Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie Chan Adventures.
Betaed by: The awesome Zim'smostloyalservant.
Queen of Shadows
A Jackie Chan Adventures Fanfiction
Written by Eduard Kassel
Created by Nocturne no Kitsune
Betaed by Zim'smostloyalservant
Adopted to Finish what a Friend Began
Summary: Even as Jade is forced to relax with her new slave, events proceed apace. Jade dispatches the dreaded Tsume and a force of his man eaters into what she hopes will be a trap.
But meanwhile, the Shogunate in the Shadows prepare to make their first move, deploying their ultimate weapon in the care of several elites.
And young Hishu, inspired by Tsume, performs his first ceremony, bringing forth a swarm of new Shadowkhan.
What will happen as plots collide and players continue to develop?!
The First to Fall
Jade was still not quite comfortable with Koeri joining her here by the pond. But Jade Chan was no frightened recluse, that was Queenie. So she had accepted the suggestion that her tsuchibue playing here today be accompanied by the kitsune playing with her stringed instrument.
Well, the Queen's stringed instrument. Apparently Koeri had not even the clothes she had first worn into the Fortress. It seemed that as part and parcel of this whole "slave maiden" deal the Shadowkhan had with the kutsune, you were stripped naked and your clothes burned before you. Symbolic of severed ties and newly forged ones. As if they didn't have enough gestures and symbols to have beaten that idea into a fine powder. This was only fox people, not like it was that snake Shendu.
And while the kitsune could not sing, her music went wonderfully with Jade's own. Jade led, and she followed.
Jade was surprised when a shinobi brought tea, not realizing it was tea time already. That had gone quite quick.
Jade sat on the bench as she had played, while the blue fox woman sat primly on the ground. Jade's portion was considerably larger, of course. But the taste of tea and the food did not stop her thoughts from drifting.
"You seem troubled, Your Majesty," Koeri commented.
"I have given orders that will lead to death," Jade responded.
"This troubles you."
"I want it to. It does, but not enough. How can I feel as sad as I should, when I am surrounded by luxury and security?"
"That you feel any guilt for death while so removed from it speaks highly of your compassion. You who have never seen battle."
Jade smiled at that as she sipped her tea. Never seen battle? She had seen plenty, enough to probably make a shrink either weep or laugh in joy at the thought of analyzing her.
Coast of Shikoku, Meanwhile
Tsume stood on the beach, the surf coming up short of his carapaced feet. He turned to look over the ranks of Gani warriors assembled. No banners, no mounts, no weapons to be shaken or held at the ready. Only the Gani, and their hunger.
He raised his great claw, and turned to advance into the waves. The ranks of Shadowkhan followed him, marching forward, heedless of the waves. Soon the force was hidden from sight, only their tracks in the sands, being washed from sight by the waves, evidence of their presence moments ago.
X X X
Koeri had, of course, been told the Queen was fond of reading in her library. That was another avenue of approach to drawing the royal child into conversation. Or it would be, if the girl was willing to talk about what she read. The Shadowkhan were no help either, as they respected their Queen not sharing information. Koeri had scratched her left ear in so much frustration it might actually chafe!
Currently, she was watching the girl write on a leaf of paper across the table from her. As the girl would not bond over words read, she might over words written. Poetry seemed one of the many things that did not appeal to her. But as usual, she could be manipulated fairly easily by a challenge of not being capable. And a threat by Koeri to suicide to restore honor.
Would the girl ever realize she was joking?
And there had been some progress, Koeri admitted, sipping her tea and glancing to the book in the corner that screamed "very important". The Queen actually liked the poem she had written on the spot. Just a trifling thing on leaves coming to rest among roots of a tree distant from the one they fell from. Still, the girl was once again showing herself not devoid of taste.
"Done! I call it "Strike"," the Queen said, scattering the powder over the fresh ink and carefully pushing the paper to Koeri.
"Very good, Your Majesty," Koeri smiled, turning the paper to read the poem. Her eyes cracked open as she read the elegant script that spoke of the Queen's refined hand. And her eyes kept widening at the content.
"Well?" the Queen asked. Koeri blinked.
"One does not often describe a man trying to cut open a little girl to steal a gold coin, in poetry," Koeri managed. Blood should not sound elegant, and it did not here. How could she follow every rule and still make this atrocity? Did she know how to do this already and was mocking her?
"You don't like it?" the Queen asked.
"No, it is a good poem. But perhaps a subject involving less cutting of abdomens?"
That afternoon, she discovered that the Queen could write poetry on many subjects. All violent and all seemingly obliviously morbid. But still, following the structure. It would be impressive if it wasn't more than a little horrifying coming from the sheltered child.
