Author's note: I don't own DP, or any of the shows or games that I've quoted, used their ideas, or made cultural references to. Wish I did. Don't.
I'd like to thank the following for their reviews of chapter 12 (and 11 for those of you I missed).
darkflame1516- Yes actually, I do study the martial arts. I've been in Shotokan karate for over five years now, and my black belt is hopefully about three months away. As for the "not a date" thing, I've noticed how people keep on thnking that Danny and Sam are a couple, so I figured it just wouldn't be a DP fic without it.
nooneluvsme- yes, spinny chairs are fun. We all know it, but only a few of us show it.
enigmatic penguin- Actually, I wasn't quite thinking along the lines of a Japanese "Skulker," but just that I figured Tir needed somebody to be hunting for his head. Thus Meiyorn came into being. And what's with the personified homicidal biting mushrooms. You know, that could be the name of a band, the "Personified Homicidal Biting Mushrooms", or PHBF for short. And yes, I do know that I have at least a few devoted fans out there.
the sleep warrior- No, you didn't miss anything. Although that does get explained later on. I think in chapter sixteen. For those of you that crave action, this chapter might be less than interesting to you. Either way, there is going to be less action than there has been in previous chapters, although this is the first chapter that really starts leading towards the climactic battle.
P.S.- I won't update my fanfic untilI get five or morereviews, so if you want to see chapter fourteen any time soon, email them like crazy and tell them to get on with it. The same goes for the chapters after this, so everybody knows.
By the way, about the sequel, I estimate that it'll be out around February, somewheres around there, so everybody knows. I'll just take a break from fanfics for a few weeks. That said, read on.
Chapter 13 (Phase One: The Dark Lord Extends His Hand)
"INUHI," a deep voice rumbled from the darkness, "STEP FORWARD."
"YES MASTER," the hound of the sun responded immediately. "IN LIGHT OF CURRENT EVENTS, I AM WILLING TO SPARE YOU PUNISHMENT, ON ONE CONDITION," the voice rumbled.
"YES?" Inuhi asked, his voice dwarfed by the enormous presence before him. "I WANT YOU TO DELIVER A MESSAGE."
"WHAT SHALL I SAY, MASTER?" Inuhi asked.
"I WAS GETTING TO THAT," the voice replied, "IT SHALL SAY- NOW WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
"I'M AVERTING MY EYES, OH MASTER," Inuhi said humbly.
"WELL DON'T!" the voice roared. Once Inuhi had obeyed he said, "NOW, HERE IS MY MESSAGE..."
OOOOO
"Now we take the answer and multiply x by it..." my math teacher droned on, obviously too preoccupied with his lesson to realize that no one was payng attention, and half of the people in the room had lost consciousness. A few were even beginning to snore.
I tuned it all out. Even after a solid month I still couldn't get over the fact that my sight had been restored. To heck with restored, it had been perfected. Meiyorn's arrows were worth more than their weight in solid gold. I could see the individual flakes of dandruff coming off my math teacher's head, and I was sitting in the back. I could see Umbrus's ecto-fleas, which can be easily removed with a simple spray of Fenton Ecto-Flea Spray. And somehow I'd still retained my innate skill in karate. Kara and Tai were my only equals in class, and that list only grew by one person out of class.
Mom was overjoyed, and the doctor's glasses dropped into his coffee when he heard about it! Mom was so happy that I'd gotten my sight back that she forgot to chew me out about the whole ghost ordeal.
Right at that moment, however, I was visualizing the coolest ghost suit ever imagined. It was like the T-07 Specter, but it had a few key differences. For example... Suddenly, a piece of paper hit me in the side of the head. Forgetting my boyish fantasy, I pocketed the note, then held it against my hand and read it.
"Sorry about the fact that we never celebrated our successful chodan tests. That whole ghost business got pretty dicey. Anyway, my folks are going out tomorrow, so I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner or something."
I flicked my eyes around the room, until my eyes rested on Kara. When she realized that I was looking at her, she blushed slightly. I thought on this for a second, then mouthed the number "six."
