The Sinner and the Saint

by Vergil Creiger

A Saint, patron of murderers and with a history steeped in blood. A Sinner, her soul a graveyard of demons and Malice. Pursued by madmen, they stand alone against the darkness. Alone, but for eachother.

6. Ghost Ship

Chapter 6

He awoke on the road to hell, a butchered corpse sitting on a colossal vulpine skull. The Fox had waited for his young soul to catch up, bound to him even in death. Around them massed a great crowd; a throng of sinners, ended by the very demon they now followed into perdition. The boy sat cross leggedas the massive skeleton reared up. Despite the dizzying movement he did not budge, perched unmoving as though a fixture on its crown. The Nine Tails was as aimless and blind as the dead that followed it, requiring as they did some direction, some pointing of the way. For their minds - human and demon both - were gone.

But not his.

His hate remained intact.

They walked and walked, until the barren plains of limbo gave way to a long, narrow road that extended unsupported over an endless chasm. As the procession became thinner and longer, adapting to the new passage, a huge mouth came into view. A gateway, wrought in black metal, shaped like a despairing demonic face. The immense crooked teeth yawned wider to accommodate the demon lord's bulk, the empty sockets above seeming victorious in their hopelessness. From within he heard the crackling, roaring flames, and the howls of the damned, and from time to time a screeching laughter that never came from man.

He didn't care.

The Nine Tails stepped over the threshold, carrying its former jailer with it. The barren road gave way to a path paved with burning skulls, and a great wail chilled his back as the army of lost souls trod also upon it. As the last screaming deadman entered the realm, the gate clanged shut behind him. A swarm of monsters, winged, fanged, taloned, scaled, screeching, howling monsters arrived in a great cloud of evil. One by one the dead were carried off;to see sights, to hear truths,to have their sin gutted from them and fed back as venom for the rest of time.

The whispering, giggling things left him 'til last. He felt the horror touch him, and he knew his time had come. In the demon's eyes the boy saw madness. In the boy's eyes the demon saw nothing. It jerked back and clutched itself - as though cold - and fled. Its fellows followed, and the boy retained his perch as the Fox strode ever further into the blaze. Only the dead, it seemed, would dare to meet his gaze. Perhaps because they had nothing left to lose? Every man he and the demon had ever sent there came to stare, and even he was given cause to wonder...

Did we really kill so many?

For they soon mounted up, the ninja and the villagers, the Uchiha and the Senju, the crowd that had attacked him in his last moments, the children and carers of the orphanage he had burned down when he was five for kicking him out, the crueler abusers that he had poisoned or throttled or cut-throat as they slept, the teacher who had broken into his apartment and pushed him down before he bit his throat out, the fools and drunks and mourners and all the others who died by his hand. Even without the multitude brought by the Fox they soon mounted up. And maybe his greatest sin had been that. To regard death so lightly.

If it was, it did not matter now. They rode on, untouched by damned or demon, for word was spreading of their passing. He saw horrors beyond words and sinners beyond number, though one or two he recognized; faces from his childhood he thought had died with honor, women he had judged of virtue, even a worthy enemy or two from the many he had inherited from his prisoner.

Yet all were there. This was, indeed, Hell.

The great white bones of the defeated Nine Tails sank into the inferno that birthed it, to hibernate, to restore its sundered flesh, to claw its way back to life and eventually ravage the world once more. And as the boy stood alone amidst the flames, the inferno, the suffering, that was when it began to happen.

He felt something warm on his cold, cold cheek. It had begun to snow.

The Saint snorted awake. He could feel it, a slow sway as the boat bobbed senilely through the water. His hat had covered his face as he slept, and as he pushed it back into its rightful place the first thing he saw was a panel of wood right in front of him, for he was on the top bunk. It was very old and very solid. The blankets had itched so he simply lay on top of the covers, but the mattress was comfy enough. As for what had woken him...

"Ugh..." The Saint rolled off the bed and landed on his feet. There was nothing covering the floorboards, so he landed smoothly. In the bottom bunk, Hinata lay sprawled on her front. Like him, she had slept in her clothes. "Ugh..." she said again.

"Are you alright?"

There was a very long pause, then-

"...No..."

Her voice was muffled by the ratty pillow pressed to her face, and the Saint tried very hard not to laugh. "But you seem a little better than before. At least you can talk now."

"I-I guess," she agreed unsteadily. "Oh god, this isn't right! Do boats always rock like this?"

The Saint nodded, then felt stupid when he realized she couldn't see. "Why don't you try going out on deck? The fresh air might do you some good."

Hinata lay where she was for a long moment before responding. "Uh... yeah... maybe I'll try that."

She rose to her feet, relying heavily on the bed frame for support. "Maybe I should come with you," said the Saint, this time in genuine concern. "You still look pretty shaky."

"No, no," gasped Hinata, doing her best impression of a smile. "I'll be fine." She trudged lifelessly up the stairs leading away from the room, the worried face of the Saint of Killers spurring her onwards. The weather was dark and cloudy, so much so that she couldn't tell if it was day or night. The deck of the barge was as old and weathered as its interior, but in a reliable way. The door to their quarters faced the stern. The second mate, a shabbily dressed woman with a blonde ponytail leaned against the railing. She didn't notice Hinata right away, as she was writing intensely in a small notebook.

"...the male subject also appears to be utterly invincible." she was muttering to herself. "He would make an excellent research subject. The female companion also wields unusual forces. In the future, our country must-"

"Yo," croaked Hinata as the she petered off. "What about the future?"

