"Did…did he just go super saiyan?" Nanashi questioned, with an incredulous look.
I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case... just don't be envious, Nanashi.
Flynn is a nice guy and can be a great friend to you. -Lucian Naruto
Yup. Hilariously the transformation is actually based on Naruto's Kyuubi mode but I thought the super saiyan reference was more funny.
Chapter 18 After the Storm
Issachar carried Flynn on his back as their group met back up with the others. Just like the first time the Crimson Dragon took control of him Flynn was left completely unconscious.
"What in the world happened to him?!", Nozomi questioned, only to be met with the equally confused faces of the Samurai.
"I honestly don't know…", Issachar replied, in an exhausted tone.
"Somehow he possesses both Stardust Dragon and now Beelze.", Jonathan said.
Walter yanked the king by the collar who he held tightly as he dragged him across the ground.
"Don't you dare touch me, you rabid dog!", King Ahazuya barked, before wincing in pain.
"What are you gonna do throw your money at me? Oh wait..your castle's destroyed so you'll just have to rough it like a Casualry.", Walter replied and the king looked nervous at the thought.
"What we do know is that Flynn saved us. Hopefully he'll be alright when he awakens.", Isabeau said.
"We should probably go to the barracks then so he has a bed to sleep on.", Issachar said.
"I guess the rest of us will free the Monastery.", Jonathan said, making the Tokyo residents wary.
Some looked at Flynn either impressed or extremely terrified.
"S-Skins! What are we going to do about him?! Did you see that monster he turned into?!", Hunter 3 said, fearfully.
"We won't do anything. He is our ally after all. Don't forget he just stopped the leader of the crown Samurai and saved us.", Skins replied.
Damien walked over looking at the unconscious Flynn joining Issachar on the walk back to the barracks. He could see sweat falling from Flynn's brow.
Most of those from Tokyo were led back down. The Samurai promised to come back down to talk later after they finished up in Mikado. Their first stop was the Monastery. Deep in its chambers various monks and Samurai were imprisoned. To their abject shock they saw a familiar someone…
"What in blazes are you doing here, Navarre?!", Walter questioned.
"Ah! You've finally found me!!!", Navarre said, with comedic tears looking very disheveled and beat up.
"What happened to you?", Jonathan asked.
"Those ruffian crown Samurai kidnapped and interrogated me! Oww….", Navarre said, wincing before grasping his bruised cheek.
"Oh we had no idea! We should get you to the medical ward!", Isabeau replied in concern.
"Thank you, Isabeau!", Navarre replied, still crying.
They all separated to free everyone from their cells.
"Finally those cells were so stuffy! The nerve of the king to lock us up after having those brutes stalk us must be massive!", Abbot Hugo said.
"Thank you, esteemed Samurai. You have saved Mikado.", Sister Gabby said.
Jonathan suddenly flinched when one of his cards started glowing. It was Michael which he pulled out before the card glowed more intensely causing them to shield their eyes. Before them stood Michael stunning everyone.
"Gabriel, I've found you!", Michael said.
"M-Michael?!", Sister Gabby questioned, taken off guard.
"Gabriel?!", the prentices questioned.
Sister Gabby closed her eyes before she was enveloped in light. Before them now stood a female angel in sliver and gold armor. She had angel wings and a long staff. She had long blue hair and blue eyes.
"Right…my true name is Gabriel. I had been instructed to only watch Mikado in the other archangels absence.", Sister Gabby revealed.
"Congratulations for completing the quest!", Burroughs said, making the Samurai sweat drop.
"I am glad I have finally found you. However, I have grave news. Raphael and Uriel who were captured with me have perished…they were killed by an unknown spirit.", Michael explained.
"I see…but at least you are here now. Which means we can start taking a more proactive role in Mikado.", Gabriel replied.
Jonathan walked up to Gabriel slightly nervous at being in a room with two holy beings.
"It is fine. You may speak, esteemed Samurai.", Gabriel said.
"Me and my fellows have also obtained three out of the seven signer dragons.", Jonathan performed, presenting Power Tool Dragon and Life Stream Dragon.
Walter revealed Red Dragon Archfiend.
"Flynn isn't here right now but he has Stardust Dragon.", Isabeau added.
"Only three?! It's been months!", Abbot Hugo complained.
"Not for them unfortunately. Time in the Unclean One's country runs slower than Mikado. So, for them it has only been a day.", Gabriel corrected, making many of the others look at the prentices with amazement.
"Has it really been that long here?", Walter questioned, feeling a bit worried for Gina.
