Chapter Thirty Six: Ninja and Wolf

They called him a messenger of death, swift as the wind and utterly lethal. You would not see or hear him, but he was there. If you happened to catch a glimpse of his silhouette then you were already dead. Those foolish enough to resist him pay a terrible price. And now he was coming after Yamcha.

The snow fell past the windows of her house, as Suno kneeled by her bed praying. Her eyes were closed as she tried to get in touch with the universe. 'Good spirits,' she prayed 'watch over Kakarot and keep him safe.'

Kami could not promise anything. He was by no means omnipotent, and yet he found himself filled with determination to see to it that this girls wish was not disappointed. However for now it was Yamcha who needed his aid more than anyone.

Yamcha and Puar sped up the stairs as Launch did battle with Major Metallatron, awaiting their next challenge. They rushed up to the top and halted in a dark room. The floor beneath their feet was soft, and Yamcha kneeled down to set one hand against it. 'This is… grass. Whats going on here?'

'I don't know, but its scary.' said Puar, shivering.

'Come on Puar,' said Yamcha 'lets try to find the stairs up. We need to get the village chief and get out of here.' Suddenly as they moved forward he heard a low whistling sound. His every reflex and sense screamed at him to move, and he ducked. A blade passed over his head, and he rolled away, before backflipping away, only for his foot to hit and unstable surface.

He landed with a crash, and quickly forced himself up, feeling whatever it was he had hit. 'A rock? What the… we're inside aren't we?'

He glanced into the darkness over it, listening and looking. He was shocked at what he saw. Before him stretched what seemed to be an entire indoor forest, with leaves and a shrine. It was as if it had been taken out of some picture of ancient days and brought to life.

'Yamcha!' cried Puar, approaching him. 'Are you alright?!'

'Yeah, I'm fine.' said Yamcha 'They have an entire forest in here. This place is way bigger on the inside isn't it.'

'Maybe their using some kind of capsule technology.' suggested Puar.

'Maybe,' said Yamcha 'see if you can find a light switch.'

'Okay-'

Suddenly his senses cried out again, and he sprang aside as many ninja daggers shot out of the darkness and imbedded themselves in the rock. There was a crash, marking the battle between Launch and Major Metallatron, as Yamcha ducked away from another series of daggers. Getting behind the rock, he looked for his enemy. Once again he felt his enemies attack, and rolled away just in time.

'Puar, lets go!' cried Yamcha.

The two of them fled into the woods, hoping to gain additional cover. Daggers rushed through the bushes, and marked the tree they hid behind. Peering out from cover, Yamcha marked a violet figure leaping from the rooftop of a small house, and onto a tree. He was a blur that could scarcely be followed.

Yamcha went after him, and for a time they converged on each others location. Then the blur appeared before him, and shot into the trees and was gone. 'I've got a bad feeling about this. Puar, get me my sword.'

'Okay,' said Puar, throwing a capsule which exploded into smoke to reveal a carved wooded box. Opening it, Yamcha took up his sword and gave it a few practice swings.

'What are we gonna do, Yamcha?' asked Puar. 'We can't even see him.'

Silence engulfed them. Silence as profound as the oldest being in the universe. They walked throughout that darkened forest, seeing a pool of water quite tranquil. It was like a forest, but not like a forest. There were no animals in this place, no night owls or rodents. It was like a picture, lifeless.

Yamcha lost patience. 'Show yourself!'

Suddenly there was only brightness. Many circular lights turned on, engulfing the forest light, as windows opened up to let the sunlight in upon the tranquil forest. Blinded for a moment, Yamcha could barely see as his senses screamed again. A dagger surged at him, but he brought up his sword and knocked it away.

He recovered from the glare and looked around.

'You are trespassing on private property,' said a voice. 'you are the first person to ever reach the fourth floor of Muscle Tower uninvited. I am here to make sure you are also the last.'

'Your not as strong as Yamcha!' cried Puar.

'Big talk coming from a guy who hides from his enemies.' asked Yamcha 'Who are you?'

Throwing stars surged out of nowhere and they split as they passed by them. Yet the blades curved round, and shot at Yamcha, who narrowly moved aside. One of them slashed his cheek, and he felt blood drip down it.

'I am a messenger of death.' came the reply 'The great ninja, Murasaki! The only time you will see me is just before your final breath!' Laughter echoed throughout the forest as Puar shivered.

'Yamcha,' said Puar 'I see the stairs over there. We can make it if we run!'

