Love, Immortal Soup and World Domination

Chapter 6

Shadow's New Weakness

Chase sat on his throne mulling over the events of yesterday. He was nearly killed by Hannibal Roy Bean, Shadow nearly got himself slayed for his sake and Hikara...last night came flooding back to him.

Flashback

Chase opened the door to his chambers and walked inside. He closed the door silently behind him and made his way to the bed.

Shadow was dowsatirs in one of the guest bedrooms. One of them was a nice, small, cosy room and the sheets had only been washed so that was where Shadow had been placed.

He supposed Shadow wouldn't wake for another 24 hours.

Chase began to get undressed. He really wanted to just get some sleep.

Hikara had diappeared and Chase knew she was somewhere in his citadel, she wasn't about to leave Shadow behind and she couldn't carry him so that meant she wasn't going anywhere.

Once he was stripped bare ,though he still had his boxers on, he stepped over to his dresser and pulled out a simple black trousers.

Slipping into it he yawned and went back over to bed. But then he noticed a light omitting from the corner of the room. The bathroom door was open, but very slightly. Caustiously, he walked over to the door and peaked in the narrow opening.

His eyes widened.

Hikara was in there standing beside the bathtub.

The bathtub was huge. So big, 10 people cpuld probably fit into it. It was outlined in gold and made of marble.

Chase bit his lip seeing her like this dressed only in a white bathrobe that was probably his. He knew she was taking a bath but who gave her permission? He certainly didn't.

Chase lurched backwards away from the door breathing heavily. Chase frowned scolding himself for spying at her but his 'playful' side won him over and he was soon looking in again in time to see her sit in the bath.

But then, Chase froze.

Hikara whipped her head around in one second as if sensing his presence.

Chase flinched.

Hikara screamed at seeing him and waved her hand in a sweeping motion at him gesturing him to get the hell out. Chase didn't know what happened but he got a strage feeling in his heart and he was suddenly thrown violently backwords. His head collided with a tall post of his master bed.

He rubbed it tenderly. There would be a bruise there in the morning no doubt.

Chase growled in frustracion. What the hell had just happened? It was as if he had been picked up and thrownout viciously. Hikara was sitting in the bath so she didn't do it. Could it have been her power? Maybe it related to the mark on her arm. Whatever it was Chase was determined to find out……….in the morning.

- - - - - - - - - - -- -

An hour later Hikara emerged from the bathroom in a white bathrobe. The initials C.Y were printed in gold on the back neck.

She glanced around nerviously for any sign of Chase. Maybe she was wrong when she said Chase wasn't a perverted man. He might be kind but he could remain a virgin as long as she was here.

She crept out of bathroom doorway over to a press in the corner of the room where her tattered clothes lay. She grabbed them and went back to switch off the bathroom light.

But before she was able to do so a familiar voice called out from the bed. "I don't remember giving you permission to use MY bathroom Hikara."

Oh no.

Chase was in the bed and she had woken him up…….or was he waiting for her ot come out. Chase clicked his fingers and sevrel candles lit up the room. 'So he got more candles?' she thought. Chase cleared his throught and Hikaar looked at him. "Well?" he asked her, an eybrow raised. He was now in a sitting position in the bed with his arms crossed.

Hikara gulped.

"Umm….I, well…..I had to……err" she stammered.

"Uh. Never mind."

Hikara looked at the evil mastermind. "What?" Chase stretched his neck around.

"It's alright. I'll leave you off……this time. I'm too tired to punish you"

Hikara smiled slightly at him. "Tahnk you." Chase nodded at her.

Tomorrow he would find out more about her and Shadow.

Hikara flicked the bathroom switch off and made her way to the door and opened it.

"Hikara?"

The girl turned around on hearing Chase's voice. "Your room. My cat will escort you there." He clicked his fingers again and a panther appeared beside Hikara.

"Show Hikara to her room in the east wing" Chase commanded.

The panther nodded in acknowledgment and left the room.

Hikara smiled again at Chase. "Thanks Chase."

Chase nodded at her and lay back down. Hikara walked out and began to close the door until she looked back in. "Oh and Chase?"

