Disclaimer: I do not own J.C.A..
Queen Of Shadows
A Jackie Chan Adventures fanfiction
Written by Eduard Kassel
Created by Nocturne no Kitsune
Beta'ed by Zim'sMostLoyalServant
Adopted from Nocturne to finish what he began.
Summary: Last chapter, Jade meet two more generals. The fanatically devoted Sanshobo, and the irreverent Kamisori. More importantly after finally delving into the shadowkhan's most sacred writings she learns what is expected of her as queen. To mystically 'birth' new broods of shadowkhan, and she dreads the consequences of failure as much as success.
Meanwhile, giant samurai and a pirate capable of sakying shadowkhjan singlehandely join the movement towards Tobe Castle.
Warnings: Blood, light-to-mild violence, and possible light gore and cursing. If you're not one to like mental and moral issues, then this might not be for you.
Rated: T
Chapter Five: Circles
Wiping sweat off her brow, Jade replaced the makeshift Bo staff in the cabinet. Amazing what you could do with some woodworking tools, isn't it, she thought smugly. She had already switched out of her training outfit back into today's fancy kimono. She didn't think she had worn the same one twice yet; she wondered exactly how big the Queen's wardrobe was, wherever it was.
She snickered at the image of one of those imposing towers being revealed to hold nothing but row upon row of fine silk women's ware, with accompanying sandals and slippers.
'Hmm, I wonder if there is some poor Shadowkhan whose job is just to plan what I wear each day?' she wondered. Another laugh, imagining a Ninja Khan wearing some metro attire complete with a pink scarf as he browbeat a regular Khan for selecting a non-matching outfit.
She kept smiling as she sat down at the table her hairpins had been laid out at. It was still a bit eerie how her hands knew what to do styling her hair up, but getting used to it was preferable to an enduring freak out.
Deciding she was back up to snuff for being seen, she realized she was not ready to leave.
Her plan had been to take her tea and snack in the library while continuing her research on particulars of the ritual. Apparently, it involved a special outfit, and a lot of body paint too. Not that she cared about the particulars, but she was hoping a loophole was in there somewhere.
The point was, that with training such a hassle, it wasn't fun anymore. Or perhaps it was because it was so strongly tied to Jackie as an activity? Going through the motions only made her miss him more. The lack of a constructive or chiding reprimand when she messed up.
Contrary to appearance and popular opinion in the dark fortress, she was still Jade Chan, and Jade Chan was not an "all work and no play" kind of girl.
But despite being in the room of a thousand hobbies for shut-ins, she was stumped on what to do. Anything too physical was sadly out; she had to conserve her energy for training. And most of what she would have done otherwise wasn't invented yet.
The thought came to her as she took mental inventory of what she had found in the room of creation.
A bit of a longshot, but no harm trying, she concluded. Easily recalling which cabinet it was in, she proceeded to retrieve the partially undusted lacquered box. Returning it to the table, she knelt before opening it and retrieving the tsuchibue.
'Mom did want me to learn to play an instrument, at least until I managed to break the violin and the piano instructor practically kicked me out,' Jade thought, considering the instrument.
Covering all the holes, she blew out a low note, and went up a scale.
Well, it did have a pleasant sound. And since the Queen seemed to have nothing to do with it, there was no worry about it leading into more mental contamination.
On a hunch, she tugged on the silk lining with her free hand, and sure enough it was unattached at two corners, easily pulled back. Revealing a small paper pamphlet. Opening it up one handed confirmed her suspicion.
Songs, written out with tiny pictures indicating how many holes for each note, and symbols she guessed a key would explain the meaning of.
'Song of Shadow, Hiruzen's Lament, Glory of Spring…' Jade looked over some of the titles. Some were clearly Shadowkhan in origin, while others could have come from anywhere.
The Song of Shadow seemed fairly simply. Putting the opened pamphlet back on the table, she took a breath and moved her fingers into position for the first note of the Song of Shadow.
888
Thunder rumbled as the sky darkened over the forest, heralding the coming storm. Seven winged forms glided on the sharp winds, barely visible against the dark horizon.
A Samurai Khan with a blue banner adorned with the Empire's crest on his back watched from a tower as flyers from the fortress flew out. And then broke away from the oncoming force. Turning to the sumo manning the tower bell, he raised three fingers.
BONG
BONG
BONG
The last General had finally returned to the Grand Fortress; the Circle was complete for the first time in years.
888
When the Bat Khan landed, a reception awaited them in the vast outer courtyard. Kuro-Ri-Chi stood with a squad of his officers behind him, watching the warriors of the air glide in. Or rather, dive in. Flapping to gain quick altitude, the Khan folded their wings, diving and twisting about one another as they plummeted toward the gray and brown cobblestones.
Wings opened at the last moment, letting them land hard but intact before the tentacle-riddled General. A mere pace ahead of him, a final form impacted with a crack. Thick gloved fists planted into the ground, the cobbles around them crumbling as they were pulled free. The leathery wings that covered most of him pulled back as the General stood.
The red-faced Khan wore a thick moustache on an otherwise clean face, his black hair trimmed too short for any style. He had arms and wings both larger and more powerful than the Khan at his back. "Larger and more powerful" easily summed up the imposing General, who cracked a smile at Kuro.
"Greetings, honorable master of the Suigun forces! It is an honor to be welcomed back after such a brief absence by such a distinguished colleague."
