SPIRITS CHAPTER PART 2: ZENNIN

It'd been a week since Shinichi began his training under Gokuaku. The spars with the Oni-like spirit of the Oni no Hone were starting to effect Shinichi's sleep. He was getting used to it but his mother was worried about his constant tossing and turning as well as the exhaustion she'd seen on his face. He finally found time to see Warren on Sunday evening.

"So, a demon is plaguing your nightmares?" Warren summarised after Shinichi had told him about his dreams. They were in Warren's apartment, sitting across from each other in the living room.

"Not exactly," Shinichi answered, "He claims to be the spirit of the Oni no Hone and after nearly being burnt, electrocuted, and blown away I actually believe him. He's been showing up to tell me that he has to train me so I can learn to use his power. Unfortunately, even if I get enough sleep, I feel tired."

"Have you told him this?" asked Warren.

"I try, but he calls me a sissy and forces me to fight!" Shinichi shot back.

"Hang in there, kid," said Warren, leaning over to put a hand on Shinichi's shoulder. "But I gotta admit that you do need to learn how to access your full potential. You got a lot of power in you."

"I was made that way," Shinichi said bitterly. "Gebok made me to be the best."

"No," Warren denied, "What Gebok did was give you your powers, but what makes you the best is you." He added, "The next time you face Gokuaku, give it your all. Once you do, it'll get easier. You might actually get a good night's sleep this time."

Shinichi appeared in the field of his dream world again. He looked around, shouting, "Oi, Gokuaku! I'm here again and this time I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Gokuaku's not here right now," a voice said from behind Shinichi. Freaked, the Kamen Rider yelped as he scrambled away. The owner of the voice laughed. His entire head, save for one eye, was covered in bandages, and he wore a metallic vest over a ninja uniform. Strapped to his back was a sword. Holding his gut, he laughed harder, pointing at Shinichi, "You should've seen the look on your face."

After he recovered, Shinichi glared at the bandaged ninja. "Who are you supposed to be? A Japanese Ninja Mummy?" Shinichi asked.

"Oh, I'm called Zennin. I'm the spirit of-"

"The Kage no Hoshi," Shinichi finished.

"Oh? How did you guess?" Zennin replied.

Shinichi pointed and answered, "The ninja gear is a dead giveaway. Now I'm starting to feel like Scrooge when he was visited by those spirits in 'A Christmas Carol'." Shinichi asked, "So, where's Gokuaku?"

"Oh, he's taking a break right now. Tonight, I'll be your trainer. But first," Zennin snapped his fingers and Shinichi's clothes turned into a black ninja uniform, "You need to look the part."

"Nice and comfy," appraised Shinichi. There were several pouches strapped his belt. He opened them up and saw kunai, shuriken, and smoke bombs. "What? No sword?"

"That's my weapon," said Zennin as he drew out his sword. "Now, let's see if you're cut out to use my powers, or if you'll be cut up." Zennin laughed.

"Funny," Shinichi deadpanned.

The following day, on the walk to school, Mion asked Shinichi, "So, did Gokuaku pay you a visit again last night?"

Yawning, Shinichi answered, "Not this time. This time a ninja mummy did."

"Did you say a 'ninja mummy'?" Keiichi responded.

"Yup, and I thought Gokuaku was crazy."

"Oh, I just remembered," said Mion. She then handed him a few sheets of paper. "Here, notes on the Oni no Hone I managed to scribble down."

"Thanks," said Shinichi. "Too bad we can't ask Kimiyoshi about the Kage no Hoshi."

"I have those records," Rika answered. "Maybe we can go to the shrine to check them out, later."

"Great," answered Shinichi. He yawned.

"How long do you think you can keep this up?" Satoshi asked, worried. Shinichi was over-working himself in his sleep.

"As long as it takes," Shinichi answered. He had to become stronger.

In Shinichi's dream world it was dark and he was in a forest. He had a kunai gripped tightly in his hand as he surveyed his surrounding. "OK, Zennin. I know you're out there!" Zennin had hidden himself in the forest. Shinichi was supposed to find him. However, Zennin proved to be really good at hiding.

Suddenly, several shuriken flew at Shinichi and he rolled out of the way. This was followed by a kunai and Shinichi jumped away as the weapon imbedded into the ground. "That confirms he's here," murmured Shinichi.

"Yes, and nearby," Zennin whispered into his ear. Shinichi yelped and jumped away from Zennin, whirling around to face him. Zennin drew his sword and charged, swinging at Shinichi who leant backwards to avoid being decapitated. He recovered quickly and used a roundhouse to his Zennin in the stomach, only for Zennin to vanish in a puff of smoke. "A clone!" Shinichi realised.

"That's right, and lots more where that came from!" Zennin crowed as he and a dozen clones came out of hiding.

"Oh, crap," Shinichi gulped.

At school, Chie-sensei caught Shinichi sleeping and woke him up. Instead of punishing him, the kind teacher asked, "Are you feeling alright, Banabara-kun? You've been looking very exhausted these past few days."

"Just have trouble sleeping, Chie-sensei," he answered as he rubbed his eyes.

"Go to the bathroom and splash water on your face," she suggested. "That should freshen you up."

Shinichi blanched when she mentioned 'splashing'. "Hai," nodded Shinichi as he dragged himself out of class to the bathroom. He stood at the sink and splashed himself with water. He looked up at the mirror and saw the dark rings under his eyes. "Great…I'm starting to look like a panda."

Usually, in one's own dream world one had control. However, Shinichi was not in control of his dream world. Zennin was.

