NIGHTSHADE MANOR-MICHAEL'S LIVING QUARTERS, JAN. 6th 7 A.M.
Michael was in a deep sleep when he heard a loud banging against the door, "Ten more minutes please." Michael grumbled. A few seconds later another loud banging, Michael then opened his left eye slightly, "I said give me ten more minutes Lachlan you ornery old crow-feathered bloke." Michael said more clearly.
"Ex-CUSE me…but I don't like it when you talk about my help that way." Answered the voice of Dominic.
"OH SHIT!" Michael thought to himself.
From the outside Dominic could hear Michael scrambling about, soon the door flew open and Michael said, "Mr. Nightshade sir, what do I attribute this visit to?"
Dominic kept a rather grave and unhappy look on Michael, "I had a conversation with Ajax…according to him, and he saw you come in having scratches across your face,"he then saw them on Michael's face and said, " when I see them they look more like claw marks to me."
'Uh, yeah…the little kitty-cat mauled me when I exposed my true form, then Jon and one of the Dark Hunters showed up and I had to up and flee y'know?" Michael explained to him.
"Yes…I do," Dominic said with a nod, as Michael started to walk away down the hall Dominic pulled his 'Dimensional Slipstream' ability and appeared in front of Michael again and asked, "but do you think there's something you're neglecting to tell me?"
Michael shrugged knowing what Dominic was speaking of, "I told you what I know—nothing more, nothing less."
Dominic closed his eyes in a fashion of disappointment and asked, "So if Othello told me that you let your werewolf instincts get the better of you and you tried to rape Felicia…only to have Jon Talbain stop you, you would say that he was lying…even though he gave me the same story you did, you would say that he was lying to me?"
"Damn it, he knows!" Michael thought at a wince, "Well sir, it wasn't my fault see…like you said I let my instincts get the better of me, that transformation just turns me into a monster…a real animal, please try and understan—." Michael tried to explain.
Dominic just shook his head in disgust, "ENOUGH!" he bellowed as he punched his right fist against a neighboring wall, "stop talking Michael, just stop talking…" Dominic said hoarsely.
"I'm sorry if I upset you sir." Michael said, trying his best to look and at the most act apologetic.
A faint smile curled across Dominic's lips, "Okay…you want to prove to me that you're sorry, here's your opportunity. Chang Wu is going to be at a seaport in San Francisco with a crate which contains a certain piece of the puzzle which is my plan, you are to go with Morrie and Othello, meet him there, and come back with him and the crate. This piece comes from Japan and is a very crucial piece, if you should run into any resistance during that time…well 'use your imagination' would not be too frugal of a statement for you I imagine."
"And when will Chang be there?" Michael asked.
"a week's time from when you arrive." Dominic told him.
"Okay…and what exactly is in the crate?" Michael asked as well.
"Well, let's just say if I am to protect myself…then what is in that crate is my best chance." Dominic told him.
Michael met up with Morrie and Othello and said, "Okay…let's get to Frisco then I guess."
Morrie looked at them nervously and said, "Okay…but just explain to me why we have to take Mr. Nightshade's private jet again?"
Othello looked at Morrie and said, "Why are you so jumpy about flying Moor, do you get airsick easily or something?" Michael asked.
"High altitudes, pressurized riding area, and add the fact that I'm more of a liquid than any of you and I think you can figure out why." Morrie snapped at them.
"Oh come on Morrie, just compress yourself in a gallon jug and you'll be fine." Othello told him.
"Well, okay…I guess that'll work, but you better not spit in that jug while I'm in it…or you'll have hell to pay, either of you." Morrie warned them.
"Promise." Othello told him.
"Yeah, scouts honor." Michael added with a salute.
As Morrie walked away Othello whispered to Michael, "You plan to spit in the jug before he gets inside…don't you?"
"Yep, but he only specified what he wanted done while he was in the jug…he said nothing about before." Michael answered in a whisper.
HONG KONG SEAPORT, JAN. 6th 8:30 P.M.
Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling had tracked Chang Wu to a seaport in Hong Kong, they had to sneak around not to be noticed. When Hsien-Ko finally saw Chang she just wanted to jump out of hiding and give the legendary Beijing Dragon…now the Black Dragon a taste of what was coming to him.
