DISS THE CLAIMER- Yeah…me and Crimson Ninja still don't own this stuff…but hey we can dream right? Enjoy the show:
Kiyoshi narration in italics (not until flashback...well you'll see what we mean)
The sun shone stubbornly through the tightly closed blinds of Yusuke Urameshi's bedroom. Yusuke rolled over stubbornly in his sleep, mumbling something about blowing up the sun with a spirit gun. The room was, of course, messy, like any typical teenage guy's room and it was very quite.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Was quite, the sound of the beep heralded Yusuke's alarm clock going off. This, being strange in and of itself, the next strange thing was Yusuke pointing a finger at the alarm and it blowing up in a flash of blue light:
BEEP! BEEP! Be-kzts…
A disheveled looking Danny rose from the mess littering the floor, discarded clothes falling off of him as he turned bleary eyed to see the clock, "What time is it?"
Yusuke muttered something about not giving a…crap.
Danny rose to shower, unlike his friend and host in Japan he liked school…and by like I mean he HAD to go.
Yusuke rolled over and drifted back off to sleep, today seemed like a good day to skip…unfortunately for Yusuke his dreams were soon to be shattered.
A few minutes later Danny reentered the room, dressed in a clean and crisp uniform and ready to face the world. "You know Yusuke you really shouldn't skip…we have a field trip today after all."
"…," Yusuke replied.
Danny was about to continue his daily ritual of dragging Yusuke to school, he failed 9 out of 10 times, when the doorbell rang. Danny, being the only one conscious, went to the door to find Keiko standing in the doorway, her face set with determination.
"Is Yusuke awake," Keiko asked, coming in without asking and taking her shoes off.
"Uhm…yes…he's…"
"I know where he is."
Keiko stormed into Yusuke's room and quickly yanked the covers off of his body. Yusuke growled and peered up at Keiko, "What the hell was that for?"
"You ARE going to school today Yusuke…as class representative I'm responsible for your body being there!"
"Just tell them I'm sick."
"Yusuke I can't be your excuse…Danny help me."
Danny balked; he did NOT want to get between one of Yusuke and Keiko's disputes, "Uhm…sure Keiko."
Ten minutes later after a good, long Keiko lecture (with little help from Danny), the trio was on their way to school.
"So…uhm…where are we going for the field trip anyways," Danny asked trying to break the silence between Keiko and Yusuke.
Keiko smiled at Danny, "We're going to the Edo-Tokyo Museum…it hasn't a great display of swords and samurai armor from the Edo period."
"Yeah like I haven't seen samurai swords and armor and all that shit before," Yusuke muttered.
Keiko scowled at Yusuke, "Well Danny probably hasn't! Honestly Yusuke has Danny seen any of Japan since he's gotten here other than Genkai's Temple?"
Yusuke stopped in his tracks, "Damn…Keiko you're right I haven't taken Danny anywhere…God he's only seen the old hag's old place, school, and my house," Yusuke turned to Danny, "We are totally blowing this field trip and hitting the arcade."
Yusuke grabbed Danny and started to run but Keiko hurled her bag at Yusuke, catching him in the back of the head, "YUSUKE URAMESHI DON'T YOU DARE!"
Danny laughed as Yusuke rubbed the back of his head, cursing, "It's going to be a long day," Yusuke muttered.
((Later That Day at Edo-Tokyo Museum))
An old man dressed as a security guard stands before the assembled students. Yusuke and Danny stand in the back and have been joined by Kuwabara and Tucker. Keiko stood at the front of the students, representing their class. The old man was droning on about the rules of the museum and of course Yusuke was tuning him out.
"This is so stupid…why do we have to go on such a dinky field trip anyway," Yusuke muttered.
"Well probably because Ms. Takeuchi is still out because of you guys little traipse into the haunted house yesterday," Tucker whispered while fiddling with his PDA.
"Do you think we should send her a 'Get Well' card or something," Danny asked.
The boys looked at each other for a minute then shook their heads, "Nah."
After the old man had finished telling them all of the rules and what exhibits were opened or closed, he let them break off and explore the museum. Yusuke was rather bored but found a little entertainment watching Danny and Tucker's reactions upon seeing different works of art, kimonos, and other Edo pieces.
The boys and Keiko traveled through the museum but eventually Yusuke got bored. Then of course they walked past a closed off exhibit with a curtain around it. "Now this looks good," Yusuke said with a smirk.
