Chapter Five – Edgecrusher

Disclaimer: I dunn own anything but the demon warlord Barkuda (pronounced Baaar-kooo-daa) and his generals and dark armies of the night) everything else fic wise belongs to the WB and whomever else owns all rights to the Jackie Chan Adventures series and the song 'Edgecrusher' belongs to the heavy metal band Fear Factory

Author's Note: This as we all know takes place after the mess with the Oni masks and Tarakudo (think tha's how you spell his name) lol thankfully Jade's not the leader of section thirteen and there is no Drago in my series (which I think is a good thing considering how the guy looked like a mutant dilophosaur lol)

Summary: Wellp since no one else wants to do the summary I have to use Finn, Chow, and Ratso lol okay boys get out there and dunn screw me over lol

Ratso: What does he mean by screwing him over?

Chow: glares at me I'd say something but I don't want to wind back in the seventies

Finn: upon hearing the word 'seventies' Get down and boogie it's the seventies!

Chow and Ratso: shake Finn

Finn: Huh? Ohh right summary…wellllll it looks like the author has brought in this new guy called Barkuda whose intent on killing Hsi Wu…can't say I wouldn't mind I mean the guy seemed like a jerk to me

Ahem glares at Finn then uses fanfic author powers to completely destroy the seventies in front of Finn

Finn: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! screams, turns white then passes out

Chow and Ratso: gulp uhhh…however will the couple survive this encounter? both run out the door taking Finn with them

sighs why is it I can almost never get goooood help?

Valmount: shrugs you could always have Shendu do a summary

Hmmmmm not a bad idea… lol by the way Valmount shoves him out the door and over to Spleefie's house have fun with him Spleefie!

Feedback: You allll know the drill lol please send all comments (save for flames) and cans and bottles of Diet Dr Pepper to me courtesy of lol you can also send me tons of Kiwi-Strawberry snapple with which I wilst share with the awesome Pimpstress herself

Conceived in a hell beyond your depth of perception

Chaotic case of conquering domination

Psychopath snaps fired chains of imprisonment

A bludgeoning force that's undermining the government

As the blade sliced her across the stomach Jade gasped in pain holding a hand to the injury before she collapsed suddenly feeling very weak even though the cut itself…was not deep.

"YOU BASTARD!" A familiar voice screamed, one filled with rage…and concern…for her. "I TRUSTED YOU!!!"

"And that of course was you're undoing…after all" Korda replied with a chuckle that was cruel and filled with evil.

It's happening again…Jade thought bitterly tears falling as the claws of betrayal entered her heart again as, with each passing moment she felt herself growing weaker and weaker. I'm so sorry Jackie…she said her heart starting to break…because another person she had trusted had betrayed her.

"And now you are going to die, after I have drained you of you're life force, you're soul and then I will feast upon…you're very body" Korda continued with an evil and sadistic chuckle.

Hsi…Jade thought upon hearing what the treacherous one had just said as pain racked her body and she struggled to move slowly getting to her feet.

"…Bar…ku…da" she heard Hsi say and she turned to see shadowy tendrils wrap around the sky demon whose eyes were filled with fear as 'Korda' no, this … this 'Barkuda' leaned forward looking at the sky demon with hungry anticipation.

"That's right boy…and you're life and death belong to me" Barkuda replied grinning in a sadistic manner as the tendrils continued to shock the sky demon whose screams of pain filled Jade's ears.

"No they don't" A voice replied and at first she was surprised to hear the venom in her own voice even as Barkuda turned and snarled in a feral manner his blood red eyes glowing once more

"So…you have strength left…no matter…you will die after he does," Barkuda stated in a calm and utterly arrogant voice.

"Fat chance Barky" Jade replied as a red haze slowly began to overtake her and she attacked with a chi spell that made him hiss in pain and caused him to bring his arm up in order to protect his face from the small incantation before he grinned as the small blast of energy dissipated along his hand.

"You…missed" he replied with a chuckle licking his lips eagerly watching her every move.