"HOLY SHIT!" the girl screamed, almost jumping out of her skin in fright. "Were you eavesdropping on me you nosy bitch!"

"Uuuurgh..." groaned Hinata, too sick to get even get angry. "What (hrk) what're you writing?"

The girl froze, too frightened to remember it was none of Hinata's business and too surprised to come up with a decent lie. "Huh? Y-you mean this? This ol' thing? T-this is just... my diary! Yes, that's exactly what this is! I just thought I'd write down every detail of this exciting adventure we're on! Great idea, no?" The Harmonixer was silent for a long moment, and the girl was certain she'd call bullshit.

"I... couldn't... care... less..." she ground out. "Hrrrkkkk!"

"Eeeewww!" squealed the girl, backing off as the other woman doubled over. "Don't you dare throw up on me! Don't you fucking dare!"

"Nnnngh..." The strained, revolted swallow seemed echo through the night air.

"Urgh! Don't swallow it!"

"Uuugh..." Hinata groaned, ignoring the unsympathetic bimbo. "I'm done for, done for I tell you."

"Whatever, just go away and lie down, you filthy, disgusting hobo!" Hinata tipped her over the railing, then stumbled deliriously across the deck. She eventually landed on a particularly slimy section of board and lay there for a moment as the world stopped spinning.

She had managed to position herself directly outside the captain's cabin, though she couldn't remember if it'd been on purpose. "Hullo?" she groaned, slumping against the door. "Anyone in there?"

The duo within didn't hear her. Chojuro was manning the wheel, while Mei was at the back of the room at a battered desk. She was resting with her elbows on the table and her chin was in her hands. She was staring vacantly into space, giving Chojuro the disconcerting sensation that she was staring at his ass. Both were wearing their smuggler disguises.

"It's gotten foggy," Mei observed finally.

"Yes," nodded Chojuro. "But not to worry, the boat is sailing smoothly." A few moments of silence passed and he pressed a button, locking the wheel in place. "But you know, I really didn't think we'd actually have it this easy. You really are incredible ma'am. They think we're their own personal couriers. From the Mist, we just load them onto the special charter and rush them off to the capital."

Mei smiled behind her raised hands. When people spouted crap like this they were either trying to get into her good books or hiding insults behind their words. Chojuro, however, spoke from genuine admiration. She'd never admit it, but she was rather starting to like him. "We can't let our guard down. These people butchered the soldiers from the TAC."

"Yes, well, I heard about that incident too..." He seemed to be fighting for the right words. "But they're such nice people. They're so friendly and open, and the blonde man was looking at pictures of kittens that one little girl brought with her..."

As it turned out the targets had made no secret of how they intended to escape, and brought a large crowd of people wanting to illegally immigrate to the Hidden Mist. To keep their cover they had allowed the highest payers on board; sure they had made a fair bit cash, but it was still going to be embarrassing explaining themselves once they made port.

Hinata and the Saint of Killers had laughed themselves sick when they'd found out. Literally, in Hinata's case.

"...I mean, just look at how he's been taking care of the girl who's been sick ever since we left port."

"Don't be fooled. He is a killer who has murdered over two hundred in Wave alone. Though I think in the case of the TAC it was the other one, Hinata, who did the butchering." She trailed off, staring into space once more. "...Chojuro?"

"Y-yes?"

"I wanted to see them for myself. To see them both with my own eyes. I assume you have heard of the old man that continues to plot against the Mist?"

"Yes," nodded Chojuro, moving a little closer. "I don't know all the details, but Danzo seems to be a warlock with the powers of an adept."

"Correct. Thanks to him we are having great difficulty maintaining total power over the Village." Mei began to chuckle, and Chojuro realized she enjoyed the challenge that Danzo represented. "He's a sharp old scoundrel, that Danzo. They say he tried the ultimate Taoist magic twenty years ago, and almost blew Fire Country to bits."

Now that didn't sound good. "R-really?"

Mei shrugged. "Who knows? It could just be an exaggeration, something my father let slip when he was drunk. Apparently a nin in Leaf black ops just barely managed to stop the ritual at the last moment."

"I... I had no idea."

"I don't know how much of it is true, but I think at least some part of it really happened." Mei's lip began to curl. "The bloated desk jockeys we take our orders from don't have a clue about the size of this country. They know even less about the teeming varieties of people and ways of thinking here. This 'Utopia' we're pushing..." She looked him in the eye. "...Is nothing more than a dirty trick, shrouded with a cute name. Even I am just a cog in this machine, helping it move ever onward." Mei walked to the window and looked out at the ugly weather, so she didn't have to see his face. "The people here are victims of politics. All they really want to do is get on with their lives. It's no surprise this land would attract a warlock like Danzo; at least he make things interesting."

Chojuro waited a while before replying. "Ma'am, what do you think the connection is between Danzo and the Saint of Killers?"

She dodged the question, as he expected her too. "Ah, forgive me for going on and on. It's just boring talk."

She raised an eyebrow when he snapped to attention. "Not at all ma'am! I always like t-to hear your thoughts!"

"...You're a funny fellow aren't you?" said Mei, giving him a warm, genuine smile. "Fine, let's get back to the subject at hand. I've been tracking Danzo for a long time; eventually, I learned of a man he was desperate to catch."

"The Saint?"