"Yusuke, we can't go into the sealed off exhibit," Keiko said.
A blue puff of breath escaped Danny's mouth and he groaned, "I think we might have to…I sense a ghost."
Keiko sighed, "All right…but only because you have to…don't touch any thing though," she demanded as Yusuke, Kuwabara, Danny, and Tucker ducked behind the curtained off section of the museum.
The four boys were greeted with a single display case in the center. Inside the glass container was a long katana resting with its sheath. The sheath was dull ebony with silver etchings carved into the sheath; strange archaic runes that shimmered in the fluorescent museum lighting. Due to its dull and battered sheath through the boys could tell it was centuries old. Resting above the sheath was the actual prize, the katana.
It was very sharp and had been well preserved, although it too had seen better days. The hilt was simple and carved with excellent skill; a blue and green infinity symbol (side-ways eight) was carved into the top and an 'I' intersected the figure where the blue and green halves of the infinity symbol connected into the white 'I'; Danny suspected that the blue and green were actually crushed emerald and sapphire and the crystal white of the 'I' was diamond. The blade was the most amazing part because it was the deadly gleam of steel and seemed to be glowing in the light.
"Uhm…why's the sword glowing," Kuwabara asked for the sword really was glowing; a swirling blue and green color.
The pulsing colors grew brighter and the boys were suddenly blinded by a white light. Once they could see again they stood in awe before a large, imposing man clad in a simple kimono and he filled it nicely. The top of the kimono was slightly open to reveal a very well muscled chest and slender, yet muscular, arms flowed from the sleeves of the garb. He had long black hair that fell down his back and was tied with a simple band into a loose ponytail. His skin was pale and glowing with a soft white light and his steel brown eyes were narrowed down at the boys with mild distaste, "And who the hell are you all supposed to be?"
Yusuke, of course, was the first to speak. He being either a) not intimidated or b) stupid, wasn't really frightened by the large, glaring ghost, "I'm Yusuke Urameshi, toughest punk at Sarayashiki Junior High."
Danny looked to Kuwabara, "Does he say that every time he meets someone?"
Before Kuwabara could answer the ghost interrupted them, "I don't care who you young'ens are get away from my swords."
"Look we don't care who YOU are. You don't belong here, you belong in the afterlife," Yusuke growled, obviously insulted.
"Feh, what are you going to do about it little man," the ghost asked irritably.
"KICK YOUR—!" Yusuke began to shout but Danny and Tucker clamped their hands over his mouth. "MMM!"
"Are you stupid or just psycho? If you shout we'll attract the guards," Tucker hissed.
Yusuke muttered behind the hand about not giving a shit.
"Well we do," Danny said, releasing Yusuke, and looked up at the ghost, "Look we're sorry for bugging you we just sensed you there and wanted to know what a ghost was doing in a museum."
The ghost peered down at Danny, "Guarding my sword…if it falls into the wrong hands then you might as well join me in death because it will mean the end of the world."
"What do you mean, how could a dinky little sword have that much power," Yusuke asked.
The ghost growled, "THIS sword, my Mashiro, helped to seal away the foulest of demons…Lady Kuroko."
"WHAT!"
"You've heard of the she-devil?"
"Of course, we've been fighting her for the past week," Danny exclaimed.
"She is released? How was she able to escape the seal? This is an outrage…this means," the ghost paused, "this means she'll be after the keys to the seal."
"You mean some sort of jewel," Yusuke asked.
"Yes, have you found it?"
Danny laughed awkwardly, "Uhm…yeah see we kind of…destroyed it."
"YOU WHAT!" the ghost shouted.
"We didn't know at the time that it was part of the seal…I'm guessing the sword here is also a part of that?"
"Yes…Mashiro helped to seal away the evil lady…however…well I never expected her to escape. Forgive me for being so short with you…you must be rather adept fighters if you've lasted this long against her."
"So…you must have fought her too…uhm," Danny began, but didn't know what to call this ghost.
"You may call me Kiyoshi; I lost my title of 'Lord' when I lost my love…to her."
Kuwabara balked, "She…killed someone?"
The samurai laughed cold-heartedly, "What did you expect? She's a heartless shadow demon…though I guess she must have had a heart at one point considering the wench was in love with me."
"She was WHAT," Tucker shouted, "That's just sick!"
