Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 21

"Kohryu!"

The youth wasted no time in charging in to attack. The mechanized ninja met the attack head on as Shin lashed out with an overhead roundhouse kick. The attack descended hard on Kohryu, but the metal ninja parried it and swung back with a cross chop. Shin was smashed in the face by the blow and skidded on the floor, but he quickly leaped to his feet and struck back with a back chop. Kohryu had to block this time, but it wasn't accurate and part of Shin's blow hit his underside. Kohryu grunted and took a step back and Shin took to the air again, kicking the metal ninja square in the chest and sending him off the side of the building. Not stopping there, Shin jumped off after him to strike again. But Kohryu spun through the air and somehow managed to skip through the air and onto the roof of the next building. Following the tactic, Shin did the same, rebounding in mid-air and following him.

"You're not getting away from me"

On the rooftop, Shin lunged at Kohryu again, rage clear on his features. But Kohryu marked the attack and disappeared, just as Shin struck down. Shin recovered, only to see Kohryu reappear above him, coming down in a corkscrew dive. On reflex, Shin sidestepped, but his leg was clipped by the attack and Shin rolled messily on the floor. With a snarl, Shin rose up again. As he did, his eyes had already narrowed and feathers were beginning to form. Yet, Kohryu remained.

"I have no time for you. Tell Bakuryu that our little duel yesterday was only the beginning."

With those words, Kohryu raised his fingers to his face and disappeared. Shin paused in his metamorphosis and ran to rooftop edge, but the mechanized ninja was long gone. Frustrated, Shin smashed his fist on the edge. He then recalled Kohryu's words. His message...to Bakuryu...

"Kenji..."

Ohgami Residence

"Busuzima?"

Uriko had just arrived at Kenji house where she told him of her encounter with the mad scientist. Kenji's face was stiff, remembering his last encounter with him and how he had almost killed Uriko as a result.

"Yeah." Uriko continued to explain. "He was running around chasing after some white fox."

"A white fox?"

"Yeah, it's really weird."

"Well, we better keep a lookout just in case." Despite his silly outward appearance, Busuzima was a really dangerous person and an equally dangerous and powerful zoanthrope. And considering everything that was happening nowadays, his appearance only adds to the imminent doom Kenji had already felt.

"Right." Uriko agreed. "There's no telling what he may be up to. I was just lucky I saw him on my way here.

Kenji raised an eyebrow, "Oh. You were coming here?"

"Yeah. I wanted to…" She had just remembered her reason for coming and stopped short. "Um…"

Kenji gave her a strange look as Uriko stammered to speak, a feat he had never seen her do before. Even weirder was the light blush that formed on her cheeks as she continued, "Yeah. It…Well…About last nig…"

Kenji soon realized what she was talking about and felt nervousness set in him. But it wasn't to last, for a brush of wind soon came through the room. Kenji turned his head to the window in the living room and walked to it. Looking out, he saw no one and was about to close it when Uriko gave a shriek. Whirling around, he readied himself to face the intruder, only to see him standing on the far side of the wall.

"Kenji."

"Shin."

The park was one of the few places that weren't totally devastated by the earthquake. As such, there were a few children at play within. Walking past a few of these children, Rei strode into the park. With school out, she had spent a good portion of the day walking around town. She had thought about going to see Uriko, but when she called her house, she found out that she had just left. So Rei decided to spend the rest of the day alone. In part, she was also awaiting Shin's arrival from work. He had done so much for her and she wanted to show her appreciation. Taking a break from walking, Rei took a seat on a bench, watching the children running around.

"Fancy meeting you here."

The azure-haired girl blinked and looked up to see Nagi walking over to her from the opposite side.

"Nagi, hello."

Nagi smiled and took a seat next to her"What are you doing out here"

"I was just out for a walk." Rei answer softly. "I live near here."

"Oh." Nagi leaned out and looked around briefly. "How are things with you? I mean with the earthquake and all"

"Fine. It didn't hit as hard here as the rest of the city."

"That's good to know." A smile slowly formed on the lips of the cinnamon-haired girl, unseen to the girl behind her. "Especially with how Shin reacted and all."

Rei blinked. "What do you mean"

Her smile widened"Well…after the earthquake, he was dead set on finding you and making sure that you were okay."

"He was?"

"Of course." She sat back in the chair and gaze upward. "But you knew that already, didn't you"

Rei turned to her briefly and then shyly lowered her head. Out of the corner of her eye, Nagi saw this and continued speaking.

"What you don't know is that during our date, he seemed distracted. And I can take a wild guess about what." Turning to Rei, "Or should I say…Gaahhhhh"

Nagi suddenly cried out and she grasped her arm. Rei jumped and held her shoulder as Nagi grimaced in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"My arm…It's burning…"

Nagi strained with her arm and eventually the pain subsided. Taking in gasps of air, she looked up and saw Rei concerned face. Her eyes soon drifted away and then widened. There, just a distance away was a silvery figure walking down the street. It was the same person she had seen a few days ago. And the pain was a clear evidence of it.

"You."

Without looking at Rei, Nagi jumped up and dashed across the park. She reached the area where the figure had walked and saw him turn down into a alley. Quickly, Nagi turned and followed in pursuit, but when she entered the alley, there was no one in sight. Looking around, her gaze soon shifted upward just in time to see the figure disappear over the top. Nagi continued to stare a while longer and then looked back at her arm, only to be more surprised. Her arm was slowly shifting, with red spikes forming over it until it was completely covered in crimson, armor-like in appearance. Unseen to her, half her face had also changed, receiving the same markings and her eye turning crimson. She half-panicked and almost ran out, but as she turned, a single, wicked-looking blade shot out of her arm. Stunned, she lifted her arm upright, examining the blade. 'What am I? What am I going to do?' She looked forward and seen the people walking by. 'I can't go out looking like this.' As if on command, the blade quickly retracted and the crimson spikes along with it. Nagi waved her hand before her, still in wonder at what happened. Just then, Rei walked out and, after seeing Nagi in the alley, moved toward her.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

"I...I'm not sure."

"Shin, you scared the living crap out of me! Don't do that!"

Shin said nothing however and continued to stare at Kenji. Kenji looked back and examined him briefly, noting the bruises on his neck as well as the way he was holding himself.

"Shin. What happened to you?" he asked finally.

"Yesterday. What happened to you yesterday?" he snapped back.

Kenji paused. "It's not…"

But Shin cut him off with a glare, "Kohryu. It was him, wasn't it?"

Kenji blinked before he fully realized what had happened. He nodded solemnly, "…Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I know what he did to you, Shin." Kenji answered softly. "I just wanted to deal with him myself."

But this did little to change the eagle zonanthope's mood. Uriko decided to step in and speak. "Don't blame Kenji. He was just trying to look out for you."

His glare soon whirled upon her, "You knew of this as well?" Uriko stepped back a notch and Shin turned away from her, somewhat apologetically. "Well, it makes no difference either way."

Shin strode over to the window and pried it open. But before he could leave, Kenji placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Shin, wait…"

Shin however brushed the hand aside and whispered darkly, "Kohryu is mine…and mine alone."

In a flash, Shin disappeared in a gust of wind, leaving the others to wonder about what he was going to do next. Wonder…and worry…