- Ryu -
Walking back through Sky City, Ryu's head was starting to ache again.
Muramasa had given him a life elixir before they left. He said it would help strengthen and protect his mind, soul, and body. But it didn't seem to be working all that well.
The sensation of something burning away inside his body was still present, however, it had lessened at least.
His headache had been mild all throughout the journey to Tokyo and the conversation with Muramasa. He suspected it might be flaring up again due to the fact Momiji was currently burning a hole in the back of his head with her stare.
Ryu knew about his soul before Muramasa had said anything. He had seen blades like the one that woman was holding. Seen it's effect, burning away a person's soul in a matter of minutes. He was only still standing here because he was of the dragon lineage. But even that had its limits, If the cut had been any deeper he probably wouldn't be standing here.
They hadn't spoken a word as they walked back to the office building they had left their gear at.
It was late at night, however, the city lights were blinding. He had never particularly enjoyed the city, It was loud and in your face. It was such a stark contrast to the peaceful life at the Hayabusa village.
The streets weren't crowded, however. Only a few couples walked on the sidewalk, walking arm and arm. Earlier when he and Momiji had been walking to Muramasa's; side by side, He had fleeting thought they probably looked like the other couples out. Now however... He probably just looked like a guy with a very angry girl stalking him.
It was starting to rain, Ryu could feel light raindrops hitting his head.
"You knew... Didn't you?" Momiji finally said, breaking the silence.
"Mm"
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"It isn't important now"
"It's your fucking soul, Ryu. it is important now"
He stopped and turned to face her. "There isn't anything you or I could do about it, and we needed to get information." He said. "I am of the dra..."
"The dragon lineage, yes I'm aware. But that doesn't give you a free pass for everything."
"The village was destroyed, and we don't know what it is that woman wants. We can't waste any more time."
"So pushing until your soul burns away completely is your way of solving the problem?"
"I'm not crippled."
They continued to argue as they walked down the street.
They were too busy arguing with one another to notice there wasn't anyone else on the street, no cars, no people. And the electronic lights, billboards, lamps were all starting to dim or flicker off completely.
Suddenly something came flying at Momiji's face.
Ryu caught it inches away from her face. Effectively cutting her off mid-sentence.
Looking at the object in his hand. It looked like a long black claw, made up of a shimmering dark substance. Tossing it aside, he spun around. Fiends were melting out of the darkness on either side of them.
They were completely surrounded.
- Momiji -
Thunder was rumbling overhead.
"I hate the rain" Momiji muttered. She was standing back to back with Ryu; the previous light sprinkle of rain was starting to turn into a heavy downpour.
Fiends were enclosing around them, more than a dozen of them. Inky black creatures with barely defined features and sharp talons for hands. They looked like the same demons that had attacked the Village. However, they were radiating a far more powerful aura than the ones at the village had been.
The demon's were all carrying various weapons. Momiji didn't much like the idea of facing all of them empty-handed, especially not with Ryu in his current state.
She wanted to yell at him some more for not telling her. But that was going to have to wait.
The group of demons were closing in around them slowly, they seemed to be hesitant to attack them.
Back to back with Ryu, she could sense him gathering his ki and immediately knew what he wanted to do. Folding her hand in front of her she did the same.
As they began to chant, energy started swirling around them.
The fiends started shrieking and launched themselves at the two.
Before the first demon could get within three feet of them, they released their ki into a powerful ninpo. The energy circling around them imploded in an explosion of fire, incinerating the demon's and melting everything within the vicinity.
The pavement was cracked, the surrounding shops were on fire, cars were overturned and burning.
"We have to go," Momiji said, and they took off in the direction of their gear.
Running through the city, Momiji noticed that she didn't see anyone out. The typically busy streets were completely empty. On top of that, the blaring city lights seemed to be dimming. Street lamps were either flickering or completely off, shop lights were going out, the giant luminous billboards and neon signs were only glowing faintly.
The fast-pace in your face city of Tokyo was dead.
"Where did everyone go..?" Momiji wondered aloud.
When she didn't get an answer, she turned to see Ryu was trailing behind her. He was breathing heavily, that spell must have taken far more of his energy than she had realized. She wanted to kick herself, but she wanted to kick him even more.
Falling back a few steps, she ducked under his arm to help support his weight. Placing her free hand on his chest, she began to siphon energy into his body.
"We're almost there," she said in his ear.
"Hm," He panted in acknowledgment.
He was in really bad shape. She had never seen him like this before, he was always the solid, unrelenting force that was the Dragon Ninja. He could do anything, solve any problem, get out of any situation. He had saved her many times.
Now they were both soaking wet, struggling through the streets of Tokyo.
Finally, they reached the building where they had left their gear; a standard 4 story office building. Teleporting to the top would be a simple matter.
Before she knew what had happened, she had been struck from behind. The force of the blow sent both her and Ryu flying.
She landed in the middle of the street, Ryu on the roof of a car parked a few feet away from her. leaving a sizable dent.
Quickly she jumped to her feet, her head was spinning.
The thing that had attacked them was a giant creature with the body of a woman, with four long crab-like legs. It had the same shimmering black skin as the previous demons they fought. It had no defined features other than two tiny beady red eyes and a gigantic mouth that reach across its entire face. Thin, sharp, dagger-like teeth were protruding out of its mouth. a thin curtain of greasy black hair hung around its face.
It let out a horrible shrieking wail and began to charge at the two.
"Master, get out weapons, I'll hold the demon off," Momiji shouted as she gathered her ki; folding her hands in front of her and forming a fireball.
"I will not leave..."
"Go! We need our weapons."
