remained silent with a deadly frown on her face, she glared defiantly at her captor.
Coronsoe: Well, I'm sorry to be the bearer of ill news but it seems that everything you know about this woman so far is either a complete or partial lie!
Sora: (her voice an angry hiss) You'll gain nothing from this Coronsoe, so why are you doing it?
Coronsoe: Anything to watch you suffer little one! You see everyone, Sora has hidden a great many things from all of you, and once I reveal to you all who she really is then you may go. Killing you now wouldn't be any fun! So first of all, Sora why don't you show them who you really are? Or should I say, what you are!
Sora remained silent, but tried to speak to her friends.
Sora: It's not what you think. He's just trying to turn you all on me. But I want you all to know that everything I've told you is true to a point!
Coronsoe: Then are you going to tell them the whole truth or do I have to get it out of you myself?
Sora: Bite me!
Coronsoe: Hand me my blade!
One of his men brought him a shimmering katana, which he took and readied himself for a direct blow to Sora's midriff.
Yukina: What are you doing!?! He's going to kill her someone stop him!
But they could do nothing, except stand and watch.
Coronsoe: Last chance, either show them or I'll make you and if you refuse to even then, you'll die. They can't get through this without you, you know that!
Sora looked her captor fearlessly in the eyes.
Sora: Bring it on!
And with that he ran her through and slowly pulled the blade back. Sora collapsed onto the ground clutching her stomach and gasping, blood spewing onto the ground from her gory wound.
Sora's friends: No!
Sora: (gasping and holding one hand up to stop them) Don't worry, I'll be ok, just please forgive me for not telling all of you about this sooner.
Everyone was officially freaked out now. But just as they thought their friend was going to die slowly in front of their very eyes something began to happen to her. She began to transform! Her body became glowing white, and grew to a length of over 20feet! Scales replaced her skin and her blue eyes turned golden and slitted! Sora was no longer the beautiful woman they new her as, before them lay a writhing pile of pure demon!
Sora: That's right I'm a demon, and my demon form is a Cobra!
This was no ordinary cobra; her scales shimmered in the sunlight and shone a silvery white. Her slitted eyes glistened in the light. But the strange thing was that she had legs, and talons. She resembled a legged cobra dragon without wings. And instead of having only two fangs like a normal snake, she had not only fangs, but also a mouth full of serrated teeth. Sora's forked tongue flicked in and out of her mouth, tasting the air. Then, a most extraordinary thing happened, she began to shed her skin, and upon her completion of exiting her old scales her wound was completely gone! Only a slight scar remained to tell the tale of her horrid scrape with death. She was the spitting image of the tattoo on her back, minus the legs. And the same four Japanese symbols, Loving Mother, Ruthless Killer spanned the width of her hood. Her friends starred on in a mixed silence of shock, confusion, and amazement.
Coronsoe: All right, enough of the crap; either change back now or the boy dies. I'm not in the mood for slaying snakes today!
Sora: I will have my revenge soon Coronsoe, you had just better hope that I'm in a good mood once I get a hold of you!
She slowly changed back and the men let Yahiko go. They then left hurriedly, leaving the group to talk amongst themselves about what had just occurred.
Keiko: And I thought I'd seen everything.
Sora: Listen, guys I'm sorry I didn't tell you all before, but I just couldn't it would've been too weird!
Sano: Oh and like this isn't? I just watched a woman go from a snake back to a woman again!
Sora: Listen, I know I've got some explaining to do, but can we first all go inside. It's already late in the afternoon. We need to look for some sort of a clue to as to where to go for our next challenge too.
They all went inside and set up several futons to rest on as they talked. Sora was made to sit where everyone could see her.
Hiei: We want to know everything because there will be no further questing if we can't even tell one another what we are!