'No.' said Yamcha 'We can't. We're being hunted.'

He glanced back, and saw a blade descending towards him. Bringing up his own sword he parried the blow. Yet before he could return it, his enemy had already disappeared before his eyes.

'Impressive… most impressive…' said Murasaki from everywhere and nowhere.

A violet blur shot around through the forest, and Yamcha followed it. Soon he came to a little house, with a pool of water in the midsts of it. He could feel his enemy surging around him, and he followed him as best he could. 'He must have run out of ammunition by this point.' he thought to himself.

As the blur continued, Yamcha turned and hurled his sword at where it would be. The weapon flew swift and true into the underbrush, and there was a scream of pain and something dropped down onto the ground. Yet it wasn't heavy enough to be a body. 'Its probably a decoy, he'll be expecting me to go look for it.'

Instead Yamcha walked quietly into the woods and melded into the shadows. As he slowly crept in a circle, he waited. Listening, he heard footfalls as someone landed in the clearing, and appeared. He saw there a man in a violet outfit with a sword leaning down over to pick up something. He had a slash across the shoulder that he had bandaged. His sword was embedded in a tree nearby.

'Wolf fang fist!' roared Yamcha, rushing forward.

The fury of the wolf drove him towards him enemy, and he struck. Yet his enemy slipped away just in time, and his assault hit nothing but air. Curious, Yamcha kneeled down and picked up the paper. It was a picture of two women getting undressed into only their underwear.

'Huh?' he said.

'Is that what you mean by showing my sisters the sights?' asked General White in horror.

'You wretch!' came a voice, as the Ninja rushed out of the trees. 'That is my personal property, are you trying to ruin me-'

Yamcha punched him in the face. The man clutched his face painfully. 'Ow! I wasn't ready you-'

Yamcha kicked him in the crotch. Murasaki collapsed to the ground, and he let the picture drift to the ground. 'I've had just about enough of you, pal.' said Yamcha. 'Now get out of here before I get serious.'

Murasaki snatched up the paper, fitted it into his outfit and arose. 'You fool!' He leaped back and hurled a smoke grenade which hid his escape. Now he was once again everywhere and nowhere. 'Thus far you have only seen what I have allowed you to see! Yet now you shall see nothing! I am invisible! Yes, feel my power!'

Yamcha pulled his sword and followed his enemies voice.

'I am as transparent as cellophane, tremble, for I am as the warm wind blows! Silent, but deadly!'

Yamcha took hold of the star spangled banner that was being held up, and yanked it away, before putting his sword up against Murasaki's throat. 'I see you.'

'Impossible! How could you have seen through my disguise!'

'You pulled up a brightly colored flag in the middle of a woodland.' said Yamcha, removing the sword.

'Flags are specifically designed to stand out.' said Puar sadly. 'He's new to this whole stealth thing, isn't he?'

'Ah!' said Murasaki, looking down. 'I told mother to put the tree pattern on both sides!' He turned it around to reveal a bark pattern. 'See, now I am invisible.'

'Its official,' said White, echoing their thoughts. 'he is a complete moron.'

'This is just sad, Yamcha.' said Puar 'You want to keep moving?'

'Sure, why not,' said Yamcha.

As they began to walk away, Murasaki tossed aside his flag and stood up. 'Stop right there! So you saw through my simple disguise! Good… now we can get on to more important matters! Go to the tree and count to thirty and-'

'What do I look like?' asked Yamcha 'A kid? Piss off.'

'You know, this ninja is kind of disappointing.' said Puar.

They walked off, paying the Ninja no further heed.

Little did they know, all had gone according to Murasaki's plan. 'Those fools are not taking me seriously. Now that they are walking away, I will be able to hide and they will never be able to find me!'

Rushing to the pool by the house, Murasaki took out a hollow reed and leaped into it, breathing through the straw. It was a stroke of brilliance if he'd ever seen it.

Meanwhile Yamcha and Puar were less than impressed. As they walked through the forests, unhindered they headed for the stairs.

'Yamcha, do you think we should looked for Murasaki?' asked Puar.

'Well,' said Yamcha 'he's actually pretty good at hiding. So he's probably somewhere where we can neither see nor hear him. Which means that he won't be able to see or hear us. So lets head up to the next floor while he can't see us.'

'Good thinking Yamcha,' said Puar.

'Murasaki you idiot!' cried General White 'Stop hiding and kill the intruders!'