"It has. The king has spread some hateful propaganda throughout Mikado to poison the minds of the masses. Something must be done to fix this which is why it's fortunate we now have Michael with us.", Gabriel explained.
The prentices looked worried at this remembering the kind of toxic ideology the king tried to enforce on them.
"Just leave it to me and Gabriel, warriors of light. You have your own mission to attend to.", Michael said.
"That's right…besides the signer dragons we must still find Ys and the Black Samurai.", Isabeau said.
They then took Navarre and other injured Samurai to the infirmary.
"This is all so crazy…I hope Gaston is alright.", Navarre said.
"How long were you there, Navarre?", Jonathan asked.
"I think it was a few weeks, but down there it was hard to tell…", Navarre replied.
"I'm surprised you toughed through that. Perhaps you're made of sturdier stuff after all.", Walter replied.
"I assure you I am tougher than I look. I am the great Navarre after all!", Navarre said, before wincing in pain when he moved the wrong way.
The other prentices sweat dropped at this. They explained to Navarre everything that happened while they were separated. Jonathan looked particularly bummed when he talked about Asuma.
"Wait, you saw him too?", Navarre asked.
"You saw Asuma?!", Jonathan questioned.
"Yes I did. I was actually rather thankful since he convinced them to interrogate me instead of…uh giving me an expensive re-education…", Navarre said.
This made the prentices pale.
"They were going to do what?!", Isabeau questioned.
"Asuma helped you…but why did he do that…? He's on their side right?", Jonathan questioned.
"I don't know, but I'm not complaining after all those horrible screams I heard from those who were…", Navarre replied.
Jonathan said nothing, seeming very troubled. Walter and Navarre looked confused at this while Isabeau was worried.
"Asuma…I don't understand what you're doing. You sided with the king, but saved Navarre.", Jonathan thought.
"Well…in any case you certainly dodged a something nasty.", Walter said and Navarre nodded, shivering at the thought.
"It's certainly a relief. After I've recovered some I must find Gaston. Before I was captured I got in contact with some of my relatives. Hopefully they can take him in.", Navarre said as he rubbed the back of his head.
Isabeau looked over thinking about Flynn. She was extremely worried after seeing him completely collapse. Of course she was also worried for Jonathan and Gaston.
"Hoy, Jonathan. Who exactly is this Asuma guy anyway?", Walter asked.
"…it's probably best to wait till we have Flynn and Issachar with us before I explain my history with Asuma.", Jonathan replied.
Somewhere…?
All around him he felt an all encompassing warmth. Not quite scorching but comfortable like a warm blanket. His vision was dark as he felt his eyelids were closed. The heat made them feel so heavy and lulled him to sleep. He felt something following through his body like electricity pooling into him. The power felt so good. His mind was white as his mind tried to remember who he was and what he was doing.
Faintly he could hear a ghostly tune that sounded far away from him. The tune felt familiar to him. That's right he knew such a tune from someone he knew.
"Mother…", he murmured.
His eyes creeped open slightly, his vision being incredibly blurry.
"Sleep.", a booming voice ordered.
He felt that feeling again like his mind was being submerged. Hearing the command made his eyes unconsciously close. It was difficult to think about anything. Where he was or what was going on. He could feel something around him far more powerful than he was enforcing its will upon him. A part of him panicked trying to fight back and wake up.
He tried to think of something to tether himself back to reality. Something to lock onto and think about.
"Who…is…t-that?", he thought, thinking about the voice.
Something about the voice of the singer seemed familiar, but distinctly different. Her song was sung in such a melancholic tone it could easily bring one to tears.
"Why…are they…so sad?", he thought.
He could hear a low growl as he lightly moved. His eyes fully opened to see his bare arm. His mind drifted to the mark on his arm was the mark of the Crimson Dragon's head fully branded onto his arm. It didn't vanish anymore; it was permanently engraved on his arm. He could feel something around him shift its attention was focused on something else.
He felt his sense of self fully coming back to him as the being around him's attention was focused on something else. Right…he had this mark because he is a signer. He is….
Flynn's eyes opened in reality perplexed by the odd dream he experienced. He could see his gauntlet and deck were next to him. Issachar sat on a chair beside him. Notably his grandfather Damien stood there as if waiting for the second he woke up. He felt his hand hover over to his deck box grabbing it and holding it tightly against his chest.
"There's no need for that, Lord Flynn. I haven't come here to present you with another trial.", Lord Damien said as Flynn sat up.
"I'm back at the barracks? What happened after I beat his majesty? I can't remember…", Flynn questioned.
