Chapter 10
Revenge
Asuka was racing hurriedly after Danzo and Miyabi when she saw some youma blocking her path ahead.
"I don't have time for you, I have to stop Miyabi before her search for vengeance goes too far and has a lot of innocent people," she said drawing her dual blades.
Hibari and Minori were now moving quickly and carefully hoping that they wouldn't get spotted by youma, only to see that Danzo was walking on ahead with A clear conscience about him. The two girls were still a bit shaken after the revelation about Danzo's blood relation to Sato being the legendary warrior who single handedly stopped a full scale invasion many centuries ago.
"Yeesh, this Danzo guy's real good," Minori said to her friend.
"Yeah, but he did train with us during his Hanzo Academy days as a first year," replied Hibari.
"And he even trained with Yumi's grandpa at Gessen, so that he'd understand the difference between Justice and Vengeance," Minori said.
Above, Mirai soon jumped down and landed with her umbrella above her head, making Hibari think that she was pretending to be Mary Poppins.
"During our Hebijo days, Master Suzune taught him how to become a living weapon, but then he left our group behind saying that there's something more than meets the eye when enemies may unite against a common enemy," she said closing her umbrella gun and walking on ahead.
"I say we get a move on, before Mirai starts getting impatient," whispered Minori.
"Good Idea," replied Hibari.
Yozakura and Katsuragi were extremely alert as they punched and kicked youma that stood in their way. Once they had been knocked aside the two friends raced off in the hopes of finding Miyabi. They had barely gotten towards Danzo when they saw that some Youma had surrounded them.
"Scatter!" shouted Katsuragi.
Yozakura nodded and raced ahead pummelling any youma that stood in her way. Katsuragi on the other hand continued to kick back the youma sending them crashing into various objects that fell and crushed them underneath. She continued to run as fast as she could until she was in the clear. She wondered if Yozakura would make it, when Murakumo appeared from the shadows.
"Don't worry about Yozakura, she'll be fine. No harm will come to her as she does care about Yumi very much," the masked ninja said.
"Yeah, but I feel pretty bad about leaving her behind. But if you say Yozakura can take care of herself, that's a good enough reason for me to trust her," replied Katsuragi.
Danzo nodded as he approached them.
"My thoughts exactly," he said, catching them off guard.
Murakumo's mask suddenly flew off of her face and nearly fell when Danzo managed to catch it before it hit the lava below. Katsuragi was amazed, but poor Murakumo quickly tried to hide her face, until she saw Danzo return the mask to her.
"Please don't look at my face, I'm a monster," she said in a nervous cutesy voice.
"Listen to me kid, you're not a monster, you're a human being who should always remember the one thing Old-Timer Kurokage once said to me about your friends, and the their friendly rivals: 'True beauty is found within the heart,'" replied Danzo.
"He's right Murakumo, your face is beautiful. Sometimes we gotta do something we're all afraid of embracing," Katsuragi added, pointing at the left part of her chest.
Murakumo soon took back her mask. Then she held it for a few seconds.
"Maybe, but I'll try to remember the same words Master Kurokage once said to you," she said smiling at him.
"Good girl," smirked Danzo, but suddenly felt Murakumo's arms wrap around him in a warm embrace.
Katsuragi was almost immediately surprised but decided to roll with the punches.
"That's by far the best pep-talk I've heard you give Murakumo," she said to him.
"Yeah, but at the very least, I know your mom and dad will always be proud of you, because their always inside your heart in life or death," Danzo said.
Katsuragi hesitated then suddenly launched herself at Danzo, pressing her lips against his. Although surprised he decided to play along and gently stroked Katsuragi's hair. They soon parted as Katsuragi had never felt a new wave of happiness in her life. She wiped her eyes with both her hands, then smiled at her new friend.
"Even though you've never met the rest of our friends, My name's Katsuragi," she said to him.
"I'm Murakumo," added the warlord.
"Danzo," replied their new friend.
"We know, Kagura told us about you and your tragic past," Katsuragi said quickly.
Danzo looked a bit puzzled, but said nothing.
"Be careful," called Murakumo.
"I will, but I've still got a job to do," he replied and set off.
Once he was clear, Danzo saw that he had entered some sort of torture chamber. He marveled at the sight of it.
"I bet who ever found this would sell themselves for this find," he said calmly as he walked towards an orb that seemed to possess something within it.
To his surprise, Haruka swooped down from her perch and landed beside him.
"Now that you mentioned it darling, you're right this torture chamber is a lucky find," she said, making him whirl around.
"Bingo," he said proudly, making Haruka giggle.
"You seem to have discovered my own personal tastes pretty easily," she replied as her breasts pressed up against him.
Danzo stood firm, without giving in. Haruka may have been sadistic in nature, but she always knew that there would be someone able to figure her out eventually.
"My name is Haruka," she said seductively.
"I'm Danzo," he replied.
"No doubt, your father gave you that name," she said smiling sweetly.
Danzo smirked, then turned to reach for the orb when they heard a loud rumbling voice from above speaking Sato's name.
"Get back!" shouted Danzo, grabbing Haruka in his arms and jumping back.
A new youma arrived with damaged eye, four wings of demonic nature, a horn on its head, an eye that seemed to see fairly well while the other was shut because it had been cut out of it's socket. Two huge legs, and two arms.
"Aw, you poor thing. Didn't your mother ever teach you how to use a door?" he taunted setting Haruka down.
The beastly youma huffed fiercely.
"THAT ODOR I KNOW IT!" growled the youma.