X X X
Jade sat at her favorite library table, looking over the ledgers before her, three of them. Raising a hand so it slid out of the sleeve of her dark blue kimono, she opened the one to her right. It was full of lists and descriptions, and the next page held charts.
"You want me to do my taxes?" Jade asked Koeri. The kitsune sat across from her, and now took the left ledger to pen and examine.
Jade had wondered why Koeri had asked for financial reports. Jade had had to schedule a meeting with Maito, the head Sumo in residence with Ozeki and so many of the big shots in the new territory or provinces. Sure, she could have just demanded it be brought, but Hiruzen had explained it was more polite to be official and offer her seal and stuff. The Sumo hated the thought of the paperwork getting misplaced.
Still, maybe she wouldn't have bothered had she known this was the "great idea" Koeri had.
"It is, in many races and clans, traditional for women to oversee or at least assist in finances. While a man works with his hands, a woman with her mind contributes in the home or hall by taking on this burden."
'Well, unlike dad or Jackie, at least when I talk about taxes it's people giving me money instead,' Jade thought. Of course, it seemed cash was only a small part of it. It looked more like the Empire ran off slave labor-produced raw materials, Shadowkhan industry like shipbuilding, and skilled goods as tribute from nonhuman vassals. There was money, of course, but it seemed the Empire acquired that from elsewhere. Kuro's raiding, perhaps? Hmm.
Still, she could learn economics without auditing.
"I have men for this," Jade said, closing her ledger.
"You should not be so dependent. Trust but check is an old kitsune proverb," Koeri admonished, wagging a finger.
'Pretty sure a lot of people claim that proverb,' Jade thought.
"Well, embezzlement I am not worried about. I mean, these guys arm wrestle each other to get posts in the Ministry of Finances. Apparently for the brush pushers, it's second only to the Main Office of the Ozeki in distinction," Jade said, waving her hand.
"You should not exaggerate so much," Koeri scolded.
"I am not exaggerating. I asked Maito about it when he mentioned how proud they are to gain a post and retain it there. In addition to the written exam and interviews, the Sumo have very strict tests you must perform before the ministry elders to prove your worthiness — arm wrestling amongst applicants. How well you can drink down a their-size bow of wasabi paste. Tea preparation and presentation for superiors. And some other things, though he said they were boring. I think a lot of it is just the old sumo getting a good laugh out of the younger generation, but still, that makes it no less earned.
"So no. While this has raised some interesting questions, it would be rude to declare I don't trust them after all they go through to gain this office," Jade said.
She clapped her hands, summoning a Shinobi Khan into sight. This was going back to the sumo, and she had just managed to defeat doing math with a rational argument.
Ha! Jade one, math less than zero. Take that.
X X X
Koeri waited at a cleared table in the Room of Creation, strumming scales on her heike biwa. Out of sight, the Queen was preparing a pot of tea. For all her fondness, the Queen was not in the habit of preparing tea herself.
Given the nonexistent gossip the Queen had access to, this was near her last resort of providing tutor in the feminine for the Queen. She counted herself fortunate that the Queen had not invoked her servants' honor to escape this task. But after demonstrating with her own pot, cooling to the side of this table, the Queen had insisted on privacy in preparing her own. Koeri's ears twitched, listening to the girl working on the other side of the tower level room.
Well, nothing had broken, exploded, or burst into flame. That was good. But given the girl's idea of poetry, Koeri insisted on tasting the tea first. She would not put it past the brilliant little fool to make poison tea.
Oh, and here she came now.
To her surprise, the Queen set out the teapot and cup perfectly, and poured with a style she would have sworn was practiced. Still, she reserved judgement until taking a sip. Koeri let one of her eyes open fully.
"Your Majesty, I am impressed. In particular, the temperature of this tea is perfect. It is neither too hot nor too cold," Koeri said.
The Queen did not respond for a moment, then smiled and almost dipped a bow to her before catching herself. Good, propriety was important.
"Thank you, Koeri," the Queen said. The kitsune accepted the thanks and poured the Queen a cup of her own tea.
X X X
Hair-brushing, yet another avenue for feminine bonding. Hopefully one with results more like the little Queen's tea making skills, and not her poetry.
Sitting in the girl's room, barefoot and partially undressed — as the girl seemed to leave most propriety at her chamber door — Koeri brushed the Queen's hair. Not that it needed it much! It was as magnificent down as it was properly dressed. Well cared for, as well. The Queen even had a favorite brush she had claimed and still held to ensure Koeri did not use it.