"Did I?" Jade asked coolly before throwing another chi spell at the demon who stepped back instinctively seconds before…Hsi Wu tackled him from behind knocking them both down, a shadowy tendril nearly grabbed onto Jade only the sky demon was already beating his wings hard as he pulled Jade to him and started flying the two of them out of the cave and … away from the monster in human form.

As the two of them left Barkuda just smirked affecting an air of boredom, "losers" he replied, the tattoos on his body glowing softly and he slowly faded into the shadows enjoying the fact that he was … once again … free …

"Not that I am not glad that we made it out or anything; because I am but who the hell was that guy and what the hell was his problem?!!" Jade demanded as the couple landed running a hand along the sky demon's chest wincing upon seeing the burn marks before she winced looking at the small wound on her stomach.

"You're hurt" he replied changing the subject as he knelt down next to her stomach then slowly licked the wound willing it to close spitting out what looked to be black blood, "shadowvenom" he hissed with some anger.

Her eyes nearly rolled back into her head as she felt his tongue along her stomach that feeling running through her again, "shad...dow what?" she stammered trying not to blush from the feeling of his tongue along her stomach.

He growled, "it's a dark chi poison, it makes a person's chi weak enough for another to steal or corrupt the soul." He replied snarling angrily before he noticed the lovely blush running along her face, "heh did I do something you liked?"

"Don't start batboy" Jade replied with a coy laugh as she hugged him, "You okay? I saw what that freak was doing to you"

"I'll heal" he replied with a sigh, "You sure that you are okay?"

Jade smiled upon hearing the concern in her voice then she pulled him to her and kissed him soundly on the lips, "I need to get home" she replied laughing a little, "Jackie's going to have a conniption fit when he sees you"

"Chan's not my biggest concern right now" he replied kissing her again his red eyes meeting her golden ones, "right now you are" he replied before he took to the skies carrying her to the antique store…

Inflict strain upon the structure

Collapsing below my pressure

Inflict strain upon the structure

Collapsing below my pressure

…Jade hugged him tight, never wanting to let go, scared because she'd almost lost him, glad that he was okay for now and confused because she had hundreds of other feelings slithering inside of her.

He looked at her as they landed and he sighed wondering just how the hell he could have been so stupid? He'd listened to the stories his siblings had of Barkuda, he remembered the nightmares all of them even Shendu had had of that sadistic monster, he'd sworn up and down to himself that he would never let him out

But he had...all because he had wanted...to be free and now he was cut off from his own family, stranded here with that ... sick monster out there...somewhere.

He could not tell Jade or her uncles any of this either, since it wasn't her fight nor her family's fight, and he couldn't let her get hurt because of his own shortsightedness, to say nothing of the fact that it was a private matter, one he could not reveal to any outsider no matter how much he wanted to and trusted her.

Sighing he looked at her, "are you sure you are alright?"

"Yeah" she said, nodding wondering what was up with her friend.

"We'd better get you indoors" he replied starting to pick her up only she eluded his hold and he blinked in confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked her

"Who was he?" she asked him wanting to know what was going on, "I heard what you said to each other" she added, "where do you know him from?"

He shrugged, "another demon, someone Shendu and Tchang pissed off" he replied giving her a partial truth praying that she wouldn't see that he wasn't giving her the whole truth. "I do not...really know him since I was to little to remember"

"Oh" Jade said, looking at him suspiciously knowing that he was keeping something from her, something having to do with the demon they had unleashed but she could also see that he was rattled by this little adventure and her heart went out to him as she hugged him close, "let's go" she replied with a sigh. "I'll undo the barrier"

He nodded grateful that she wouldn't send him out into the night…and…towards the monster that waited for him…in the darkness of the night.

She quickly went in to make sure her uncles were in the back room, then 'invited' him in and ushered him up the stairs before her uncles could see or hear

As she closed the door she turned seeing him there on his bed sighing, he looked ... frightened and it hurt that he wouldn't tell her what was going on exactly

"I'm sorry Hsi" she whispered, pulling him into a hug wishing she knew just what to say to make him feel better knowing he must have been feeling very guilty at this moment in time.