"OK, try and walk on water," said Zennin who was standing in the middle of a lake after walking upon the surface. Earlier, they had tried the tree-walking exercise and Shinichi kept falling until he finally got it. However, Zennin had scolded him for the way he did it. What Shinichi had done was run up the tree. Zennin wanted Shinichi to walk up the surface of the tree with only his feet and focus energy onto his feet in order to do so. Now, Zennin was going to use a water-walking exercise.

Shinichi looked at the lake and nodded. He put his foot in…and fell in.

"This is going to be a long night…" muttered Zennin as Shinichi splashed around.

"So, what's new in the dream world?" asked Shion as they had lunch together as a group.

"I will never see toads the same way again," Shinichi answered, an image coming back to haunt him and causing him to shudder.

"Why not? They are so kawaii!" said Rena.

"Not the one I dreamt about," said Shinichi. "It ate me and I saw what a toad looked like on the inside." He shuddered. "It was not a pleasant experience."

Shinichi's eyes went wide as his mouth gape open. He was staring directly at a giant toad with Zennin sitting on its head. "Wha…?"

"OK, Shinichi! I want you to run and dodge, starting now!" A tongue shot out of the toad's mouth and nearly hit Shinichi. "What are you waiting for? RUN!"

Shinichi ran as the toad hopped after him. It shot its tongue at him and he narrowly avoided becoming its next meal. He came upon the lake and gulped. Focusing, he ran along the surface with ease. However, the toad still managed to leap over the lake and land in front of Shinichi, causing a slight quake as it landed. It turned around and shot its tongue at Shinichi. The tongue stuck onto him and pulled him into its mouth and down its throat into his stomach.

Zennin sighed, "Now I have to save him." He hopped off his toad and made a gesture for it to open its mouth.

Once again, Shinichi had to withdraw from club activities to get some rest. Accompanying him home was Rena. However, instead of going straight to his house, they took a detour to the junkyard. He lay inside her van as she lay next to him, cuddling against him.

"You need to sleep, Shin-kun," she said.

"I've been sleeping," he told her, "Unfortunately, I have an Oni and a Ninja Mummy in my head now."

"What else did they make you do?"

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" asked Kamen Rider ZX as he sat on a log with Shinichi.

"ZX-sempai, is Zennin crazy?" Shinichi asked.

"Well, I guess, 'but no pain, no gain'," quoted ZX.

"But this is really cutting into my sleep time," said Shinichi.

"Aren't you already asleep?" ZX pointed out.

"Yeah, but this 'dream-training' still tuckers me out," said Shinichi, "And if he's anything like Gokuaku, he's gonna be doing this for a whole week."

"You got used to Gokuaku. You'll get used to this guy," said ZX, a hand on Shinichi's shoulder.

"Thank you, ZX-sempai." Shinichi rose to his feet. "Alright, time to continue my training-WARGH!" Shinichi had sunk into the ground so suddenly, leaving his head on the surface. "What the hell!"

Zennin burst out of the ground, laughing, "Never, ever let your guard down! That's another ninja rule!"

"OK, noted," Shinichi agreed, "NOW GET ME OUT OF HERE!"

"He also made me climb trees with only my feet and also walk on water," Shinichi added.

"No wonder you're so tired," said Rena.

"If this goes on, I might have to quit my paper delivery job just to get more time to sleep," said Shinichi.

"Then why don't you?" asked Rena.

"I don't want to give up a part of my normal life," Shinichi answered. "But I still like to sleep."

Rena rolled over on top of him and looked into his eyes. "Then let Rena help."

Minutes later, the van was rocking back and forth while yells and moans were coming out of it.

"Yes! Yes! Shin-kun! Yes, that's it! Oh! Oh yes! YES!"

"Rena-chan! Oh! RENA-CHAN!"

"SHIN-KUN!"

"RENA-CHAN!"

"SHIN-KUN!"

Then…silence…

Another week went by and again it was Sunday. Fortunately, Shinichi was getting used to the dream training after several more sessions with Zennin. He found a solution. He just had to sleep early so he had more time and energy. Now, in his bed, he closed his eyes and prepared himself for another gruelling training session with either Gokuaku or Zennin.

Back in his dream world, Shinichi grimaced as he found himself facing both Gokuaku and Zennin. Both were grinning, though it was not visible on Zennin's face, given he had bandages wrapped all over his head and face.

"So, had fun?" Zennin teased.

"Shut up!" Shinichi snapped. "So, did you guys come to train me?"

"We've decided to give you a week off to get some rest," answered Gokuaku. Shinichi blinked.

"Really?" the Rider uttered.

"Yup," nodded Zennin. "It wouldn't do you much good if you collapse while on duty or at school. So, we're going to give you a week to get some well-earned rest."

"Even if you haven't come close to mastering our abilities, you are getting there," said Gokuaku.

"Wow, thanks, guys," said Shinichi gratefully.

"Just don't expect the same mercy from the spirit of the Higurashi no Yaiba," Zennin warned.

Shinichi gulped, paling. He remembered there was a pattern. Sooner or later he was going to meet the Higurashi no Yaiba's spirit. "How bad is he?"

"He's obsessed with rules and discipline," answered Zennin. "So, he's gonna work you into the ground."

"I was afraid of that," muttered Shinichi.

"Well, enjoy your resting period. You're going to need it when you face him," said Gokuaku.

"Why can't I have any normal dreams?" Shinichi asked no one in particular.

KR Chrome: Well, Shinichi gets a whole week of rest so he can have enough energy to face the spirit of the Higurashi no Yaiba. How does he deal with that guy? Who knows? This chap was short but I got my point across. Next chap will be coming soon.