"The Crimson Dragon appeared and took control of you. Everyone nearby outside saw it. It was crazy the massive thing appeared in full and killed that monster. You don't remember it?", Issachar explained.
Flynn shook his head no.
"Everything becomes foggy after the duel's end. I felt a sudden influx of power flow into me before my mind went blank.", Flynn explained as Issachar was silent.
He seemed upset hearing it.
"Who does that spirit think he is just wearing Flynn like a meat suit?!", Issachar thought.
He looked over to see Flynn pulling up his sleeve. Just like his dream the signer mark was now permanently ingrained into his flesh. Flynn quietly pulled the sleeve back up.
"What is it you came here for, sir Damien? Is it about the funeral?", Flynn asked.
"No, that was months ago. Unfortunately you missed it while on your mission in the underground. I tried to contact you.", Damien replied.
"I'm deeply sorry. I was very preoccupied. So, much went on yesterday…it seems your theory was true Issachar. Time does move slower in Tokyo.", Flynn replied.
"The time?", Damien questioned.
"For me, Flynn, and the others it was only around 9 to 11 hours.", Issachar explained.
"How strange…the Unclean One's country is truly a bizarre place. But, back to the topic there was an incident.", Damien replied.
"Was anybody hurt?", Flynn asked.
"It's a strange story…it started in the dead of night when one of the synchro monsters that had been…previously confiscated from your father was stolen. The coward didn't even have the hall to face me to gain it. My guards chased him off before he could steal anymore.", Damien explained.
Flynn and Issachar's eyes widened in shock.
"Why would someone just randomly break in?", Flynn questioned.
"That's because it wasn't…", Damien said as he looked down.
Like Flynn his expressions were sometimes hard to read. Flynn could see he was hiding some feeling.
"It was one of your uncles…", Damien revealed.
Both Flynn and Issachar gasped in shock. Flynn got up more unconsciously.
"I was notified later that he had some run-ins with the Samurai. It seems he has gone down a dark path…", Damien said and Flynn froze.
Flynn grabbed his gauntlet, turning it on.
"I remembered something important. The Highlander sent me information on the one who took the soul of my father and possibly my mother. I only got to read a little bit before things got crazy.", Flynn explained.
Damien grimaced as Flynn read the rest of the information. Issachar looked over his shoulder to read as well. The duelist had the card Archfiend Zombie-Skull who he stole from…Flynn froze when he reached the end.
"Wait…are you telling me my uncle took the souls of his own family members?!", Flynn questioned, sounding horrified.
Damien looked down, seeming troubled.
"It's true. It surprised me just as much. He had no issues with your father. I fear his actual target may have been…myself. But, I had a deck with me so he got the wrong person.", Damien explained.
Flynn lowered his head shaking. This was all so wrong. He wasn't mad at Damien, more he was mad at the tragedy of the situation. Flynn got up quickly.
"I have to find him!", Flynn said.
"What will you do? Challenge him?", Damien questioned.
"I can try to talk to him and figure out something. I was able to reach Issachar and a few other ritual users. Surely I can reach him.", Flynn replied.
Flynn looked down; he now knew who was in possession of his father's card. He couldn't just leave it alone. He had to do something.
"Well, knowing you will go anyway even if I try to dissuade you. I don't know where he is now. Last I heard was of that attack from a group of heretics.", Damien replied.
"I see…can you try to contact me again if you hear anything?", Flynn asked.
"Of course. I'm well aware you're on an important mission right now. When, you find the Black Samurai the root of the heretic problem will be dealt with.", Damien replied.
"Thank you…sir…", Flynn said as he looked down shuffling awkwardly.
Damien was confused by the light blush on Flynn's cheeks.
"…grandfather…", Flynn murmured quietly.
Damien froze in shock and Issachar sweat dropped. Since they hadn't known each other too well they had always referred to each other by their given names. This was the first time Flynn ever called him anything other than Lord Damien or sir Damien. Damien looked away blushing lightly and he could tell how nervous Flynn was to say that.
"Of course…grandson.", Damien replied, going along with it.
He left after that, but Flynn's ears were still red with embarrassment. Issachar couldn't help, but laugh at him.
"H-Hoy! It's not funny, Issachar!", Flynn stuttered.
"Why were you so nervous to call him grandfather? That's still much more formal than grandpa.", Issachar replied.
"I've just…never called him grandfather before, alright!", Flynn replied as his blush deepened.
Flynn looked down still flustered.