"Yes. He possesses a unique power, even Tsuji met his death when they encountered one another. Danzo will stop at nothing to get him. If used properly, he shall be a great asset to the Mist offensive. I wish to find out if he shall be a help or hindrance in the eventual invasion of the mainland."

"A Hidden Mist offensive," murmured Chojuro speculatively. "So Water can take back the mainland." He cocked his head to one side. "Is that your real objective, ma'am?"

She simply laughed.

"Urgh," groaned Hinata, who had been slumped against the door the entire time drifting in and out of consciousness. "Wha' th' fu' 're ya sayin'." she slurred unintelligibly. When she eventually realized they couldn't hear her through the door, Hinata hauled herself to her feet and lurched once more across the deck. Though the barge was fairly large, it had only three rooms. One for the captain, which was also where the wheel and navigational tools were kept, one for the crew, which was where she and the Saint had been bunking, and one for the cargo, which was where the refugees had been staying.

It was to this last place that Hinata directed herself. The hold was large and without furnishings. About fifty people huddled in groups about the room. As soon as she stepped through the door she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY DRUGS!"

There was a short pause, before about a quarter of the people in the room raised their hands. Since her ability to match names to faces was now seriously in questio she just pointed to someone who looked harmless. He was an old man, with dimples. She took the pills he gave her and swallowed them all, not waiting to find out what they were. The effects were immediately reduced as they were split between her and her fusion souls, of which she now had six. She sat against the wall and the man sat next to her, groping for a conversation starter.

"So," he began awkwardly. "The sun's gone down... and the fog's rolling in... hmm..."

"No need to force yourself." groaned Hinata. "And what's with the scowl? Don't tell me you're throwing up from seasi... from sea..." She covered her mouth and turned away, swallowing heavily. "Uck..."

The man snorted in amusement. "That would be you, if I'm not mistaken. Are you starting to feel any better?" He leaned in, suddenly looking worried. "And what about this unearthly mist? It seems to rise from the sea and permeate the boat-"

"Sorry dude," interrupted Hinata, swallowing heavily. "But I'm dealing with some pretty earthly problems right now." She leaned forwards suddenly, surprising him. "Hrrrkkkk!"

"Whoa!" roared the old man, jumping away with agility he hadn't felt in years. "What the- What're you- Do not get that on my clothes!"

"Nnngh..." groaned Hinata, coughing slightly. "Damn, now I'm just dry-heaving." She slammed her head back into the wall and slung her arm across her face to cover her spinning eyes. "Why aren't we in the Mist yet? How much longer is it going to take!"

"Er, we should be there by a little after noon tomorrow." said the old man, clearly still on his toes.

"What!" she sobbed. "But I can't last that long!"

"Whatever, look, if you're going to kick the bucket can you do it somewhere else please?"

Hinata hurled him across the room, then sniffled in an uncharacteristically girlish way. "You're all big meanies," she moaned. "The Saint is the only one who really cares about me." She lurched from the room, and everyone she left behind gave a sigh of relief as she did so.

"Hinata!" exclaimed the Saint as soon as re-entered their quarters. "Are you okay? You didn't come back, I was getting worried!"

"Yeah, I'm fine," nodded Hinata, feeling well enough to blush as the drugs finally started to kick in. "You know, I've finally realized how kind you are... and how cold the rest of the world is." There may as well have been a giant question mark floating over his head. "Anyway, apparently there's something wrong outside, evil fog or some shit like that."

The Saint of Killers didn't seem to take these words too seriously. He simply leaned against the wall and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Speaking of there being something wrong, your disposition has changed since I first met you." he began. "It seems like you're changing more and more all the time... maybe it has something to do with your powers. I'm worried about you. It's like there's a dark shadow hanging over you. And it's getting stronger."

"Oh?" said Hinata, a little off guard from the subject change. "Well, yeah, my powers have just gone a little wild since I met up with you." She slumped down on the bed opposite her friend. "But I can fuse with more spirits now. So hey, I say things are fine the way they are."

"The way they are?" frowned the Saint.

"I haven't had any headaches lately. No mystery voice either, so I must be doing something right. If you're right about the voice wanting to tell me something, and if what the voice says is true..." She looked him in the eye. "Then I want to know whose voice it is! I'm sticking with you, at all costs!" Their gazes remained locked for several minutes. Hinata looked away first. "So I'm fine with things the way they are." she finished lamely.

The Saint's gaze softened considerably. "Hinata..."

"But you know," she suddenly piped up again. "If I were to get devoured by the spirits inside of me, if they take over and I'm not myself anymore, then you've gotta kill me dude. No hesitation."

The Saint's face hardened into a scowl. "Come on. That's not funny."

"It's no joke."

"Don't worry. You won't lose to those monsters, so it won't happen. I believe in you." He said this with a completely straight face, no irony to speak of.

"Hey you two!" someone roared suddenly, scaring the life out of them both. "Something's going on!"

A malnourished boy of fifteen (the youngest passenger aboard) dashed into the room. He opened his mouth to continue speaking, but halted when he saw that they had been in the middle of a conversation. "Whoa, sorry! Did I come at a bad time?" He grinned at Hinata's annoyed expression, interpreting it for what it really was. "Am I in the WAY perhaps?"

"What the hell is it already!" snarled Hinata.

"What's going on?" asked the Saint calmly.

"Ah," said the boy, recapturing his train of thought. "Something's going down, the Cap'n says she wants you on deck. As in now!" He ran from the room, and they duo shared a look before following.