Her face was consumed by a deep shade of red, and what could be interpreted as an outraged snarl. Realizing what she had thought I meant, I myself blushed in turn, then pointed to my watch and mouthed it a second time. Her snarl vanished, she blushed even deeper, and grinned.
The moment was broken when Mr. Hashimi called from the front, "Miss Nami! If you would be so kind as to break eye contact with Morgan-san for a split second and give me the answer for example three, I would deeply appreciate it!"
The class was in such a deep state of torpor that it took them about five seconds to respond to what had just been said.
Every last one of them just turned and stared at us. Tai just gave us a fleeting glance, then chuckled. He didn't even turn around in his seat.
OOOOO
"So lover boy has a date," Ronnie taunted as she sat down at our usual spot.
Only to surprise her I answered, "Oh yeah! The T-Man has 'da power with the ladies!" My hunch was correct. She stood there, momentarily slack-jawed as I continued, "Although I think there's still a slight ringing in my ears from the class's clapping, whistles, and other cheers. Uh, Ronnie, you're drooling again."
She shook herself from her daze and riposted, "Well, since I have a date tomorrow as well, I think I can afford you some privacy."
"Meaning..." I edged. "No spying, no prank-pulling, and no gross-out stories about your past," she sighed.
"Exactly," I answered. I then narrowed my eyes and inquired, "Wait a minute. What gross-out stories concerning my past?"
"Pudding incident!" she hissed.
"Aaaaaahhhh! No! I get your point! Just make it stop!" I cringed. She was laughing as she left the cafeteria. "So.. much.. brown!.."
OOOOO
"So Tir, when does your date start?" Tai asked.
"Six o'clock, tomorrow evening," I said as we walked home. Ronnie was taking a different, much longer route, so as some guy named "Kopai" or Ko for short, could walk her home.
"I just hope I don't mess everything up."
"You'll do fine," Tai soothed, "You played it cool last time, so why not now?"
"That's not what I meant Tai," I answered. He closed his mouth as I continued, "Kara's a really good friend. We've gotten to be pretty good friends over the last few months, and I don't want to lose that if we were to break up."
"Well man," he said as we came up to my house, "I can't help you there. If I was any good with women I'd be able to keep one for more than a week."
"Hey dude, don't sweat it," I answered, slapping a hand on his shoulder, "You'll find the right one. It might just take a lot of trial and error."
"It might take the same for you," he said as he walked off, while I stopped just outside my driveway, "See ya!"
"Sayoonara!" I called back. My call was momentarily interrupted as a huge ball of fire slammed into the ground behind me. Instinctively transforming as I turned around, I was confronted with Inuhi.
"Back for more, are we?" I asked.
"NOT THIS TIME, WHELP," Inuhi grimaced, "AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO DISEMBOWEL YOU FOR STEALING MY LAST-BORN, I HAVE OTHER ORDERS."
"Orders from whom?" I asked, then added, "Oh, and just for the record, Umbrus joined us by his own choice."
"THAT IS NOT THE POINT BEHIND MY VISIT, WHELP," Inuhi growled, "I HAVE COME BY ORDERS OF-"
Just then a ball of white fur slammed into Inuhi's side, ripping and tearing at his fur. "Umbrus, back!" I roared as I muttered the incantation that sent Inuhi back to the Ghost Zone.
What could he have been trying to tell me? I asked as I walked inside. I would have just loved to have heard it from him, but after Umbrus assaulted him, I didn't think that he'd be in a talking mood.
OOOOO
"I MUST DELIVER MASTER'S MESSAGE," Inuhi rumbled to himself as he traveled back to the inter-dimensional Ghost Portal.
"THE HARDEST PART WILL BE FINDING THE WHELP."
"IT WAS JUST CHANCE THAT HE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THAT TOTALLY RANDOM HOUSE THAT WAS IN NO WAY RELATED TO HIM!"