Held, not clutched, Koeri saw, peeking over the tip of the girl's head. She was relaxing. Very good.
Time to move onto the next step.
"There, magnificent. Now you can tend to my own hair," Koeri said. The way the girl startled a bit indicated she had actually drifted off. Yes, this was going well.
X X X
This was going terribly. Koeri winced and forced her teeth to sharpen as fur rippled over her cheeks.
"Eugh!" The Queen said, tugging on the brush, then mercifully letting it go. Koeri kept her jaw locked as she muttered something, leaving the brush stuck in her poor hair.
How had this gone so wrong?!
"Okay. this time I think I know how to clear this knot," the Queen said. She planted a small foot on Koeri's back and grabbed the brush again.
"GAAHH!" Koeri cried out.
Shortly After:
Jade pressed her lips into a tight line as the brush ran through Koeri's blue fur/hair. And yet again, no tug, no snags. Loosening her lips, Jade actually ran a hand through the tamed mane. It felt nice, like dog fur, only very long.
"I did it," she proclaimed.
"Yes, you certainly did. Well done, Your Strong Majesty," Koeri said. Jade tilted her head as the kitsune turned into a fox form, blue and collared. Jade was very tempted to pet the squinting fox.
"I must now retire for the evening, Your Gracefulness. Good evening," Koeri said. Jade snapped her fingers as the fox left, a Khan opening the door for the currently armless fox.
Who missed the door, gently bonking her head into the wall and stopping.
"Uhhh," Jade said.
"Oh, silly me. Good night," Koeri said, making her way to the door and vanishing out of sight, her tails pumping up and down.
Awaji Island:
Tsume stood amidst the black pines, pondering the castle and the town. The harbor was surprisingly empty of any ships worthy of the name. He was given to understand Kuro's would-be rival often kept a few vessels here. Unfortunate that he would strike when warriors were away.
He walked the tree line, unworried about being spotted despite his bulk, as twilight crept over the hills and mountains.
Awajii, the first island, born of the errant drop of blood from the Spear of Izanagi All-Father. While not as holy to the Shadowkhan as Izumo, bringing the Island of White Beaches into the Empire would be a great achievement.
One time, he had sat next to a young Ozeki, deep in his sake, who had boasted that one day the Shadowkhan would be able to walk from Shikoku to Honshu, using the island as part of a bridge. Glorious, if they could do it. As for him, his business was wrecking and devouring. And it seemed fair game was before him — the town was old and had weathered storms and raiders alike. The walls were good, but hardly exceptional.
Personally, he hated the island for its people being so fond of onions, of all things. They never failed to ward their homes, it seemed, with the foul plant. Judging by a faint stinging in his eyes as the wind shifted, he guessed the wall were also well warded.
But it took more than that to stop determined Shadowkhan. His eyes shifted to the castle looming over the relatively sheltered bay. They could sack that, but it would perhaps take more than he wanted to spend on a terror raid.
Yes, this affirmed his plan.
Turning, he made his way back into the shadows of the pines. As the light faded, the feast would begin.
X X X
It was an old dream, not the confusion and fury mixed with sorrow of the fall. She dreamed of the days after, sneaking though the fallen lands, evading the shadows. Another day offered no solace. There was no recourse, no succor; it seemed as if even the kami of the land had prostrated themselves to the enemy or been struck down. She was alone, and came to see she had never before understood isolation.
The Straits of Naruto rekindled her numb heart.
Across the waters, was freedom. But the enemy knew it. The Gani had entrenched a mighty force, absent from the battle, that stood in wait. The shoreline of Awajii was lined with crucified corpses of those who had surely hoped to find escape from Shikoku as it fell. Only later would she wonder at the power that had kept the Gani from such a meal. Still more horror for a young mind to dwell upon.
She had turned her back on it, and though she would escape, the scene of crushed hopes in sight of freedom would not be something escaped.
Thus when she awakened as the alarm came, she wondered for a moment if she still dreamt.
The castle was not in chaos as she made her way outside to the walkways. There was tension and fear, but also order. The forces of the Shirogeta Clan lived with the knowledge that they would someday clash with the evil beyond the narrow waters. Even if many saw it as the end of the world, it was something they had long lived with.
Still, she saw an archer muttering prayers to some kami she didn't know, working a seashell though his hands. They were afraid. The archer noticed her and stiffened like so many men did when seen in a moment of weakness by a woman. He rushed off to some post or rally point, and Yasashi turned her attention to the courtyard.
The samurai had gathered. She did not see Murakami, it was Gurando rallying them. It did not matter. Lord Rokutaro was right — before the menace of dark forces, all humans must be allies, or they would fall as enemies.