Mei and Chojuro were already waiting for them, standing impatiently next to the hatch into which one was expected to toss their fish after catching them. "Yo," nodded Hinata. "What's the emergency?"

"The boat," growled Mei, more out of worry than annoyance. "It's been turning circles in the same place, over and over."

"Turning... circles?" frowned the Saint.

"Yes," nodded Chojuro, as though the Saint were a commanding officer. "There's nothing wrong with the motor, but for some reason the boat won't move forward. It's as if..." He gulped heavily. "As if the boat was being held by something underwater."

Hinata sighed and facepalmed. "Not this pattern again."

"Look on the bright side," shrugged the Saint. "We got Li Li out of Wave, as promised. Just... not the way we originally intended."

"What makes you think it's the ghost?" asked Mei curiously, and received two flat, utterly deadpan looks.

"Seriously?" said the Saint.

"Dude," said Hinata. "Throughout this entire conversation, Li Li has been standing right behind you!"

"You should die..." came a familiar, unearthly growl. The Mist operatives turned, and there she stood. Delicate, feminine and dressed all in white, perched with unsettling stillness on the bow.

"What is that?" gasped Mei, Chojuro moving to stand protectively in front of her.

"Die!" the specter snarled, her stolen voice all the more horrifying for her harmless appearance. "Let the stinking saltwater fill your lungs and die! The mindless fish will pluck and poke at your rotting corpse, at your bulging eyeballs!"

"How charming," sighed the Saint, then turned to the petrified Mist nin. "You two, take cover. This monster's going to be trouble. And make sure the other passengers are secure."

Mei tore her eyes from the dead woman's face. "A-alright." She retreated across the deck with her underling, and their passengers stepped forward to guard their retreat.

"Li Li!" The Saint shouted, and was answered with bone-chilling laughter.

"You remembered me," she cackled. "I've been waiting to see you, pretty man."

Hinata looked at her partner, head cocked to one side. "He does have rather soft, womanly features doesn't he?"

The Saint shot her an annoyed look, then returned his attention to the ghost. "Li Li, please tell us what you want us to do. What can we do so that your soul may rest in peace? What do you want from us?"

Li Li disappeared and reappeared directly in front of them, startling them backwards a few paces. "Taste my suffering, and die! That is what I want." The wraith's furious expression relaxed into a twisted smile. "My friends are coming to meet you! And they shall SUCK THE FLESH FROM YOUR BONES!"

She reappeared at her previous spot on the bow, and Hinata swore loudly. "Great, more monsters! What next!"

As if on cue the sounds of chanting filled the air; rising steadily in volume until, in a thunderous crescendo, a mass of chains tore out of nowhere and wrapped around the wrists of one of those present.

"Y-you," growled Li Li, and snapped the restraints like they were string. Hinata began to swear again, while the Saint of Killers sighed and tipped his hat forward.

"When did you get here, Sea Mother? You must have masked your presence."

"You think you can suppress my spirit with your feeble power!" Li Li roared, and a bolt of lightning hit the fish hatch; a shrill scream echoed from within. The Saint of Killers lunged forward and tore it away, heedless of the flashes of electricity that traveled up his arms. The form he pulled out seemed frazzled, but mostly unhurt.

"Sea Mama!" shouted Hinata, killing most of the tension. Nevertheless the old woman struggled to her feet, turning to face the enraged abomination.

"Li Li!" she cried. "I WILL save you soul! You will not be made to suffer any more, now calm your spirit!"

"S-silence!" Another burst of purple lightning hit the Sea Mother in the gut and she fell to her knees with a strangled cry.

"Sea Mama!" shouted Hinata, and ran to her side.

"Li Li," said the Saint sharply. "Stop this!" The Sea Mother began to chant once again and the white spirit began to writhe in agony, face contorted from something only she could feel.

"T-the pain..." she gasped. She drew away, eyes glowing menacingly. "Creatures of the deep!" she shrieked. "Attack! Drag these fools to the bottom of the ocean!" There was a flash of light and an ungodly howl, and she was gone.

"She ran away," observed the Saint. "She couldn't stand the Sea Mother's incantations, I suppose."

"Not such a quack after all, huh?" said Hinata, earning a glare from the old woman.

"Are you alright, Sea Mother?" asked the Saint, reverting to the cool, professional persona he saved especially for occasions such as this. "Why on earth did you do such a thing?"

"Forgive me, o' Saint of Killers," she rasped. "I... I just wanted Li Li to pass into paradise."

The Saint shared a look with his partner, then-

"That was an old-fashioned exorcism just now, wasn't it? Here, let me lend a hand." The old woman blinked up at him in surprise. "If it's all the same, why don't we place seals all over the boat to help Li Li's spirit settle down."

"L-lord Saint," she stammered, and Hinata privately thought she being a tad overly respectful to a cowboy. "Are you sure?"

"Think nothing of it," he waved airily. "At any rate, the boat's not going anywhere. You should go rest while I get started. Hinata-"

"On it." she nodded. "Come on Sea Mama, I'll show you to-"

"That wasn't actually what I was going to ask," interrupted the Saint. "But it would be helpful if you did that anyway. If monsters really do appear then I'll need you to keep them off me. Can you do that?"

"Does a bear shit in the woods?" grinned Hinata, elated at the prospect of killing something. As she lead the Sea Mother away the Saint closed his eyes. He knelt, placed his hand on the woodwork and channeled holy energy into the grains.