OOOOO
"So Tai," I asked the following morning, "Did you get that math homework done?"
"Yeah, but that was only because I paid attention in Mr. Hashimi's class longer than ever before."
"How long was that?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.
"About five minutes," he grinned. He then changed the subject and said, "So, you have everything straightened out for tonight?"
"Yeah, but my mind is on other things," I answered. He and Ronnie showed momentary astonishment as I explained, "Remember that message I told you about yesterday that Inuhi almost delivered?"
My eyes went off as Tai said, "Hold that thought. We have a bogie." About five seconds later, Inuhi crashed into the ground again. I transformed, and the other two were in uniform by the time we could identify him.
"NOW WHERE WERE WE LAST-"
"Fire!" Ronnie interrupted as she blasted him back into the Ghost Zone. I just glared at her for a second before she laughed awkwardly and asked, "Oh, was I not supposed to do that? Ha ha, yeah, funny how I'm always a bit trigger happy, huh? Well, time for school, bye!"
OOOOO
"CURSES! I FINALLY GET BACK TO JAPAN, AND ONCE AGAIN BY SHEER DUMB LUCK I FIND THE WHELP RIGHT AFTER I LAND, ONLY TO BE BLASTED BACK HERE AFTER ABOUT FIVE SECONDS OF EYE-CONTACT!"
"I NEED A TRAVEL AGENT..."
OOOOO
"Great, just great," I murmured to myself as I sat in the cafeteria, eating a raisin bagel. Who eats raisin bagels, anyway!"The second time he had the opportunity to relay that message, and he's back in the Ghost Zone in about five seconds."
"Who's where in about five seconds?" Kara asked as she sat down beside me.
I stuttered for a moment before I said, "If need be I'd run from my place to yours in about five seconds."
"Whatever you say, Flash," she replied slyly as she dug into her chocolate pudding cup. I cringed ever so slightly, then resumed eating my bagel. "So we're cool for tonight?"
"Let's see. No karate, no boring history seminar with mom's colleagues, no ghost-fighting, no-"
"Whoa, back up," she interrupted me, "Did you say ghost-fighting?"
"Uh, no. I said.. grease-fighting! Which is convenient because it's mom's week to do it."
"Whatever. So, are you or aren't you?" she asked.
"Am I what?" I asked blankly.
"Are you good with it?"
"Good with what?"
"Tonight!"
"What's tonight?"
Our dinner!"
"Oh," I answered, "Obviously. It just momentarily slipped my mind."
She maintained her stare, which had this weird way of penetrating my defenses and skipping right to the point. "Yes, I'm good for tonight."
"Good. So am I."
"Why wouldn't you be?"
"Would I be asking if I wasn't?"
"What are you asking?"
"Didn't I just answer that?"
"What if you didn't?"
"Did it sound like I didn't?"
"Nah, I just like messing with you," I answered, grinning, "That and I wanted to see how long we could go answering questions with questions."
Her frown broke into a grin as she got up and left the room. As she turned back and gave me the "wave", a bunch of guys at another table gave me their thumbs-up. I returned immediately to my meal. It seemed a bit out of Kara's usual character, but this could work.
OOOOO
"You're kidding!" Ronnie said as she rifled through my closet. Her date didn't start for another hour, so she was helping me get ready. I'd already had a shower, and my hair was combed just so, so that was taken care of.
"Does this look like the face of a kidder?" I asked as I flashed her the most serious face I could muster.
"You mean to say that she gave you "the wave"? The wave? The one wave to end all cheesy waves?"
"Exactly," I answered, slipping on my white dress shirt.
"Well if "the wave" is any indication, then take that shirt off this minute," she said as she tugged on one sleeve. "You'll want something that doesn't totally clash with those slacks. And it's got to be a button-up."
"Why a button-up?" I asked, selecting a red button-up blazer from my dresser and trying it on.
"Because it looks- try the blue one- more classy, somehow more efforted. That and it's more accessible."