He blinked hugging her back wishing he could tell her but how the hell did you...tell someone about a monster who was one hundred times worse then Shendu or Tchang or Po or Xiao had been?

How did you tell her that someone rumored to be the master of darkness was real, that the being he had set free commanded shadows and all the evil in one's own heart, and would not hesitate in going after another person just to amuse himself?

It was unthinkable what he had done and he wanted to leave and find someplace quiet to...punish himself but...it was blood that had started this whole mess and he wouldn't repeat that mistake, sighing he curled up with her holding him close and he looked at her telling her the only thing that he could tell her.

"I'm. Sorry" he replied trying not to cry as he cursed himself for what he'd done.

"Shhh" Jade whispered 'its not your fault, you didn't know what would happen'

"I should've" he said looking down, "I can't believe I was so stupid and brash" he said in a voice filled with self-loathing

Jade sighed hugging him, and rocked him back and forth gently, murmuring gentle words of comfort and encouragement to him wanting to help him get past this pain he was feeling even now.

"I...I would never trade you for anything but...look at what my impatience has caused"

"Hsi Wu?" Jade began nuzzling him fiercely "it is not your fault, he fooled ME too' she replied holding him close trying to get through to him.

"Just like I did" he replied bitterly and Jade sighed kissing him hard

"Don't do this please," she begged seeing the guilty look in his eyes. "It's not your fault," she continued getting a blanket.

"Then why...do I feel like it is?" he asked her, "I'm the one who let him out Jade, my blood released him. Not yours."

"Its normal to feel guilty" she whispered "if you didn't..." she shrugged pulling the blanket over his body nuzzling him. "If you didn't…then there would be something wrong with you but there really isn't"

He smiled a little about to say something when a flash of light lifted him clear off the bed then pinned him to the wall and he screamed in pain...and Jade turned...to see...Jackie, Uncle and…Tohru standing behind her, Jackie preparing to attack the demon.

"Jackie!" Jade yelled in anger. "He wasn't doing anything wrong!" she yelled just as uncle started chanting only she screamed blurting out a chi spell glaring at them all as Hsi slumped to the floor, moaning softly.

"He's dangerous!" Jackie started to say only Jade marched right up to them glaring at them all

"He. Is. Not." She began glaring at her uncle angry that he would act this way. "He is. My. Friend." she said in a cold even voice growing more and more pissed off with her uncle.

"Sky demon no one's friend" uncle began before she glared at him as well.

"Even if you care about him Jade, Hsi Wu is still...a demon and he did lie to you before" Tohru began only she looked at them all with hurt in her eyes.

"And he is a threat as long as he is free" Jackie added

"He's not hurt anyone since he came back!" Jade snapped glaring at her uncles and Tohru angrily, "just leave him alone, damnit" she said, starting to cry

Jackie looked at her in that patronizing manner, "Jade? Hsi Wu is still a demon and he has deceived you before," he stated

"Tell that to Barkuda!" she snapped

"Peh Barkuda only myth used to frighten little children" uncle replied dismissing her comment

Hsi wu looked up, moaning weakly and she knelt beside him glaring at her great uncle. "I...saw him" she replied with a scowl.

"Sky demon has bewitched Jade" uncle began to say only Jade narrowed her eyes her rage growing…

Break of the edgecrusher...

…"Try a demon at six feet tall with red eyes, and a human form. He looks chinese too, bald with only a ponytail and wearing black silk clothes" she replied sarcastically, "and being able to strangle people with shadows"

Hsi stared at the uncles, waiting to see their reaction

"Uncle still think sky demon made it up" the chi wizard began before...Jade Hsi managing to catch her head her eyes looking dilated and...dark

"JADE!" Jackie shouted as he and the others moved to her side and for a little second he flashed Hsi Wu a dark look before returning his attention to Jade who looked...pale, "uncle what is wrong with her?"

"Shadow...venom" Hsi replied with a sigh, "Barkuda...bit her"

"Barkuda only myth!"