In the passengers quarters...

"Thank you," the Sea Mother croaked. "I feel much better now."

She didn't look it. "You hid on the boat to put Li Li's soul to rest." said Hinata finally. "You knew this would happen."

"Yes," the older woman admitted. "I didn't think she would give up so easily, and I would give my life to save that girl's soul!"

"...Sea Mama?"

"Yes?"

"What happened after Li Li opened the door that night fourteen years ago?"

"Ah, we were interrupted," she nodded. She she sat heavily on the bottom bunk and rubbed her eyes tiredly. "When Li Li opened the door that day... well, it's just as you might have imagined. She saw her father, back from the dead. It wasn't a pretty sight."

"I can imagine." murmured Hinata, her sarcasm muted by sympathy.

"He returned to let Li Li take his life. He returned to give Li Li her voice back."

"He returned as a drowned corpse," sighed Hinata, slumping down on the bunk opposite. "So he could be killed by his own daughter? Did she do it?"

"No," whispered the Sea Mother. "She came to me to return the dagger, then, with her father's drowned corpse on her back, she walked towards the ocean. How she staggered beneath his weight..." She sank her face into her hands. "That was the last time anyone ever saw them. We couldn't find the bodies, either."

"No wonder her spirit isn't at peace." Hinata didn't mean anything incriminating about it, but the words hurt nonetheless.

"I... I couldn't do anything for her-" she began, but dissolved into a fit of coughs.

"Woah! Steady there!" said Hinata worriedly. "Are you alright? Sorry to bring up bad memories, why don't you get some rest?"

Back in the Captain's quarters...

Chojuro tapped his finger nervously against the wheel. It wasn't doing any good, but his commanding officer had ordered him to stay in the wheelhouse and he'd go insane if he just did nothing. He heard the door open, and turned to find a very hassled looking Mei.

"Right," she nodded. "The remaining passengers are secure. We should determine whether to help deter the attackers or to maintain our cov-"

There was a flash of fire, and Mei collapsed onto her front. The area over her right shoulder blade was horribly burnt and slightly smoking. Through the door behind her (which had been foolishly left open) was a creature resembling a huge, flaming jellyfish. It was slithering across the deck, using its slim tentacles to drag itself forward. Its body, a flickering orange-red, puffed upwards like a bubble of slime. Fire licked across its back, gathering at the tip of one raised tendril until-

Chojuro tipped up the desk, scattering the contents over the floor before slamming it down as a makeshift shield between Mei and the monster. There was a small boom and the table skidded back a bit, but held. He hooked his hands under his superior's armpits and dragged her away from the danger zone, setting her down by the wheel just as the desk exploded. He shielded her from the blast with his body, most of the splinters impacting harmlessly with the protective armor under his body but a few scratching his hands and cheeks. Chojuro sprang up as soon as the threat passed and grabbed an antique saber from the wall, bringing it down to skewer the enemy to the floor.

Surprisingly, this was all it took. The jellyfish popped like a balloon, spilling flaming pus over the floor. Chojuro had barely put it out with a minor water jutsu when three more of the things began to creep through the door.

"What..." gasped Mei, barely conscious. "What is this?"

The rearmost creature exploded, squished by Hinata's boot. She gave the room a cursory look, then casually stomped on the remaining monsters in quick succession.

"Yo," she grunted. "Damn these're an elusive bunch."

"What," gasped Mei, as Chojuro began to provide medical aid to her shoulder. "Was that."

"You said you saw them in Wave, right?" shrugged Hinata. "Or their relatives anyway."

"I... I never imagined they actually..."

She was interrupted by the sound of an elderly (if enthusiastic) voice. "Foul monsters! I'm not about to lose to the likes of you!" squawked the Sea Mother. "Orrrrrya!"

"That's m'cue!" chirruped Hinata cheerily. "You guys should block the door, just in case." She slammed the door behind her and began to walk at a relaxed pace. "Even Sea Mama's in on the action, mother of-"

Nothing could have quite prepared her for what she found.

"Hiyah!" squawked the quack, batting away a leaping enemy with a stunning backhand. The monster, a blue, short-bodied, one-eyed sea snake, crashed helplessly into the wall. Dozens of them crowded the room, leaping furiously at the little old woman. She moved with the speed and flexibility of a woman half her age, using her wrists and ankles to scoop the jumping critters out of the air and smash them into the walls and furniture.

At one point, she tornado kicked them.

As the last of the serpents was reduced to a twitching lump on the ground, the Sea Mother straightened up, adjusted her clothes and smirked at the slack jawed Harmonixer. "Hn. Piece of cake."

"You," murmured Hinata, slowly starting to grin. "You're good."

"Thank you," the other woman demurred. "Now, they're probably after the Lord Saint also. We should go check."

"The Saint? Bah, he'll be fine. He knows how to take care of himself."

"The Saint of Killers is in the middle of a very delicate ceremony," said the Sea Mother worriedly. "He's extremely vulnerable right now."

Though Hinata found that highly unlikely, she did as she was told.

"Oh. Hello." said the Saint when they arrived, as though they had just come back from a stroll. Dozens of the flaming jellyfish creatures were oozing up the side of the boat, while many of the blue snake things were jumping directly from the water to the deck. The Saint of Killers was spinning on his heels with arms outstretched, a rage of gunfire tearing the little monsters to shreds. The jellyfish were popping like bubbles and the snakes were being blown straight out of the air, often continuing their momentum and flying straight over the boat back into the water. "I know I said I'd be ready by now, but these things are really distracting."