"Okay, I'll repress that memory," I murmured, slipping on my blue-and-black dragon dress shirt (the shirt's blue and black by the way, not the dragon). "By the way, we are keeping the ear-cells on at all times, correct?"
"Line 2, you got it," she said as she gave me a navy blue tie to try on, having been satisfied with my choice of shirt. She dumped that one and then reached for a blue tie. Just as she was securing it around my neck, I took hold of it and started to loosen it.
"Look, sis, Kara really isn't going to care too much what I'm wearing," I said as she started upbrating me for shooing off her help. "Besides, if I show up at her place overdressed she'll be creeped out, right?"
Ronnie noted this as a good point, then selected a brown leather belt with a brass buckle to go around my waist. Then with that done she gave me a pair of wicked-looking dark blue shoes, with grey socks to go under them, and a pocket watch that she described as "muy macho."
"There's just one thing missing..." she murmured to herself as she took a small purple box out from behind her back. On the box was written in gold, "For luck."
I opened the box and beheld a tiny, white jade rabbit's foot.
"Wow, thanks sis."
She took me by the shoulders, then licked her finger and wiped a bit of dirt off the side of my face. "Go get 'er, wildcat."
OOOOO
For some incredibly strange reason I didn't feel nearly so nervous as I had ever felt knocking on that door. Either way, what I saw when I was let in took my breath away.
Her shoes were smooth and slim, each a dark velvet heel with a blue stone just in front of the ankle, and around her right ankle she was wearing a gold anklet, studded with precious stones.
Her slimming red dress extended down to her ankles, with a long slit down each side. A black leather belt encircled her waist, slimming her waist further and accentuating every curve very, very well.
Her hands, while virtually untouched, still seemed softer and smoother than ever before as she took my hand and led me down the street. Ruby bracelets encircled each wrist, and on her left ring finger was a slim ring with a conical ruby on it.
Her arms and torso were covered by a thin grey jacket, to keep out the cold. On the left breast pocket was her name, written in red thread in Japanese characters.
Around her neck was a string of pearls, round, white and perfectly formed, each with a different Japanese character than the others.
Her hair had been combed until it shone, and on each side it was bound back by a small red barette. But what entranced me most about her appearance were her eyes.
They held an almost cool, channeled efficiency about them, as if they said, "We may be going out on a date, but you're going to have to really impress me for this relationship to work."
"Let's hit the buffet, big boy," she smiled, "I'm sorry to say it, but my mom just wouldn't let me where my cocktail dress on the first date."
I grinned mischievously as we turned the corner.
OOOOO
I think my jaw went totally slack the second I opened the door. From shoes to shirt he looked impressive.
Tir had never been a very heavy-set guy, but with that shirt on he somehow seemed larger than before, somehow more commanding. And the white jade rabbit's foot was a nice touch. Probably his sister's idea.
He had this look on his face that practically yelled "I can show you a good time, and I know it."
It made my heart tremble momentarily just to see it. As we turned the corner after leaving the house I broke the silence by saying, "Let's hit the buffet, big boy."
OOOOO
Dinner went by fast. Thank God!
From when I stepped in the door to the restaurant and, in an attempt to seem chivalrous, held the door for Kara, I got my pant leg stuck in the door and fell flat on my face. The whole restaurant never let me forget it.
Our orders got screwed up, Kara suffered from some incorrectly prepared garlic, and I think they would have served us pudding for dessert if we hadn't gotten up, left, I tripping over my own feet, again, and left a scornful twenty yentip on the table.
We then moved on to the movie theatre. We both got splashed by some idiot driving through a puddle, my popcorn must have been buttered with liquid salt, and after the doors closed we realized we were in the wrong movie and had to watch an hour and a half of "Dude, What was the License Plate of that Bus?"
Finally, we got to the park.
"Let's see," I muttered as we walked along the path, "The sky looks clear and star-filled, the moon is shining, muggers aren't really an issue," and I added in a whisper as we rounded a corner, "And there's my sister awarding her boyfriend second base, let's turn around now!"