Hsi's eyes narrowed, "take a look at her neck if you don't believe me!" he snarled

Jade whimpered softly as she looked at Hsi, her vision blurred

He wanted to take her into his arms and hold her close but he knew they would never allow it and he sighed as they examined what looked like...a spider's bite only it was bigger and oozed a blackish slime.

"Can you help her?" Jackie asked the chi wizard

"Uncle...has never...seen a spell like this before" he replied, "Tohru bring Jade downstairs. We must do reaseaaarch"

"Let me help" Hsi asked

"You've done enough" Jackie started to say before uncle twacked him

"Sky demon may know antidote" uncle corrected

"I hate seeing Jade like this" Hsi sighed "please Chan, I…I…i want to do everything i can to make her better" he replied hanging his head utterly miserable as he looked at his jewel.

It was his fault he thought bitterly, all his fault he mused darkly, riffling through books alongside the others, ignoring the looks that Chan was giving him right now.

Chan wasn't the concern right now, Jade was he reminded himself. His jewel was…wasting away and nobody knew what was happening to her he thought angrily clenching a fist, sighing miserably as he rifled through the books

How could he have been so stupid?! He had allowed this to happen and now that creature's poison was spreading through her body

Jade moaned weakly, feeling her life slowly seep from her, she longed for someone to hold her

Jackie sighed placing a washcloth on her face while uncle put up a protective chi spell as they continued to look for something, anything that would help.

It was hours later when he found...the right book…

…He blinked then called the others over to point it out, his horror growing after reading about…shadowvenom…

…Taking the book the old man began to read and his eyes widened in horror. "Shadowvenom - product of the dark chi lord and master seeps through the soul and the chi corrupting it making both " he explained the four of them looking at Jade with fear in their eyes, fear for her.

As if on Cue, Jade whimpered softly, her hands shaking her body starting to feel…cold all over a growing darkness beginning to flow towards her.

'I see...you' a familiar voice said in her mind...as she felt darkness beginning to overwhelm her and she felt his evil presence drawing close as if a deadly wolf hunting it's prey getting closer and closer and closer and she shivered unable to move...before she heard a shriek and felt...lightheaded

"Heeeeeellllp me" she whimpered as she felt herself…growing more detached from her own body…

Uncle 'aiyaaaed' again as he, Jackie, Tohru and Hsi Wu began to make a special cleansing potion. "Yu Mo Gua Fi Di Zhao, yu mo gua fi di zhao, yu mo gua fi di zhao' uncle replied chanting as he poured the concoction of good chi onto her neck…

The purist, non-conformist, jaded subhuman terrorist

From flesh to steel and blood to blade I fight to exist

A rival of justice, extreme rush of hatred

Survival in a twisted world where nothing is sacred

…Hsi held his breath as the green liquid fell onto her neck, praying it would work, wishing he could do something other then wait

Jade's eyelids fluttered open and he leaned forward expectantly looking at her a smile on his face as he looked at her full almost pouty lips.

Jackie narrowed his eyes about to comment before she narrowed her eyes at her uncle smiling at the sky demon.

"Jade" Hsi whispered, squeezing her hand wanting to kiss her and make passionate love to her for days on end, but…not in front of her uncles

She smiled moaning tiredly and Uncle sighed in relief, "Jade out of danger now, but both she and sky demon must answer questions"

Jackie nodded not really liking that prospect especially since he'd noticed that Jade seemed very comfortable around Hsi Wu right now.

Something that bothered him a lot but at the moment he would not say anything instead he continued to watch the two of them.

Hsi flinched and looked down feeling guilty and Jade sighed turning her head, not liking the looks that Jackie had been giving the sky demon who already felt bad enough without her uncle pestering him.

Hsi sighed, "he...freed me" he replied, "pretending to be a friend"

"Something you should have known about" Jackie stated a little coldly

"Leave him alone" Jade snapped "he fooled me too into thinking he was a friend"

"But he did free you" Tohru began, "why?"

Hsi Wu shrugged not about to comment on that. "I haven't a clue" he replied half lying half telling the truth.