There was no response. 'Apparently he can't hear General White either.' said Yamcha. 'Oh well, lets-' He saw Puar's eyes widen, and ducked as a blade passed over his head. Turning round he clashed swords with Murasaki, and was driven back as the ninja unleashed a flurry of blows with his katana. Yamcha's sword was heavier, and took more energy to wield, but he was the stronger as well.

Finally Yamcha recovered and halted Murasaki's advance. Then he went on the offensive, striking hard and fast with his blade. Murasaki was driven back beneath his onslaught, and finally with a single blow Yamcha split his sword in half. The former bandit pulled back his sword just in time to avoid splitting the man in half.

Murasaki stepped backward fearfully, looking at the broken haft of his weapon in shock. 'You wretch, that was my best sword!'

'You've been disarmed,' said Yamcha 'now stop coming after me before I get serious!'

Murasaki cast the weapon away and took a stance. 'I am unarmed. Will you face me fairly?'

Yamcha stared at him. Then he planted his own weapon into the grass. 'Fine, lets do this.'

He surged towards Murasaki, yet even as he approached the ninja drew out a sharpened boomerang from his gi and hurled it. Yamcha rolled under its approach, as it went spinning away. He leaped towards Murasaki, bringing around one fist. Yet the Ninja leaped away.

'Yamcha look out!' cried Puar.

Yamcha turned around just in time to leap over the incoming boomerang. As it passed beneath him, he sensed something behind him. He glanced back to see his own sword in Murasaki's hand, coming for his neck. Turning around in midair, he dodged the strike and brought round a leg to strike Murasaki. Yet the Ninja slipped beyond his grasp and landed as he did.

Before Yamcha could recover, the Ninja came at him with the sword driving him back through the trees. Yamcha leaped into the trees, and took cover out of sight.

Murasaki crept through the trees, stalking his enemy. The boy had proved to be far more adept at stealth than Murasaki would care to admit, and as he hunted his prey, his prey was hunting him in turn. From where he perched atop a tree branch, looking down, Murasaki threw his voice.

'Hiding are we?' asked Murasaki. 'You are a fool to try to out stealth a ninja.' He moved down to take shelter beneath a fake rock.

'You coward,' came the reply. 'you said you were unarmed.' Murasaki saw a figure move through the tree quietly. 'Then when I agreed to fight you without a weapon, you drew one.'

'This is a battle of life and death,' replied Murasaki with a smile. 'all that matters is who wins!' He slipped out of the rock, creeping after the figure, blade in hand.

'I don't believe in using deception as a tool!' roared Yamcha. 'I fight my battles the old fashioned way, with honor!'

He had him dead to rights. Yamcha stood in the clearing, his back turned to Murasaki. Murasaki drew out his throwing stars, rustling the leave and the boy turned around scared, only to disappear in a poof of smoke. In its place was a smiling blue cat.

'Fooled ya!' said Puar.

Yamcha emerged from the tree Murasaki was standing next to, looking very, very, angry. 'Clever girl…' said Murasaki. He brought round his sword, but Yamcha was faster.

'WOLF FANG FIST!'

The ensuing beat down was lengthy, vicious, and extremely satisfying. After Murasaki had been thrown clear on through five separate trees, the sword he had been holding went spinning through the air to land in Yamcha's outstretched hand. He sheathed it in satisfaction, then wordlessly he and Puar turned and made their way towards the stairs.

'That was really clever what you did there, Puar.' said Yamcha 'Pretending to be me. Just don't make a habit of it in the future, you could get hurt.'

'No problem,' said Puar proudly. 'he wasn't playing fair anyway.'

They made their way up the stairs and as they did so saw a cage. Puar looked into it, and saw within a giant creature, dressed in a blue suit. Its hands and feet were chained, and its eyes were closed. Puar shivered. 'Yamcha, what do you suppose that is?'

'I don't know,' said Yamcha 'hey, uh you…'

'Yes,' said the creature, looking up.

'Is there a particular reason you are chained up like this?'

'General White had me built to kill the enemies of the Red Ribbon Army.' explained the creature. 'I am an Android designed for combat.'

'So… kind of like that Major Metallatron guy?' surmised Yamcha 'The one Launch is fighting.'

'I am a more advanced model than him.' said the android morosely. 'He was my prototype.'

'Oh no!' cried Puar.

'What?' said Yamcha.

'I just remember that bomb is going to go off soon!' said Puar 'We need to save the village chief and get out of here before its too late!'

'Oh crap your right!' said Yamcha 'We've got to go now!'

