Kurotame sat in a large, brightly lit room high atop his throne. His eyes were glazed over from lack of sleep, while his robe flowed around him in small swirls as if in direct reflection of his mood. Suddenly, the door to the throne room burst open, revealing a heavyset monster, half crow and half human, who was clearly out of breath.
"Akitora" Kurotame acknowledged his servant. "What news have you brought us?"
"The preparations have been completed, my lord." Akitora reported. "Your tournament may proceed at your command."
"Excellent." Kurotame replied with a mischievous grin. "We will begin at sunrise on getsuyobë." The servant gave his master a low bow before leaving to execute the orders. Kurotame dimmed the lights and began mumbling quietly under his breath. A misty image appeared before his of Donatello Hamato and his family in their kitchen.
"I see great things for you, little kappa." He muttered. "You are the only one who can change this world of ours, if it is to be changed at all. And if that means that I must perish, than so be it." He ran to the door and flung it open with a shout, dispersing the picture behind him.
"Assemble the contestants! The competition will soon commence!"
~I\I~
Donnie ran through the cool night air of New York City with a content smile on his face. Usually, he didn't like going on patrol. He would much rather sit in his lab and make some much-needed progress on one of his many projects. However; tonight's patrol proved to be a remedy for the stress caused by his recent nightmares. Everything was going great until they ran into a gang of street thugs spray-painting the side of one of the apartments. Leo motioned for them to hide in the shadows. They would spring on the gang when the time proved right. Donnie froze when the leader turned his head, seeming to lock eyes with Donnie's own.
That's not possible. We should be completely invisible to normal humans.
"I know you're out there, mutant freaks!" the thug called out.
What?
"If you don't show yourselves within the next two minutes, I will just have to reveal you myself."
"He has to be bluffing." Leo whispered.
"I'm not sure, bro." Mikey said. "He looks pretty serious to me."
"Just stay quiet, we'll see if I'm right or not." The time crawled by as the turtles sat and waited in silence. When the two minutes had passed, the boy once again turned towards their hiding place.
"Alright, if that's how you want to play, then so be it." He shrugged, pulling out a small pouch and thrusting his hand inside. When it reappeared, he had a chain clutched tightly in his fist. The pendant on it shown a bright crimson, and was shaped like a large crescent moon. He clipped it around his neck and closed his eyes. When they reopened, they were as red as the moon on his necklace. His teeth lengthened, and a slimy forked tongue poked out from between his lips. The turtles looked on in horror. All but Donnie, who surprised Leo from behind with a sharp, raspy hiss.
Leo turned to face his brother, but found him gone.
"Leave… NOW!" came a familiar cry from below. Donnie was engaged in heated battle against the transformed figure, having taken on a transformation of his own. Donnie's eyes were also blood red, his canines lengthened and sharp, and his tongue appearing thin and forked. As they fought, the gang leader seemed to be laughing.
"I knew I could lead you out of hiding!" The boy cried as he dodged another of Donnie's attacks. "Fledgling Isa Onna are so territorial." Leo's eyes widened.
Isa Onna? But that's a monster from one of Sensei's Japanese folk books! Is this guy from Japan?
Suddenly, the figure grabbed Donnie's bo and twisted, sending the poor turtle crashing to the ground. Donnie proceeded to struggle, but couldn't get free. He tried to snap at the person above him.
"Now be nice, little yokai." the boy tsked. "Once your guards come out of hiding, we can all talk together.
~I\I~
The three remaining turtles were sitting in front of the gang leader, there eyes narrowed and cautionary. Donatello lied restrained behind them, glaring at their guest from over Leo's shoulder.
"Who are you?" Leo demanded. "What do you want with us?" The boy put a hand up to his chest and smiled.
"You may call me Lord Sakebi, or Sakebi if you prefer. I have come at Lord Kurotame's request to escort you to the city of the Yokai." Donnie's head perked up, his eyes having reverted back to normal.
"How do you know Kurotame?"
Leo turned to face him, his face marred in confusion. "You know who this stranger is talking about, Don?" Donnie nodded.
"He's been in several of my dreams lately, always giving me either advice or warnings. What does Kurotame want now?"
"He has recruited you all to participate in the Yūrei no toraiaru, a series of competitions to test the might of the world's greatest hyakki yakös. I personally don't know why Kurotame is so adamant to have you join us. All I see before me is a band of misfit kappa and a completely inexperienced Isa Onna."
"What in the world are you talking about?" Raph growled. "And what in shell's a hyakki yakö?" Sakebi laughed.
"You are all far more pathetic than I realized! A hyakki yakö is a japanese army of one-hundred demons, or yokai, though I've never seen anyone actually reach one-hundred. Now, we really must be on our way. The Lord of Pandemonium is waiting." Sakebi stood and drew a small baton from his belt. When he moved it downwards, a rip opened, allowing the turtles to see the strange world on the other side.
"Follow me, kappa." Sakebi called as he stepped through the portal. The turtles shot glances at one another, shrugged, and raced after their guide, leaving the familiar world of New York City behind.
~I\I~
They re-emerged on the other side of the portal into a world of madness and chaos.