Jade covered for him "I guess that if Barkuda thought that if he could free someone from their imprisonment they'd be so grateful they'd return the favor and Hsi just happened to be that person"

Jackie paused lost in thought. "But how did he know Hsi Wu?" he asked ignoring the sky demon in question.

Jade looked to Hsi for an answer also wondering the same thing, but she held her tongue in check.

He shrugged, "I don't, not really at any rate. Tchang and…Shendu angered him" he replied shaking his head hating himself for lying, wanting to tell her the truth hating his siblings for not wanting to seek help for this problem.

"That would explain it" Jade said, looking to her uncles albeit a little defiantly "it's not Hsi's fault!" she said with a growl.

"Whatever else sky demon will have to remain here until spell is devised to protect him" uncle replied ignoring Jackie, "but uncle warning sky demon if sky demon cross anyone sky demon will be veeeeeeeerry sorry"

"I don't intend to" Hsi Wu shrugged innocently "like Jade said i haven't caused any trouble since I been back and I do not…wish to"

"No you just let a terrible monster lose" Jackie retorted glaring at the sky demon.

He hung his head low and sighed knowing how right Chan was hating that the man was but knowing full well that he was right. "I honestly didn't know who he was"

"Blame can be placed after mess is cleaned up" uncle replied though he also looked more then a little angry at the sky demon as well.

Jackie sighed at the prospect of yet another adventure…

Inflict strain upon the structure

Collapsing below my pressure

Inflict strain upon the structure

Collapsing below my pressure

…From the shadows Barkuda grinned evilly as one of the tattoos took the shape of a mask his grin ever growing as the tattoo fell off of his body then merged with the shadows, which were even now changing colors from black…to…a strange greenish/lime color.

He was not too concerned that they had escaped him…no not when he knew full well that despite how much Hsi Wu loved that piece of human filth he would not reveal anything to any of them until he got an okay from his older siblings who were trapped in the void.

Arms shot forth from the lime green shadowy form before legs and a tail also did bat like wings soon following as the shape continued to expand and grow while Barkuda chuckled wondering just how Hsi Wu would react knowing that he could not even contact his siblings due to the jamming spell the other demon had set in place even while he had freed the gullible son of Leng Hung Chao.

And of course there was the fact that even if Hsi Wu did inform this Jackie Chan of his presence, the sky demon's words would not be taken as anything more then just an attempt for that rotten hanyou to buy himself some time in order to escape being banished again.

Of course there was also Hsi Wu's feelings for the girl to consider he thought as his smile turned even more malicious … 'Jade Chan' would be a perfect way to control the bastard child of that blasted Chi sorceress who had sealed him in the necklace to begin with he mused.

And that he thought could work to his advantage, after all he had manipulated the sky demon once, why not simply add a little 'interest' as the humans would say, only this time by using the mortal instead of that halfbreed?

A growl filled the air and Barkuda turned to see the shadows fade away, a winged nightmare standing there before him with eyes that blazed with both fire and evil as the tail swished back and forth as it inclined it's neck in a short and utterly respectful bow towards Barkuda.

"Go…my servant…find Vorax and Traxx and bring them here" he ordered as the other tattoos glowed along his skin.

The shadowy creature roared before a whooshing sound was heard and the dust settled while Barkuda allowed himself a laugh…the mortals had no idea what he was capable of and certainly none of the eight demons would part with that information willing until they were certain of their own place in the universe.

That was the very nature of them all even Hsi Wu who was also half human he reminded himself with a scowl as that particular thought made his eyes narrow to mere slits…and he cursed the woman who had given birth to the sky demon, cursed her and Tso Lan and the other seven demons for daring to defy and banish him to that blasted necklace!

For a few moments he was tempted to simply open a portal then annihilate their very matter but only for a few moments…his snarl turning back into a smile.

"Yes…yes to play with them will be fun" he murmered to himself even as he threw back his head and started laughing reveling in the fact that he … was free …

…And Leng Hung Chao … was dead…

Break of the edgecrusher...