Author's note: I don't own DP.
Things are going to start escalating in this chapter of the beginning of the unveiling. I'd like to thank the following for their reviews-
nooneluvsme- I'm not all that weird!
enigmatic penguin- Okay. (punching in number for local psychiatric ward) that's very interesting. And weird. I'll update again soon if someone (darkflame1516 and captain deoxys) and you three review this chapter.
the sleep warrior- I'll ust try and write them both to the best of my ability.
By the way, when Tir's main opponent in this chapter appears, try and imagine him with the voice of Daryn Norris (Ra/ the Spartan King from Samurai Jack, Bullet, Timmy Turner's dad He also does Cosmo, but don't imagine him with that voice).
If you liked the fight scenes of Chapters 11 and 13, and the vague romance of 13, plus a few other aspects in plot, then this one might push a few buttons with you.
That said, R&R!
Chapter 14 (Phase Two: His Generals Fly Forth on Wings of Wrath)
"THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN DELIVERED?" the dark voice rumbled from the darkness.
"Yes, Master," Inuhi called out into the abyss that extended before him, "And it was spurned by the whelp's harsh tongue."
"VERY WELL," the voice drummed, deep from within the depths of its labyrinth. "I HAD EXPECTED IT. HUMANS HAVE NEVER GIVEN IN TO DESPAIR SO EASILY."
Inuhi waited, as did the two other forms that waited at the entrance, and the third just outside the doorway. Their master was long in pondering his next move.
Finally his enormous voice boomed up from the depths and grated, "THE NEXT PHASE OF MY PLAN SHALL SOON COME INTO EFFECT. BUT FIRST, I MUST KNOW OF THIS "YUREI NINJA'S" SURROUNDINGS. I MUST KNOW HIS EVERY ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE."
"INUHI," the voice rumbled. Inuhi stood rigid as the voice said, "BRING THEM WITH YOU. THEY SHALL PROVE MOST USEFUL IN MAPPING OUR NEXT TACTIC."
The anger started coursing through Inuhi's system as he replied, "Very well, my lord. Your will shall be done." As Inuhi, offended at having to work with his so-called inferiors, and his back-up departed, the third presence stepped into the room.
"AH, MY RAVEN," the voice from the darkness called, "WHAT HAVE YOUR KEEN EYES SEEN?..."
OOOOO
"You know, dude, you can still back down," I warned as my mouth started to water.
"No way man, you back down before you hurt yourself," Tai shot back, tensing every muscle in his body, ready to begin.
"Annnnnd... Go!" Ronnie called, clicking down her stopwatch. And the clash of the world's fastest Subway-sandwich eaters began.
I tore into that sandwich like a wolf, sloshing it down my throat with the occasional gulp of water. Then, just as I was fininshing my last bite, "Time!"
I looked up, my last morsel frozen in my mouth, as Ronnie grabbed Tai by the wrist and declared him the winner.
I stood and shook his hand as I swallowed the last chunk of sandwich in my mouth, "Good match, though a second later and I would've won."
"True," Tai said back, "But it wasn't a second later, now was it?"
I gaped at him for a second before I started laughing. "No it wasn't," was all that I could manage to say. Tai wasn't often this loose
. "Now let's go home so we can figure out a few things about last week's unusual visit," Ronnie suggested.
"Oh, uh sorry," I answered, looking at my watch, "But Kara and I have a picnic to attend to, and then we have another movie tonight."
"Honestly, Tir," Ronnie sighed, rolling her eyes, "You two have gone out seven times in as many days. I swear that girl has you wrapped around her little finger."
"Don't be ridiculous," I assured her, "I'm going of my own free will."
"Whatever you say, lover boy," she replied as her and Tai headed for the door. "Oh, by the way," Ronnie called as she stuck her head back through the door for a second, "Try to refrain from stealing third until you've been dating for at least a month."
OOOOO
"This is a great view, isn't it?" Kara asked as we sat down on a hill overlooking town and watched the sun set. The sky almost looked as if it were on fire, with orange, gold and pink streaking the sky.
I looked over at her and said, "The view over here ain't too bad either."
She just kept unpacking the picnic basket and smiled as she replied, "Flattery will get you everywhere, Morgan-san."