"Welcome back, General Jirobo of the Komomori Tribe. With your arrival, the Circle has closed once more. Tsume preceded you here by mere hours. With your arrival, he will also give his report and be formally received by the Queen."
"Heh, beaten by Tsume. I was delayed by business you will be interested in. One of the blackpowder ships has gone missing. It may have been servants of Ryujuin, but others think it may be this Pirate King."
"Nonsense. He is a jackal preying on the weakest of my ships. No jackal challenges a tiger and lives," Kuro scowled.
"True, but that is a matter for later, old friend. I have waited a long time for this day, and not even sharing a table with Tsume will ruin it," Jirobo rumbled cordially.
"Tsume is likely the least of your troubles. The Queen… has grown into her role, it would seem. Her favor is not as certain as it once was, nor her displeasure. You should proceed with caution," Kuro advised. Jirobo hesitated, but smiled.
"So once again the coming of the ritual lends some steel to royal spines. We have all seen such before, have we not? You worry too much – I have prepared the ground too well for my course to be so easily upset. The naval reforms are only the first step, as I told you at the start.
"But now, royalty awaits me, Geberal Kuro-Ri-Chi," He walked on past Kuro, his men dispersing; clearly he felt no need for an escort, for show or otherwise.
'Very well, most daring of flyers, but never let it be said I didn't warn you,' Kuro thought. He went on his own way, finding himself struck by worry at the news. While he was certain no humans could take a ship of his line, the mere rumor could discredit if he did not prove it a falsehood.
888
The waiting room was still boring; Jade had actually read through the herbalism scroll already. Just like the other meetings, she had been brought to the throne room to officially greet the last of the returned Generals.
Unlike the first time, she was more bored than terrified by now. Okay, not entirely true, she admitted to herself. She had gotten bad vibes from the other Generals concerning General Tsume when he came up. There was a narrow chance that he was a pillar of decency and tolerance looked down on and despised as part of some "good is bad" worldview. But with her luck and the general odds, it was more likely he was evil who had even less in the way of standards in this bunch.
What new horror was waiting out there that she would have to wear the royal stoic for and bear it? Fresh reports that those one hundred virgins had been sacrificed in her name and he had their fresh hearts for her and the Generals to enjoy as entrees in her debutante feast celebration?
Well, unless she wanted to memorize this set of applied herbalism or see if the fox tail in the cabinet still had a static charge, it was time to face the music. Putting the scroll down, she clapped for Hiruzen.
Meanwhile, Nearby:
Jirobo did not bother hiding his sigh when the Queen finally signaled her entrance. He cast a glare to his fellow General, seated across the strategic table from him. He hated to be made to wait in general, and there was no doubt this slight against him was the result of sharing company with the Gani tribe's infamous General.
The table hid his long bowed legs, but the monstrosity of his armored right claw arm was impossible to conceal. His upper body was bared, grey plates of living armor pressed against poxy black flesh.
His face was the true horror to Jirobo's mind – even among the Gani tribe, he felt this one should never have removed his lower mask. In place of a proper mouth, a mass of mandibles shifted, clicking and twitching near constantly from ones the size of fingers with hooked points, to almost fibrous ones rippling behind them, covering the maw beyond.
When he was Yojimbo, he would see to it this obscenity was disposed of; surely the Gani must have a competent officer who was decent enough that he could be seen in the royal stables, much less the Circle of Generals.
He bowed when the Queen entered, listening to her ascend to her throne, and rising on his cue.
"So, Your Highness, who do you wish to give their report first? I believe that General Jirobo has fresh news from Kyushu, and General Tsume has been dealing with the last known renegade majo," Hiruzen spoke.
Jirobo looked to the Queen, and realized Kuro may not have been overreacting. The Queen looked rather regal – in the presence of her least favorite General by far, she wasn't fidgeting or showing the usual subtle signs of disgust. Yes, her gaze traveled to the disgusting General and lingered, but that was all.
He had memorized her tells; it had been a clear necessity if he was to continue rising in favor toward the highest male seat. But they were gone, how could they be gone?! Three weeks ago, she had been an open book despite Hiruzen's best efforts!
"Jirobo, you may proceed," she told him politely. No eagerness; he had brought back the new aerial sketches of Kyushu that his men had gathered for her, as always. But she wasn't excited?
"You honor me, my Queen. I have little to report from such a short inspection. The humans move as they have these last years; they suspect nothing, and make no great preparations for our coming.
"If this rumored sage truly exists, he either is blind to the signs, or the humans foolishly put their faith in him," Jirobo reported.
"So you have no report on this sage? Do we even know his name?" The Queen pressed, narrowing her eyes at him.
"…No, but I do not know that he is truly a sage. Likely a rumor concocted by lowly hungry samurai and their General in their boredom," he assured her.
"It occurs to us that such a man could be a threat, yet we cannot be sure of his existence. As chief scout in all but name, we are disappointed you could not learn if this threat even exists or not," the Queen said. Hiruzen spoke up now.
"Well said, my Queen. The course of the war is going to be planned for resumption before the next lunar cycle ends. Such an asset for our foes would require rethinking the placement and composition of our forces."
"Yes, forgive me," Jirobo said, bowing his head.
"You are forgiven. Now, Tsume, proceed with your report," the Queen continued.
