Disney owns, I don't. Nuff said! After reading this, do you think I should be able to go back to a T rating, or should it just stay M?
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Redemption – Yamanouchi
Sensei could feel the disturbance in the magic. He knew what Monkey Fist was doing, collecting the artifacts, and knew there was a darker purpose. He remained unsure as to what that purpose was though. He remained hidden from all sight that Sensei could muster, mystical, technological, mental, but Sensei was sensitive to the workings of magic, and while he could not pinpoint the man, he could feel the damage Monkey Fist was doing to the weave of magic that surrounded the planet. The magic was being used in ways that corrupted the fabric, tearing it, weakening it. It sickened him that someone could proceed like this. He knew Monkey Fist was mad!
Sensei knew that this would be the greatest challenge of Stoppable-san's life. He just hoped he had prepared the young man well enough. The events of months ago had proceeded as Sensei had anticipated, honing his young student. How he longed to tell Stoppable-san of what would happen to his precious Kimberly, even thought of trying to protect the girl himself, but he knew Stoppable-san needed to learn the lessons of what he was forced to experience. He had become hardened, stronger, yet still tempered with compassion. It had forced him to stand on his own for the first time, and the young man had done well. He had learned to look within himself for the strength he needed, to control the power that fate had granted him, and to temper the darkness within.
Rockwaller-san was proceeding nicely as well. He had felt the power within the young woman, knew she had much greater strength than she could possibly realize. Though still apprehensive about the use of her abilities, she was learning control, and soon mastery would follow. That mastery was not yet there, and if he was right about the latest artifact that Monkey Fist had appropriated, she would need it!
He just hoped that they were ready for what they would face.
Sensei rose to his feet, and knew the time was approaching when he would have to play a role in what was unfolding. It was far too soon for his liking, there was far too much to do, but it was inevitable. He walked through his garden, taking the time to pluck a couple of dead flowers from the rose bush. He took a particularly vibrant flower in his hand delicately, examining the petals, allowing the smell to wash over him as the slight breeze carried the scent to his nostrils. Satisfied, he left his garden, looking back over it briefly, the smile evident on his face.
He saw the two he was looking for right away, as they were sparring, their movements more precise, more graceful, more beautiful, then the greatest dancers could achieve. Sensei allowed them to continue, enjoying the sight of his two prized students. When the match was over, both looked over to see Sensei, a wistful look on his face. Both approached, bowing.
Sensei returned the bow. "Yori… Hirotaka… I would like you to take the students down the rear mountain pass. You will prepare for overnight, and you will not return until midday tomorrow."
"Sensei, is something wrong?"
"Do not fret child, all will be as it should. Yori, I would like you to take the Lotus Blade with you. You will protect it, until such time as Stoppable-san returns to claim his destiny."
Both students looked very concerned, almost scared. It was Yori who spoke first. "Sensei… Grandfather… you are scaring me! You are talking as if I will never see you again! Please, tell us what troubles you?"
"I do not know what will happen Granddaughter, and that is what troubles me. All I know is that I must face this myself." He pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "Know that the time of confrontation approaches, and you must protect both the sword and your fellow students." He released her then, looking into her eyes. He saw sadness there, but also saw the determination. He smiled. "Go, Granddaughter. Gather the other students, as well as the sword, and head out."
The young woman nodded. "Yes Sensei."
She turned, Hirotaka moving to follow. "Hirotaka, a moment?" The two friends looked at each other, nodding, before Yori proceeded on. The young man turned back to his teacher. Sensei sat on a nearby bench, motioning his young student to sit.
"My student, I have watched you grow up here, along with my granddaughter, these many years. I have watched you become an amazing young man, and I am proud of you! I know how you feel for her, and I know you will do all in your power to protect her." Sensei looked upon his young charge, his eyes cast downward. "Someday, she will realize the depths of her feelings for you. I just hope I can be there to share the joy you both will share when that occurs."
Hirotaka looked up. "Is there nothing we can do to help you?"
Sensei just smiled. "You already are, by keeping the sword, the students, and my granddaughter safe!"
Hirotaka rose to his feet before bowing deeply. "Yes Sensei. I will do what I can to bring honour to the teachings you have given me!"
Sensei returned the bow. "You already have, my student!"
Without another word, Hirotaka took his leave. Sensei watched, as his students departed, most not knowing anything at all was wrong, assuming a simple training exercise. When the last of his students passed from sight, Sensei moved to the center courtyard. Taking a lotus position, Sensei began to meditate, preparing for what he knew would come.
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It was several hours before Sensei heard the telltale signs of footsteps approaching. He didn't even bother looking up.
"Greetings Monkey Fist."
Sensei opened his eyes to see the malicious grin on Monkey Fist's face. The mutant just sneered. "Where are your precious students? Not here to defend you?"
"My students are safe, as is the Lotus Blade. I sent them away, so that we might settle things, hopefully to talk you out of this destructive path you a currently on."
Monkey Fist just laughed. "We have nothing to discuss, you old fool, other than how quickly you would like to die!"
"I thought as much."
With a flash, Sensei was on his feet, striking quickly on his opponent. Fist dodged most of it, taking a glancing blow to the rib cage. Sensei continued to press the attack, pushing Monkey Fist back by the sheer ferocity of it. That was when Monkey Fist smiled.
Sensei blocked a punch from Monkey Fist, and instantly felt his arm go numb from the impact, the strength of the blow about ten times what he had anticipated it to be. He ducked the next two, and leapt backwards, out of range.
"Old fool, you didn't think I'd come unprepared, did you?" Monkey Fist smiled as he pulled the Talisman of Anubis from his gi. His face becoming an expression of anger, he raised both arms over his head, balls of fire forming within them, and laughed as he launched them at Sensei.