"No problem," nodded Hinata, making no move to help him. "Sea Mama, can you keep an eye on him for me?" As an answer, the older woman drop kicked a snake leaping for the Saint's throat. She spun through the air like a leaf, smashing the monsters apart with such fury that she was able to keep herself permanently off the ground by using the jumping serpents as platforms. "Right, well, while you guys're doing that, I'll just-"

Hinata was finally shut up as a snake leapt from one side of the barge to the other, wrapping itself around her face and knocking her over the railing. The Saint smirked at the loud splash but otherwise didn't stop shooting, his fire no longer so desperate with the Sea Mother thinning the ranks.

Below sea level Hinata struggled as the serpent wrapped itself about her throat, facing great difficulty as she had failed to take a breath before she fell. Thrusting the instinctive panic into the back of her mind she stopped pulling at the muscular body and wrapped her hand around its head, squishing it like a grape. She was given no room for respite as a second snake slammed into her, followed by a third and a fourth until she was invisible beneath a mass of writhing bodies.

The swarm was blown back as Hinata's body exploded with light, the form revealed as it faded holding a striking resemblance to the attacking monsters. The form was lithe and humanoid but very much reptilian, the scales the same aqua blue as the serpents. The hands and feet were now disproportionately large, the sharp talons connected by black webbing. Her spine now extended into a long, muscular tail, vertical fins decorating the end. Her head was now smooth and domed, mouth tapering into a turtle-like beak lined with sharp fangs. Her eyes were small and set deeply into her head, though her sight was no worse for the change.

Immediately after regaining her bearings Hinata began to swim, her powerful, streamlined body shooting through the water like a torpedo. The snakes chased in a great, wriggling cylinder of bodies, ignoring the barge in favor of the new predator. Twisting through the water as though she'd been doing it all her life, Hinata led her pursuers around and around until they were trapped in a sphere of bubbles caused by their own turbulence. Darting outside the makeshift prison, she held her hands in the appropriate position and began to pretend she was doing a Kamehameha.

Bubbles began to form in the sea around her, slowly floating towards her and fusing together between her hands. The completed attack looked like an orb of twisting, pressurized water, colored white by the turbulence. As she thrust her hands forward the ball burst forward in a powerful jet, tearing into the swarm of serpents and crushing them into nothing. She moved the stream, sweeping through the prison of bubbles while the monsters were still trapped inside. Only when the prison had been blown away completely did she let up, finally allowing herself a chance to rest.

A light burned at the edge of vision. A little way to Hinata's right one of the fire-jellyfish was hovering serenely, like an orange lantern. Like dark stars more of the creatures appeared out of the murk, a multitude hovering closer and closer to the alarmed water-lizard.

One of them brushed against her back, then exploded like a mine. With the close proximity of the other jellyfish, it was a chain reaction waiting to happen.

Back on deck...

A massive plume of greasy fire belched out of the water with a sound like a damp fart. The flames curled upwards for a few moments before dispersing. Noxious black smoke smelling exactly like burning fish choked the air to the point of utterly overpowering Li Li's mist. Patches of the ocean continued to burn quietly, making one wonder exactly what was being used for fuel.

"She'll be fine." said the Saint confidently, his guns holstered now that Hinata was distracting the marine attackers. The Sea Mother didn't answer, as she was too busy staring, slack-jawed, at the spot where someone had apparently set off a nuke underwater. Ignoring her, the Saint wandered into the middle of the deck and tapped his feet experimentally. "Yes," he murmured thoughtfully. "This should just about do it." He raised his hands. He didn't need to, but it made it look cool. "Here we go!" His body blazed with golden light, finally capturing the Sea Mother's attention.

A huge, glowing, golden magic circle now decorated the floorboards, four lit candlesticks placed at even distances. "There," nodded the Saint, roughly rubbing his hands together. "A good, old-fashioned exorcism pentagram."

"Impressive," croaked the Sea Mother, who no longer had the slightest clue what was going on. "T-this pentagram... it's incredible!"

He merely grinned in response. "Sorry for the wait. Now, I'll need your help to keep Li Li's power in check while I perform the exorcism. Can you do that?"

"I can," she nodded. "Just let me know when you're ready." She took up a position at the edge of the circle, whilst the Saint of Killers was just inside. He made no move to draw his guns.

The Sea Mother began to chant, an endless repetition of "On-tei-na," that swelled about her in a dull, creepily relaxing hum. The remaining flecks of white mist began to rotate about the center of the pentagram, turning faster and faster until a whirlwind of light lit the deck like a condensed blizzard.

"Li Li! Come forth!" With this final cry the hurricane condensed yet further, until with a final flash of light a tangible form was revealed. Without the mist the black smoke walled them in on all sides, even the barge itself becoming invisible. To the Saint, it was as if the whole world had been reduced to him, the circle, and the specter standing in the middle.

"Human pig!" came the familiar, guttural snarl. "How dare you think to summon me! DIE!"

The attack was ridiculously sudden. Like hocking a loogie, Li Li spat a cloud of darkness at him. It hit him in the chest, knocking him backwards until he crashed against the barrier surrounding the circle. It actually slightly winded him.

"Sorenius." His eyes began to glow, even as the darkness crept across his body. "Sorenius!" A glowing halo silhouette appeared behind his back. He was almost completely covered. "SORENIUS!" His body blazed with holy energy, finally banishing the unpleasant curse. He smirked, the residual holy aura gathering about his hands. "My turn."