We enjoyed a nice meal of ham sandwiches, with cheese, and a delicious salad, also with cheese.
"You know, considering its mid December," I said after we had finished our meal, "We should be pretty lucky that the snow hasn't fallen yet."
"Yes, we should count our blessings," she replied, sliding a bit closer to me.
"Let's see, there's you.." she rubbed her cheek against mine.
"There's this wonderful weather," she purred like a cat as I wrapped my arm around her waist.
"There's you.." she said again as she rubbed her head against my chest.
"There's my restored sight." I started running my fingers through her hair as she arched her back, sighing with pleasure.
"There's my moving here.." she whispered into my ear, bringing her backside up over my lap, to the point that she was sitting on me.
"There's you.." I whispered, slowly walking my fingers up the left side of her back. Just as I started moving them more towards her front did she reach a hand up and grab my hand by the wrist.
She then laid my hand on her leg as she chided me, "Not until the second month, short-stop."
"Well then," I grinned, rubbing her thigh ever so lightly, "I guess I'll-" I stopped as my eyes told all.
"What?" Kara asked, already knowing my answer but trying to deny it, "What is it?"
As she raised herself off my lap I answered, "Yep. Every time I'm about to get some."
As I got to my feet she planted a kiss on my cheek. All but one thought froze in my head, and I can't describe that thought, on the grounds that it may incriminate me.
"Well," She sighed, "Now you have some. Happy?"
I then transformed and replied, "Fantastic! When can I make another down payment?"
"How about tonight at the movie," she replied, flashing me "the wave" before she loped off towards town.
"Okay then," I said to myself, observing the sun's position in the sky, "That means about two hours to my next pay cheque. Now let's go bust us a ghost!"
OOOOO
Since it was the Saturday that Ronnie had her day off on, and Tai was in Tokyo to visit his dad, I decided I'd take care of this one alone. Well, not quite alone. Umbrus was with me.
When we got back into town, nothing seemed different. Suddenly my eyes jolted and Umbrus growled as his head whipped up towards the sky. I barely flew out of the way before a monstrous beast slammed into the ground to my left. Immediately my battleaxe was in my hands as a long, black armor-plated dragon with red eyes and silver horns, fangs and claws landed in front of me.
It regarded me with a long stare before Umbrus clawed at its face. It leapt towards me and snapped its neck to one side. Umbrus landed on my chest as the beast arched its back and roared.
"What do you want?" I asked, assuming a defensive stance.
"TRUTH," the beast replied, its voice not coming through my ears, but actually reverberating through my head. I whipped to one side as its head flew by. I brought my axe down heavily, severing its head from its body.
Its slitted pupils turned toward me momentarily as the base of its neck dissolved like wisps of cloud. It glowed momentarily, then its head was gone. To my surprise it reformed on the beast's neck.
I slashed at it, but the beast jerked its head back, then rammed it into my side. I was knocked back several feet, but I didn't fall. Umbrus slammed into the dragon like a lightning bolt, ramming his head into its side. The dragon stumbled, then lashed out at Umbrus with its claws and fangs. He ducked and wove away from the beast, and not too soon either.
Four huge blasts of energy rippled from my axe as I swung it viciously, hewing the air in front of my face. At first it looked as if my attack would find its mark. But just as the blasts closed, the dragon's front legs leapt from the ground, over the blasts. Almost like a twirled rope the rest of its body followed. It glared at me for a second, then as the blasts it had avoided released their intense energy, the beast glowed a bright white, then it was gone.
OOOOO
"Is it really necessary for us to see this movie?" I asked Kara as we slowly closed in on the ticket booth.
"Well look at it this way," she grinned, "If it was an interesting movie you might get a bit 'distracted'."
I stared off into space momentarily, then headed for the booth as I called over my shoulder, "You get the popcorn! And make mine a jumbo-size!"
"Which movie, sir?" the lady at the booth asked.
"Yes, uh, two for "Talk to the Hand" based on the book by Lynne Truss..."
OOOOO
The popcorn was smothered with butter. All I had with me to drink was a half litre of tap water because I hate the store-bought water (Honestly, that stuff is gross!), and the movie, while entertaining, was little more than a documentary on manners, and how the world today isn't using them. Although for the most part I wasn't focused on the movie.