"Click-click. We found the last majo unaligned with us on Shikoku at last, click. A hidden cave, many dead, all the witches' brains eaten by my tribe, their meat roasted or raw, tasty, click-clack. Their bones given to the Kamikiri for grinding. Click-click.
"Bad business with slave hunting. Click-click, too scared to run for us to catch. Ozeki trying to cheat us of meals; doesn't know how to share his humans."
"I… see. Well, good then," the Queen's voice betrayed her discomfort, a reliving sight to Jirobo.
Soon enough, the Queen was gone and he was alone with Tsume and the ugly General's guards.
"Click-clack-click-clack."
Frowning at the seeming rhythm to the noise, Jirobo came to his feet when he realized it. The Gani filth was laughing at him, a lord of the sky!
"You mock me, bottom feeder!?" Jirobo demanded.
"You make a fool of yourself. Ambitious one, clack. I've been at the bottom nearly as long as Hiruzen has been at the top. Look down on me? I look up at you like all the fools before you to climb and fall.
"The little Queen has played us, and you most of all. Click-clack, ohhh it reminds me of her grandmother, such a dear one, so generous, so ambitious and viciously ruthless. As I recall, she executed the former Kamikiri Head Priest for annoying her too much.
"Hated him, didn't get to eat his brains, but liked him dying, though he enjoyed it too much," Tsume chuckled through his nightmare mouth.
"…Be smart, and you may live to see the end of Hiruzen's reign, cannibal. He is tired, failure weighs heavily on his will. When this war ends, maybe sooner, he will be replaced."
"Hooh, not the first to think that. And maybe when you reach too far and find no hold they will let me have the splattered brain. I have had six Generals' brains, right out of the skull. So succulent, but I have yet to eat the brain of one of your tribe. I'll settle for the wings, they look chewy," the General laughed as Jirobo walked out of the grand chamber.
Later:
Jirobo exhaled the smoke in a steady breath, lightly licking the exposed fangs when it had passed.
"You were right, a superior opium by far. Thank you, oh distinguished master of the Suigun," the winged General inclined his head as he held the pipe between two fingers, the arm propped on the table.
With the exception of Hiruzen, the Circle of Generals sat around a black table in a large, but cramped compared to the grand hall, room. Two unmasked officers of their respective tribes flanked each of them, and the table held teapots and sake bottles as smoke rose from some of the distinguished warriors' pipes.
Kuro took a draw from his own elaborate ivory pipe, fashioned to resemble two snakes mating, and let the smoke exhale from the sides of his head.
He looked around; along with Jirobo, Tsume and Sanshobo had taken up his offer of opium while they waited. Though the mantis was hardly indulging, what with that mask as an impediment.
"Mu, Jirobo-dono. These are not the usual weeds we get from Shendu's ports. That Demon Sorcerer… his rule cheapens everything under it. An industrious captain in my trader squadron acquired this from a port in the southern reaches of Dai Viet. They pay tribute to the so-called Dragon Emperor, but are otherwise free of his meddling tyranny.
"Though I understand this particular blend comes from much further west. One pipe worth of this will kill a mere mortal," Kuro laughed. The Circle joined him in a mutual chuckle at human frailty.
"This is a war meeting. Have we been at peace so long you have forgotten the respect due such a gathering?" Ikazuki growled, his two officers scowling along with him.
"Come now, Ikazuki, this is a formality and the Queen isn't even here. You Buke may worship war and the Queen exclusively, but the rest of us see no harm in some indulgence. We are not so afraid of losing our edge we sharpen ourselves to the point of obsession," Jirobo chuckled.
Ikazuki put his thumb to the hilt of the katana at his belt, but moved it away after a moment's consideration. Jirobo turned his attention to Ozeki and Kamisori and addressed them.
"There is no need for you two to abstain, Ozeki-dono, Kamisori-dono, who knows when we will have more of such finery," the Komomori General pointed out. Ozeki rolled his eyes and took a sip from his teacup.
"Tea calms the mind and body, without polluting or dulling it. I have neither desire nor need for opium," the sumo stared. Kamisori chuckled, taking a chug from his sake bottle.
"That stuff takes the edge off. I like the edge, especially when it's so sharp it cuts my feet," Kamisori remarked.
"Brothers, comrades, welcome home," Hiruzen's voice snapped their attention to the head of the table. The vacant spot was filled as Hiruzen appeared, seemingly out of thin air, and took his seat. As Yojimbo he was unescorted, his jonin taking a seat at his right hand to represent the Shinobi tribe independently from the highest office.
A formality – not since Daigoro had a Yojimbo truly given up their role as General in anything but the occasional ceremony. But ceremony had to be honored, reasonable or not.
The bottles and cups went back to the table, and the pipes were expertly extinguished, before they all bowed their heads to the eldest in their ranks.
"This is the first time we have assembled since honoring the passing of the late Queen. Despite this, you will all obey the rules of conduct in the fortress, and if you fail to enforce the rules with your subordinates, you will reap a portion of the consequences."
He waited for their signs of affirmation and continued.
"The ceremony will take place in six nights. The Komomori have assured me the skies will be clear of any mischief. As you have no doubt heard, during the banquet of renewal the Queen will officially declare the renewal of the conquest of Nihon, and present to the Circle the strategy of her choice.
