Author's Note: Hello all! Once again, MoonTearz is back to give you the latest installment in the Angels and Demons saga! Not much is new with me…um…I'm gonna leave for school again pretty soon, so that's kinda lame…but I get out again for Spring Break, and then a week of finals, and then I'm done with freshman year!!!! Wooo-hooo!!!! Anyway, please keep reviewing and stuff…I luvs me some reviews!!! Please don't forget about me ::makes puppy dog eyes:: pwwweeeeeaaassseeee?
Jamie hopped out from under the manhole covering, and walked towards the cemetery gate. The cold attacked his bare feet mercilessly, and the cuffs of his gi pants were already soaked…in fact, the gi he wore had just been in a sewer for several hours. It had turned a wrinkled brown, with various rips and tears on it…not to mention the fact that it smelled worse then an ass end of a dumpster. Jamie doubted that Master Law would want it back.
The Nephilim started to walk towards the cemetery gates, but he heard footsteps…dozens of them from behind. Jamie wasn't sure if they were friendly or not…he hoped they were because he really didn't have the time to deal with anything else. They sounded human…defiantly not robotic, so Jamie quickly whirled around, and dropped into a fighter's stance.
What he saw before him both shocked, and amazed him at the same time. Hwoarang next to Jin. He had that wicked grin on his face. Jin looked serious as ever.
"Don't say my sources never come through." Hwoarang said, he made a broad sweeping gesture. "For the Nephilim who has everything. Behold! Your own private army! I've called in a few favors from the Japanese faction of the Blood Talon."
Behind the three of them were a dozen or so guys and girls, most very young, some looked even younger then fifteen! They all wore black; their faces a mixture of hopeful, wary, and just plain freaked out. Hwoarang and Jin spoke to the group, pacing back and forth in rapid Japanese. Hwoarang gesticulated, and made stabbing motions.
The Japanese faction of the Blood Talon listened intently, casting their gazes toward Jamie. One of the girls smiled very shyly and gave him a little wave, then spoke very softly to Hwoarang, adding her two yen worth to the conversation.
After a few minutes, Jin announced, "They have all agreed to make you their leader," He glanced at Hwoarang tentatively…slightly afraid of his reaction…he seemed fine. "Temporarily of course…but they want to help you save Xiaoyu, and any of the other people who might've been kidnapped…they said that they'd be willing to die for Master Hwoarang…and a renowned warrior such as yourself."
Jamie smiled and gave a sincere "Arigato"…but still, he didn't want to hoard in on Hwoarang's turf. "Are you sure?" He asked, glancing over at Hwoarang.
"Sure, you can say yes. I mean, you're the leader for tonight and all. But they know who their real commander is." Hwoarang said with a casual grin and shrug of the shoulders.
"Ah, well, I do have school…" Jamie began.
Then he realized how ridiculous that must sound to them-a supernatural demon fighter who worried more about grades then killing the bad guys. Not that that was true; it was just that he had to make his way in the world, and where he came from, that didn't happen without a college degree. Weird, but true: even the Nephilim had to think about his future.
Still, Jamie couldn't pass up the opportunity. It was a great honor…and Xiao needed help now!
"All right then," he said. "I'm your leader. Take me to your bad guys."
So, the group walked into the cemetery. The gate had some sort of strange locking mechanism on it, but Hwoarang picked the lock…Jamie could've easily broken it off, but he let the fiery haired Korean do his thing. As they entered the cemetery, one of the older men, tall with a shaved head, handed Jamie two wicked looking, hand held battle axes.
"I run a weapons pawnshop…I knew that these would be suited for a warrior such as yourself…" He said shyly with a deep bow.
"Arigato!" Jamie said warmly, and offered another bow.
Japanese culture was not too alien to the Nephilim. After all, he was born in Japan, and had lived here for the first five years of his life. Having a father in the navy insured that sort of lifestyle. Jamie knew rudimentary Japanese…enough to get by. Jamie tucked the blades in his ragged black belt, and was about to walk on…his feet were already completely numb from the cold and he winced slightly.
"Thought you could use these, leader." Jin said with a smile.