Sora: Fine, I'm over three hundred years old first of all. And I'm a pure demon, no human in me whatsoever! My family has been working on things like the Shrikans for centuries. They are what Coronsoe is after, and I'm just the bonus because he wants revenge. My family, and I'm ashamed to be saying this, but they were like the Quakers of the Demon world. They didn't believe in fighting. Well, they also didn't ever marry anyone who wasn't of the same type of demon as them. Eventually Coronsoe and several other big demons began coming after us and my father was tired of running. He wanted to stand and fight, which of course the rest of the family didn't approve of. He left and went exploring for a while and met my mother. Realizing that his family would never let them be together he married my mother while staying on with her family. He brought her back with him to meet his family who of course pitched a fit. My mother was a fighter and had even won the dark tournament once, way back when. The family didn't approve of her, but since they loved my father so much they decided to let them stay. They lived in the big house and that's why it's so very large, in order to accommodate all of us. My father's mother was always very protective of him, and she was the leader of our tribe. My father had only one older sister who despised him and was very strict and kept to our codes. She hated him because he was to be the heir to the family leadership and she wasn't going to get anything because she was a girl. Plus, my father, she had argued wasn't even a good follower of our beliefs. She had an even bigger fit after I was born, because now, even if my father didn't have a son I was the rightful heir to the throne. Everyone, despite my mixed blood loved me greatly. Coronsoe eventually found us though and killed off many of our family members. The traumatizing thing about it though was that I always happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed almost all of the slaughterings of my relatives! My aunt always hated me and after my grandmother was killed she tried everything to overthrow my parents. She eventually did succeed in convincing them to annul my rights as future queen and my mother and I were shunned from the family I was still young then. But my father never stopped loving us and so one day I just couldn't stand Aunt Rose's vileness anymore and left. That's when I met Kenshin's dad. Well after I had left I had instructed one of my birds to alert me immediately if ever I was needed to come home. I spent many a happy year under the instruction of your father, but that was interrupted when Coronsoe found me and tried to kill him. I got away. It was then that I decided I had best go home. I was sad and needed the words of my family to comfort me. Upon reaching my home it was a dark welcoming indeed. They completely ignored me, and for once I realized how awful it was to be shunned. I came into my old bedroom and found my aunt standing there.
~Flashback!~
Sora: What are you doing here?
Rose: (snickering evily) Oh, just welcoming you home.
The fireplace was glowing as a flame danced in it and its light reflected in Rose's eyes. Sora: Where are my parents?
Rose: (sarcastically) Oh haven't you heard? They were killed. Foolish people died trying to fight off that dreadful Coronsoe again.
Sora: You lie! My bird would've warned me.
Rose turned and threw the dead bird at Sora's feet, an arrow protruding from its chest.
Rose: I didn't want her to interrupt your training!
Sora: (tears in her eyes now) What have you done!?! Where are my parents I must speak with them!
Rose: (holding up an invitation and cackling) Their funeral is tomorrow afternoon, but I'm afraid your words shall only fall upon deaf ears!
Sora: (now wiping tears from her face and coldly starring down her aunt) You think I should need an invitation to my own parents' funeral!
Rose: Of course not! That's why the fires lit!
Then smiling with more evil happiness than she ever had before she tossed the invitation into the flames!
Sora: NOOOOOOOO! What have you done!
Rose: Dear, it's something called survival of the fittest. And we as a whole have decided to turn over a new leaf.
An engagement ring glimmered on Rose's finger.
Rose: I had a talk with that little Coronsoe and we decided that we would be better off working together rather than fighting one another all of the time!
Sora: (shock and anger both vied for position amongst her features) You, you mean to tell me that after all of these years, after I watched over half of my family die, (her voice was shaky now) and after I wasn't even told of my own parents death you've gone and married the one man who's responsible for all of my suffering.
Rose: Well we're not married yet, but, well I'm sorry but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Sora: You, I have sustained your criticisms and be-ratings over all of these years and then you wish to torment me even more with this!!!!
Rose: (holding something behind her back) Well darling that's why I'm hear now, you see, before Coronsoe agreed to marry me I had to promise him that I would end your suffering.
She snapped her fingers and all of the rest of Sora's family showed up, armed with anything from swords to rocks.