The town outside the castle's walls was burning. That was the first thing that Yasashi saw as she ascended to the parapet of the castle's outer wall. All but the buildings at the nearest edge of the town had been consumed by the raging inferno, and even those were beginning to catch fire.
But Yasashi's gaze quickly turned to the more important image, that of the stream of villagers fleeing from the burning town towards the safety of the castle, running as fast as they could move their feet and carrying whatever they could rescue from the fire. Below where Yasashi stood, the gates were open, and a group of soldiers were ensuring an orderly entry into the castle's interior by the crowds of refugees. But the people were panicked and not cooperating, and Yasashi knew they would need to clear the gates whenever the cause of the town's razing revealed itself.
As if on cue, at that moment a bone-chilling chorus of screeching cries rose up from the burning ruins of the town. And moments later, like a black tide, a seemingly endless horde of Shadowkhan emerged from the smoke and flames. The light of the blaze glinted menacingly off of their black carapaces, claws snapping in threat and mandibles clacking in their obscene battle cry as they charged forward towards the castle.
Despite herself, Yasashi shuddered at the sight. While she held all the Shadowkhan as abominations against the natural world, the Gani were by far the worst. Escaped slaves spoke of the foul creatures hunting them like animals, tearing those they caught apart and devouring them. And now an army of them was descending on her like a plague of locusts.
As the soldiers around her began firing arrows down on the horde and the catapults positioned in the courtyard behind her began loosing their own missiles over the wall, Yasashi leapt back down to the ground, joining the other samurai as they charged forward, past the still lingering crowd of terrified commoners, charging through the gate to rush forward to meet the Gani head on.
X X X
Gurando looked over the assembled spearmen and samurai. Even among the young ones, there was no eagerness. These troops held no illusions of glory. They were going to face a nightmare, and they knew it.
That was useful.
He did not need to raise his voice, it carried in its booming glory. Size was one thing, but the art of presence, that he had to sharpen to perfection. And he had done so, as they turned their attention wholly to him.
"The Shadowkhan have come. The Devourers at that. These walls will not hold them. This castle will only slow them. A defense is doomed," he declared. Even the hardened samurai buckled at that. Even those ready to face death, knowing it would be for naught, and being eaten alive at that. He saw one spearman who looked too young to shave start to cry while still standing ready.
"Which is why we will not hold the walls. Prepare to sortie. We empty the castle to attack them with full force. They will not expect it, and it will not be the last surprise for them this night!
"Many of you will die! Horribly, in such ways no sane man would sing of or want to remember. But I promise you this. Tonight we, Nihon, are under siege from shadows. Ever humanity, under siege by Demon Sorcerers, will prove our hope did not vanish with the Immortals. Today we go forth and die for victory. Saddle the horses! Ready the spears! Steel your hearts and dedicate your souls!
"Banzai!" Gurando roared now, with the force of his massive lungs. The men bellowed the word back at him. Grinning, Gurando knew when this night was over, they would never be Murakami's again. They belonged to him now. But first, the Gani needed to be dealt with. He turned to face the gate, now closed, wondering if that woman was still alive out there with the old warrior.
X X X
Tsume pulled the human remains from the building and began to devour the seared meat. All seemed to be going well. They had devoured all who had failed to retreat behind the line of warriors, and the fires were serving well to lend variety to the feast. Sadly, he had just missed out on a pair of infants. These humans knew them well. That mother had ended the little lives before defying him with a mere sharp piece of wood.
She had been tasty with defiance.
Finishing the human, he brushed his claws on one another and turned considering eyes to the castle. He had let his troops enjoy themselves. It was time to get serious.
A thought affirmed when one of his senior officers ran through a burning hut to kneel before him. A fine specimen, he even ignored his burning uniform perfectly.
"Speak," Tsume commanded.
"We have found her, General," the soldier reported. Tsume grinned; it seemed his own feast would be quite memorable.
"The wizard?" he asked, starting to follow the other Gani at a sedate pace back through the blaze.
"There is human magic in the air, but we have not seen him."
"Hmm, no matter, it is quite fortunate to get the one. A mere human woman raising her hand to royalty is unpardonable. I will deal with this blasphemer myself."
X X X
There was no relief as the gates opened once more and samurai poured out. The line had all but collapsed; she had wondered if Gurando intended to abandon her. The only assurance had been Murakami joining that last sally. She was certain Lord Rokutaro would not tolerate his personal vassal dying under Gurando's watch. But as it was, she had abandoned the line to take pressure off it.