In his hands he held a pair of thin, black Tae Kwon Do shoes. They were slip on, and would offer meager protection…but they were shoes nonetheless! Jamie graciously thanked Jin.
"Look! And it's not even my birthday!" He grinned, and slipped them on.
Jin cocked his head. "You're not as I expected," he said frankly. "You are very much an American teenager."
"Perky? Sarcastic?" Jamie suggested dryly.
He was enthusiastic about that adjective. "Very."
They had a little moment, Demon Hunter and demon hunter, and in that moment, Jamie began to see Jin more as an ally then some mysterious wise man. He even forgave him for sucker punching him in the side of the head!
Jamie retied his low ponytail as the snow tumbled on himself, Hwoarang, Jin, and the members of the Blood Talon. It was another world here, compared to the crowded Tokyo street scene just a few feet away. Pristine snow glistened on large stone lanterns, on manicured evergreen trees, on a towering statue of a samurai. Despite the obvious, demonic goings-on around here, there was an undercurrent of goodness here.
Jamie was no Buddhist, but he knew holy ground when he felt it. Maybe it was all the hopes and dreams that the Japanese had poured into their prayers as they paid homage to their fallen heroes…after all, this was where the legendary Ronin Warriors were buried.
What did they used to call it? It was in that Marky-Mark song? Oh, yeah! Good vibrations.
As they walked through the pristine quiet, ripples of conversation began to stir.
"How many members in this Japanese faction of the Blood Talon are there?" Jamie asked Hwoarang.
"Many. But this is just a raiding party…I didn't want to risk everyone. I gathered as many as I could for the cause…normally, there are more but they have families…" Hwoarang trailed off.
"It's okay. This'll do fine. But, I mean…can they handle hand-to-hand very well?"
Jamie gestured to several of the girls in the party…they looked quite fragile.
"Believe me. They're stronger then they look." Hwoarang said.
"Um…excuse me…" A girl ran up to Jamie. She was the same one who had waved at him earlier. "Why is there only one of you?"
Jamie held out his hands. "I've often wondered the same thing," he replied. "If I'm the only thing standing between the forces of evil and the world, why don't I at least have some other Nephilim-like help? But, I've got some friends back home, and," He glanced at Hwoarang and Jin…who, for the sake of the mission were getting along quite well…even though they didn't look at eachother…or speak. "Some new friends in this tournament. In fact, we're gonna go rescue one of those friends."
The girl seemed satisfied and she retreated back into ranks.
"Any other questions?" Jamie asked.
Such as why this job doesn't come equipped with a rocket launcher?!
"Have you ever killed a vampire? Master Baek spoke of them a lot…" One of the older guys asked, he must've been about thirty.
"Yes. Several. And lots of other demons."
"Have you ever killed a dragon?" He continued.
"Dragon…I've never seen one," Jamie said, intrigued. He didn't know if dragons were real or not.
They shuffled through the snow, their footfalls loosening the icy crust so that their movements sounded as if they were walking over cornstarch, the way they used to do it in the movies to sound like people were walking over snow. Jamie reflected on that circular reality for a moment, then pulled himself back to the moment. He was more stressed then he realized. First the Combots, then the hostages, and now Xiao…his friend was in peril. Back in his hometown of Treasure Island, he knew all the demon hotspots, and felt that he almost always, had the upper hand in battles.
In Tokyo, this was a totally different story. He was in a new environment, and he didn't like it. The way that the members of the Blood Talon were glancing nervously around did not make him feel any better.
I shouldn't let them know that I'm scared. They're into all that macho Japanese leader, inner poise kinda stuff.
Walking tall, he kept himself poised for battle, quelling his anxiety, staying focused, but not fearful.
They walked along a pathway punctuated by occasional buildings and small shrines. He had a vague idea of what they were used for and what they signified, but now was not the time to play tourist. They were on a deadly rescue mission and everyone needed to keep their wits about them.
After a few minutes, they turned right into a walled square and everyone froze to stare at the rows upon rows of Japanese-style graves, each with a small, simple obelisk atop a slab of granite.