Sora: (looking around at all of them) Ok, I see how it is,
Rose: Sorry it had to end this way darling, any last words?
Sora: (darkly cackling) Yeah, all of you, do me a favor and just go and burn in hell!
Rose: (pulling forth the fire poker from behind her back, it's end red hot) Oh, but I think it will be you who's going to be doing the burning.
~End Flashback!~
Sora: It was then that for the first time ever I transformed. No one else in my family could do that, but apparently my mixed blood had endowed me with this power.
Botan: And what happened?
Sora: I killed them all! Every last mother f****** one!
Kaoru: That's dreadful!
Sora: But it felt great. And that's only the half of it, Coronsoe wants revenge on me for many things but also wants to use me as a weapon. Well, that's obviously not going to happen. (tears began sparkling in her eyes) And of course there were many more encounters with him throughout my life, but I just want to go to bed now. I hope you all got what you wanted. You know I never did get to tell my parents goodbye, but I'll never forget them.
The others of course let her go, but they sat quite still for a bit, contemplating her words.
Yusuke: She's insane!
Hiei: Not really, if she were insane she would've murdered us all in our sleep by now.
Yusuke: Well that's a comforting thought.
No one noticed that Ian had gotten up and left too. He had followed Sora out of the room unnoticed. She raced down the hall and into a room, sliding the door shut behind her. Ian walked slowly, not wanting her to hear him.
Ian: ** Why am I doing this? I don't even know why I'm following her, but I feel like I owe her an apology for not saying something. I shouldn't have let them force her to tell them so much about her past, something like that is obviously painful even for someone as tough as Sora. **
He reached her room and quietly slid the door open. She lay on her side, facing away from him, her face buried in her futon, and he could hear her soft crying.
Ian: ** How could such a pretty little thing mask such terrible truths? **
He rapped lightly against the doorframe and spoke softly,
Ian: May I come in?
Sora's body froze at the sound of her voice.
Sora: What do you want?
Ian: I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry about what happened today. They shouldn't have made you tell them so much.
Sora: Why do you care so?
Ian: To be honest I really don't know, I just felt like I had to come talk to you.
Sora: (harshly) Now is really not a good time.
Ian: Ok, I'm sorry to have bothered you; I'll see you tomorrow then.
And with that he slid shut the door. After discovering that the rest of his friends had gone off to bed he snuck away from the dojo. He knew he had to be careful, the Shrikans were still out and about. The moon was his only light as he snuck away to the place where he was to meet Coronsoe.
Coronsoe: You're late!
Ian: Sorry! They wouldn't stop talking to me.
Coronsoe: Here's the next place where they need to go, tell them you found it out by the well. And next time be sure to be earlier!
Ian: Of course, oh um sir, if it's not to much trouble why do you want revenge on Sora?
Coronsoe: She killed my fiancé, not to mention the fact that she maimed me for life.
Ian: How's that? Coronsoe: Boy you of all people have seen my demon form!! You should know that I've never been able to function at my full potential ever since my first brawl with her. She was lucky then, but this time I'll show her why I'm as powerful as I am!
Ian: Fine. Oh, keep your attention focused on the girls; most of them can't fight worth a darn so they'll be a great weakness for the team.
Coronsoe: Haha, you've done me proud boy. Get back to your job now, I'll expect another meeting from you after the next challenge.
Ian: All right.
With that he headed back to the dojo. He had just entered through one of the side gates when all of a sudden he felt something cold and sharp press against his back.
Unknown voice: Where have you been Rion?
Ian: (putting his hands up in the air) Who are you?
Unknown voice: Hahahaha, why does it matter? It's not like you'll live long enough to tell anyone who I am anyway!
Oooooooooooo, espionage is definitely not as easy as it looks! What has our little friend gotten himself into now? Will Sora be ok? I can't wait to tell all of you who it is that's jeopardized Ian's life! Hang in there; have you all missed me? It's been awhile but I had to get another fic started. Until next time! ow H