((FLASHBACK; Hundreds of Years Ago in Feudal Japan))
I shall tell you just how sick boy…to really know the Lady Kuroko you must know where she came from. Lady Kuroko was born a shadow demon and was part of the royal family of her tribe. If you don't know about shadow demons they possess very powerful magic over darkness and shadows, as their name implies. A consequence of this however is that many of the weaker shadow demons can't stand the light and thus must live in the darkest of caves in demon world. The powerful though could survive the light and often craved the very light which many of their kind feared.
Lady Kuroko was one of those, powerful because of her blood she craved to see the demon world's sun…as well as the mystical human worlds' as soon as she could walk. Her parents, however, forbid it until she was of the right age and fully settled into her powers, so she waited, and bade her time dreaming of the light she longed for. The time soon came and she spirited away to the human plane. Kuroko was amazed by the sights, but wasn't taken aback until a wandering samurai saved her life.
Kuroko wandered the dirt streets of a market in Kyoto, one of Feudal Japan's largest cities, dressed in a simple dark purple kimono. She wanders around blindly, not noticing she is being followed by a gang of raunchy looking men. The leader, a scruffy looking bald man signals to his followers to grab the girl. They pin her arms behind her back and force her to the ground, "Such soft and pale flesh, just the way I like it," the leader muttered.
Kuroko struggled, "Let me go mortal!"
"What's that, wench?"
Kuroko glared up at the man and was about to use her powers when a figure stepped up from the shadows. It was a tall man in a white kimono that billowed in the wind. His face was concealed by a straw hat that was lowered to shade his eyes from the noon day sun. His hair was long and in a black ponytail that was blowing in the wind as well. "May I ask what you are doing with this fair woman?"
"None of your business swordsman…why don't you go patrol somewhere else," the leader said, yanking Kuroko up by the arm, his goons were getting a bit nervous as they had noticed the katana on the man's waist.
"I'm afraid I can't do that…let the woman go and I will spare your life," the figure said in a low voice.
The leader growled and motioned for his goons. There were five of them and they all unsheathed their own weapons. Two bore long katana while the other three had shorter swords. The man with the straw hat smiled and drew out his own sword, "Have it your way then."
Two goons' lunged at him, bringing their swords sweeping over their heads. The figure ducked out of the way and used his sword to disarm the men. He then spun around and kicked one of the other men before he even started to attack. That left two men standing; they looked at each other and ran. The leader frowned and pushed Kuroko aside and pulled out his own sword, "Who needs them anyways…I can take you myself you damn bastard!"
The figure shook his head, his hat still concealed his eyes, "You fools are all alike."
"Why you…I'LL KILL YOU!" The leader shouted and ran at him with a battle cry. The figure jumped up and over the attacker and landed on the other side of him. "What the…" he cried as he began to turn but the figure cut him off by knocking him out with the butt of his sword, "ugh."
The figure sheathed his sword, "Mashiro never fails me…I hope you've learned not to mess with any more women in my presence." He then turned and found Kuroko staring up at him with a blush, "Are you alright miss?"
Kuroko nodded, "Th-thank you noble warrior."
The man smirked, "Call me Kiyoshi…I was just doing my duty. You must be more careful though…thugs like that are always looking for easy prey," he paused and took off his straw hat, wiping his brow.
Kuroko's eyes widened at the handsome figure before her, 'He is so lovely and kind…I will make him my mate,' she thought, "Kind Lord…I am new to these parts…will you please direct me to the nearest inn?"
Kiyoshi glanced at her then shrugged, "I don't see why not…come…I must hurry as my fiancé awaits me."
"Fiancé!"
That was probably my biggest mistake right there. I didn't realize at the time that Kuroko had fallen in love with me when I rescued her, by telling her I had a fiancé her demon mind began to plot ways in which she could make me her mate. I had no idea she would go to the measures she did to obtain me…I was her desired prize and she would do anything to get me…it only took her a few months to finalize her plans but eventually she earned a place at my fiancé's manor and a way to kill her.
Kuroko slides the door shut and bows to a screen. The silhouette of a woman can be seen on the screen and she hears the door shut, "Kuroko?"
"Yes mistress?"
"I need help with this wedding kimono Kuroko, will you help?"
Kuroko stands; a dagger is seen behind her back as she approaches the screen, "Yes mistress." Kuroko goes behind the screen and her silhouette raises the dagger above her and plunges it into the back of the woman. A blood piercing scream split the air.