"Uh?" he called from the bed already half-asleep. "I'm sure Shadow would want to say thank you too so thank you, on behalf of him. Shadow will be okay won't he?"

"Uh, yes. He'll be fine Hikara. He's strong. Now, Good Night." Hikara saw a hand appear above the bed and wave at her. Hikara smiled

"Good night." And with a final clivk the door shut. Chase rolled over in the bed muttering a final "uh" at her.

End Flashback

- - - - - - - - - - -

The grogginess still covered Chase from last night. He had only gotten 2 hours of sleep and here he was sitting on his throne rubbing one of his tiger's head.

His eyes were half closed and he was feelin sleep taking over. But then that witch intervend.

"Did little Chase not get enough sleep last night?" Chase muffled an irritated moan at Wuya.

"Awww. You nead your 8 hours. Everyone does."

Chase moaned again at her. He SO didn't want this right now. Cahse sensed Wuya sit down on the arm of his throne. He moaned again with his eyes still closed. Wuya pouted making another stupid remark.

Finally, Chase was fed up he pushed himself up and wobbled unsteadily down the steps. "Chase!" Wuya cried after him as he nearly fell.

The Heylin warrior made his way blindly down sevrel flights of stairs until he somehow knew he had arrived at the main entrance. Seeing he had gone too far, Chase turned around and went back up one flight of stairs. He then turned right and conitued down the hall way until coming to Hikara's room. He let himself slouch against the wooden doorframe as he brought one sleepy hand up to knock three, slow times.

"Hikara?" he weezed.

He needed to get away from Wuya. He didn't want her pestering this morning at all.

Chase heard the door unlock and felt it open as he fell inside. Hikara saw him fall and dived down after the man saving him from a heavy fall.

Chase finally closed his eyes and mumbled "uh. So tired….Wuya coming. Hide me."

Hikara could only stare at the man as he fell silent in her lap.

"Chase!" Wuya cried from the hallway.

Hikara dragged the Heylin warrior inside her room and closed the door behind her. It wasn't long before Wuya was banging on the door though. And she was banging quite hard.

"Hikara! Opene up! Now!" Wuya bellowed from outside. Did she not know of the word please?

Hikara was still dragging Chase to the bed looking around where she could hide him. "C-coming Wuya! Hold on one minute!" finally, Hikara came up with a plan. It was a stupid one but where else could she hide him?

With one mighty heave the girl dropped Chase on her bed and pulled the bed sheets over him smoothing them out so it looked like there wasn't a lump there.

Striding over to the door she opened it and looked out to see Wuay standing there tapping her foot impatiently on the floor. "Is Chase in there?" she asked her. Hikara looked behind her once and flinched when she saw Chase sitting up in the bed. She whipped her head back around to Wuya.

"Chase? Oh no, no he's not in here did you check Shadow's room? He might be in there."

Wuay frowned at the girl. "Fine." She said suddenly. "He might be there, I guess you're right."

The Heylin witch spun on her heal and ran down the corridor to Shadow's chambers. Hikara smiled triumphantly realising she had fooled the witch good.

She closed the door and turned to Chase still smiling. Chase was now standing up and approaching her steadily with his hands behind his back. He opened the door and walked out not saying a word. But then he turned to a confused Hikara.

"Thank you Hikara. I can't stand her sometimes" he mumbled to her sleepily. Hikara nodded at him.

"It's alright Chase. I'd do anything for you."

Hikara grimaced at what she just said and the way she said it. Chase rose a quizzical eyebrow at the girl. Hikara practically jumped back holding her hands up in defence.

"N-not in a love way!?" she exclaimed to him.

Chase lowered his eyes to the bottom right but brought htem up again. "I understand. The sentence is often confused in reference to love." Without another word he walked off back up the hallway with Hikara still watching him.

Hikara nodded to his back and rentered her bedroom. She shut the door and sighed but the sigh was a short one and she walked over to the dresser. Her room was mch like Chase's except it was way smaller and the bed wasn't as big. The dresser was lit by a candle and Hikaar could see the outline of a mirror.

She looked into it and sighed again. She was a walking disaster. Her hair was in knots, her clothes were like she, herself, had been attacked by Chase's cats. Her feet were bare and cuts and bruises covered her body. She slowly went back to the bed and sat there thinking about what to do next.