"I was just thinking…with everything going on. Maybe we should be closer after all something could happen to him…and he's one of the only family I have left.", Flynn explained as he pressed his fingers together.
"Don't talk like that, Flynn. Your gramps is strong. We just need to complete our missions before he dies of old age.", Issachar joked.
"Right…that occurred to me as well. Time is moving faster here so we can't afford to waste our time in Tokyo. If we're there for too long we might find everyone we knew is gone…", Flynn replied.
Issachar gave Flynn a funny look.
"Can you not sound so ominous? We have two leads on the Black Samurai so we'll find her. Then, we just need to find Ys and get the other 4 signer dragons. We got 3 in less than a day it will be fine.", Issachar assured.
"Right…", Flynn said, before raising up his deck.
He looked through it, finding Stardust Dragon. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Beelze was in his position. He jumped sweating nervously as he remembered Beelze's intention to possess him.
"Right, after the Crimson Dragon killed Beelze you had that card in your hand.", Issachar explained as Flynn looked over to him nervously.
"So, he's not going to try and possess me, right?", Flynn questioned and Issachar looked confused.
"What?!", Issachar questioned.
"Beelze wanted to possess my body just like Doomking…he would have got me if Burroughs didn't save me.", Flynn explained as he looked over the card with suspicion.
"I don't know if he still can after what the Crimson Dragon said. He said he was punished with servitude.", Issachar replied.
"I'll just be cautious when using it. Speaking of which, I still have Jack-o-Bolan. What should I do with it?", Flynn asked.
"You could use it. I understand why you didn't want to give it to Daisuke's niece after what it did to him.", Issachar replied awkwardly.
Flynn sweated nervously looking at Jack-o-Bolan. He remembered the haunting transformation way too well. He wasn't sure if he wanted Jack-o-Bolan within spitting distance of him, much less in his deck. The effect was good, but he wasn't sure if he could ever trust it or if even using such a monster was moral. It devoured Daisuke's soul after all its own master. For now he would wait since he was still unsure about using the monster. He put it back with his extra cards.
"I really want to chase after my uncle right now, but I don't have much to go on…and I'm a Samurai so I'm expected to put the needs of the people first…", Flynn said, sadly as he lowered his head.
Thinking about it made him shake, especially knowing that time in Mikado was faster. He simply had to complete his missions quickly.
"Flynn…", Issachar said.
"Do we have any leads on the other signer dragons besides Clear Wing Synchro Dragon? We know it is in the Asura Kai's possession, but not exactly where it is or who it's user is.", Flynn said, changing from the sadder subject.
"We'll have to check with Jonathan and Isabeau. They got Power Tool Dragon from the Asura Kai as well so it's possible they have more.", Issachar replied.
Flynn got up and got his stuff back together. The sooner they finish their primary objectives in Tokyo the faster they could focus on more personal matters. Flynn and Issachar headed out not finding them at the Monastery. A monk redirected them to the medical ward where their fellows were.
"Are you alright, Flynn?", Isabeau asked.
"Yeah. I feel better now. I simply got drained like last time.", Flynn assured.
"That's good. Now, that your here Walter asked about my friend…former friend who was a part of the Big Five. He's still at large…", Jonathan said.
Flynn and Issachar looked completely shocked to hear this. They had a feeling they would need to sit down for this one.
"Me and Asuma met when we were children. He suddenly appeared one day and easily beat the other kids at dueling. I challenged him and lost though I kept challenging him over and over again.", Jonathan explained.
"That's cute.", Walter said, making Jonathan flustered.
"A-Anyway. After all our various duels we grew closer. He even told me why he was so focused on getting stronger.", Jonathan said.
Jonathan's look changed, becoming conflicted.
"He said he wanted to kill all spirits. The reason why he just appeared one day was because he is an orphan. His entire family was killed by a spirit so he despises them with a passion.", Jonathan explained.
They looked shocked to hear all of this.
"Was it a powerful spirit like Doomking? It's very uncommon for spirits to escape Naraku.", Flynn asked.
"I don't know. He never really went into the finer details. While it's not common it certainly has happened before. As you know Mazera escaped Naraku briefly though he didn't get very far. Asuma was with me when it happened. We tried our best, but we were too weak to defeat him. Asuma took that failure very hard. A few days later I didn't see Asuma again until earlier today. He claimed he sided with the king to get a gauntlet and because he believed the king would win. He wasn't captured so I don't know what he's doing now. He was just using the king so I doubt he'll enforce what he wanted.", Jonathan explained.
"So, if Asuma is so strong why didn't he become a Samurai?", Walter asked.