"Within two days you will present reports in full detail on your tribes' numbers, distribution, veteran status, and any other martially relevant details regarding your forces. The clerks will review these, and misrepresentation will not be borne lightly.
"Additionally, you will offer your thoughts on strategy, either individually or in accord with others of the Circle. The Queen rules, but it is up to us to present her with the courses she may chose from.
"Is there any matter you feel worthy of the Shaded Circle of Martial Leadership, but not worthy of the Divine 98th Queen of Shadows?" Hiruzen concluded.
"I have a concern," Ikazuki spoke up. All attention turned to the samurai, who returned it with the slight swirling of his sake saucer.
"The Circle will hear the concern of the Fierce and Honorable Ason of the Buke tribe," Hiruzen announced.
"My thanks for being heard, Hiruzen-sama.
"The concern I have is that I know most of you, and even our Queen, favor the completion of the conquest of Kyushu. I believe our resources and troops would be better spent with the destruction of Tobe and seizure of Awaji Island before any expansion is undertaken on Kyushu.
"The daimyo of Kyushu are a broken force. We need only advance and they will fall before our onslaught. But Tobe has withstood raids by each tribe during and before the suspension of the conquest.
"The Shirogeta clan has displayed martial prowess and resourcefulness and utilized exorcists, monks, and other spiritual humans in tandem with strong points to make action in their territory trivialities of significant consequence.
"Humans rally to such symbols; they no doubt hear tales of Lord Rokutaro's stalwart defense of his territories and believe resistance is not hopeless. Destroy Tobe and that hope will become despair, paving the way for conquest.
"With Kyushu's fall, the court in Heian Kuo may finally be stirred to action, Rokutaro could receive the patronage of the great clans," Ikazuki explained. Hiruzen spoke, uplifting a hand.
"We have reliable assurances that the fall of Kyushu will amount to nothing in the Mikado's court. Our allies have pledged their lives on that matter; those who dwell above the clouds are easily being lead by fear of confrontation with our empire, and the influence of our majo and allies amongst the human shinobi clans."
Ikazuki interrupted him, "And yet no spies of relevance in Tobe?"
Hiruzen scowled.
"A daimyo's stronghold is another matter from the excess and corruption in the capital. The majo must pool their resources to subvert matters without alerting the temples that watch over the court. The Dharma Candle itself has cost us many promising women of the art, and each loss makes it harder to herd those humans along with promises," Hiruzen reminded them.
"Mu, Hiruzen-dono. Ikazuki forgets the Shirogeta clan has ten grievous losses for each of their so-called victories. By the time Tobe's turn comes, they will be shells of lost glory like the daimyo of Kyushu," Kuro spoke up.
"If the Shirogeta are falling, then why do my scouts report the triple tiger claw mon of the Shirogeta is seen in an ever larger area of Honshu? The weak do not expand," Ikazuki stated.
Silence reigned for a moment before Jirobo spoke up.
"It keeps coming back to strength, doesn't it, Ikazkui? You, like your tribe, dislike the thought of the easy victory we have prepared on Kyushu. I imagine facing the full might of Nihon on the battlefield without even subversion behind their lines appeals to you?" the winged Khan pressed.
Ikazuki hesitated, but looking to Hiruzen, realized lying would not work.
"The Buke can only attain glory against the worthy. There is no honor in seeking battle with the weak. No pride in humbling those ready to fall to their knees. No achievement in dominating the meek. My samurai soul screams for a foe worthy of defeating on my Queen's behalf," Ikazuki admitted.
He could only watch the tide turn among them. For a moment they had seen the merit, a truth in his words. Now they had leave to turn their eyes away from it again.
"A major action against Honshu would stir the court to action. That would set back our conquest by years, maybe a decade. Our goal is not glory, Ikazuki – it is victory so absolute as to secure our rule over these lands indefinitely against any human force, or Shendu.
"If there are no further matters, you are all dismissed to your duties," Hiruzen announced. Rapping his knuckles three times against the table, the other Shadowkhan rose as one to bow to him before departing.
He was left alone with his jonin, whose attention he felt on him.
"Yes, Jonin Toda?" Hiruzen asked.
"We must watch Jirobo and Ikazuki; their ambitions may start getting the better of them," he pointed out.
"Don't be foolish, Kuro is the dangerous one," the Yojimbo told him, pouring a cup of tea.
The Next Day:
Jade walked into her room in a foul mood. Taking the time to deposit her crown in the proper place in the cabinet, she loosened her belt and threw herself onto the bed, sinking into it a bit. It was as comfortable as ever, not that the reluctant monarch noticed. She had just come from her one appointment of the morning, a meeting with the Mantis General. As usual, he was creepy in his flowery flattery and adoration. Being worshiped was definitely not as cool as advertised.
He had assured her the weather would be perfect for the ceremony, and that his tribe's contribution was ready.
The ceremony where she was expected to create new Shadowkhan, and thus formally begin her reign as Queen. She was expected to take this whole source of life thing literally and give birth to monsters!
Pulling a silken cushion over her face, she screamed into it. Tossing the black cushion aside after a moment, she did not feel better. She could see no way out of this – there was no way she could pull this off, and once she failed it would likely be the torture chambers, which she was certain existed, where Hiruzen would diligently try and find out what the impostor had done with his Queen.