And that wasn't even the end of the horror she committed on my fiancé. It wasn't until the actual ceremony that I found out though.
Kiyoshi stood at the alter awaiting his bride. Suddenly the doors burst open and there stands Kuroko. Her eyes burn with a black darkness and in her outstretched arm is the head of the bride. Kuroko smiled as those gather try to wrap their heads around what they are seeing. Kiyoshi's eyes were wide with horror as he stumbled toward Kuroko, "What…what the hell have you done!"
"Kiyoshi! I have brought for you the highest gift a shadow demon can give…the head of her rival! Aren't you happy…what else will please you," Kuroko asked, her arm lowering.
"You're…you're a demon! I don't want any part of you Kuroko! I don't want you or your world!"
Kuroko let the head fall from her hand, it bounced and rolled a bit from her feet and Kuroko stared down at it, "I…I think I understand. You are a noble…of course you wouldn't just want some ugly mortal's head…you want something bigger…you want this world's head on a platter. Fine, I shall obtain it…I SHALL CONQUER THE WORLD FOR YOU!" Kuroko's eyes blazed black and a dark aura surrounded her. The guests of the wedding broke out of their trance and started running in mass panic. Kuroko didn't let them escape; she started blasting at anyone that moved; except for Kiyoshi.
The dazed samurai stumbled towards the head of his dead bride and knelt before it. He picked her head up, tears streaming down his face and all the chaos around him was blocked out, "Miyuki…what have I done to you?"
So a series of events were put into motion. Kuroko killed nearly everyone at the wedding except for me of course. I was forced to watch as she collected her demonic army and allies to begin conquering Japan. I vowed that I would stop her at any cost as I felt that it was my entire fault. I told myself I had to do it alone but as her army grew and the world turned dark I faced facts: I needed help. I sought out any ally I could. Eventually I acquired the help of a traveling miko who possessed a powerful gem that was able to bind and trap demons. She joined me on my quest and even added the magic to my sword. The only problem was that it was only us two against a hoard of demons…the final fight was tough but with her purification powers and my sword skills and magic we were able to get past her four most trusted generals and into the heart of her territory.
Kuroko sat at a throne and two figures stood defiantly before her. Due to the stained glass lighting of the chamber Kiyoshi can be seen clearly in his samurai armor, sword glowing with bright white light. The figure next to him is obviously a female in red and white miko robes with old armor atop of that giving her the air of a powerful warrior. Her hair is long and black and falls to her but in straight locks. Her eyes are hidden from view because of the lighting so any really distinguishing features are hidden however she stands ready for a fight with her own sword at the ready, it isn't a katana like Kiyoshi's but rather like ones you would see in possession of a knight.
"Are you pleased yet my love," Kuroko asked obliviously.
"We are here to seal you away demon," the miko said in a dark voice.
Kuroko smirked at the miko, "Mido-chan…why don't you go stick your pretty little neck into someone else's business…I wouldn't want your pretty little face getting messed up."
The miko growled, "I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS! DIE KUROKO!"
The battle was fierce and both the miko and I nearly met our end several times. However we soon had Kuroko in a compromising position and were able to seal her away with the combined power of my swords magic and the miko's gem we were able to seal her away into the depths of the shadows.
((End Flashback))
The ghost of Kiyoshi sighed, "And that is how Kuroko got to where she is today…that seal was never meant to be broken so I wonder who could have the power to breech such a spell?"
"Couldn't have Kuroko broken through by herself," Tucker asked.
Kiyoshi shook his head, "No…that seal was also meant to suck her powers from her over the years so she must have received outside help."
"This isn't helping us at all…why the hell is she still seeking to conquer the world if you're already dead!" Yusuke moaned.
"You bring up a good point…however I think Kuroko just wants to finish what she started regardless of me…I think the only one who could ever understand Kuroko was Kuroko."
Danny looked at his watch, "Crud it's about time for us to leave…thanks for your help Lord Kiyoshi…I just hope Kuroko doesn't realize your sword is being kept here."
"As do I boy…as do I."
The four boys thanked Kiyoshi for his help; well Danny and Tucker did, Kuwabara and Yusuke just sort of walked away. The museum was nearing closing time and the boys needed to get back with their class.