The moonlight glowed down on nearly fifty graves, which had for so long served as a moving symbol for fidelity and honor. Highlighted by moonbeams, a shadow rose from among the gravestones and flitted across the back row, scrabbling out of sight. Jamie craned his neck in its direction.
It was followed by another, this one a more distinctly human-like figure. There was a hiss like a cat, followed by the clang of metal on stone.
"Jin? Isn't this where samurai are buried?" Jamie asked nervously.
"Yes." Jin said simply.
"What the hell is that sound?" Jamie asked eerily calm.
"Swords…clanging against the gravestones." Hwoarang explained.
An apprehensive murmur ran through the group. The tension level among them mushroomed. One of the girls began to cry and another girl put her arm around her and spoke soothingly. They touched cheeks, and Jamie wondered briefly if they were sweeties.
Then it was back to business, gesturing for everyone to remain still, Hwoarang turned to Jamie.
"I didn't know that there were going to be so many of these vampires…what kills them again?"
"Oh, the usual. Sharp, pointy objects that slice a head off…anything of any religious significance…um, crossbows work equally well too." Jamie finished.
Turning, he felt sorry for the crying girl…who currently held a crossbow.
"Do you know how to use this?" Jamie asked in English.
The girl looked unsure.
Jamie was about to repeat the question when the shadows exploded and launched at them like black missiles. Dozens of vampires attacked en masse, a roiling, dark horde unleashed on a handful or humans. A few were dressed in medieval samurai battle gear-thick leather armor, gauntlets, and helmets topped with scimitar-shaped blades. Others wore more tattooed. Jamie remembered that tatts were always big in Japan…always had been.
As they took in their predicament-so many vampires, so little of them-pandemonium erupted among the Blood Talon. The two guys who hadn't been able to believe that Jamie was a divine warrior assumed battle stance; one with a dagger, and another with a kitana.
The girl with the crossbow screamed and dropped it, running and stumbling through the snow. A vampire leaped after her, and Jamie ran after it, ax at the ready. Then the vampire slipped on an icy patch and went down on his knees, and Jamie seized the advantage. Coming from behind, he sliced the creatures head clean off.
Meanwhile, with perfect form, Jin held his katana firmly against his lower abdomen-the Japanese center of ki, or life energy-and deftly stepped aside as a fierce looking vampire with a long, black mustache rushed him. Then he rammed the sword into the vampire's arm. Enraged, the monster turned toward him, and in that moment, Jin plunged the sword through the demon's heart.
The vampire exploded in azure flames…and Jamie noticed the most thin of smiles grace Jin's lips.
Good fighter… Jamie thought approvingly as he swung his ax with all his might like a baseball bat…decapitating a trio of vamps in one fell swoop. The flames that erupted from them melted the snow around him. As he kicked at another vampire sharply in the jaw, he looked for Xiao's kidnapper…he was nowhere to be found.
They're trying to keep us busy…they must be starting this ritual now!!! And these vamps are here to keep us from getting to them!
Beside him, Hwoarang leapt in the air and let loose a blood curdling battle cry, and slammed his boot clad heel down the center of a vampire's skull. The vamp's head cracked open like a walnut exposing its brain, and while it was reeling from the damage, Hwoarang grabbed the vamp's discarded sword, and sliced it's head off.
"Banzai!" Jamie yelled in congratulation, and Hwoarang flashed a huge, prideful grin.
The wind blew; the snow fell. Drifts whipped up and all around him, snow was on his face, and in his hair (which had long since come out of its ponytail).
"Kazuya-sama," Jamie called to Jin. "Imasuka?"
"Ah so," Jin replied, which was the Japanese language equivalent of "Hmm, let me see."
At that moment, he explained the intentions of the war to Hwoarang and Jin, who had been pushed together, fighting with Jamie.
"Go! Get Xiao!" Jin shouted.
"But-"
"Go now! But hurry back!" Hwoarang yelled.
Jamie whirled around, and found a mausoleum where several of the vamps had come out of…maybe she was in there?