Jade couldn't escape, and there was no way of getting around the ceremony. It was not a question of being brave and clever; that she still had in abundance. But try as she might, she could see no way out of it, beyond the unthinkably stupid.
Jade shook off the gathering gloom, which she attributed to the rainy weather outside. It had been a bit amusing to see one of the samurai wield an umbrella to shield her from the rain as she made her way down to the fortress proper and back. But it also meant she couldn't do any thinking in the garden.
Sitting up and fixing her kimono with a practiced ease she no longer bothered to get embarrassed about, she decided to head down to the hobby room. If there was one thing that would clear her head, it was the martial arts. Despite this weak body, she wasn't about to let this messed up world take those from her on top of everything else.
Putting on her headdress, she checked herself in the mirror to make sure everything was in order and turned to leave. Jade paused with her hand on the door and frowned at what she just did. Getting used to this role was not something she intended on doing. All the more reason to keep doing what Jade would always do, better herself in spite of her keepers.
Jade took the stairs down; she preferred walking, only taking the elevator when an escort came for her. If the Shadowkhan found this unusual, they didn't say anything. Shadowkhan not saying anything… ah, for the days that went without saying, she thought with a smirk.
He destination was what she had dubbed the hobby room; it was time to practice anew. Heading over to one of the many cabinets, she opened it to pull out a dark gray yukata with a creeping white floral pattern. She changed with practiced ease, placing her kimono neatly folded onto a chair with her headpiece and jewelry placed on top.
Since her first attempt, it had been a very awkward feeling to practice in her underwear, so she had smuggled down the closest she could get to training clothes. Using a scrap of red silk from a garment packet, she tied her hair back into a ponytail that hung down to her knees and kicked off her slippers.
She had further cleared the area for her use; going in her usual impulse, she had worked the Bo into her routine and it had become her norm. It made sense, since she could never match someone fairly due to her size, to use a weapon to create more power and reach. Naturally, even this room of a thousand and one entertainments for shut-ins hadn't had a weapon. But some time spent woodcarving, an activity the room was equipped for, had given her what she needed.
Thumping the Bo against the boards in the center of her improvised training area, Jade's grin faltered. For all her efforts, her progress was practically nonexistent. She had progressed some the first week of training she was certain, but since then her limit hadn't budged a millimeter. Pressing her stomach through the yukata with her free hand, Jade reminded herself that it was not her body. This weak but beautiful body belonged to the Queen she had somehow possessed.
'Wait, beautiful? Argh, stupid mental contamination!' Jade raged internally at the phenomenon she had filed all her strange behavior under. Taking a deep breath, Jade decided the best cure was sweating the stuff out. No sense delaying when she had to be done and presentable for Hiruzen to join her for lunch as he had said he would.
888
Hiruzen had been surprised when he arrived at the Queen's tower only to be told by the shinobi in charge of the tower the Queen was not in her room waiting to be served. In her younger years just after the Queen Mother's death, she had been known to lose herself in scrolls and forget the time and her hunger. But that had passed some time ago.
The shinobi were relieved he would look into it personally; they were naturally hesitant to intrude on the sacred sovereign's privacy. As Yojimbo, he had far more liberty with which to carry out his duties.
He first checked the library, naturally, but he could tell she hadn't visited the room yet this day. That was good – it fit with her apparent growth that she was pursuing more varied interests. With that in mind, he next entered the chamber of creation.
The Eldest of the Shinobi would have announced himself upon the lightning fast realization he was no longer alone, but he didn't because the sounds he heard made no sense in the context. Oh, he knew them well enough, he had first heard such in his training under the Tengu and since in the training yards and dojos his tribe had made use of through his time. It was someone training in the arts of combat, with a Bo staff if he was not mistaken.
A few steps caused something all Shadowkhan and most who knew of them and their ways would deem impossible. The dreaded Hiruzen, eldest and by many reckonings mightiest ever Shinobi of the Shadowkhan and any domain, was struck still by shock, with eyes wide and mouth hanging open at the sight before him.
The Queen, his Queen, the Sacred Queen of Shadows, was doing what he recognized, despite the shock, as a novice kata with a Bo. She was undressed, wearing only a loose and rather plain (by royal standards) yukata, her feet were bare, and her hair was swinging around like a whip, clumped such by the sweat visibly running down all he could see of her flesh.
She missed a step and stumbled forward, flailing one arm to regain balance. Instinctive duty cut through shock and he sprang forward to protect his Queen from injury, only to land just barely registering in her peripheral as she regained her footing and reacted on her own instinct to the sudden intrusion. Namely, trying to break the Bo over Hiruzen's head.
As the roughly crafted Bo descended out of pure instinct, the same occurred in Hiruzen. Instinct rose to the occasion, as his trained senses screamed at him to deflect and counter the attack. However, he knew just as well the attack was unintentional, and that it was his Queen that was holding the weapon. Sheer will restrained instinct in the swift moment, enough that the nunchuks that materialized from darkness in his hands only rose to execute a brutal and efficient block, his own strength easily overwhelming and pushing the weaker attack to the side, and stayed his hand in following up.
However, as instinct faded in that second, he heard the yelp of pain as the Bo clattered to the ground and realized that even with restraint, he had exerted too much power. The sight that greeted him was the young Queen with a look of pain on her features, holding her limp wrist.
