Last time, Phobos was brought to the castle, in hopes that he'd have answers on the demons and why they're taking children. All that was found out was that the stones the Naz'riak carried are called 'Behelits,' and that they're symbols of a demonic group called 'The God Hand.' On with the show!

Chapter 16: Return of the Mega-Demons

It was around noon as Rock Lee and Garra, along with Sanji and Usopp approached one of the last villages to be evacuated. "This is pointless," said Garra darkly, "Why am I wasting my time escorting children, when I should be hunting demons?" "It's all part of the mission we were given," said Rock Lee, "You had the chance to decline the mission, you choose to accept it." "Who knows what might happen today," said Sanji, "Maybe the demons might attack."

"Let them attack!" boasted Usopp, "If they have the guts to show up, I'll show them a thing or two!" "The only thing you'd show them," said Rock Lee, "Is your rear end as it rapidly vanishes into the distance." That remark brought laughter from Rock Lee and Sanji, and a glimmer of a grin from Garra.

"Let's just get the job done," said Sanji, "The sooner we get the children to safety, the sooner I can be with my beloved Nami!" And the sooner I can be with Hay Lin thought Rock Lee. But what of Sakura? he thought to himself, What about my feelings for her? Focus Lee, focus on the mission at hand, then you can choose the one you love.

As the four entered the village, A strange vibe passed over Rock Lee and Garra. "Something approaches," said Garra, "Something most foul." "There!" exclaimed Rock Lee as he pointed at two tall figures at the other end of the village. "They look like that mega-demon Luffy fought." Said Sanji.

Rock Lee then grabbed Usopp by the shoulder, "Usopp, you really want to be a hero?" "Well," said Usopp in an uncertain tone of voice, "Maybe." "Then do this," said Rock Lee, "Head back to the castle as fast as you can and get help!" "That I can do," said Usopp as he turned back the way they came, "Feet, don't fail me now!" At that, Usopp disappeared into the distance, leaving behind a long dust trail. "He maybe a squirming coward," said Garra, "But he sure can run."

As the two mega-demons approached them, Garra said, "You two can stand aside, I'll take care of these pathetic worms." "You're crazy to try and take on those things alone!" exclaimed Rock Lee, "Kiba was right, you are a f#ck$ng psycho!" "No," said Garra, "That's where you're wrong. These demons kill because it pleases them to do it. I kill because it's who I am." "That doesn't make any sense at all." Said Sanji.

The two demons stopped within ten paces of Garra. "Leave this village Shinobi," hissed one of the mega-demons, "Or you and your comrades shall most assuredly die." "Sorry to disappoint you," said Garra darkly, "But I have a mission to carry out. Part of that mission is the destruction of you, a mission I shall carry out myself." "You stupid human!" exclaimed the other mega-demon, "We are the ultimate creations of the Empress! You have no chance against the two of us!"

"It's a chance I'll take." Said Garra as he uncorked the gourd on his back, sand soon began to flow out from it, "Come and get me." "Of course," said the first mega-demon, "Just one thing first. Think Fast!" The demon threw s small paper pouch at Garra's face. The sand reacted and tried to block the pouch, but the demon threw it too fast. The pouch exploded on contact, covering Garra's face in dark purple powder.

"Garra!" exclaimed Rock Lee as he began to move on the demons. "Stop!" exclaimed Garra, "They only blinded me. A temporary setback at best." "That's not all I've done to you!" hissed the mega-demon who threw the powder, "But you won't live to see it's other effects!" The two mega-demons charged Garra, slashing at him with their razor claws.

However, much to Sanji's astonishment, none of the slashes made any contact, for the sand coming out of Garra's gourd was blocking the attacks as if the sand had a life of it's own. "What in the name of the Great Blue is going on here?" asked Sanji. "Garra has the power to control sand," said Rock Lee, "By binding the sand with his chakra, Garra has made the perfect defense. The sand responds to the attacks instinctively. But wait until you see what Garra does on offence."