We were seated in the back row, on top of the balcony, in the right corner. Perfect. Almost immediately, since there wasn't anyone else on the balcony, the armrests for about four seats in a row were pushed back. But that was about a half hour after the popcorn ran dry.
Kara, despite herself, actually seemed to be watching the movie when my hand slowly started creeping across the back of her seat. In a moment, my hand had cleared the other side of her seat. That was when my other hand came into action.
As slowly and stealthily as I could I lifted the armrest out of the way. My other arm then slowly squeezed inwards, until I heard a slight intake of breath as my hand came in contact with Kara's shoulder.
She turned to me, her eyes glowing in the darkness of the theatre. Then she kicked into action. With lightning speed she kicked up the armrests around us, then gently pushed me flat across the seats and laid down on top of me. Just as things started to get very interesting, my eyes went off. Curse those stupid ghosts! Why can't they just take evenings and weekends off like everyone else!
"Sorry," I said just as Kara's lips were no more than a few inches from mine, and my hands were getting a very good workout. She looked incredibly disappointed as she lifted herself off me and sat up in her seat. I sat up, then, trying to soften the blow, I gently kissed her on the cheek, saying, "I'll be back."
It seemed to help marginally, but she still looked really sad. Much as I hated to admit it I did have to leave, so I transformed and flew off out of the building without another word.
OOOOO
Switching my earpiece to Line 3 I called into it, "Umbrus! We've got ghosts!"
I heard a small bark of reply, then switched off the earpiece. A few minutes later Umbrus and I intercepted each other at the edge of town. After a moment he picked out the scent of the ghost and we were on our way with all speed. The scent led us to the forest where Ronnie and I practiced.
We plunged deep into the forest, deeper even than Meiyorn had hunted me. It was dark and gloomy, and the lack of leaves on the trees didn't help at all. Suddenly Umbrus changed direction, heading east, in the opposite direction to the setting sun. I followed closely. Suddenly my eyes jolted, and I hissed for Umbrus to stop. We walked the rest of the way, keeping ourselves intangible so as not to disturb anything on the ground or trees. After a while I could hear the distant rumbling of voices. As we approached a sizeable clearing I could see the sources of those voices.
One was the dragon we had fought earlier that day. The one standing beside him was a ninja, almost my double. He was a bit taller and more muscular, with his sword strapped across his back, and he was black instead of white, but other than that he appeared very similar to me. The final voice was that of Inuhi. He and the others were deep enough in conversation that they didn't notice us.
"THIS PLACE BEARS LITTLE THAT THE WHITE NINJA CAN USE TO HIS ADVANTAGE," the voice of the dragon echoed, "OUR ARMIES SHALL CRUSH HIM WITH UN-PARALLELED EASE."
"DO NOT BE SO SURE OF YOURSELF, SORRENTO," the ninja spoke in a low, raspy voice, "WE MUST TAKE NO CHANCES, LEST MASTER'S WRATH FALL ON US IF WE FAIL."
"A PRUDENT COURSE AS ALWAYS, NINJUTSA," Sorrento answered, "BUT SURELY THE LAND MUST HOLD FOR HIM SOME ADVANTAGE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
"PERHAPS," Inuhi cut in, "WE SHOULD LET MY EXPERIENCE OF THE ENEMY'S TACTICS TAKE HOLD. I KNOW OF HIS WEAKNESSES."
"SUCH AS?" Sorrento cut in, his body rippling slightly as though I was seeing him through water.
"HE CAN HARM NO HUMAN," Inuhi said calmly.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?" Ninjutsa asked, his eyes constantly flickering around and around the clearing.
"BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE WHELP IS HUMAN," Inuhi said bluntly, "THAT IN ITSELF IS A WEAKNESS. AND SINCE HE PROTECTS HUMANS, DOES IT NOT MAKE SENSE THAT HE SHOULD NOT WISH ONE OF THEM TO BE HARMED?"
My head was spinning with the weight of this development. They knew. They knew I was human. And somehow Inuhi, or some other ghost working for him had found out. Unintentionally I let out the tiniest groan. Barely more than a whisper. But it was far more than enough.