It was a poor match. Houka gave her a much-needed reach, but the Gani, even as she hacked limbs off, pressed on. Shadowkhan were tough as a rule, but save for their best, they still suffered limitations of pain and fear. Higher than a human's, but existent. The Gani though, were not only durable and strong, but they were implacable in this state of a feeding frenzy.
She took off the top of one's head with a strike, and it finally fell dead. She had already taken both its claws, so it had rushed forward, head first, mandibles clicking. The gap closed, but not quick enough to contain a Demon Queller.
And she was in the open?
She scanned the area, ready for the attack. But there wasn't one? She had seemingly emerged through the Shadowkjan ranks pressing against the castle. She heard the human war cries and Gurando's laughter. She wanted to turn and see what was going on. Was Murakami still alive? The General had seemed to foolishly follow her into the fray. She had no time to keep track of him.
But why was this area open? She saw more Gani lying in wait amongst the collapsing buildings. No, they were doing that! The Gani were tearing the town down as it burned.
Why? The fire would threaten the castle more with high rearing flames, wouldn't it?
Then she heard it. Rhythmic clicking and clacking. Somehow louder and clearer then the others.
He emerged from the shadows, a demon spat out by Yomi, his not-mouth a writhing glimpse into the torments of the polluted lands.
"You, you are mine," Tsume the Famine declared. He advanced slowly, without fanfare or drawing of any weapon. Taking him in, it struck her as off how comparatively normal his body was compared to his face. It made him that much more off-putting.
"You dared to threaten the Queen of Shadows, to inspire FEAR in her. I am the Fear of the Shadowkhan. The terror we inspire in those who are not us. In those who are us but fail to be truly of us. You shall know the fear only suffering can bring. I will eat you alive. But not all of you. I will take limbs and present your life as a present for the Queen. As in days past, the Gani shall ease fear and pain, by bestowing it as the royalty witnesses it upon the guilty," he proclaimed. Then, without further words, he charged her, a massive elbow bearing down on her.
She was not there when it landed, breaking the ground with its force. She resisted the urge to strike for the vulnerable joint; instinct said to keep moving. It was proven correct when he brought the claw up in a swing toward her. Typical of a General, he had the strengths of his tribe only even more so. He was faster.
She dodged his next charge and sent him crashing into a burning ruin. He rushed back out, the flames hardly phasing him. He anticipated she would dodge to the left this time. As she hoped, his attempts at strategy and assumptions were predictable.
Houka cut into the joint of his elbow as she passed his right… Only to hardly bite at at all. Yasashi cursed. Tsume chuckled as he turned to regard her, flexing the arm she had attacked.
"I am Tsume — even the weakness of my carapace is strong. Dance around all you like, but a hornet will never defeat a-" he said. Cutting off mid-sentence, he rushed her again, claws clacking and mandibles screeching against one another.
This time, she went forward, toward the pinching claws. And slid under them, raking Houka's blade between his legs where his leggings had burned away. There was no castrating satisfaction to be seen, but there was blood dripping from Houka, which began to glow with power and anticipation.
"…" He turned to face her, only for Murakami to rush toward him with a battle cry.
"Fool!" Yasashi yelled as the samurai, already battle worn, rushed toward his doom. He swung down with his blade, clearly intending to cut through the cap along the shoulder.
She didn't think the blade even penetrated, but Tsume lifted his arm, and trapped the blade. When he swung to block Yasashi's own strike for his neck, he ripped the sword out of the samurai's hands. The General called out in rage at being disarmed.
Yasashi hardly cared. She brought a flurry of blows down on the Gani General, and sure enough she was chipping away at the armor on his claws and forearms as she forced him back. But there was no more blood.
How thick was it?
Then he stopped, and threw himself forward. She blocked it, not that it did much good, as the impact sent her falling backward, carving a tract through the sandy soil on impact.
Murakami stepped between her and the advancing demon. He only had his short sword; she wondered if he had failed to retrieve his katana or if Tsume had ruined the blade in his lack of effort.
As she got to her feet, the old man was knocked aside. He had scored one pointless blow on a parrying claw before being sent flying, with his sword this time.
If Tsume had any more speeches, they were forestalled by a bolt of green light hitting him. It may hay have stunned him, or it may just have surprised him.
Himitsu had arrived, green mist swirling about him as he walked through the carnage. Two Gani charged him from his flanks. Pivoting on a heel, he blasted both. Green fire burst from their eyes and they fell still to the ground.
"Both of you!? Ha, seems the gods favor me. But wizards are too tricky for prisoners. I will just eat your dry old bones!" Tsume declared, charging at the wizard.