"You hurt me!" Jade cried, holding her throbbing wrist. She was shocked and ashamed – shocked at the interruption and ashamed of the tears forming in her eyes. This body, it was so weak! It was like she had never been hurt before, a possibility that did not occur to her in the midst of the pain.
Hiruzen kneeled before her and reached for the injured appendage. Jade took a step back, hissing at him through clenched pointy teeth.
"I need to see if it's broken," the Yojimbo told her with a calm but very commanding tone. The small rational part of Jade's mind came to the fore, along with another that said she could trust him in spite of the injury, and she gingerly held out the wrist and the hand attached to it.
He touched it very lightly, probing the damage, still it throbbed and she cried, but it was finished soon with him nodding and standing.
"It is only sprained, that is fortunate," Hiruzen sighed with relief, the most emotion she had ever heard from the stoic shinobi.
"You hurt me," Jade reiterated, trying to calm herself down.
"Forgive me my Queen, I reacted to your unintentional attack on instinct. I managed to hold back, but the difference between us was still too great to avoid unpleasantness," He did not understand the true reason she looked so distressed at those words, that even surprised and holding back he was so much stronger as to injure her so much just by deflecting a blow. It confirmed that her life was utterly in this Shadowkhan's hands.
"Why were you doing this? Don't you know it is futile for a Queen to walk this path? We exist to fight in your stead," Hiruzen inquired, picking up the crude Bo. The Queen frowned and generally looked sullen as she lifted her eyes to him.
"Well, it's my wish as Queen to learn," Jade spat. At this point she didn't even care much about potential discovery; she was angry and in pain.
"I suppose the Queen Mother did not have time to have this conversation," Hiruzen sighed, shouldering the staff. At the word "mother", Jade's eyes shot up, and narrowed; she did not like the idea of someone other than her mother being viewed as her mother. The woman was far from perfect, but Jade had still been willing to face the dragon to keep her safe.
"Yojimbo, this is my will as Queen, I am displeased at your intractability," the Queen demanded with irritation. Those words struck Hiruzen stiff again, and sent him back to another argument, with another Queen.
'No, never again,' Hiruzen growled in his head. With a flick of his wrist, he struck the butt of the staff against the floor with the angle and force for it to snap in half at his grip.
"Hey!" the Queen flinched at the noise.
"Protect and obey, those are the sacred duties of not only the Yojimbo, but all men of the Race toward the Queens. Protection comes before obedience – if I must protect you from your own folly, I shall.
"You will only damage your body for nothing with this so-called training. Just as your mother died for nothing despite her noble intentions.
"I told you back then, harsh truths are the foundation of the world. No more than I could bring her back, can I let you harm yourself and the Race with such pointlessness," the Yojimbo said, looming over her.
He was not under her control. Realizing that even this right hand servant had limits to his loyalty pulled the ground from beneath her. She had hoped something would come up, she realized. But now she saw that even if she did try some excuse to stop the ceremony, he would see through it and force her to go through with it.
And she had no power to oppose this, less than even when she was just another girl in Hong Kong.
With the pain still throbbing, the loss of any hope being strong, and now this, she didn't even try to stay on her feet, going back to her knees and looking at the floor.
"Get out," the order came as a whimper. She heard him turn away, dropping the other half of the staff as he went. When the door slid open he stopped; she actually prayed he would disobey.
"I am sorry, but I will not be pleased if we have to have this conversation again," he said, and then he was gone.
Shortly:
Jade did not remember much of walking back to her room. She remembered she had actually taken the elevator, not even bothering to change her clothes back to presentable attire. Her sweat drenched hair still smacking her back and bottom as she walked.
Slamming the door shut behind her, she had immediately smelled and seen the lunch laid out. Either stress hungered or desperate to distract her mind with anything, she disregarded all impulse of manners to tear into the food with her bare hands.
But it was a passing distraction, and the attempt to wipe her cheek clean with the yukata's sleeve snapped her back into something like a proper mind. It was wet and stank of her sweat; having it in her face made her gag.
The soiled garments were an unacceptable and revolting weight, and she peeled them off. All the way down, letting the air cool her skin as she sat kneeling in front of the table. With a final tug, she let her hair out of the ponytail, the clumps separating to settle across her back.
She wished there was a bathroom to wash off in. Something more than the water basin she knew rested behind the freestanding mirror. But the Shadowkhan clearly had no need.
After all, she had long since realized she hadn't required the use of toilet either way since arriving here.
"Hehhaha," Jade chuckled at the thought. Of all the revelations to suppress, it was so amazing that was the one she had worked so hard to keep from herself. No bathroom breaks. The strange realization that she could not quite recall the feelings of needing a toilet, and it was only a bit better when it came to the relieved sensation of having done her business.
Reaching behind herself with her left hand, she brushed the hair aside to touch the perfect little rump of the Queen.
"Does it even work like its supposed to?' she wondered in her head.
She let herself fall to her back, spreading her arms out, staring up at the ceiling.
"Worst, adventure, ever," she said to the ceiling. Let any eavesdroppers make what they would of that little tidbit.
She lay like that for how long she wasn't certain, resting naked on the mat and her own dirty hair. She must have drifted off, because she woke up stiff and sore on the floor. Sitting up, she cringed at her hair clinging to her back, and shifted a bit at the sensation.
At least the table was still messy; no ninjas had entered to see her state.