She could really do with shopping for new clothes but she didn't have any money and she couldn't leave Chase's citadel. Well, she could but Shadow was here and the girl wanted to ask Chase about being her teacher.

She really wanted Chase to be her master but she was slightly scared of him so she would have to consult Shadow. But Shadow was ill and was sleeping in bed so he wouldn't be able to help her.

Hikara sighed for the third time in misery. Ever since her father and mother had died it seemed as if a cloud of misfortune had covered her. When she met Shadow the cloud was still there but it dwindled a bit. However, once she left him the cloud returned and the next thing she knew she was on the run from evil creatures.

But what really haunted her was what happened last night.

Besides the fact Chase was spying on her IN THE BATH, she had waved her hand at him. But he didn't walk out, he hovered in the air and then he flew out unwillingly. He didn''t close the door behind him either…..it shut itself.

Hikara shuddered.

She didn't know hwta was happening to her and she didn't even WANT to know but something in her heart told her it was best to find out what was happening to her.

First, she turned to door knob to solid ice and then she mentally flund Chase out the bathroom door.

She shook her head wishing hse was still a normal girl in the town of Venice but she knew she would never live like that again.

Hikara curled up on the bed and put her head in between her knees. Feeling the warmth of water in her eyes Hikara silently began to sob on the bed.

Just what was she?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hesitently Hikara looked up with a hazy vision. She quickly glanced at the clock reading 6:30pm and realised she had been sobbing on the bed for almost half an hour.

Right now, the girl didn't know what to do with herself. She felt she needed to talk to someone but who? Chase was out of the question.

Two facts being the cause.

1, What would happen to her if he was busy doing something really important and she just walked in on him?

And 2, was that she probably couldn't find him in the maze even if she really tried.

Wuya could help but she didn't even know the witch all too well. She needed someone wise and affectionate.

Shadow.

Shadow could help. He was wise and…..if in the right mood, a bit affectionate.

The only problem was that Shadow needed rest in bed. He had suffered a great deal in the last 24 hours and it was wrong to wake the poor thing up. Nether the less, Shadow was a great Heylin Grand Master. It could be possible that he may be already awake.

Hikara sighed deeply to herself as she picked herself up from the maroon coloured carpet and made her way over to the door. If Shadow wasn't awake then she might as well wait until he was. Hikara felt she needed his presence right now. She felt odd. There was an uneasy sensation in the pit of her stmach and her arm hurted again.

Maybe Shadow could help.

- - - - - - - - - - -- - -

Wuya folded her arms at the man. "Chase. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? You look terrible."

Chase Young sat on his throne in the throne room petting one of his tigers. In return the tiger purred at his master.

Chase rolled his eyes at the witch. The grogginess of sleep had worn mostly off but it was still lingering on him.

"Two hours Wuya. Now, can you please leave?" He gestured to the entrance to the room but it was heard on deaf ears as Wuya spoke again. "How did you manage to sleep so little darling? Everyone needs their rest."

The Heylin witch was now sitting on the arm of the throne with one hand raised against his chin and the other holding her in place.

Chase glowered at the woman who was tentivly touching his cold cheek.

"You'd do well to leave now Wuya before I see to it myself."

The woman scoffed but hopped off the throne and making her way towards the stairs. "I think that new girl has got you doing twirls Chase" she called back to him with a grin on her face. She loved to tease Chase about romance. Chase sprang up in the chair.

"Get out!" he commanded.

Wuya shook her head and walked downstairs leaving the prince of darkness alone. Chase slouched back into his chair again.

The tiger had taken to lying down at his master's feet with his striped tail wrapped around his legs.

Chase rested his cheek in his gloved hand propped up by his elbow on the arm of the throne. He left his eyes close halfway still staring straight ahead, as if in a trance. It was then Chase told himself not to doze off. He had other matters to attend to.

Shadow would probably be waking up soon and he wanted to be there so the hedgehog wouldn't hurt himself in any way. He seemed powerful…….very powerful.