You could not have gotten me away from there fast enough, I assure you.
OOOOO
We found a bench further into the park and sat down, staring up at the starry sky over head. After a while I could vaguely feel something pressing up against my side.
I looked down and saw Kara's shoulder against my side, while her head was just leaning down onto my chest. It was at that point that I realized that she had taken off her jacket. That dress definitely captured her figure. I also noticed that she had a bronze dragon armband on her left arm.
Realizing that she had removed her jacket I slowly reached my right arm down until it rested across her midriff. I then proceeded to pull her a bit closer, until her head rested gently on my lap.
A low groan escaped her throat as she slowly raised herself up and rubbed the top of her head against the left side of my jaw. I returned the gesture, rubbing my cheek gently against her hair.
"Look, Tir," she said after a long time. She stopped rubbing her head against mine, and her voice had acquired a grave tone to it, so I opened my eyes and asked, "Yes?"
Just then, a huge ball of flame descended from the night sky. Kara may not have had any idea what it was, but I knew, thanks to my jolted eyes. I turned around and saw that Kara had passed out, most likely from such a close strike.
For a girl that had her black belt, she really was fragile in the nerves department. I transformed before the dust surrounding Inuhi cleared. I turned off my earpiece. No one was going to screw this up.
Turning back around I asked, "So, now that there are no disruptions, no one to get in our way, nothing to cut you off at all, are you finally going to get your message across?"
"VERY WELL, WHELP," Inuhi growled savagely, "KNOW THAT THIS MESSAGE COMES NOT FROM MY MOUTH."
"Just get the heck on with it before you get cut off again," I whined, pawing at my sword hilt.
Ignoring my comment Inuhi continued, "UNDERSTAND THIS. FROM THIS DAY FORTH, ALL LANDS BENEATH THE SUN BELONG TO THE LORD OF ALL DARKNESS. TO DISOBEY MY MASTER MEANS DEATH, AND THE ENSLAVEMENT OF ALL HUMANITY."
The look on Inuhi's face was one of pure contempt as he said, "I KNOW NOT WHY HE SAYS THIS WHELP, BUT MY MASTER EXTENDS TO YOU AN INVITATION TO JOIN HIM, AS HE SO WISHES THE REST OF YOUR GHOSTLY ALLIES TO DO SO."
I took several steps forward, until Inuhi and I were standing nose to nose. I then grated in the most authoritative voice I could muster, "I don't make deals with tyrants."
"SO THEN YOUR ANSWER IS NO?" Inuhi asked with what could be interpreted as a hint of a smile on his face. I nodded once, and he said, "VERY WELL. THEN YOUR END COMES NOW."
With that said, Inuhi sat in front of me and let out a long, low howl. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the wind started to build, until the sky overhead grew dark with great black clouds.
The moon and the stars were concealed from sight. He paused briefly, glaring at me, before great flames erupted from his hide.
Sparks crackled and popped through the air as he howled again. But this sounded much different. It sounded like the hells themselves were resounding in his howl.
His voice grew, until it sounded like the great north wind could not rival it. It was as if, in the moment of silence that followed, small, muted gasps and cries filled the air. The screams of dead and tortured souls rippled through the air, until my ears couldn't stand it.
White wisps of steam and smoke started forming around Inuhi. The ground itself split, revealing the intense heat of its burning inner core. Soon the wisps of steam started to take form. White, flickering shapes appeared from the haze, forming claws, teeth, and vicious red eyes.
A huge pack of vicious white hounds stood snarling before me. Each was as sleek as a great cat, with the tapered snouts, strong jaws and blunt claws of a large dog. They each uttered the same ferocious snarl, grating their molars together as they bared their teeth at me.
"BEHOLD MY BROOD, WHELP," Inuhi snarled, "SEE HOW WELL YOU FARE AGAINST THEM."
Immediately my sword and sheath were in my hands, having assumed the forms of twin Egyptian-style axes, each about the length of my arm. I could feel my whole body extending into them as a huge rush of energy punched through my system. They rushed, swarming at me like a cloud of hornets.