'At least I can do something about something,' Jade thought, glancing to the cabinet and mirrors. No one had entered to leave new clothes, so reluctantly, with an arm lowered, she gathered the favored comb, a bottle of scented oil, and the water dish.
She cleaned her face first with the blue cloth that came with the basin. After scrubbing her face clean, she spread some of the scented oil on her face, working it into her skin. The smell of spices eased her, not realizing until then that her own odor was still troubling her.
"Well, now what are you going to do?" she asked the scrawny Shadowkhan girl staring back at her, seated in the mirror with a bad hair day.
The nap, despite the stiffness, must have done her good. She turned her thoughts to a master at improvising on the fly in a crisis, Jackie Chan.
"Do not focus on what you don't have, instead find a solution with what you do have," his words carried loud and clear to her. Even if it was a trick of memory, Jade smiled at the voice. And lesson.
She had been asking him about how he acquired weapons or transport on the fly, such as his little windshield wiper routine against the lightsaber-swinging Enforcers. He had actually answered before realizing she might have been thinking of copying.
'What I don't have is the J-Team or any other allies. Even if they got dragged along, Jackie and Uncle might have been dumped in China, Viper and El Toro on other continents, and Tohru… hmm. Well, the point is, even if they are coming I need to prepare to do this on my own. At worst, I am on my own here for the long haul; at best, I need to be ready to pull my weight when things hit the fan.
'I also can't be whooping butt. Tragic, but I didn't need that to outsmart Tohru and shock Uncle during the shield incident. I am more than a team and some sweet moves.
'Oh, my pain tolerance looks to be shot, too. Well, at least I can probably execute anyone who laughs at me for crying. Still, best to avoid that.
'So what do I have? Still clever. And I still have power over these bad guys so long as I behave like the Queen should.
'Hmm, the quirky miniboss squad seems to have quite a bit of rivalry. Could I play them against each other, and even Hiruzen? Risky stuff – I'll need to learn more about them and what exactly this Shadowkhan Empire really is.
'I don't like being so cautious, but this is high difficulty with only one life and no save point.
'…And the jerk said Queens do magic, are good with it even! There must be useful spell books down there. And even if they don't say how to throw fireballs, I might be able to experiment with magic with no one batting an eye.'
Jade's thoughts trailed off before settling into a simple satisfaction. She might admit these were all longshots, but she needed some plan. The alternative was gong back into that dark place she had just been, a place she couldn't count on anyone else to pull her out of.
Using the wet comb to tend to her hair, she felt like hitting herself. Wasn't there still the nightgown in its usual place?
Frigging depression, making her act like an idiot. She made a mental note that when dinner came to request a bath tomorrow. She needed to be fresh – if she couldn't avoid this ceremony, she would need to pull it off so awesomely these freaks would be putty in her hands.
Tobe Castle, Honshu
Two men walked down a hallway, passing armored samurai stationed at regular intervals, one wearing a fine hakama, the other in full samurai armor; both wore their swords at their belts. Each rigid warrior bore under their shoulder the same mon, three black curving claws within a white circle.
Stopping short of the door at the end of the hallway, the passage continuing to his left and right, the leader let the armored figure pass him.
Lord Rokutaro stood straight as his grey-haired General slid open the shogi door into the chamber. Most would find it an impressive sight; Murakami was the picture of the veteran samurai General, formidable warrior and presentable aristocrat all at once.
Not that such theatrics would have much affect on his guests. Looking to the wall both ways, he confirmed the sutra still hung in their rows, ensuring the privacy of the meeting from mystic eyes even as the fortress secured it from mortal ones.
"Lord Rokutaro, Master of Tobe Castle, its town and lands, Lord of the Shirogeta clan and all its vassals and holdings," Murakami announced. Stepping aside, the General left the doorway open.
Rokutaro stepped through and heard Murakami close the door behind him, closing the lines of sutras. Smiling as if he were welcoming new samurai into his service, an expression of wise benevolence and firm strength long perfected, he raised a hand in respectful greeting.
If the General with his broad frame and gray hair was aged strength, Rokutaro was a testament that time inevitably stole one's youthful power. Resting some of his weight on a cane of Sakura wood, a thin beard adoring his jaw line and a mustache did nothing to conceal the spots and sagging flesh of advanced age.
Aside from the mon, only that they both wore the swords and topknots made him resemble his formidable vassal at all. The eyes were different – his were far sharper, and took in the scene with patient satisfaction.
"Welcome, my dear comrades, to Tobe," He took his seat at the head of the table and poured a cup for himself and Murakami as the General took his own seat. Easing his right arm onto the ornamental freestanding armrest to signify his status, he raised the cup to his guests. They raised their saucers and drank with him.
As they returned the saucers to the table, he stroked his beard, taking a moment to just look at them. He had met them all many times, but this was the first time all of them had gathered. The sheer thrill of achievement… it reminded him of the passionate thrills of his youth time had stolen from him.
And he had yet to even use this power for its intended purpose. Still, best not to keep such personages waiting.
"My six comrades, today is a momentous occasion, the first time the Inner Circle has ever assembled in its entirety. And here of all places, the military frontier with our sworn enemy.
"Until this moment, only General Murakami and I have known the identities of all of you. But the time of mystery as a shield comes to a close – it must instead become the blade-concealing veil, and our hands must not be jarred by ignorance.