Even as I drew my sword and sheath Sorrento called, "YOU TWO RETREAT TO MASTER'S LAIR. I SHALL DEAL WITH THIS PESTILENCE."
As the other two left Umbrus and I tried to follow, but Sorrento blocked our way. "NOW," he said calmly, baring his fangs in a vicious grin, "WE SHALL SEE IF INUHI'S ASSESSMENT OF YOU IS AT ALL ACCURATE." I barely had time to form sword and shield before his enormous bulk slammed into me. In a split second I thrust my shield to one side and thrust my sword into his head. Sorrento roared with pain, then rammed his talons into my chest. I was knocked onto my back, and just as Sorrento flew down for the lethal stroke Umbrus slammed his jaws home, subtracting a hand from Sorrento's compliment.
As Sorrento crashed down on top of me, I thrust my sword skywards. An unearthly screech ripped from his throat as my blade punctured his throat. I thought that that was the end of it. Until Sorrento's outline faded and warped, to be replaced with that of a great knight. His huge body was covered in black armor, and his head was adorned with a great winged helm. His dark red eyes oozed rage. He was a ten foot juggernaut, armed and armored like a Philistine giant.
"NOW, WHELP," he grated as a sword sparked from his palm, "YOU SHALL DIE." Umbrus slammed into Sorrento's side, but Sorrento grasped him around the neck and slammed him into a tree. I was alone. "LET US MATCH BLADES, NINJA OF YUREI," he hissed as he threw me to one side.
Then I tried something I hadn't tried before. Holding sword and shield as one I transformed my dark weapon into the grip and hilt of my sword, while my weapon of light formed a vicious blade. It glowed with a tremendous light. He leapt into the air and came down with a ferocious cleaving stroke. I dropped onto my back and let his sword drive me backwards as I thrust my feet into his chest. There was no way I could face this guy in open combat, he was just too big. So I started using my size to my advantage. He thrust at me, and I turned aside his sword, then whirled in under his defense and stabbed my sword into the gap between his breastplate and his shoulder. He gasped, then swatted me aside like a fly.
I rolled, then stopped on my back as he came in for the killing stroke. I threw up my shield, and there was a loud ping as the point of his blade met my shield's central boss. Anywhere else and it might not have held him back. Either way I rolled back and kicked him over my head, as I had done earlier. He landed heavily a few feet away, and as I waited for him to get up I noticed a white mist starting to roll in.
"PERHAPS, WHELP," Sorrento admitted, rising to his feet, "YOU CAN MATCH ME ON FOOT, HAND-TO-HAND, BUT LET'S SEE YOU HANDLE A LITTLE CAVALRY ACTION." The mist started to solidify, then steam away as a great beast formed from it.
It was an enormous white horse, with six silver hooves and long white legs. Great fangs jutted from its upper jaw as its flaming green mane wavered in the moonlight. Huge muscles bulged underneath its hide as it leered at me, then snorted. Its master mounted it, then shifted his sword into an enormous war scythe. With a short whistle the beast reared, flailing its great hooves as it charged. I was ready, and raised my newly formed battleaxe over my head, then brought it down with one vicious stroke. My energy shot forward like a fiery bolt, destroying all in its path. I could actually see my attack ripping and tearing at Sorrento and his steed.
"IS THAT YOUR BEST, CHILD?" he asked as with a single stroke of his scythe he totally thwarted my attack. As his scythe came down on me for the fatal stroke, I ducked under it, and as Sorrento flew past, I whipped up and swept a wide arc with my blade, unleashing another blast of energy. He simply swept his scythe again, cancelling my blast. He came around and charged again, and just as his scythe swept down on me, I stepped towards him and grabbed the haft of his weapon. Sorrento hadn't expected the tactic, so his weapon was easily jerked from his hand. I simply made two huge strokes with my weapons.
Two huge blasts exploded from them, tearing the ground to shreds like the feet of a thousand wolves. Much to my surprise, Sorrento simply swept his hand, and the blast from his weapon disappeared, as did the scythe in my hand. He simply clenched his other hand into a fist, and, though I could see it buckling, he formed an energy shield that held back my blow.
