Chapter 5
Family Ties
Yomi was walking through another corridor when she spotted Ikaruga ahead. The two rivals from the slums didn't know that they were being watched by several Youma when Danzo came into view. The Youma lunged at them with such fury that they quickly drew their swords, and prepared for battle.
"Let's rock babies!" shouted Danzo lunging at the Youma.
Yomi followed suit firing several bolts from her small crossbows as Ikaruga drew Hien and swung with the ernest way of the Samurai in her blood. When they had vanquished they had quickly dispatched them, the two girls sighed in relief as Danzo holstered his weapons and prepared to make his next move through the trials. Before he could go any further, Yomi slowly touched his face with her hand, noticing a cerulean glow in his eyes. Ikaruga was a bit shocked to see Yomi being affectionate to this newcomer, and so decided to bow respectfully after sheathing her sword.
The three of them walked off into another swarm of trials ahead of them where they found a small item called the Essence of Intelligence. Danzo carefully pocketed it into his coat as Yomi and Ikaruga looked around vigilantly for more Youma waiting to ambush them. They exited the room as they walked into the next Trial corridor. Upon entering they saw the spikes ahead of them. Danzo held out both his arms with his hands outstretched to stop them.
"You two stay back. This may require some serious cunning and tact," he warned.
Ikaruga nodded. "You heard him Yomi," she said.
"All right," she said feeling disappointed, but she was secretly worried about him dying on one of the spikes.
Taking a deep breath. Danzo rain as far and as fast as he could along the corridor riddled with rising and lowering spikes. Danzo ran so fast that he dodged to the left, then to the right, stayed on the ground and leapt over the spikes before him. At last he reached the end of the corridor and collected the essence of Technique. All the spikes soon retracted at once and he signaled the two kunoichi to come to his side. Yomi was so relieved that she wrapped her arms around him in warm embrace. Ikaruga also couldn't help but feel relaxed at seeing how he was able to solve a puzzle.
"Sometimes the best way to solve a puzzle or win a game is to come up with a brilliant strategy to help you earn that achievement," he said nonchalantly.
Ikaruga nodded as Yomi backed off slowly. "We haven't actually introduced ourselves yet, my name is Ikaruga, and this is Yomi," she told him.
"I'm Danzo," replied their new ally, but they saw several bird like Youma appear before them on the other side.
"Run or fight you two, cause we got one more challenge on our hands!" he said and took off at great speed.
Yomi and Ikaruga saw that the Youma were too numerous and so quickly followed him at breakneck speed. The dark haired class representative however carved her way ahead of them with Hien in hand as Yomi fired crossbow bolts from her miniature crossbows on her wrists. Once they were clear, Danzo looked around wild eyed and walked into the third chamber. Upon entering two walls appeared entrapping them with several Youma appearing before them with their weapons held at the ready.
"Rip 'em a new one babes!" he said to the two Kunoichi.
"Will do!" replied Ikaruga and Yomi.
In another corridor a few floors above Asuka soon came face to face with Homura who was dazed and surprised by Miyabi's kick. Quickly she rushed to her friend's side and helped her up after picking up her swords.
"What happened here Homura?" Asuka asked her friend.
"I tried to stop Miyabi from acting too reckless, but she kicked me in the chest and knocked the wind out of my lungs," replied Homura, as Asuka placed the last of her six blades into their scabbards.
"Come on we gotta find her and convince her to-" began Asuka.
"No Asuka, if we butt in she'll cut our hearts from our chests, someone else is involved with the appearance of this structure, and we need to find out who it is," interrupted Homura.
Asuka nodded, and the two friend raced off to find Miyabi.
After clearing the last trial Yomi and Ikaruga were exhausted beyond belief as Danzo grabbed the essence of fighting from the altar. Then the returned to the main chamber where they saw what looked like a laser that had not been used for many years. Danzo placed the three stones onto it and watched it destroy the rubble, then become a new weapon for him to use later on.
"Amazing," said Ikaruga.
"I agree," added Yomi.
"Well with this new baby in hand, it might help me out later on," he replied.
The girls looked at each other then at Danzo.
"Be careful now," warned Yomi.
"I will and thanks for the help," he said.
Then Ikaruga watched Yomi slowly step up him and did something that she'd never expect to see. She saw the blonde kunoichi kiss his cheek.