((Later that Night))
The bodies of two guards lay unconscious in the entrance to the museum. The rest of the museum was quite, except for the clicking of shoes on the linoleum. The clicking came to a halt in front of a curtained off section and pushed the curtain aside. The case containing Mashiro gleamed in the night and the figure approached the sword. Suddenly Kiyoshi loomed out of the darkness, similar to the way he did earlier when the boys came.
As soon as he was fully materialized he gasped in shock at the figure before him, "Nightshade! So the boys weren't lying you really are back!"
Nightshade smiled coolly, "Well of course they weren't…they maybe a tad stupid but they're the good guys so of course they wouldn't LIE to you. I on the other hand…am not. Now on to business…move your pale ghostly ass out of the way and hand over your dinky little sword."
Kiyoshi growled, "Over my cold dead…oh…wait…but the point remains that my sword isn't FOR the likes of you."
"Then how about me toots," a seductive voice asked. Kiyoshi turned to his left to see Kaitouai sashaying towards him in her tight and revealing Chinese style dress. "Be a doll Kiyo-kun I don't want to have to mare that lovely face."
Things were not looking good for Kiyoshi, and they turned even worse when a figure dropped from the ceiling, it was the zombie ninja Hasaki, "You are outnumbered Lord Kiyoshi."
"And we aren't leaving without that damned sword," Akumugi said, his bandaged form coming up from behind the ghostly samurai.
"Shit."
"Will those be your last words then little samurai…or will you hand over the sword," Nightshade taunted.
"I told you once…I will NOT hand over the sword!"
Nightshade chuckled, "Fine…have it your way." Kaitouai sprang at him, her bat wings extending out and her claws at the ready. Kiyoshi dodged to the side but ended up right in Hasaki's path. She grabbed his arm and hurled him across the room. Kiyoshi was sent flying straight towards a suit of armor, his eyes widened and then he closed his eyes and phased through it.
Akumugi, meanwhile, lifted the casing of the sword and lifted it from its display and alarms began to blare throughout the museum. "Hasaki I thought you disarmed them?"
Hasaki shrugged, "There must have been more than was calculated. My apologies."
"Forget it let's just go," Kaitouai said, "I need my beauty sleep."
"Not yet," a voice said. The four villains turned to find a large suit of samurai armor standing before them. Kiyoshi had possessed it and was no ready to deal with them physically, "I haven't had a good fight in centuries and you're just the shits to deal with. Now give me back Mashiro!" Kiyoshi grabbed a Bo staff that was attached to the wall and spun it around, preparing to fight.
Nightshade ran a hand through his hair, "Oh please…Hasaki…you deal with him."
Hasaki nodded and sprang forward. Kiyoshi brought his staff up to block her on coming punch but at the last minute she dropped down and did a flipping kick into his face. Kiyoshi stumbled back but caught his balance and swung the staff at her, she jumped over it and over Kiyoshi himself. He spun to follow her but it was too late as Hasaki had drawn one of her own katana and blocked the swinging staff. Kiyoshi brought the staff back and struck at her again but she dropped to the ground and rolled under the blow. "You are rusty samurai…that little imp posses more of a threat."
"Well he's been dead for centuries what do you expect? Just finish it woman," Nightshade muttered.
The female ninja spun around and landed a back kick square in the suit of armor and sent the warrior flying into a display case. Kiyoshi phased through it all and his lifeless armor fell to the floor. The alarms buzzed around them and the quartet made their escape. Kiyoshi reappeared a moment later with a solemn face, "Damn it…GOD DAMN IT!"
The samurai ghost floated there a minute then sank to the floor and put his head between his knees, "This is not good."
((The Next Morning))
Danny picked the newspaper up from its spot on the doorstep and frowned at the headline which read:
Famous Sword Stolen From Local Museum! Thieves Unknown!
"This is not good," Danny muttered.
Author's Note:
So updates will be even more sporadic as Crimson Ninja and I are both in school (sophomore year for Ninja and SENIOR year in high school for me!) so we'll be busy with work but will try and update as often as possible. On another note we're planning another Omake chapter soon and would like some fan input on it…so if you liked Chapter 7 and would like to see more craziness like that please tell us some ideas you have for that (you have until Chapter 14).
Anyone see the Danny Phantom movie: Ultimate Enemy? Well boy were me and Ninja inspired by THAT! Just you wait for the upcoming chapters…it's about to get REALLY screwy now…
Speaking of chapters it's time to review this one…unless you want to end up like Kiyoshi's fiancé? You don't? Good…REVIEW DAMN IT!