Chapter 6: Sharing Secrets

Fowler Residence

Theresa was sitting in her dining room at her dining table picking at her plate of roasted fish and a side of asparagus, her mother eating across from her, the guitar case containing Shirokuma's axe and now Kazeryu's crossbow inside of the guitar case rather than an actual musical instrument. While her mother was happily eating her food, Theresa didn't had the same mood, this is not due to the food she was given, Theresa always liked her mother's cooking despite her Mother's acquired taste in food such as raw broccoli and raw fish, her mood was effected by this eventful day, once again she never asked to be this so called Oni Keeper, this is because of the fact that she has to deal with two externally internal voices, one is a like a strict teacher who has an obsession with honor, and the other voice is basically a little kid brother who's extremely clingy to his older sister.

"Something wrong Theresa?" Ms. Fowlham said to her daughter, noticing her daughter's glum mood, Theresa sighed and said in the most convincing way possible.

"Nothing mom." Theresa responded as she took a bite of her fish, her mother wasn't convinced in the slightest.

"If something happened in school theirs no shame in telling me." Her mother responded, something that Shirokuma agreed with.

"Don't worry mom, I'm just a little bit tired..." Theresa said as an attempt to stop her Mother's prodding, she frowned at her, clearly unconvinced once more.

'Onee-chan! How's the fish? Is it seasoned well Onee-chan? Why is Mama-sama have brown hair while you have purple hair Onee-chan?' Kazeryu chimed in as he and Shirokuma were both in Purgatory together most likely watching the dinner scene.

'Hush Kazeryu, she's speaking with her mother right now.' Shirokuma said to the Purple Oni who surprisingly made the Purple Dragon Oni to stop speaking.

"And a little bit stressed out..." Theresa continued, this got her other to actually be convinced by her words

"Just some big school project we got to do..." Theresa lied, not wanting to express to her mother that she has voices in her head that only argue and semi-annoy her.

"A group project?" her mother responded, Theresa nodded, only wanting her mother to believe every word she said.

"And I'm guessing you didn't get Randy as one of your partners..." Her mother said, Theresa's cheeks tinted red in response as her mother tried her best to stifle a giggle.

"Yes..." Theresa said as she looked down to her plate, her mother laughed sweetly, somewhat finding her daughter's response to her crushes name amusing.

"Don't worry Theresa, its not like Randy is getting stolen or something, just wait a little and muster the courage to talk to him." Theresa's mother suggested, Theresa nodded in response as she gave her mother a smile.

"Thanks mom..." Theresa said, having a slight pang of guilt due to lying to her own mother.

'Your mother is very smart Theresa, both in words, and in nutrition, roasted fish and steamed vegetables is very healthy especially when your the Oni Keeper, Fowler..." Shirokuma's comment made Theresa smile, except for the Oni Keeper part for it only reminded her of the situation at hand.

'Onee-chan, Kuma-sama is right, Mama-sama is great isn't she Onee-chan?' Kazeryu once again chimed in, Theresa sighed as she probably has to deal with more voices in her head now for she knows she has to find the other weapons of the Four Legendary Oni's

After dinner, Theresa went to her room, her guitar case containing an axe and a crossbow, she opened the guitar case, and picked out the axe of Shirokuma and the crossbow of Kazeryu, she set both weapons leaning on her dresser, Theresa once again sighed, she sat on her bed, her backpack beside her, she opened the backpack and picked out various pieces of homework and began to do them so at least she won't stress out about school while she has to deal with being the Oni Keeper.

While Theresa did her homework Kazeryu and Shirokuma occasionally chimed in with some banter that admittedly elated the Violet-haired Baton-twirler, and while Theresa was doing her homework she would ask the two Oni's several more questions that involve Oni's and various other things

"Shirokuma, you said that when Oni die they possess objects so they can get a second chance of living, did those two Oni's possess anything earlier today?" Theresa asked the two Oni's of the Legendary Four.

'Well, when we do our special attacks, like my Climax Chop and Kazeryu's Storm Bolt, Our weapons become hued with a powerful aura that is strong enough to have the possibility to completely destroy the spirit of the Oni, but like I said, its a possibility, so we still have to scan the area just in case if their was any good-to-possess objects nearby.' Shirokuma answered, wanting Kazeryu to relax for the Purple Dragon Oni disliked explaining and describing, especially if the subject is complicated.