There was a faint dangerous Heylin aura around the creature. But it seemed to be dwindling like he was getting weaker and weaker. It sort of had Chase slightly worried. Not for his sake or Shadow's sake but for his plan.

Chase had it in his plan that he could use the hedgehog to take over the world. The dark hedgehog would come in useful.

Chase was sure Shadow could do more then transform into a tiger. Being able to transform was a tricky task, he knew it. Transforming into a talking dragon wasn't your everyday cup of tea. It needed consentration and power.

Even though Chase had been granted this power thanks to the Lao-Mang-Lone soup he wondered. How did Shadow obtain his? Through heredity? It was possible.

But surely after that fatal wound Hannibal gave him, Shadow would need time and rest to recouperate. The Sword of Light was not a blade to mess with.

But another thing that intrigued Chase was just how had Shadow even survived? No one in Xiaolin history had ever survived a blow from the blade. It was impossible. This led Chase to believe, once again, that Shadow ,himself, was not one to tangle with.

Chase had come to believe that Shadow was a very skilled fighter indeed.

Yet Chase didn't know everything. Something was missing. Chase knew it. Some vital piece of information. Something of the hedgehog's past. But whatever it was Chase was certain he would have to work hard to achieve it.

However, besides Shadow's story there was the matter of the shen-gong-wu. One might activate and if Chase were found asleep or tending to Shadow Wuya would have a fit. Her pestering had become a daily routeen for the Heylin warrior and he was rapidly getting fed up with it.

Then, there was Hikara. The newest guest in his citadel. Long purple hair, beautiful blue eyes and a nicly curved body. But Chase wanted to know of her strange powers. Ever since he met her he had sensed ,just like Shadow, an odd aura surrounding the girl. It was magic. But the magic scent was not familiar to him.

'It must be an ancient magic. Heylin magic is old. Perhaps it is even older then that. But, I do not even know of any other magic besides Heylin magic and light magic. What is it?' Chase thought to himself as he glanced down at the tiger.

He brought his hand down and petted the tiger once more making it purr deeply.

"I think it's time I learn a bit more about little Hikara."

The tiger seemed to nod at his recommendation.

Chase smirked ans clicked his fingers. Another tiger entered with a pen and some paper in it's mouth. It gave them to Chase and he wrote something down ot it. He handed it to the tiger wrapped around his legs. It took it in it's mouth.

"Find Hikara" Chase commanded.

The tiger got up from where it had been lying and hopped down the steps and raced over disappearing out the entrance.

"Dinner at eight. Go." Chase told the other tiger.

The second tiger turned around and exited heading towards the dining room.

Back inside the room Chase sighed to himself as the familiar vibe ran down his spine. "Wuya" he called. However, Wuya appeared hastily through in the door.

"There is a new shen-gong-wu" she announced still making her way towards him with a dead serious face.

Chase frowned at her. "Why the serious face?" The witch folded her arms with a loud 'hmph.' Chase raised his eyebrow.

"Why the serious face you ask? Well, only that the shen-gong-wu that just revealed itself is none other then the 'Aqua Moonstone!"

Chase still didn't understand what had her so worked up about the shen-gong-wu. Wuya sighed, her arms flopped to her sides.

"The Aqua Moonstone is the ONLY item that can open a portal to the Heylin Empire!"

Chase felt his jaw hang open. "Heylin……Empire?"

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Hikara scowled distastefully at the scene. In front of Shadow's door were five of Chase's jungle cats sprawled out on the floor. Each one had there eyes closed and their tails whipped around.

Hikara narrowed her eyes seeing that she could not gain access. Unless…..

Hikara knew she was crazy but since she came here she knew she had changed. She was more courageos and spoke with more authority now. Perhaps it was a spell Chase had placed on his citadel? Hikara sighed. "Oh well."

She walked coaystiously around the corner and towards the cats.

None saw her as she stopped walking reaching the nearest cat. It being a lion.

Taking a deep breath Hikara prayed to God she would make it.

She lifted up one shaking leg and hopped over the first cat into a clear, marble space. She looked back over her shoulder and was relieved to see that the cat had not moved. Leaving out the breath she had held in, Hikara steadied herself.