"This is for luck," Yomi told him, and together with Ikaruga raced off to another part of the tower.
"Yeah, thanks Yomi," he grinned proudly. And walked off.
Outside on a walkway, Miyabi picked up a stone and began sharpening her sword to make sure that it was ready for her to use in battle. Carefully sheathing her blade she stood up and walked off when she heard something that made her blood boil.
"Well, well. You've grown stronger," said a voice from behind, making her draw her sword and point it at the very person she knew all too well.
"Go to Hell!" said Miyabi, her voice filled with venom.
Akira did not move, but looked into his sister's eyes disappointedly.
"You point a sword at me? Your own kin? Your dear brother?" he asked calmly.
"The only family I ever had was my father, and you killed him during our confrontation with Fubuki!" snapped Miyabi, lunging at him with a powerful one handed strike. But Akira quickly leapt up into the air and used his powers to cling onto the ceiling above.
"You break my heart. After all, it was I who asked our parents to name you Miyabi, my darling sister!" he hissed, dropping his book onto her face, grabbing her arm, and flinging her over the edge of the walkway taking his book back in one swift movement.
Miyabi reached into the hem of her coat and threw a kunai at Akira's face leaving a mild slash on his right cheek, which slowly wept blood. He gently touched it as he watched Miyabi fall down several floors of the tower to the city below. With an evil grin Akira slowly walked away thinking that she wouldn't survive.
Asuka and Homura quickly raced to the walkway where they saw that Miyabi was nowhere to be seen. The granddaughter of Hanzo dropped to her knees and was about to cry when Homura knelt on one knee.
"Don't worry, Miyabi's a tough girl. There's no way she can die that easily," she smirked.
"Yeah, you're right Homura, let's get back to our teammates and proceed onwards," replied Asuka, and the two friendly rivals soon raced off across the walkway.
Danzo walked of the corridor after watching his new friends leave but was still a bit puzzled by the kiss Yomi gave him. His thoughts were interrupted he saw Miyabi falling towards him. Time seemed to slow almost instantly for him as he caught her ankle surprising the leader of team Hebijo. Miyabi drew her a kunai and pointed it menacingly at her would be savior's throat.
"Well, this is my kind of rain. No wonder the sky looks so funny today," he joked.
"Let me go!" snapped Miyabi.
"'Let you go?' but it'd be waste if you ended up as a just a pretty stain," chuckled Danzo.
Enraged by Danzo's cocky behavior, Miyabi threw her kunai at his forehead forcing him to drop her. Miyabi quickly drew her sword, and thrust it into the wall to stop her descent.
"What the hell was that for!?" demanded Danzo, looking down at her.
Miyabi was shocked to see that he was still alive.
"Here I am trying to help you, and you show your thanks by throwing a knife at me!?" he huffed grumpily.
Miyabi threw a shuriken at him as she flipped up on to her sword in a crouched position, but Danzo caught it between his teeth and spit it out, leaving behind a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Whatever, do as you please," he scoffed, and walked off.
Miyabi glared upwards, her hair billowing in the wind.
"So he's a Youma too," she realized, her hatred for the monsters that took her mother growing far more stronger in her heart.
Danzo gently removed the kunai from his forehead and rubbed his hand on the wound it made, weeping blood onto his hand.
"I'm beginning to think I've got rotten luck with stubborn women," he muttered as he wiped the blood on a wall and walked off.
Team Hebijo saw what was going on and quickly rushed to the rescue. They carefully pulled Miyabi up and stood before her. Murasaki smiled meekly at her.
"I'm glad you're okay," she said, "why didn't you tell us what got into you to leave us like that?"
"Because I met my brother, Akira. He killed my father, the head of Hebijo Academy," hissed Miyabi her eyes full of anger.
Imu, Murasaki, Ryobi, and Ryona were aghast. Their headmaster dead? Imu stepped back in dread.
"No, it can't be!" Imu protested.
"It is Imu, and I will avenge him alone if I have to!" Miyabi declared, and stormed off.
"Poor Miyabi, I've never seen her act like this before," said Murasaki, her eyes filled with tears.
"Me either, but we have to keep an eye on her for now," replied Ryobi.
In a rush, the four friends raced after their leader.