Himitsu spoke a spell, and the mist coalesced into a shield before him. It cracked audibly under the impact, buckling before her eyes. She charged the General's back as he strained against it. Houka stabbed into the gap between his shoulders, drawing blood and flaring anew.
She ducked the blow when he whirled on her, but his kick, while not nearly his full power, caught her and sent her back. Before he could follow up, the shield behind him unraveled into something like ropes and seized his arms, pulling them back. Tsume gave a shrill cry, and he struggled against them.
Then Gurando came screaming out of somewhere, his great mace held ready. Despite the restraints, Tsume blocked the blow meant for his head, taking it on his left claw, which cracked loudly, eliciting a hiss. The bonds broke, and the injured claw seized the club's follow up blow. He stood near level with Gurando and, Yasashi realized with horror, lunging face to face, what it would mean with that nightmare mouth.
Then Gurando head-butted the Khan in the mouth, his helmet glowing blessed green. This time, Tsume screamed, as several things crackled and popped. The Khan leapt backward, and the ground below him as he touched down exploded, sending fiery cherry blossoms into the air.
"Egggggg! Enough! Gani, to me!" he called, pulling his cracked carapace back upright.
No one answered. Yasashi grinned, taking a place besides Gurando. Murakami and the other soldiers stood battered but ready. Not a crab in sight in the ruined town. Tsume's confusion was precious. The wizard had done his work well, it would seem.
So Himitsu blasted him again, before vanishing into the smoke as the Shadowkhan rounded on him.
Tsume caught the blow from Gurando's kanabo on his good claw, which now cracked as Gurando laughed, moving with surprising agility for his size. The towering human did not fully evade the blow, but his extravagant steel armor buckled without breaking, and he remained standing. And Yasashi brought Houka down on the joint of the extended claw. Alight with white light and a battle cry, it seared through the crab meat.
General Tsume stumbled back, sour smelling blood spurting from the stump as the severed claw snapped and clacked on the ground.
The samurai and spearmen rushed forward with a cry of fury and victory, to Yasashi's horror. Tsume plunged into the mass, away from her and Gurando. His remaining claw cut a swath, and as she rushed after, she watched him twist about, devouring a man's head before her eyes. He threw the corpse at her. She reflexively deflected it, no time to worry about desecration; if he escaped, it was all for nothing.
Another barrier came up in front of the Khan. Himitsu's work, and it left two unfortunate samurai between the Gani and the barrier. She ground her teeth as they died so quickly, backs to their allies' walls.
The barrier didn't last, but Gurando caught up with her. She used his weakened guard, gouging out Tsume's left eye before his skull stopped Houka. Even as white fire burned in the socket, he lashed out, screaming as only a youkai could.
The soldiers held back, Murakami at some point appearing and having archers pick their targets. One found the other eye.
The remaining claw at last burst at the cracks under Gurando's assault on it with his great iron club. Not a clean break, but foul meat leaked from the black limb as it dangled, useless.
Still there was no give or fear in the General of the Devourers. He lunged, face first, mouth still ravenously seeking his foes' flesh. Until still more ropes of chi bound him, as Himitsu emerged from hiding. Holding him, so she and Gurando, in near perfect time, disabled both his legs with their weapons.
When he fell backward to the ground, the spearmen advanced rapidly under their General's loud orders. It was not frantic; it was measured fury as their reach let the spear tips bite into the gaps of the weakened torso, pinning him down from further struggles.
Yasashi shared smiles with a few of the spearmen, nodding as one twisted his steel in the flesh.
Then, the monster laughed.
As he cackled to the sky, Himitsu approached her. He looked far too pristine compared to everyone else, Yasashi thought. Even regarding the maimed monster with little more than academic interest. But any resentment for the Knowledge Thief was forgotten as he placed his wand between his teeth and reached into both of his sleeves. With a flourish, he pulled the white mask from one of them.
She took the offering, her hands surely only resembling wth fatigue. She looked to see Gurando had further pinned the mirthfully writhing monster, with his mace pressed into its chest.
"Fools! You think you have won?! This war was lost the moment it was decided we would fight it! This battle? Only a drawn-out suicide! When they learn what you have done, the entirety of the Gani's strength will descend upon this island! My carelessness brings shame my successor will have to wipe away with a grand banquet.
"There will be no slaves! You! Every human crawling on this island, will be devoured alive! You will die to be eaten, to suffer as much as we can make to avenge this disgrace! You humans! You're livestock! Our livestock, to labor or be slaughtered or just be slain as is the right of anyone wth their property!
"Do not bother relishing this night, YOU HAVE ALREADY LOST! FOOLISH HOPE, YOUR FATE WAS SEALED LONG AGO!"