I clove the first one in half, and he returned to steam, vanishing from sight. I could feel it through my weapon, however, that I had not finished him. I could feel every sweep of my blades, sheering through flesh, tendon and vaporous bone. My whole body felt "into it", as if I would sooner perish than give up the fight. That said, it came as no surprise that after a time I was relieved of one of my armaments.
I absorbed it back, instead deciding to merge it with the one I already wielded. The haft of my new weapon was black, whilst the blade, bound at its base and in the middle, was of a white metal, with its top end free for a vicious thrusting blow.
I found myself to be more effective with a single weapon than dual ones. With two hands I could hold onto it more readily, plus my strength and control were greater. Somehow, the blood had rushed to my head, and I went berserk. Black energy blasted from me like a furnace as bright red sparks crackled through my muscles.
"Come to me, spawn of darkness!" I roared, "Oblivion awaits! Meet the keen edge of my blade! Meet me and die again!"
An enormous blast lashed from my blade. Four huge furrows tore through the ground, annihilating everything in their path.
"The very wind of my blade thirsts! Give me your stagnant blood, creatures of shadow!" As my blade split the air, devastating everything. The ground, the air, even myself, burning my flesh deeply. But I was too far gone. In such a towering thirst for vengeance I could feel neither fear nor pain.
"Bring him to me!" I howled, "Bring me the Phantom! Bring me his head and his blood! Send him unto my wrath!"
As a last desperate attempt to stop me the creatures bounded together into an enormous beast, vicious and deadly. An enormous beam erupted from their mouth, burning and choking the air.
"Give me my vengeance, or bring the world crashing down! Death awaits all who pass beneath my blade! DDDDDDIIIIIIEEEEE!"
Our attacks met. Before the outcome had been decided, I leapt into the air, spinning myself horizontally as I brought my blade around in a fatal arc. With that stroke, it was all over.
I sheathed my weapons, then transformed back to my self. The insane thirst I'd had for revenge and blood was gone. In its place was an exhaustion more intense than can be imagined by mortal man.
I fell to my knees as my chest heaved and my head reeled. I'd never fought like that before, never with that intensity, that burning desire to kill, so why make itself known now? At first I didn't even notice that there was anyone else with me.
My head was still so full of junk that I never even noticed a calm, familiar voice ask, "Tir? Do you want to go home?" Kara had to repeat herself a second time before the message got through. Then the possible significance of events hit me.
I recoiled from her and, before she could say or do anything, asked, "Did you see?"
"Tir, it's late, and it's been a long day," she soothed, trying to put a hand gently on my shoulder.
"Did you see?" I asked again, this time a bit more shrilly.
"Tir, your exhausted. You shouldn't start working yourself up-"
Grabbing her by the arms and yanking her close, until we sat eye to eye I asked, this time more calmly, "Did... you... see?"
She gulped, then nodded slowly. For some reason this fact seemed to calm me down a bit. Just a bit.
"I won't tell anyone," she said quietly, "No person is going to get that secret from me." That said she took my hands and helped me to my feet. I wobbled momentarily as I tried to walk, at least until Kara took my shoulders and helped me to my house.
XXXXX
What a way to end the chapter, eh folks? And this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is where everything starts coming together, where the separate scraps of my story are woven into one. But I'm still not telling you anything! Huhhhahahhuhahuahauahuha!
By the way, for anyone wondering why Tir and Kara got together so fast, we all know that people have gotten together faster still. Plus, to some degree there is a reason behind it all.
Now if you would be so kind, REVIEW! I only have thirty-three reviews so far! I don't care if you tell me my story sucks out loud and then don't explain yourself! Just REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! (slap!)
I'm sorry about that little rant, but please review. If I get 5 or more reviews for this chapter, I'll update within the week. Otherwise, who knows when I'll update? Huhhauhuahauhauauahhauauahuahuahah!