"IMPRESSIVE, WHELP," he said as his warhorse snorted, "BUT AGAINST MY MASTER, THERE CAN BE NO VICTORY." With a vicious stroke he brought his sword down. There was a loud clang as our weapons collided. As I tried to fight back his sword his mount's head slammed into my chest, knocking me backwards. The beast shrieked with rage, then started slamming into me. Arms, legs, chest, back, almost no part of me could withstand that assault.
I hit the ground a while later, and as I blocked two of the beast's horrendous hooves with my shield, its other pair of hooves slammed into my stomach. "YOU HAVE OVERSTAYED YOUR TIME ON THIS WORLD," Sorrento warned, a war scythe once again gleaming lethally in his hands. "NOW GET AN AFTERLIFE."
Ronnie hit Sorrento like a rocket. Both him and his steed were knocked to one side. She ran to my side and asked, "Tir? Are you alright?" It was at that point that I noticed that she wasn't wearing her suit.
"You're out of uniform, sis," I grinned wryly.
"ENOUGH!" Sorrento glared as his war scythe shone in the moonlight. He charged, grabbing Ronnie by the back of her shirt and hefting her into his saddle. She struggled like an over-adored cat, but Sorrento kept a firm grip on her as he formed a dagger from his darkness. "SHE WILL BE FIRST, RUNT, AND VERY SOON YOU SHALL JOIN HER," he hissed as he raised the weapon over his head.
"No!" I roared, extending a hand as the weapon came down. I clamped my eyes shut, lest I see the murder of my own sister take place. Part of me went out to her, as if I could prevent this heinous crime from happening. About a second or two later I heard something thud into the earth a few feet in front of me. I opened my eyes, and saw the dagger that Sorrento had wielded in his hand. I turned, and there was Ronnie, still quite alive, held in place by Sorrento's enormous bulk. For a moment there was silence, then Sorrento grated, "ENOUGH! HER LIFE ENDS HERE!"
He brought up an enormous fist, and just as he brought it down I extended myself to Ronnie once more. This time I saw it leave my fingertips, thrumming and spinning like a hornet in a cyclone as it flew towards Sorrento'd clenched fist. He let out a surprised roar as my new-found weapon ripped his great armored fist to pieces and thudded into a tree behind him. A single, viciously sharp white shuriken, or throwing star, embedded itself in the trunk for a few seconds before it dissipated.
Snarling Sorrento ranted, "HOW CAN SUCH A SMALL THING DEAL ME SUCH HARM?" I focused my energy into my hands, then fired five shuriken at once. Sorrento and Ronnie were fortunate enough to get out of the way, but Sorrewnto's horse was not so lucky. It screeched in agony before it dissipated, sent back to the Ghost Zone in shreds.
"Ronnie! Run!" I called as Sorrento rose. He had shifted shape again, this time into a great lion. With a roar he leapt at me. I simply dashed to one side and nailed him with a pair of yureiken, as I called them.
"COWARD!" he roared as he shifted into a great bird, flying at me with talons extended, "YOU STRIKE FROM THE DARKNESS LIKE A SPINELESS SNAKE!" I laid a barrage of yureiken into his wings as I dashed by again.
"Though I may strike from the shadows, Sorrento, do not think that I am too afraid to step out into the light." In one hand I held my sword as it glowed faintly. Finally, Sorrento charged me outright, having resumed his knightly form. With all my strength I pounded a sledgehammer tattoo of yureiken into his armor.
"FACE ME, WHELP!" he roared as he brought his sword over his head for the killing stroke. In a flash I raised my own sword and brought it down ferociously. There was a loud ping as his sword shattered under my blow. Then there was the sound of tearing metal, and he was gone. As I sheathed my sword Ronnie walked up. She had been watching from a distance, and was impressed with my performance.
Just as she made some remark about Kara and I, and I was about to reply with a snarling riposte, Umbrus slammed into me from behind, and started licking my face like crazy. Somehow I wished I could share their happiness, inside and out. But the knowledge I possessed was too crucial to be taken lightly. By it our town, maybe even the world, could live... or die.
XXXXX
Not bad for a chapter, eh? And if what's going to happen isn't obvious, then may you be slapped across the face with a frozen rat's tail.
Though things will get far more eventful, and unexpected, for most of you, in the final few chapters. Tune in next time for chapter 15!