"Did you made up that Oni Keeper title?" Theresa asked out of the bloom, silence began to envelop between the Violet-haired girl, the Golden Samurai Oni and the Purple Dragon Oni, but it was Kazeryu that chimed in to Theresa's question.

'Yes Onee-chan! Kuma-sama and I didn't even know that Oni Keeper was a thing!' Kazeryu said innocently, he earned a loud scoff from a arm-folding Shirokuma.

'We only had one body, so I made that whole Oni Keeper up, but that doesn't mean we can create the Oni keeper, and as of today, your two steps away from becoming the real Oni Keeper, Fowler.' Shirokuma said, albeit with a tone of embarrassment in his voice, something that the childish Kazeryu giggled at.

"Hah, I thought so, you didn't really explain what was an Oni Keeper to begin with, but that doesn't mean we can make your lie a reality Shiro." Theresa said, having some hopeful tone in her words.

'Exactly Fowler!' Shirokuma said, way less embarrassed than before, happy that someone is agreeing with him with something.

After Theresa was done doing her homework, she realized that it was about eight at night, so she literally have nothing else to do for the rest of the night, so she decided to spend the rest of the night with her mother for some quality family bonding time, for she left the Axe of Shirokuma and the Crossbow of Kazeryu back inside her room where they simply spoke to each other in silence while they waited for the Oni Keeper to get ready for school tomorrow.

Friday: Norrisville High

Theresa sighed as she placed her whole backpack into her locker, grabbing a couple of notebooks out of the backpack as she now has to place her backpack if she didn't want to be overburden with weight due to the addition to Kazeryu's crossbow in Theresa's guitar case which gives Theresa more reason not to open the guitar case from both having her secrets revealed and spilling out the contents of the guitar case.

'Onee-chan! Wasn't science class fun? And your Debbie-san friend is pretty short, is she a gnome?' Kazeryu chimed with his natural light and innocent voice, the sudden sound of the Purple Dragon Oni speaking made Theresa lightly jump, Theresa frowned at the semi-offensive name that Kazeryu gave to Theresa's best friend, Debbie Kang.

"She isn't a gnome at all, and she isn't really short, I'm just taller than the other girls..." Theresa responded as a way to defend her best friend, Kazeryu giggled childishly and said as if Theresa was just saying it sarcastically.

'Your so funny Onee-chan! Your just as tall as any other girl!' Theresa sighed once more, closing her locker once she got the books and notebooks that she needs to finish the rest of the school day prepared.

'Onee-chan, are you going to eat lunch today?' Kazeryu asked the Violet-haired girl, Shirokuma quickly answered Kazeryu's question.

'You probably will, won't you Fowler, if it means talking to Randall...' Shirokuma said with a loud scoff, Theresa glared at her guitar case and instinctively dropped the guitar case, causing both Shirokuma and Kazeryu to yelp in surprise.

'Why did you do that Onee-chan!?' Kazeryu said, his tone of voice being more betrayed and pained rather than anger, something that Theresa took notice.

"To teach Shirokuma something about manners in privacy." Theresa responded, this comment instantly made the Purple Dragon Oni to giggle innocently from Theresa's snarky comment, his mood went from being betrayed back to his upbeat and usual self.

'Hehe! Onee-chan is right Kuma-sama! You need to stop being so nosy!' Kazeryu said to Shirokuma, Theresa smile at Kazeryu's banter and at pointing out Shirokuma's flaws that he really does need to be point out if Theresa was being honest.

'What!? You were the one asking her if she was going to get lunch!' Shirokuma responded appalled due to being viewed as the one who has a problem.

'No no! I was just being interested in Onee-chan's activities! Big difference Kuma-san!' Kazeryu said, this only earned a frustrated groan from Shirokuma, Theresa giggled at Kazeryu's weird logic that has the ability to frustrate the usually stoic and gruff Shirokuma.