She launched the fireball at the demon and disappeared in a swirl. She teleported behind the demon. As expected, her attack had little effect on it. But she did manage to get within its guard. Fighting a demon like this empty-handed was going to be difficult, the best she was going to be able to do was stall the creature until Ryu got back with their weapons.
She aimed a powerful kick at one of it's back legs. As expected, the demon's skin was extremely tough, a kick that would effectively shatter bone, barely did anything. She did manage to get it's attention however.
Shirking the demon turned around to face Momiji. She noticed the demon was rather clumsy in close quarters, she could use this to her advantage.
Raising its front leg, the demon brought it down in a powerful attack, Stepping forward Momiji dashed under the demon, avoiding it's attack, The pavement cracked behind her, where she had been standing.
Leaping up, she jumped onto the demon's back. Wrapping her arm around its neck, she locked it in and headlock and began to squeeze, attempting to restrict it's airflow. She realized her mistake too late. The demon's skin was just as tough on it's upper body as it was on it's legs.
Grabbing her arm, the demon flipped Momiji off it's back; throwing her on the ground.
She landed on her feet and instinctively rolled backwards, barely avoiding the demon's leg coming down. Cracking the pavement where she had just been.
She engulfed her hand in flames and launched herself in a powerful attack aimed at the demon's face. Before she could reach her target, the demon grabbed her by the neck. Catching her mid-jump.
She struggled and kicked but it was no use, the demon had her in a death grip.
It was restricting her airflow like she had tried to do to it. Her mind was starting to get fuzzy, her eyesight going dark. The only thing she could see was the demon's gigantic teeth, slowly getting closer.
Suddenly a sword burst through the demon's head, splattering Momiji with blood. It's grip loosened and she dropped to the ground; coughing.
Ryu was on It's back, Dragon Sword in hand. Her own naginata strapped to his back. In one quick slice, he removed it's head. It wobbled dangerously for a moment, blood squirting from the stump where it's head had been. Then it toppled to the ground.
"We have to go." He said, jumping off the demon's back. walking over to Momiji, he offered her his hand. The bag with their gear swung over his back.
"Thank you," she said hoarsely accepting his hand.
He sheathed his sword and handed her the naginata. He was still wearing the leather jacket and jeans, along with the sword strapped to his back it was an odd combination.
"Nyx is here, I can sense her. We need to be quick, we can change when we're at a safe distance."
She had guessed as much. The fiends, the missing people. It was too much like the attack on the village.
"Muramasa will he be..?"
"He'll be fine, he can take care of himself. We need to worry more about ourselves right now."
And with that Ryu took off, Momiji following closely behind.
They ran until they were out of the city. Back in the forest, they headed towards the Mugen Tenshin clan. They ran until daybreak, finally stopping to rest for a few hours in a small clearing with a little stream next to it.
Ryu sat down leaned up against a large oak tree, Momiji sat next to him. Reaching out she placed one hand on his forehead. He closed his eyes at her touch. He was burning up.
"How are you feeling?" She asked
"Fine, I just need to rest for a few hours and I'll be fine."
Biting her lower lip, she placed her hands on his firm chest and began to siphon energy between them.
Within a few minutes, his breath evened out as he slipped into unconsciousness. She sighed and leaned up against a tree, she would wake him in a few hours.
- Ryu -
Ryu was standing in front of a pond, the water was glittering under the moonlight. There was a waterfall at the far end.
He could see a shimmering silhouette through the waterfall, there was someone behind it, he was sure.
He took a step forward and wasn't at all surprised to find he could walk on water as if it was solid earth. He walked over to the waterfall.
As he approached, the waterfall parted for him. He walked through and entered a cave, moonlight was shining through a large crack on the ceiling.
Illuminated in that moonlight there was a girl. Standing with her back turned to him.
He stood there watching the girl. He knew if he tried to take a step forward he would not be able to, so he just watched.
Hours might have passed by, or it might have been a few moments. However long it was his eyes never left the girl.
"Master Ryu?"
Ryu opened his eyes, Momiji was standing over him. It was mid-day, the sun was high in the sky.
"We should get going." She said, she had changed out of the dress and back into her usual ninja attire. He only just now realized he was still wearing the wet, torn, clothes from yesterday.
Standing up, he stretched and walked over to the stream. Pealing off the clothes, he washed his face and upper-body. The cool water felt good on his skin, he was still burning up.
Quickly changing into his black ninja attire, he and Momiji set out towards the Mugen Tenshin clan.
It was a peaceful day, the air was cool and the sun was shining through the trees; warming their skin. On any other day, Ryu would enjoy a day like this. But he was still weak from exhausting his energy. And he couldn't stop thinking about that dream.
He felt like he should recognize the girl, but he couldn't figure it out. He couldn't even remember what she was wearing. The only thing he could remember was this comforting familiar feeling. He wanted to know the meaning behind this recurring dream, or why he was having it in the first place.
They walked in silence all the way to the clan. Ryu could tell Momiji was still angry at him for not telling her about his condition right away. But his priority was to the Hayabusa village. They didn't have time to waste on something they both knew had no cure.
He had a feeling the village hadn't been completely massacred, and if that was the case he was going to save everyone he could, and avenge those that had died.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the Mugen Tenshin clan, two of the clan's ninja dropped out of a tree and approached Ryu and Momiji. The two ninja bowed respectfully.
"We have been waiting for you, Master Ryu." One of the ninjas said, removing his mask. He was middle-aged and Ryu recognized him as being one of the clan's elders.
"Some of your clan's members arrived a few days ago."
So there had been other survivors, that news was a relief to Ryu.
"We thank the Mugen Tenshin clan for offering it's refuge." He said, bowing.
"Take me to Hayate. There are some things we need to discuss."