He degenerated into more cackling as Yasashi approached, the idling samurai parting for her. Murakami stood back, watching, looking older than ever, even his top knot undone at some point, leaving his grey hair wild.
Looking down on the face that was a nightmare even before being burned and bloodied, she thought on words to say. Against that poison still hanging in the air. There were none. She only wanted one thing right now.
She slapped the mask onto Tsume's ruined face with all the force she could, practically falling to her knees.
"Be quiet," the words slipped out as the laughter cut off.
X X X
Jade was surrounded by candles and cloaked figures, drifted amidst them, looming all over her. There was no feeling of threat, but she held her hands close to her chest regardless as the robed whispers moved about.
She felt like she was at one of those fancy business parties her parents would tale her to. Jade didn't know anyone, and there was nothing to do or anywhere to go. Only a sense she was about to mess up somehow, and she wanted to be back home.
She was the topic of conversation, she was certain of that, the cloaked women were looking at her from the edge of her sight. Jade pulled her own cloak tighter, wishing they would stop.
Then she saw a pair of red eyes level to her own, peeking through the movement of the others still. Jade walked toward them; she couldn't run, but just having a direction made it better. So much better. And so much worse when she lost sight of the other child.
It wasn't fair. She didn't even want to be here.
Then the watching whisperers opened their ranks, making way for one of their own. This one was different; she did not drift, she walked, each step muffled on the mist-hidden ground or floor, but still so much more real.
Her cloak was worn, with rips patched and frayed edges. Her hood was thrown back, with a battered kadsa with bits of straw sticking out covering her head.
"I am sorry," the figure said. Jade could see her clearly now by candlelight — her sleeves were rolled up, revealing hands missing three fingers overall, and the blue skin thickly calloused, the arms freckled with darker blue. Under the hat was a pretty face marred by a nose once broken and poorly set, and a knot of scar tissue along the left side of her neck, and the face also freckled. The woman smiled sadly. It was an expression that seemed to fit her too well.
The stranger knelt; looking down on Jade still, but not so much. Looking Jade in the eye, the smile slipped away to a frown.
"You are all in great danger on the current path. 99, reconsider your course," the battered, beautiful Shadowkhan woman said, frowning as she jabbed fingers into Jade's eyes.
Jade woke as someone ripped her intestines out.
X X X
The border overseer stalked the wooden palisade, glancing about, hoping a human would stray over the rope line that marked the forbidden zone.
No such luck tonight, or any night, it seemed. Why did he never have any brave or stupid humans on his watch? Approaching the Sumo sternly staring forward, he raised a claw to report all was well. If by well, one meant hungry and boring.
But something 'tugged'. He whirled, expecting some shinobi human or a sneaky youkai at his back. But saw nothing but his shadow in the moonlight.
The next tug took him to his knees.
"What?" the sumo called out behind him.
Dosu could not answer. With a cry of absolute panic overtaking him, he was dragged into his own shadow. The sumo rushed forward to the spot, pulling the club from his back.
"Dosu!?" he called out.
Before he reached the alarm gong, he was stopped by still more being raised.
X X X
The samurai blinked in befuddlement that drowned any relief. Though he was still tied atop the table, all his tormentors were gone?
Was it some sadistic trick?
He noticed the knife the chief horror had embedded in the table was still there, and his hand and feet were only bond with seemingly mundane cords. Stripped or not, freedom and an assortment of blades were at hand in this demon's dining room. He may yet die with honor, or not die at all, this day!
X X X
Someone was screaming as Jade frantically tried to hold her insides in under the blankets. As Shadowkhhan tore the blankets away to see what was wrong, she realized it was her. And that the only injury on her stomach was the marks her fingernails were making.
She saw Tsume, his face at least. Then another Gani, Bato. The next one was oddly called Bruu. Then they started to come faster, faces of strangers she knew, as the unseen hooks continued to pull phantom guts out of her.
She didn't faint, it was too much. She couldn't even feel being picked up and her hands restrained.
But she felt a tribe being torn away, in terror and agony.
X X X
Tsume screamed out, his body cracking and strange white light erupting through the cracks. It felt cold, but no more than ice, so Yasashi did not even think about pulling back.
With a final crack and agonized howl, the mass beneath her vanished in a flash of light. She fell face first into the packed dirt. But beneath her hand, the mask changed, moving and forming. Withdrawing her hand, she watched it blacken and two red eyes form, over a mouth of six mandibles.
"…Victory," She said to the others, standing and holding the mask up for others to see.
One down, seven to go, she thought to herself.
X X X
Ozeki was sweating, an unopened bottle of sake on his desk as he looked to the blank, unadorned wall. That wall was facing toward the Fortress.