"To answer your question Kazeryu, I just going to go see Debbie and tell her something I probably should have told her as soon as possible." Theresa said to Kazeryu, Shirokuma was going to ask what was the something until he was shushed to oblivion by the Purple Dragon Oni.

'Debbie-san? Sounds fun Onee-chan!' Kazeryu said with a excited giggle,happy that he gets to see Theresa interact with her best friend.

"I hope it will be..." Theresa responded, his voice having a noticeable tone of nervousness.

Norrisville High: News Reporter Room.

Debbie Kang, editor/investigative reporter for the Norrisville High Gazette Times Tribune Weekly Daily Press Chronicle (NHGTTWDPC for short.) was busy looking at a bulletin board, not noticing her news reporter door being opened and Theresa entering inside with a guitar case containing something that wasn't a guitar case.

"Hey Debbie, are you alright?" Theresa said as Debbie only nodded in response, not wanting to break her stream of contemplation, Debbie quickly turned to another bulletin board containing multiple pictures of various students and a simple title on top of the bulletin board saying. 'Who's the Ninja?', several students had their pictures crossed out with a red X.

'She's seems quite...riveting...' Shirokuma chimed in somewhat slowly, Theresa took notice but ultimately ignored the Golden Oni, Debbie sighed loudly and spoke to her best friend.

'Why is Debbie-san is trying to find who Ninja-baka is? Ninja-baka is baka...Doesn't anyone else know that?' Kazeryu chimed in childishly so he can be heard.

'Wish you were here in Rengoku Onee-chan, Kuma-san is blushing when he saw Debbie-san! Guess he was sleeping during science class!' Kazeryu said with a childish giggle.

'I'm not blushing! And how do if I'm blushing if my face almost all covered by my handkerchief?'

"Need something Theresa? I kind of in the middle of something..." Debbie said, not wanting to break her concentration as she began to ponder on who could be the Ninja.

"And that something is?" Theresa asked, wanting to have more interactivity with her best friend, Debbie again sighed as she placed her hand to her face.

"Trying to find weed out the identity of the Ninja and trying to figure out who's that Golden Samurai identity is too." Debbie said as she got a red marker and marked Theresa's picture out, something that Theresa quickly took notice.

"Why did you cross my picture out?" Theresa asked Debbie, Debbie gave Theresa an honest smile and simply said.

"Because we're best friends, and you probably would tell me you were the Golden Samurai or the Ninja if you were." Theresa was very grateful to have Debbie as a friend when she said this very sincere line.

"Funny you should say that, I came to you to show you something..." Theresa said, this got Debbie's full attention, she gave her best friend a suspicious look, silence began to envelop the two friends, the Oni coughed loudly but it was Theresa that only heard the coughs, basically giving her a sign that she should probably explain herself. Theresa showed Debbie her guitar case and before Debbie could say something sarcastic and full of snark.

Theresa quickly opened the guitar case, revealing to Debbie the Golden Axe of Shirokuma and the Purple Crossbow of Kazeryu, Debbie gasped as she looked at the two weapons that was previously seen by two Oni's that fought yesterday and the day before that, but before Debbie could say anything she was once again interrupted by Theresa's actions, Theresa quickly grabbed the Axe of Shirokuma, golden streams of energy began to course out of the axe and it quickly covered Theresa's whole entire body, after several seconds of her body being completely basked in an aura of gold, a flash of light occurred, when the flash of light dissipated what appeared instead of Theresa was the Golden Samurai Oni, Shirokuma, Debbie looked at the newly-appeared Shirokuma in awe, Shirokuma scoffed lightly at Debbie's surprised expression as he dropped the guitar case for which Kazeryu's crossbow was still inside.

"My strength will make you...Realize that Theresa Fowler is the body I use to appear in physical form." Shirokuma said as Debbie walked close to the Golden Samurai wanting some answers

"What do you mean by that?" Debbie asked as she pulled out a notepad and a pencil and readied herself to write.

"Well, my race, Oni...We originally came from corrupted animals, when we take fatal damage we possess objects so we can possess animals and occasionally humans so we can fight once more, unlike the others, I fight to protect people like you." Shirokuma said with a nod, he was thanking his fashion sense for his handkerchief is covering his blush that is caused by having to interact with other people not out of his request or willingness, Theresa did grabbed his axe after all.