Sensei stood his ground as the balls of fire struck and exploded. Monkey Fist laughed again, until the smoke cleared and he could see that Sensei stood untouched, a blue aura surrounding him, protecting him. He lashed out with heat from his eyes, but Sensei just dodged to the side. Frustrated, Monkey Fist threw everything he had at Sensei, and though the wind bothered the old man, he still ducked and twisted away from everything Monkey Fist could throw at him.
While twisting away from a fireball, Sensei unleashed an attack of his own, as twin beams of blue force struck out from his hands, connecting solidly with Monkey Fist's chest while the man was occupied, knocking him back into a building.
Monkey Fist rose to his feet to see Sensei just standing there, waiting for him. Fist allowed the wind to pick up, directing it at the old man, picking him up off his feet and launching him up into the air. Sensei spiraled up, and waited for the wind to let up, and as soon as it did, he fired another set of blasts at Monkey Fist, but this time they were dodged. As Sensei felt his momentum pick up, he arrested his fall, surrounding himself in the blue aura, and allowed himself to hover about twenty feet over the head of Monkey Fist.
Monkey Fist surrounded himself in yellow glow and levitated himself up as well, launching a couple of fireballs to provide cover as he moved in close. He managed to catch Sensei off guard, landing a blow to the man's head, before Sensei began to block. This exchange, twenty feet in the air, continued for several minutes, neither man getting the upper hand, despite Monkey Fist's greatly enhanced strength.
It had taken a while, but Sensei finally found an opening. Faking a shot low, he twisted and flipped in mid air, snagging the chain to the talisman in his hands, yanking it off his opponent. The sudden loss of power was felt immediately, as Monkey Fist, without the talisman to provide his levitation, quickly fell to the ground. Sensei lowered himself, standing just a few feet away from the fallen man, who lay panting on the ground before him.
"Your corrupted power is gone now, Monkey Fist. You are defeated!"
"I don't think so old man!"
Sensei found himself unable to move, a strange sensation in his mind as well. He saw Monkey Fist rise slowly, a ring, with a mechanical device attached, now graced his opponent's finger, and he knew what had happened. It was said the Ring of Hammurabi could provide the wearer with telepathy, and other powers of the mind. Now that he knew what was going on, Sensei focused his mind, striking out through the bond the ring had forged between the two men. Monkey Fist winced in pain, as he felt his opponent strike back. Monkey Fist knew he had the power advantage, especially with the amplifier on, but he didn't have the experience, the finesse, having only used it twice before now. He felt Sensei breaking free!
"Your power weakens, twisted one."
"So it does. However, it only needs hold you a few seconds more!"
Before Sensei could react, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and looked down to see the end of a blade piercing his chest, coated red in his own blood. A quick glance showed the culprit; Fukashima, the one who had betrayed Yamanouchi once before for Monkey Fist. His breathing was coming in gasps now, as Monkey Fist walked forward, a sadistic grin on his face.
"I must thank you, old man, for sending the rest of the students away, it saved me so much hassle. A pity about the sword though. It would have been nice to have, but that wasn't my objective for coming here!"
The look of confusion must have been evident as Sensei slid to the ground.
"You see old man, the ritual I am performing has a very specific ingredient you cannot find just anywhere. The blood of a true mystic, of which there are so very few left in this world! And you delivered yourself to me, without even expending the effort I anticipated I would have to! Thank you, you old fool, you have just assured my victory!"
As the light faded from Sensei's eyes, Monkey Fist began to laugh!
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It was just getting dark when Yori and Hirotaka, keeping watch from camp site, saw the strangely colored plane fly over them, heading straight for the school. Yori instinctively knew who was on the plane, and knew that, though they were leaving the rest of the students and the sword behind, they had to meet those that were landing. She knew Ron had returned to Yamanouchi!
They had heard the sounds of battle end some time ago, and were getting extremely worried, as Sensei had not told them yet to return. She had wanted to head back several times, but Hirotaka had told her to wait, as Sensei had instructed. Now, seeing the plane approaching, he could not deny her request.
After placing another senior student in charge, the pair took off, running as fast as they could. It didn't take them long to reach the school, they knew the route like the back of their hands. When they reached the school, she saw the plane had already landed. She also saw the destruction in the courtyard, as there were craters and burn marks everywhere. That was when she saw what could only be described as her worst nightmare.
"Grandfather!"
Yori ran to where he laid, the flagstones of the courtyard around him colored a dark brown. She scooped him into her arms, cradling him and crying, not even noticing that Bonnie had been there by his side, nor did she notice when Bonnie called to the others, who had been checking the school grounds for the missing students.
Hirotaka laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, as he kneeled down beside his friend, but nothing could stop the tears that were flowing from her eyes.
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Author's Notes – The party is now complete, six heroes are gathered, and will soon be ready to face off with Monkey Fist. But Monkey Fist needs just one more item! Can our heroes stop him in time? Also, just so everyone understands the timeline. It was 4pm in Japan when Sensei sent the students away, 7pm Japan time but 6am Go City Time when Fist attacked, with a two-hour flight to Japan at top speed, making it 9pm in Japan when they arrive. Don't know why I explained all that, doesn't affect anything, just thought I'd clear it up.
I'd like to thank the following people for their reviews;
MrDrP –Is that why there was no response? Everyone thought the Wegos were midgets? And as for your "suggestion" about the Possible clan, while I giggled evilly at the thought, even considering it briefly, I decided to leave the Possible clan alone this story. I need them for the next one!
Campy – Thank you! I was a little unsure about the chapter when I wrote it initially, that's what took so long. I'm glad you liked it!
mattb3671 – I hope this death evokes a response that doesn't have to be cajoled!
Worker72 – Believe me, you won't be seeing too much of those glasses for the rest of this story!