The Queen.
No word, of course, it had not even been an hour ago.
First that bizarre feeling, thoughts of the Gani and… that strange sensation. Then, the Queen.
He was certain she had been calling for help. The old legends spoke of early Queens being heard across great distance. But that had been described as a act when they faced not even fear of death but deathly agony. There were no reliable accounts, to his knowledge, and it seemed it would have surfaced many times over in better chronicled times if it was real.
It was foolish to act on the unverifiable.
"Jukai," he called. The door slid open and his adjutant bowed to him.
"I leave for the Fortress at once, you are in charge until you receive further instruction," Ozeki commanded, rising from his desk.
X X X
The Circle present in the Fortress was gathered outside the Kamikiri quarter, listening to the chanting, chimes, and bells of the Kamikiri in their craft, and anxiety.
"Hiruzen-sama?" Hishu asked the Yojimbo. Jirobo had been out on southern shore inspection, the rest were scattered by the entrance hall. Kamisori was constantly pacing, and Hiruzen standing statute still across from the door from the doorway guarded passively by two Kamikiri monks.
"There has been no change. If things had grown worse, the chanting would reflect it. And if there was good news, the chanting would reflect that. There is nothing you can do, and you should not be here," Hiruzen said. Hishu cast his eyes down and backed away from the Yojimbo.
Kamisori came up to the short General.
"That was not an insult, just now. None of us here can do anything. But your tribe has no elders to offer guidance and comfort in this crisis. All of them are so young and uncertain. Hmm, it has been so long since a tribe has been so vulnerable. It was, I think, agreed without words that the Shadowkhan were complete. Seems we live in a a time of certainties being overturned. Good and bad," the Reza General said, before withdrawing to his pacing.
Pacing that stopped, as the bells and chimes shifted. High and swift notes being struck, and the chanting rising in pitch and taking on a booming rather than understated tone.
Even Hishu could see Hiruzen's posture relax.
"Now, do any of you know where the Gani went?" Hiruzen asked, turning his attention to the other Generals.
X X X
The wind whipped over Yasashi as the roc feather cut through the night. It was cold; where she wasn't protected by enchanted armor, its bite still stung.
But still she grinned. She didn't feel cold. In fact, she wasn't quite sure what it was she felt. It wasn't mere happiness — her life, while sad, was not so much so that she would forget that. Nor simple victory; after all, while the Shadowkhan were her greatest foes, they were not the only ones.
Whatever it was, it was as if she was acutely aware of her body while at the same time pleasantly detached from it. Every movement came easy when it seemed like somehow it shouldn't. And even if they reached Tobe and Lord Rokutaro ordered her to his bed, she could see herself readily complying with sincerity.
So it was also worrying, as much as she could worry. She glanced to Murakami, sitting in the back as if meditating. His lack of emotion in the face of their victory made her dislike of the discontent nobleman flare.
Looking to Himitsu, her eyes locked onto the thick box he hugged to his chest with one arm. He had insisted they leave immediately. Because they had just struck the Shadowkhan possibly the single greatest blow in their history, and they would need this trump card ready for when the shadows recovered from this reeling blow, and answered with steel and focus.
It was really happening, Yasashi chuckled. The war to end the Shadowkhan! Lord Rokutaro… apparently a part of her had in fact doubted him until this moment.
Was that it? Was she feeling a belief for the first time in too long, that everything was going to be alright?
Or was it merely the rush of battle, magnified a thousandfold by the knowledge that she was about to face the greatest fight of her life?
Author's Note:
Well there you have it. The war between the SitS and the Shadowkhan has really kicked off.
Tsume was long singled out as the first to fall. His chat with Hishu came as a surprise, but a very welcome one. i guess before je exited he wanted to make it clear he was not just a generic monstrous figure.
But while not generic, he was still the monster in the room even among his fellow generals. And that is one reason he loses here. Terror is a big part of his tribe's identity and tactics. Normally quite effective, but there is a reason we see them in story used primarily to terrify slaves into their lines or hunting fugitives ragged. And not say raising coasts like the squids or manning armed borders like Ikzauki's armies.
Tsume came up against foes not easily intimidated by his monstrosity and who could fight him at his level. And perhaps most potently he failed as a general never realizing until it was too late the Shirogeta forces held up much better and were able to wipe out his forces with a wizard lending support.
So do not expect future fights with generals to play out like this attrition. Each general like each tribe has strengths and weaknesses that will shape their battles. that being said I hope this fight scene came out well enough to entertain you all.
So exit Tsume, and enter rapid acceleration of this conflict.