"Welcome to the world of the yokai, Aokigahara!" Sakebi called, gesturing all around him. He leaned in close to Donatello. "Beware, it may end up your final resting place." The party approached the doors of an enormous castle. Sakebi pushed them open with a mighty shove.
"Welcome, kappa warriors!" called a familiar voice from inside. Sitting on the throne was the bane of Donatello's dreams himself, Lord Kurotame. The lord smiled down at them.
"Good. Now the competition can finally begin." Without being given time for questions, the turtles were forced into a large dining area filled with thousands of yokai. They were being filed towards a large blue machine, which let out a loud call as they approached.
"Shioto Kagami." It called. "Lord of the Kyoto sector. Aotabo." The line inched forward until it was finally their party's turn to step inside. Sakebi was first. He walked up to the machine before shooting them a small smile.
"Well, here goes nothing!" he called. The device enclosed over him, and a few minutes later it blared out it's call.
"Sakebi Hiromoto, Lord of the Chicago sector, Isa Onna."
The device turned back around, but just as Raph was about to enter, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"What do you think this will say about us?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "I mean, I know we aren't exactly normal, but I feel this is going a little too far."
"I'll be fine, Fearless Leader." Raph assured, brushing off Leo's hand. "See you on the other side." He stepped into the machine, as the others waited in anticipation.
"Hamato Raphael." the voice suddenly crowed. "Warrior of the New York sector, Kappa, Hinotama." Donnie took a few steps back, frightened.
"Ooh! Me next!" shouted Mikey, rushing into the device.
"No! Mikey wait!" The two remaining brothers held their breathe as the machine closed its door on the youngest.
"Hamato Michelangelo, Scout of the New York Sector, Kappa, Enenra."
Donnie gave Leo a small, hesitant smile.
"I guess it's my turn now." he whispered.
"Don't worry, Lord Donatello." Kurotame's voice emanated from inside Donnie's head. "Everything will be alright." Donnie took a slow, deep breath, before stepping inside the machine. Blackness enveloped him as he seemed to step into a different, but strangely familiar world.
~I\I~
He was sitting in an old japanese styled room on his knees. In front of him, a traditional sakazuki filled with saké was set up. Further in front of that sat Raphael. Donnie wanted to say something, but his throat seemed to close up. His body responded without thought, going through what seemed to be some sort of ceremony. He took a sip of the saké, and then gave the bowl to Raph, who also took a sip from it. Then Raphael got up, bowed, and left. Leo came in next, dressed in a long white and blue hakama. He bowed low to Donnie before the ceremony took place once more. Mikey came in after Leo, completing the ritual before leaving with a barely hidden grin on his face.
The scene shifted until they were all on the battlefield. Donnie could feel power coursing through him, and he felt his mind give way to what seemed like a different conscious. He commanded his army now, his very own hyakki yakö. His team had grown so much in strength, despite being the smallest army on the battlefield. He had made his way through the masses until he caught sight of his target, the current ruler of the Tokyo sector. Donnie felt himself raise his naginata high.
I will be the Lord of Pandemonium!
At last, the battle had been won. Donatello sat in a familiar throne in Aokigahara, surrounded by his clan. He was distressed. No yokai in their right mind would dare let a small, innocent-looking kappa rule over them uncontested. There would be more war, and there would be more blood! A loud bang shook the walls of the castle as the doors shot open. A small robed figure walked in. Under the cover of his hood, Donnie could see a pair of glowing, red eyes.
"I see that you have won the throne, Lord Donatello." The being spat the words out in disgust. "I have come to give you my congratulations and a warning."
"What is this?" Donnie cried. "Leonardo, Raphael, attend me at once!" The monster hissed.
"Your troubles have not yet ended, my lord. They have only just begun!" With that, he held out a gnarled, bony hand, its finger pointing at Donnie in an accusatory manner. "Let's return you to your rightful place, filthy kappa!" Donnie tried to scream, but once again the sound caught in his throat. He watched as his friends poured into the room, only to be caught by the mysterious stranger's spell. There was a loud pop, and the lord Donatello found himself falling through an endless abyss.
~I\I~
The device crashed down around him, nearly knocking Donnie out in the process. He scrambled out of the way just as the final supports gave out. As the dust cleared, all that remained was a pile of rubble.
"Hamato Donatello." the speaker croaked softly. "Lord of the New York sector. Kappa, Isa Onna…" The voice cut off. The rest of the yokai looked to Kurotame, worry and fear evident in their eyes. He chuckled lowly under his breath.
"Escort the contestants to their rooms." he commanded. "The Yūrei no toraiaru begins tomorrow!"
Yūrei no toraiaru - lit. "Trials of the Ghosts" in Japanese
sakazuki - A flat, saucer like cup.
Aotabo - A strong yokai, typically a priest in an iron robe.
Hinotama - A japanese fire demon.
Enenra - A japanese smoke demon.
getsuyobë - Monday
Isa Onna - A japanese vampire.
I hope everyone is having fun reading this story. If you would like, you can try to guess at what yokai Donnie and Leo are. You'll see why I didn't give them away later. :) Until next time, happy reading!