And they raced off in a panic. Android Eight sighed despondently. 'I'm so lonely.'

In another place entirely, Kakarot awoke seeing past present and future at once. He stood up, and looked around at a place of mangled bones and mildewed stone walls. Looking up, he saw no place where he had fallen in. Perhaps it was a result of his blow to the head, but he felt very different from usual, as though a darkness had lifted from his heart. Or he'd suffered brain damage.

'Well this is weird,' he said, rubbing his head. 'I feel really good. Oh well, I guess I'll see how Bulma and the others are doing.' He walked throughout the surrounding room, and found no entrance. 'No doors or windows,' he smiled brightly. 'I'll just make one then. But which way leads into the tower?'

He listened at one side of the wall. He heard a howling wind. At another segment, near a great iron door, he heard a chewing noise. At the last he heard silence.

'I guess this way leads inside then.' said Kakarot 'KaameehaameeHAA!'

He blew a hole in the wall and emerged onto a spiral set of stairs, making his way down them with a spring in his step. As he did so, he came to a door which was even now shifting to block someone from entering. Kakarot walked out the other way, and made his way down the steps further until he came to the location.

'I wonder how far the others have gotten,' reflected Kakarot 'I'll bet they've all gotten hung up on Major Metallo and need me to rescue them.'

He made his way over to the place where he had seen the monster before humming happily to himself. Then he stopped and peered at the trees far below. 'Wow, everything is so colorful! I can't wait for the others to see this place!' He then looked into a cage, and saw in the darkness a figure hunched over and sitting down, looking terribly sad. 'Hi there, whats your name?'

'I am Android Eight.' said the creature 'You should go. I heard that man Yamcha say that a bomb is about to go off that will destroy the Tower.'

'Yamcha came through here?' asked Kakarot 'Thats weird, I should have run into him on my way down. Anyway we're going to rescue the village chief together, so do you want to come?'

'…I'm not sure I should.' said Android Eight. 'After all my purpose is to crush the enemies of the Red Ribbon Army.'

'Don't worry about that silly,' said Kakarot with a laugh. 'my purpose is to destroy all life on the planet. Nobody is perfect.' Bringing around one leg, he smashed the bars. 'Want me to break your bindings?'

'No,' said Android Eight 'I can do it myself.' He moved his hands apart, and his chains shattered as he lumbered forward. Then he emerged from the cage, and rose to his full height. Kakarot looked up in awe.

'Wow,' said Kakarot in awe 'you are huge!'

'What was that about destroying all life?' asked Android Eight.

'Oh see I was sent to this world for the specific purpose of annihilating the unworthy life forms upon it.' said Kakarot with a grin. 'But I'm not strong enough to do it right now. So I'm adventuring with my friends to get strong enough to beat my master, and then I'll annihilate this unworthy species.'

'…Won't you have to kill your friends to do that?' asked Android Eight.

'Huh,' said Kakarot 'I never thought about that before. I guess I won't destroy the world then, since my friends live in it.' Some part of him told him that he was being far too quick to throw away his old plans. Yet he paid them no mind.

'Thats good,' said Android Eight 'you seem like a good person.'

He was incredulous. What had just happened here? So Kakarot took a couple of blows to head, and all of a sudden he was casting aside his long held omnicidal intentions? This didn't add up. Kami probably figured it was too good to be true, but he found it intolerable.

He began to focus on Kakarot's mind, but it was difficult. He couldn't read him any more. His whispers seemed to just flow through him, as if the darkness had no hold over his heart. It was as if the boy had suddenly become… pure… of… heart?

'WHAT!'

Authors Note:

A bit of a shorter chapter this time, primarily because I trimmed out most of the moments where Murasaki looks like a total joke. I admit that the Murasaki fight is probably my least favorite part of Muscle Tower. The other fights had wacky moments, but the thing with Murasaki was straight out of looney tunes. The whole thing with Kakarot becoming pure of heart from hitting his head very hard is an idea which occurred to me earlier. I basically did two episodes in one this chapter.

I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter, but I'm glad I gave Puar an awesome moment. And I am also glad I gave Yamcha a chance to use a sword again.

One of the weird things about the muscle tower arc is that the timing is all off in this fic. Because the characters are spreading out, and each facing their own challenges along the way, multiple events are taking place at once. So Yamcha is fighting Murasaki as Launch is fighting Metallatron. This means that it can be weird getting events to line up.

If anyone thinks that this chapter is sub par, please tell me why and I'll try to fix it.