"Same as Issachar and Gina I'm afraid.", Jonathan replied.
"Damn it! Those infernal masters are always causing problems! Those were the kind of people targeted to become crown-I have to check on something!", Walter said, his eyes widening in realization near the end.
"You don't think-", Isabeau gasped.
"I'll be right back! You guys can go down to Tokyo and I'll be gone for a few minutes to you!", Walter said as he rushed out of the room.
"I'll be with you as soon as I can get Gaston to my relatives.", Navarre said.
"I suppose that would be the most logical course of action. We should take advantage of the time difference now that we know about it. I have access to Shinjuku's terminal so I can warp us there. We can get to Ginza from there and I can ask Nozomi where Ikebukuro is.", Flynn said and the others nodded.
Flynn, Issachar, Isabeau, and Jonathan headed to the terminal in Aquila Plaza.
"Back to work already it seems…", Issachar murmured.
"Hoy, you always wanted to be a Samurai, Issachar.", Flynn replied with a funny look.
Burroughs linked up with the terminal and they were warped to Shinjuku. Flynn briefly stopped sweat dropping when he saw the Hunters were still on their way back to Shinjuku.
"Time really is slow here…", Isabeau said.
"Well, if Nozomi isn't here yet we can always check Ginza first.", Flynn replied.
The Hunter's Association had much less people than usual. Nikkari, Manabu, Nanashi, and Asahi were there though. Everyone jumped when they saw the Samurai.
"How did you get here so fast?!", Asahi questioned.
"Actually it's been a few hours for us. My theory was true.", Issachar replied, sweat dropped.
"To us you guys weren't even gone for half an hour if anything it was hardly above a few minutes.", Nikkari replied.
"Right. That's why we must complete our missions quickly…we're losing time in Mikado.", Flynn replied.
"Oh…that means you guys can't hang around then?", Asahi asked, sadly and Flynn felt a bit guilty.
"…Neither of you two have gauntlets I mean duel disks right?", Flynn asked.
"Yeah…why?", Nanashi asked as Flynn looked down on his gauntlet.
He clicked a button materializing the old duel disk he found in the Sky Tower. This surprised the Tokyo residents.
"How did you get a hold of one of those?! I thought you guys just had military grade duel disks there.", Manabu questioned.
"We found this in the Sky Tower. Burroughs automatically sends info about the relics we found back to Mikado so we don't need it. One of you can take this one to defend yourself.", Flynn explained.
"You're just giving it away? I know it's beat up but those things are still valuable.", Manabu questioned.
Nanashi and Asahi put their hands in Manabu's face trying to shut him up. The latter's eyes were full of sparkles seeing the duel disk.
"Well if you're just offering it…I suppose we can't refuse.", Nanashi replied, with a smirk.
"Boss doesn't want you two to be Hunters though…he'd be livid.", Nikkari replied.
"I'll be fine.", Nanashi replied, confidently.
"You say that like your getting it, Nanashi?", Asahi replied, with a funny look.
"Come on, Asahi. It's an easy choice. We all know I'm the better duelist between us.", Nanashi replied as Asahi puffed her cheeks.
"Who decided that?!", Asahi questioned.
"Our score did. Last time I checked you haven't beaten me once.", Nanashi replied as the Samurai sweat dropped.
"It's passion that matters! You lack that passion!", Asahi replied.
"I lack passion for dueling the same people over and over again.", Nanashi corrected.
Flynn looked down when he suddenly got a call on his gauntlet.
"Umm…I'm in the terminal in Naraku. Where are you guys exactly?", Navarre asked.
"Don't worry I'll warp there. I will be back in minute.", Flynn replied.
Flynn and Issachar left which the Tokyo residents thought was strange.
"Why does that guy follow him around everywhere? Does he like him or something?", Manabu questioned.
"It's nothing like that, he simply has to…", Jonathan replied awkwardly.
"Has to? What do you mean he has to?", Nanashi questioned.
"I'm sure you've noticed Issachar's uniform is a different color from ours. As you've seen the colors denote different ranks of Samurai. Purple is crown, white is master, blue is prentice, and black is…", Isabeau questioned, hesitating for a moment.
"…is there a problem?", Asahi questioned, nervously.
"Black denotes one who is serving a life sentence of atonement…", Jonathan replied, making the teens more confused.
"Sentence you say that like he's a criminal? Though…he does have a criminal marking…", Nikkari replied.
Very soon Flynn and Issachar came back with Navarre wondering why the air was so awkward. The two simply looked at each other cluelessly.
To be continued…