The demons kept attacking Garra without any effect, each slash blocked by the sand. All the wile Garra was clearing his eyes from the powder. "Now that I can see again," said Garra darkly, "The time has come to end this fight. SAND COFFINS!"

In less time to blink, both demons were covered in sand. They were incased so that they had no way to move. Only their faces were visible. "As I was saying to my comrades earlier," said Garra, "You demons kill because it gives you pleasure. I kill because it's who I am."

"Well before you kill us sand ninja," said one of the demons, "know this: That powder you got hit with did more than blind you. It contained a deadly poison, Nightshade poison to be exact. You should feel it's effects any second now. Death should follow within minutes. So you may kill us now, but you shall soon follow us down to hell!"

At this statement, a look of utter rage erupted on Garra's face. "SAND BURIAL!" Again, in less time to blink, the demons were crushed to death by the sand. Slowly the sand returned to Garra's gourd, and as he replaced the cork, Garra collapsed to the ground.

Rock Lee and Sanji rushed to his side. "Who would have thought that I'd be killed by such a simple method as poisoning." Ghasped Garra. "Save your strength!" exclaimed Rock Lee, "We'll get you back to the city!" "There's no time!" gasped Garra, "I can feel the poison working within me. I'm finished."

You're not finished!" Sanji and Rock Lee looked up to see Doc Chopper skidding to a halt. The doctor was in his reindeer form, which gave him an edge over speed. Chopper then shape-shifted back to his regular form and pulled open his black bag. "What's the problem?" he asked.

"Garra's been poisoned!" exclaimed Rock Lee. "What kind of poison?" asked Chopper." "The demon said it was Nightshade poison," said Sanji, "But it might have lied." "It's a risk I'm willing to take," said Chopper as it pulled out a vial of fluid and a syringe.

It was another half-hour before Will and the others arrived at the village. There she saw Sanji, Rock Lee and Chopper sitting by the still form of Garra. Hay Lin rushed over to Rock Lee. "Is he dead?" she asked. "I don't think so," said Rock Lee, "I'm not a doctor. "Well I am," said Chopper, "And he's not dead, not yet anyway. He'll be out like this for a few days. If I had been another minute later getting here, it would have been too late."

Back at the castle, Elyon had called a meeting with the heads of each group. "This fiasco has gone on long enough!" exclaimed Elyon, "we nearly lost someone today!" "It would be a lot easier if we knew where the demons were hiding," said Naruto, "believe it!" "From what Chopper told me," said Luffy, "Each biot had a computer in it's head. He said that if we can access that computer, we could trace the location of the demon's base, or something like that."

"There's just one problem," said Will, "We don't have anything to access the biot's hard drive." Just then, Taranee, who was also in the room, spoke up, "I think I might know someone who can help. Someone who has the technology to access the biot's hard drives, and he can be trusted to keep his mouth shut."

"Who?" asked Elyon. "Why none other than Heatherfield's own Martin Tubbs of course." Said Taranee with a smile. "And how do you expect to get Martin Tubbs to help us?" asked Irma, who was also in the room. "That's the best part," said Taranee slyly, "You're going to kidnap him and charm him into helping us."

"I think having your powers sealed up and then unsealed might have scrambled your brains!" exclaimed Irma, "Because there's no way in heaven, earth or hell am I kidnapping and charming a Turbo Nerd!" "You wouldn't want your parents to know about that incident with Andrew Hornby," said Cornelia quietly, who was also in the room, "Would you?" (See W.I.T.C.H. book#2 'The Disappearances)

Irma laughed at Cornelia's threat. "They would never believe that I turned a boy into a frog!" laughed Irma. "That maybe true," said Cornelia, "But they might just believe that you went clubbing, and thought they won't believe that you changed your appearance, they'll think you used a fake I.D." This apparently caused Irma's blood to boil for steam was rising from her head. "I'll do it!" said Irma reluctantly, "But girl, you owe me big time for this!" "Just put it on my tab." Said Cornelia.

The end of chapter 16. Next chapter, enter Martin Tubbs. See you next time!