"So you possess Theresa so you can basically replace her, where does she go?" Debbie asked as she jotted down several lines most likely containing Shirokuma's words

"Someplace called Rengoku, she basically replaces my spot as a spirit." Shirokuma answered, his voice noticeably faltering in terms of gruffness and sternness, something that Debbie noticed.

"So, Shirokuma, I'm assuming I'm the first person that Theresa told, wasn't I?" Debbie asked, a smug smile on her face.

"You are her Best friend, and like you said, she'd probably tell you a secret like this if she was the secret..." Shirokuma said as he folded his arms, angling his axe so he fold his arms and wield his axe with one hand.

"And I'm assuming the crossbow contains that Purple guy right that was in the city yesterday right?" Debbie asked as she pointed at the crossbow that was in the guitar case, Shirokuma nodded in response.

"Yes, his name is Kazeryu, Purple Dragon Oni, he is pleased to meet you." Shirokuma answered as Kazeryu giggled due to Shirokuma saying the right thing.

Meanwhile in Mcfist Industries

The elevator door to Mcfist's personal office opened, robo-apes that held many cages containing animals came out of the elavator door, they presented the many cages to the Sorcerer's vision bubble, he inspected various amounts of animals, most of them were common birds, some of them were common small barn animals like piglets and chickens, others were slightly big insects like cockroaches and crane flies, none of them were acceptable for they were only to become as strong as a common foot soldier Oni. He needs something stronger, like bears, dragons, or generally something bigger than common farm animals or vermin.

"I do not need things such as swine or birds, I need something better!" The Sorcerer said as the robo-apes grabbed the various cages and containers and went back to the elevator to collect more. Hannibal and Viceroy yelled at their robots to go deeper out of Norrisville to find more different animals besides rats and birds, that is until that elevator door closed, presumably for someone at the bottom level for it took several minutes for the elevator door to open once more.

Inside of the elevator was a Robo-ape wearing a brown-wide brim hat and had a bison on a leash, the Robo-ape led the bison to the Sorcerer's view, this got the Sorcerer's attention. The Sorcerer looked at the bison in a perplexed way, he notice how tall and how big the bison is, it huffed loudly as it only stare with very docile eyes

"What is this creature?" The Sorcerer asked the Robo-ape that brought the Bison in.

"This is a Bison, it weighs about a ton, it can push the same amount and it can go into an unstoppable range when its angry." The Robo-ape said as the Bison only huffed out in response, not being able to comprehend any word the two spoke. The Sorcerer looked at the docile animal with a wide and sinister grin.

"I like the words you describe it..." The Sorcerer said as the Robo-ape nodded in response.

"I also got several more animals you may find interest in..." The Robo-ape said, this got the Sorcerer even more interested.

"Name's Bertram by the way..." The Robo-ape now known as Bertram said as he tipped his brown-wide brim hat.

"Alright then Bertram, show the other animals you brought me..." The Sorcerer said, Bertram only nodded as went back into the elevator. After several minutes, Bertram brought in several more animals one by one, and he showed off each and every one of them to the Sorcerer.

"This is a Rattlesnake, don't let its size fool you, its bite is poisonous and is extremely cunning." Bertram said as the rattlesnake coiled itself onto its arm, shaking its tail when it looked at Hannibal and Viceroy.

"This is a Bighorn, its like a goat except a lot more aggressive and much bigger horns." Bertram pointed at the sleeping Bighorn, who was almost as big as the bison it slept next to.

"And finally, this is a Mountain Lion, fast, decisive, violent and ferocious..." Bertram pointed at the Mountain Lion who was busy growling at various nearby Robo-apes

"Are you pleased with these animals Master?" The Robo-ape, the Sorcerer laughed and said in a very pleased tone.

"Of course I am, these four, these four will be my Oni lieutenants, something that can destroy the Ninja and the Oni that help him." The Sorcerer said with a laugh.

"Don't worry you four, this will only sting for a little bit..." The Sorcerer as streams of green magic began to creep out of various vents and cracks, the four animals didn't realize what happened before it was too late.