The Saint of Killers thrust his hands forward, a wave of blessed light bursting through the air. Li Li's hands were shrouded in darkness, a wave of blackness erupting from her fingertips in the same fashion. The two blasts met in the air, and for a moment they struggled for dominance. Abruptly, Li Li abandoned her attack and flung herself to the side, allowing the Saint's attack to crash into the barrier behind her. Running along the invisible wall as easily as if it were the ground, the Saint was caught off guard when she tackled him in the side; howling, clawing and biting at him like an animal. Using his superior muscle mass, the Saint grabbed her by the shoulders and rolled until he was on top, barraging her with furious punches.

Li Li's shrieks grew to a nightmarish intensity, patches of her corpse-pale skin turning a burnt red where his fist had hit her. Just like the cursed fisherman from Wave the Saint's touch was forcefully dragging Li Li back to the world of the living. Unable to bear the agonizing spiritual displacement she brought up her knee and kicked him hard in the chest, sending him rocketing into the air. As she sprang after him the Saint spun in mid-air, smashing her face in with a kick of his own. Before she'd even hit the ground the Saint had sent another wave of blessed light after her, pinning her to the ground. He landed steadily and on his feet; not at any point did he let up his assault, calmly walking towards her even as she writhed and screamed on the ground. Only when she was still and silent did he stop.

The spirit lay spent on the ground; the Saint of Killers stood over her, and cerulean blue met sickly yellow. "Help me..." she rasped, her stolen voice as disturbing as ever. "It hurts..." The Saint turned and beckoned, indicating it was safe to enter the circle. "Sea... Mother..."

The Saint of Killers drew his guns, spun on his heel and pointed both weapons at the bow of the boat. For a moment, there was nothing. A crackle of electricity ran through the air, followed by another and another until a floating ball of lightning hovered at the end of the ship. As soon as it appeared the light faded, leaving a hunched figure in its wake. A figure bandaged, and old, and powerful.

"Looks like that doll has just about served its purpose," Danzo sneered. The Sea Mother took a cautious step backward, while the Saint simply narrowed his eyes.

"Who..."

"How nice to meet you, o' Saint of Killers." laughed Danzo. "It seems that abominable Harmonixer is not present. What a pity."

"So you're Danzo," murmured the Saint, voice as cold as ice. "You were the one who brought Li Li back. You were using her."

"Correct," Danzo smirked.

The Saint stayed where he was, coldly assessing the situation. "So you're the real Tiny. Not nearly as cute-"

"Watch your tongue boy!" snarled Danzo. "You and the old hag would make a lovely snack for the crabs of Mist." He disappeared before the Saint could pull the trigger, but his voice still echoed through the air. "Accept this power, Li Li! Hate everything! Devour them with your hate!"

The black smoke still curling around the barge was suddenly sucked upwards, coalescing into a huge writhing ball of darkness. After hanging over the boat for a few moments the orb collapsed. As though it were being poured through a funnel the smoke streamed downward, forcing itself into the eyes and mouth and nose of the helpless Li Li. In only a few moments the smog was completely depleted, the barge bobbing in the water with no mist or smoke in sight.

The pale cadaver exploded. Thick black tentacles burst from it like a hatching chrysalis, their huge suckers kissing the deck as they ran exploratively across the boat. They were attached to the torso of a very fat and very old looking woman. Her flesh was purple and bloated and her face was gaunt and shriveled. Only one side of her head had hair, and it was white, tangled and hung to her bicep. Each arm was a tentacle, which counted along with the three stretching below her waist for five. From her back grew what looked like a huge, mottled purple shell, which was so heavy that it made the bow sink into the water and the stern raise into the air.

As the barge tilted everything on it began to slide towards the bow. The Sea Mother managed to grab one of the candlesticks marking the corners of the pentagram (which were fixed to the deck) but the Saint wasn't so lucky. He slid, helplessly, into the writhing mass of arms. Still unwilling to straight out end Li Li's existence, his guns were thrown from his hands and sent flying into the water. Her arms wrapped around him, one for each limb and one around his torso. He did not struggle.

Li Li slowly drew him closer. Underneath them a swirling whirlpool of darkness appeared on the ocean surface, a boiling pit of hate into which the barge started to sink. The Sea Mother began to scream at him, desperation making her frail voice hoarse.

And then he was within range. He put his hands around her throat and began to squeeze.

Once more his blessed touch had an effect. A guttural howl like none she had uttered before erupted from Li Li's throat, writhing desperately as her skin began to change; first into its previous corpse-pale, then to an angry red and finally to a healthy pink. Her face too began to change, the hideous visage devolving first into that of the wraith that had haunted Wave, then into that of a beautiful young woman with the flush of youth across her face. But still she kept screaming. The transformation had stopped just below her neck, but that was all he needed. He removed one hand, drew it back and shoved it violently down her throat, severely muffling her cries. He found something, grabbed ahold and pulled.

The first thing to emerge was a hand. Callused, dirty, male. With the second heave an entire arm appeared, a rotted sleeve covering corded muscle. Once more and he was free, his beard like a bird's nest, his clothes looking like they were made from seaweed and his face confused as all hell.

Now that made Li Li shut up.

"Do ye, who hath risen from the grave, blame thy daughter for thy suffering?"

The dirty man started at the Saint's question, but answered in a deep, familiar growl-

"I do not."