Chang Wu was being escorted onto a cargo ship leaving here for Tokyo…then for San Francisco.
Hsien-Ko was about to try and charge for Chang Wu when Mei-Ling stopped her, "No sister…we can't just charge recklessly and think we'll just get on-board."
"But we just can't let him get away!" Hsien-Ko complained.
"Now I didn't say we were going to now did I? We just have to find an alternative way aboard is all." Mei-Ling told her more clearly.
Hsien-Ko then saw a cargo container marked TO: SAN FRANCISCO and pointed it out to Mei-Ling. "That'd work." She said flatly.
Chang Wu looked out at the sea, "To believe that this may be the last time I ever look upon the waters of Hong Kong, I remember that I once defended this city, sometimes I think it a shame that I ever allowed the darkness into my heart, thanks to it I am now neither living nor dead, but a ghost…the porcelain mask covering nothing more but an empty shell of a man that once breathed the free air, the man that took out 47 imperial guards before the accursed kitana slew me…Northern Light was it's name, yes…I remember its holy shine as it met my blade and countered my every blow, the angelic whistle it made as it's holder sliced the air…and the righteous slicing sound it made as it met my flesh." He thought to himself, before turning away from the night-lit waters. One of the cargo ships crew came behind him and said, "Master Wu, we'll be leaving for Tokyo in an hour…it be best to get inside, wouldn't want the captain mistaking you for a stole-away."
Chang looked at the sailor and said, "Right…I hope my room has been prepared."
When the ship left port and was out on the ocean, heading for its first destination before stopping in SF, Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling slipped out from the container they were hiding in and searched the ship, "This ship's really big…we don't even know if he's on-board?" Mei-Ling told her sister.
"Ooooh he's here all-right, I know it…I'm so close I can actually taste it." Hsien-Ko said, sounding as if at any moment she would snap.
Suddenly a black blur came up and attacked them from behind, both of them falling down face first, Hsien-Ko looked up and saw Chang Wu standing in front of them, back turned. "I thought I sensed other spirits on this ship…and wouldn't you know it, here you are. Hsien-Ko, if I wasn't falsely accusing here…I'd almost say you're becoming a Dark Hunter."
"You made a big mistake by showing up here Chang." Hsien-Ko told him coldly.
"Oh on the contrary my dear," Chang Wu said while running his arm sleeve in front of his face again…revealing his skeletal face and dead-light eyes, "it is YOU who are in for it."
"Come on down…Beijing Wuss." Hsien-Ko replied with anticipation.
Chang Wu made the first move, charging at Hsien-Ko, but she countered by back-flipping over Chang's initial attack. Chang quickly turned around to strike but Hsien-Ko dodged his attack, Hsien-Ko then tried to kick Chang…but Chang leapt back from her.
"You learned much since our last confrontation…I'm impressed."
"Why thanks, that means so little coming from you Chang." Hsien-Ko replied, the good luck charm appeared on her hat and Chang said, "No matter how many times your sister does that…you shall not avail over me."
"We'll see about that." Hsien-Ko told him as she charged at him, this time Chang dodged her assault and kicked her in the small of her back, Hsien-Ko quickly did a somersault to land upright again. She then attacked again, this time Chang reached out and grabbed her initial strike, Hsien-Ko was paralyzed in her own disbelief that Chang would be able to stop her like that. "Now do you understand Hsien-Ko," He then looked up at the charm and said, "Mei-Ling…physical blows cannot affect me, because I am like you…I do not live."
"I won't stop until you're finally at rest." Hsien-Ko protested.
Chang shook his head in pity, "You poor wretch of a Kuang-Shi…there's only one thing I fear, and you don't have it…so if you don't have it, then no matter how hard you try it cannot be done, so give it up." He then grabbed hold of her and threw her against a bunch of containers, she looked up for a few moments before finally blacking out.
Chang Wu ran his hand in front of his face, bringing back his mask and said, "Pleasant dreams Hsien-Ko." Before departing.
Mei-Ling returned to her true form and propped her sister up, "Hsien-Ko, are you alright?"
"Oooh…did anyone get the name of the rider on that horse?" Hsien-Ko moaned out.