Four cats separated her from Shadow. She had taken dance classes when she was youger and she had memorised some good moves. It shouldn't be very hard. Her teacher always said she was very talented. She had also sung and remembered many people commenting on her voice.

Hikara rmemebered the last time she sang. In front of Shadow when he was sick and lying on the floor in front of the fire. Hikara still remembered the sad look in his eyes. But even if he was sick back then, Hikara loved the way the fire glittered in Shadow's eyes. it gave off a welcoming effect to her.

Hikara felt herself bite her lip as she went for it. Imagining the music in her head Hikara lept a great distance into the air into another space between the ctas, and another and another.

On her final jump she dared herself to do a twirl in the air. Landing on her two feet in front of the black, wooden door Hikara stumbled.

She placed her hands against the door and felt her feet slide backwords. Her eyes were closed tight, prepared for the worst. When nothing happened Hikara peeped back over her shoulder and smiled in triumph realising her bare feet were inches away from the lion's fur.

She scrampled back to her feet and began to open the door. It was dark inside and there were no candles lighting.

That was good. Shadow had always oved the darkness and stillness. That was why he always took a walk in the Heylin Woods at midnight. He had claimed it was relaxing and enjoyable to walk over the bridge of the 'River Tao' and skip rocks along it's waters. Often the hedgehog would sit on a rock in the middle of the river and mediatae. Shadow was quite peaceful and always thought of others before himself.

Hikara wondered just what Shadow did in his past? That was the story Hikara longed for and probably long for the rest of her uneventful life..

She could barely make out the dark silhouette of Shadow's bed at the back of the room. She was never in here before, Chase had brought Shadow away himself.

How she had found out where the actual room was located was when she had found Chase exiting the room earlier today. He had said that Shadow would probably not wake up until night or even the morning. Then he told her to not disturb him no matter how much she cared for him. it was best If he was left alone.

Hikara had remembered this and shuddered at what Chase would do to her if he found out. She understood what Chase said completely but she knew that Shadow would like to wake up to see her there beside him.

She walked over to the bed and heard Shadow's rather silent breathing. It was like he wasn't even asleep. She couldn't see him all that well but she sat down on the stool beside the bed.

She reached out and felt around for the sleeping form hoping to find his hand. But instead something found her hand first.

She let out a small yelp and jurked her hand back. Slowly, Shadow sat up in the bed and turned his head to her. The dark hedgehog said nothing only little puffs of breath.

Normally Hikara would have been able to see his bright, ruby eyes but she saw none. Were his eyes not opened?

"Shadow?" she whispered. Hikara saw his jagged quills go up and down indicating he had nodded.

"Yeah?" he replied slightly hesitently. Hikara heard Shadow clicked his fingers and awed as a small green, venom-like flame appeared in the dark on the tip of his gloved finger.

It illuminated Shadow and Hikara.

The girl then saw how close Shadow really was. He wasn't in the center of the bed like she expected him to be, but at the side right next to her. The hedgehog eyes were openbut were aimed at the door, away from her.

They weren't red.

Hikara gasped at the sight. His eyes were gray and faded. Not a trace of black or red was left in his gray orbs.

"W-what happened to your eyes!?" she shrieked at him. The dark hedgehog didn't reply. His face turned to one of pure misery. He let his gaze drop to the fire away from the door.

"I still cannot see you" he whimpered.

Hikara lowered her head until she looked into his pale eyes again.

"What are you saying?"

Shadow looked to the side at Hikara, hearing her voice. "There is a flame lighting on my finger and part of the room is lit but yet-" he stopped there and looked up glancing around. "Yet I cannot see anything. All I see is black abyss."

Hikara's eyes widened. "What does that mean!?"

Shadow looked up. His mouth was one straight line and his pale eyes glared into the dark corners of the room. "Hannibal didn't want to kill me. He wanted to weaken me."

End!...Not the END, END!! Again, this chapter was 24 pages long so I cut it in half. Hope you enjoyed this!!! READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!...Has anyone played the PS2 Okami? Even if you havn't check out my the end of my profile! I'm planning on writing a fic on it!!! I dunno. But I have this REALLY GOOD vibe that story's gonna rock!!!