Danzo looked himself over and started sniffing around for a foul stench, but he found none.
"Gimme a break. Tell ya what, next time I'll try and wear some cologne, okay?" he smirked.
"IT'S THE STENCH OF BETRAYAL, THE ODOR OF THAT ACCURSED SATO! I, BELIAL, WILL ANNIHILATE EVERY LAST BLOOD RELATION OF SATO!" the youma roared loudly lunging at Danzo and Haruka who jumped back and chuckled.
"A son cleaning up his dad's mess, huh? Where have I heard this story before?" he asked arrogantly, drawing his guns.
Haruka summoned forth her battle puppets to reinforce Danzo in his struggle, making him turn and smirk at her.
"LET'S ROCK BABY!" he shouted rushing forward guns ablazing.
"HELL YEAH!" replied Haruka, and her puppets charged forward at Belial.
Danzo swung Defiance at the youma who was furiously trying to punch him to the ground when Haruka's puppets unleashed a volley of acupuncture needles at the same time. Jumping upon Belial's back and fired rapidly at a point blank range. Belial roared furiously swiping at the puppets sending them crashing about in several pieces.
"Naughty, naughty, you'll be sorry!" Haruka called from above sending down deadly waste at him.
Belial screamed as the chemicals burned at his flesh, then lunged at Haruka.
"STAY OUT OF THIS YOU BITCH!" he roared loudly.
"Nobody calls a girl a bitch, AND LIVES!" screamed Danzo, activating his youma trigger.
Haruka watched in amazement while sending her puppets to attack the creature. Danzo lunged wildly slashing and shooting at Belial with such ferocity that even Haruka was beginning to like him.
"I WILL KILL YOU BOTH!" screamed Belial smashing Danzo to the ground.
Haruka reacted as well sending poisonous chemicals that scarred Belial from head to foot. With a scream Belial lunged at Danzo who had reverted to normal and was exhausted with a powerful punch. Gathering his strength, Danzo flung Defiance at Belial slashing at his only good eye, who still managed to punch him to the ground. Sending tremors everywhere. Belial stepped back clutching at his now scarred eye.
"The odious one whose heart pumps the blood of Sato! Though my sight is gone, I remember your scent! I shall hunt you down through eternity if I must, until I rid this earth of your foul smell!" roared Belial, who quickly managed to flee from the duo.
"Why do I have to take the heat for my father!? Come on man! Cut me some slack!" sighed Danzo.
Haruka soon swooped down and landed beside Danzo, wrapping her arms around him.
"Are you okay?" she asked in a soothing voice.
"Yeah, just a little bit sore from that punch I took. I better roll with it my way instead of Ryona's way," replied Danzo, who walked to the orb on the table.
In the Marble hallway, Homura and Yomi saw what looked like blood and a book that had been left behind.
"Is this where-" asked Yomi.
"Yeah, That's where Miyabi and Danzo fought in front of this streak of blood," replied Homura, "But I get the feeling that something really fishy is going on here.
Danzo soon walked forward an picked up the orb in his hand. Suddenly his body began to feel very heavy as he dropped to his knees panting heavily. Haruka rushed to his side trying to help him, but Danzo pushed her back. Behind them came the sound of Trickster's laughter.
"This is amazing! Even the Youma boy is no match for it!" he cackled, only for Danzo to grab him and pull Black-Star on him.
"Want me to punish him as well, Danzo darling?" asked Haruka, making Trickster afraid.
"You two aren't gonna kill me, are you?" Trickster asked quickly, the sight of Haruka's maniacal smile making him shudder. "If you do, I'll die, you know," he added.
"If that's what it takes to shut you up. It bugs the crap out of me when someone talks more than I do," Danzo hissed angrily.
"Don't act so rashly my boy. I've got a doozy of a story for you, but if you snuff out my voice like that, I won't be able to tell it, now will I?" Trickster replied.
Haruka watched as Danzo shoved Trickster back and put his gun away.
"I thought I was a goner for sure sweetcheeks," he said to her with a chuckle, "Oops!"
Trickster stood back up and turned to Danzo.
"You saw it too, didn't you? That huge tower jutting out of the ground? That thick shaft that causes women to shudder is actually a tunnel- linking the youma domain to the human world. And of course, your brother, Ryuki is the one who controls it by using your mommy's amulet," explained Trickster.
"Amulet?" Danzo asked.
Haruka's eyes darted from Trickster to Danzo.
"He's head to the control room in the basement," sang Trickster, making Danzo mildly annoyed.
"If you don't hop down there quick like a bunny he'll open the gate to darkness. Isn't that a scary thought?" Trickster said pridefully.
"And you're telling us this because?" asked Danzo.
"Oops, I forgot to mention one teeny wittle item. That gizmo there is actually the KEY to move forward. But the tricky thing is, it sucks the souls of those who hold it. So I think you'd better hurry!" Trickster said with a maniacal grin, and danced away laughing.
Danzo was about to draw his gun to kill him, when Haruka stopped him.
"But in return for your soul, it'll give you power! Marvelous isn't it? Just let your young spirit drive you and go for it!" cackled Trickster, as he spun up and out of sight on the chained mechanism.
"Wish you would have told me that in the first place, ya big mouth moron!" grunted Danzo as he stood up.
Haruka jumped back as his youma powers were activated.
"I'll follow him so you get moving!" she called, as she off to find Team Crimson.
"Okay, but hurry!" Danzo called back as the device called th Haywire Neo-Generator began draining his life force.
Danzo knew he had to hurry so he raced out of the Torture Chamber in the hopes that he would survive.