"I have spent years seeking you out, gathering you for the cause from across our shadow-plagued land. For each of you possess not only great power, but also the will to act with it.
"One of the great islands is lost and another slipping. Yet the Mikado remains a mere figurehead, his divine authority strangled by ceremony and tradition. The true powers, the great clans, having failed in the first days of the war turn inward.
"To 'those who dwell above the clouds' the capital is the world, Nihon itself little more than a tale to explain where their wealth comes from and a shogi board in their feuds with one another. The land is sick, and the head most of all.
"By the time the court acknowledges the danger to Nihon, all of Nihon, it will be far too late. The Shadowkhan will have eclipsed the Rising Sun.
"So it falls to us, the secret army, the Shogunate in the Shadows, to deliver our people from the siege of darkness. And each of you has a role to play, whether you know it now or have yet to realize its nature.
"I will start with our lady, as her presence no doubt puzzles you," Rouktaro told them. He held out his hand toward the only woman seated at the table. Rather than fine garments such as a noble's kimono, she wore revealing clothes, and a naginata lay at her side, propped against the table.
"Perhaps you have heard of a lady samurai wandering my lands? Yasashi Ken, last of the Demon Slayers of Shikoku, is far more than just a samurai. She is the sole heir to the noble trade of her forbearers."
"This well dressed man is none other than the Deadly Merchant, Rosuto Kahei. His influence among the merchants, gamblers, and other commercial classes make his skills at archery seem a mere triviality."
He turned his attention to the smiling giant.
"The siegemaster, Gurando Botsuraku. In the wars across our land, no castle under his protection has ever fallen. And each stone bead he wears was taken from a stone in the smoking ruins of each castle that has opposed him."
Next, he directed is attention to the man whose attire shamelessly seemed to proclaim his profession.
"The Devil of the Japanese Seas, Kyouaku. The only great human naval power to survive both the Shadowkhan and Shendu's attempts to rule the waves in this region."
Next, he gestured to the deeply wrinkled elder studying a small scroll unrolled on the table.
"And this distinguished scholar is none other than the man known only as Himitsu the Knowledge Thief. While far from the most powerful wielder of magic in our land, I assure you no mortal in the known world knows and understands more about magic than this man. And in the arts of stealth and infiltration, his skill was sufficient to escape the wrath of Shendu himself," the old lord announced. Himitsu looked up from his scroll, frowning.
"My time is precious and irreplaceable, Lord Rokutaro, and I already figured out who most of these people are. Either divulge something meaningful, or excuse me to properly resume my research," the wizard. Rokutaro merely smiled at the wizard and drew their attention the sole remaining man at the table.
"And finally, the Peaceful Musician, Nonki Kaichou. Who requires no introduction," Rokutaro concluded. With the exception of the pirate, all eyes turned to the smiling man humming to himself as he refilled his sake saucer.
"What? No impressive boast for me, Rokutaro-san?" Nonki complained idly. Murakami growled.
"How dare you address Lord Rokutaro so-" the General was stopped from getting to his feet by his lord's extended hand. Ignoring the samurai, the nobleman kept his attention on the musician.
"As I said, your reputation precedes you.
"You are an assemblage that would offend the so-called rulers of this land. Coming from across the lines of class and even gender. Your methods abhorrent to the traditions many prize over reason. And yet it is you who have, if for varied reasons, answered the call in this time of dire need.
"The stars speak clearly – the Shadowkhan will soon march. War will be upon us, and the coming campaigns will either see the tide turned back, or ensure our land's eventual enslavement."
"Mu, Rokutaro-san, I too have heard signs, that speak of a great change.
"But nature does not stir itself for such petty changes as the wars that rise and fall before it blinks its eyes, in kingdoms that fall before it can learn their names. The change they speak of, is significant to the world," Nonki hummed, observing the surface tension on his sake.
"I am sure it does," Rokutaro nodded, even while some around the table looked amused at the heretic's musings, "And what change does it speak of if not the coming war?"
"Muuu, can't really say – you can talk to the trees and they sometimes answer, but I can't speak of the rest of the time. And even then, their accents are so thick; I wonder where they keep their tongues?
"But one thing is clear as dawn on a cloudless day, Rokutaro-san. This change is not on the horizon; it has already begun.
"Excellent sake, where can I get some more, if you please?" the peaceful musician asked, oblivious to the surprised looks from most of the others at the table.
Majo: Japanese witch.
AN:
Yes, Jade will not be that kind of action girl in this story. Nocturne, as we were working on the crossovers and QoaO, wanted to really explore different possibilities with this story from the others.
Jade will be kicking butt in this story, but her fist and feet will be the least of the instruments she will be doing it with. After all, her getting the better of Tohru at the beginning despite the Chans losing the fight had nothing to do with her being stronger than average, and everything to do with being clever and quick witted.
I admit seeing her go through the emotion wringer like this is a bit distressing, but Jade being who she is she needs to hit the walls hard before realizing she needs to go around or over rather than through. This won't be the last time her situation leaves her in distress, but from rock bottom, so to speak, she is already rising.
And after all these years, the Shogunate in the Shadows finally gets its name and big intro scene open to the public. Writing that was so satisfying! Nocturne and I came up with these characters before Queen of All Oni debuted!
And now that all the pieces for this first arc have been named (well, most of them anyway) they can begin to move.