"Do ye, who doth linger yet upon this earth, blame thy father for thy suffering?"

And in a voice as soft as dove wings, she answered-

"I do not."

The grey cloud overhead parted as though physically thrust aside, allowing sunlight to pour through. The fisherman rose slowly into the air. Li Li followed, her body dissolving into its human form as she did so. They ascended, hand in hand, until you could no longer see them through the light. Then that too faded, and there was just a boat bobbing on the waves.

Eat your heart out Jack Sparrow!

The husk of Li Li's transformed body lingered for a few moments before vanishing suddenly. Free of its weight the bow shot upwards, catapulting the Saint of Killers an impressive distance into the air before he disappeared with a splash beneath the waves, his hat bobbing on the surface. He emerged directly beneath it, spitting water and curses equally. He fell silent at the sounds of slow, sardonic applause.

There, at edge of the boat, stood Danzo. "Not bad, not bad," he chuckled. "Talk about a hands on exorcism."

"You're next!" screamed the third person present. Danzo whipped around and the Saint burst for the boat, desperate to stop her before she wasted her life. As he pulled himself up he saw the last flickers of lightning heralding Danzo's departure. The Sea Mother was lying on the ground, and she was very, very still.

"Sea Mother!" shouted the Saint, and ran to her side. He was too late.

Behind him, something wet flopped onto the deck. "Urgh... What I miss?" came the somewhat waterlogged voice. "I caught your colts, by the wa-" Hinata stop a few paces behind him, and he heard the sound of his guns falling from her limp fingers.

"Rest in peace, good Sea Mother." murmured the Saint, gently brushing her eyelids closed. He knelt a moment more, then rose and walked to the bow. "Spirits in the heavens," he said to the north. "Spirits in the heavens," he said to the south. "Our beloved mage shall be coming under your care..." The Saint of Killers paused, feeling something lacking in his speech. "Our wonderful, wonderful mage..." He placed hand on his hat and tilted it forward, so Hinata couldn't see his eyes. "Please be good to her."

Behind him, the old woman's body began to glow. It started with her hair, bright like liquid silver. Then her skin, the pall of death lighting up from within. Finally her clothes were simply swallowed up by the brilliance. When the light faded she was gone, to the same place as Li Li and her father.

Hinata stared steadily at the spot where the Sea Mother was last, having not blinked throughout the entire display. "Yeah... spirits..." she murmured thickly. "Be good to her, won'tcha? See ya... Sea Mama..."

The Saint did not move from his vigil at the bow.

Mei and Chojuro carefully stepped onto the deck, having watched everything from the front window of the captain's cabin. "It's finally over, right?" asked Chojuro nervously. "The monsters are gone?"

"...Yes." said Hinata when the Saint remained silent. "Everything's alright now. Let's get this thing moving. Full speed ahead, please."

"R-right." Chojuro nodded, and returned to the helm. Hinata stepped up to the Saint's side as Mei looked on, watching as saint and sinner took comfort in one another's presence.

Then...

"What... What in god's name did I bear witness to tonight?"

In the Hidden Mist...

"Dammit!" screamed Danzo, kicking over a table with his good leg. "Failure again! Rain, Wave and again on that wretched boat!" He began to calm down, looking at things in a more reasonable manner. "I must not underestimate that boy's power. And now that he has been joined by the girl... Time to step back and conjure up a plan-"

"You called, Master Danzo?" Danzo's monologue was interrupted as a second man entered the room. He was wearing a pristine red business suit, had close cropped black hair and was wearing hoop earrings. He was in his forties, and his eyes were narrow and mean.

"Ah, Wugui," acknowledged Danzo. "I did not wish to tear you away from your network, but I could not afford not to call you."

"Do not worry," said Wugui neutrally. "Not much has been happening in the Underground lately, and to tell the truth I've been getting rather bored. Indeed, we've already made puppets of the ambassadors of Rock and Cloud."

"Excellent," smiled Danzo approvingly.

"...Master?" asked Wugui. His voice was significantly more hesitant than it was before. "If I may be so bold... are you experiencing difficulties with the Demon's Gate Invocation?"

The older man paused in thought. "Yes, well, as you can see the Spirit Machine of Kuihai Tower is complete and ready to go. But the Saint of Killers - the Key - still runs loose. An unwelcome guest blocks my way. He is difficult enough to contend with without her aid. My Blue Dragon trap only succeeded in killing an old hag. Pathetic I tell you!"

"Not to worry, Master Danzo," purred Wugui smoothly. "I shall deliver the Key to you immediately, along with his companion's head."

At that, Danzo laughed out loud. "Good! Good!" he chuckled. "You've always been my best student. A word of warning though, do not underestimate them. The woman is a monster with the power of fusion."

"Fusion?" gasped Wugui, real fear in his eyes. "The Hyuuga woman, she can't still be alive?"

But Danzo shook his head. "No, this one is different. She's still young, though there's no doubt she's a Harmonixer. Two of the Yamaraja have fallen to her thus far."

"Gods," whispered Wugui, though he no longer sounded afraid. "If what you say is true, Master, then this should be interesting. I, Wugui, shall not fail you."

"Then I shall await the good news. Show that grinning bastard Orochimaru what we're capable of."

Many miles away...

The horse trotted to a halt at the seaside. None saw them, for at that hour all in Wave were asleep. The way was lit by the flames that consumed them both.

A step was taken towards the ocean, and the ocean drew back in fear.