With his patented Jamie Parker war cry he plunged through the hordes of vampire's blocking the mausoleum. He kept fighting as he ran, putting a dent in the small vamp army and morale sky rocketed! At one point, he realized how hungry he was; at another, how tired…and he was also aware of how much blood was coated on the snow, and of the fact that some was his: His lip had been split open and blood was splashing from a head wound just behind his right ear. It was big and it hurt, but he had Nephilim strength regenerative powers, and he could already feel it beginning to heal.
Finally, Jamie fought his way into the mausoleum. He glanced behind him, and noticed that there were about five vamps left…Hwoarang, Jin, and the Blood Talon would be fine.
There was a hole in the center of the crumbling stone building. A strange chanting echoed through the room.
"Uh-oh…demonic karaoke…never a good sign."
Without thinking, Jamie jumped through the hole, and crashed onto an altar…spreading a fine powder throughout the crumbling cavern. Tied to a chain in the center of the area were Xiao, and two other youths. A pentagram was drawn underneath them.
"Jamie!" Ling exclaimed.
"No!!! The ritual!!" A voice shouted.
It didn't sound like Kazuya's…it sounded raspy, like dead leaves scraping on a cobblestone path. Jamie glanced in it's direction. The creature was wrapped in dark bandages, and had glowing, green eyes. It looked somewhat like a mummy. It floated through the air, and had a wickedly sharp claw for a left hand.
"Oops…my bad." Jamie called.
"The resurrection of Lee Chaolon's remains must continue as my Lord Kazuya requests."
"Oh, is this him?" Jamie asked.
He defiantly kicked the remainder of the ashes off the altar.
"Well, you're new. Not to mention hideous. What's your name?" Jamie asked as he hopped off the altar.
"I am Rahir the Ressurector…you destroyed the masters Mechanical soldiers, and freed several of my captives…but that is alright. You will do quite nicely Nephilim."
"Sorry, no can do. Jamie is not on the menu." Jamie said as he dropped into his fighter's stance once again.
And the two fought. Rahir was fast, but Jamie was faster. Clearly, Rahir wasn't used to the fighting. The only problem that Jamie had was the fact that Rahir could teleport. At one point, Rahir had teleported behind Jamie, and sliced at him in the back…cutting his gi to ribbons…and some of the flesh on his back. Angrily, Jamie whirled around, and jammed one of his axes at the first thing he could come in contact with…Rahir's face.
The blow worked, and the creature fell, crying tears of blood.
"Jamie! Oh my God thank you!" Xiao cried.
Jamie freed her, and the other two. Together, the four climbed out of the mausoleum…and out onto the now serenely quiet cemetery. Jamie looked around at the weary, but resolve-filled faces of Hwoarang, Jin, and the Blood Talon. Slowly, soundlessly, they turned and began to walk out of the graveyard…and towards their homes…
Meanwhile, on top of a shrine, several kilometers away, Kazuya Mishima sneered in contempt.
Very well American Nephilim…cherish your small victory…I have truly underestimated you…if my brother, my high priests, and my minions can't stop you then maybe I should just do it myself.
The rage he felt burned within him…consumed him. He cried out in silent screams as his forehead began to split vertically…suddenly, a beam shot out from beneath him, and Kazuya was transformed…from the avatar of evil, to the actual embodiment of it. His purple, dragon-like feet clicked on the roof, and his tail swung angrily.
Yes…I think I shall enjoy torturing you…you have such lovely tan skin…maybe I'll peel it off of you slowly, and make you eat pieces of it? Or shall I focus on your exotic blue eyes? Maybe pluck them out of your head ever so slowly?
Finally, the Devil transformation was complete with the painful edition of wings. Turning, he squatted and leapt into the air…flying through the night.
Author's Note: Whew...longest chappie i've written so far...6 pages!!! Yeah, I know I kinda rushed the ending…I'm sorry. Anyway, I'm kinda having writer's block right now. I think I might know what to do, but I don't know how to do it…I know it's stupid and doesn't make sense…but please, if anyone has any suggestions on what should happen next please help me out a little…pwease? Anyway, once again, mad props go to you guys for reviewing, please don't stop…I luv's my reviews…but y'all knew that anyway! Peace out y'all! Keep Reviewing!!!!