A Dragon's Tail
Tail 1: Rachael's Tail – Contamination
Tail 1-6: The Mysterious Tsujigiri
Rachael gasped as she heard what Jasmine said. A Tsujigiri… A samurai who attacked defenseless Pokemon during the night to test their new katana or to develop a new battle style…
"T…Terrible!" Rachael cried.
"…And there's more…" Jasmine continued speaking. "The ninja Pokemon that were killed… The crowd said that they are the sons of a Hokage…"
"A son of a Hokage…" Rachael said and gasped again. Because, as she could remember, Zenpai was also a son of a Hokage!
"W…Where are those ninja Pokemon that were attacked?!" Rachael asked.
"…At the crossroad near the Forest Park…" Jasmine answered. "And… Wait… Rachael, where are you going?!" Jasmine asked as Rachael quickly flew out of the orphanage after the Servine told her the location of the incident.
'P...Please!' Rachael thought to herself. 'Zenpai! Please! Not you!'
-Near the Forest Park
At the crossroad near the Forest Park, there were many Pokemon here crowding around the corpses of two ninja Pokemon that were attacked and killed by the mysterious Tsujigiri. There were also several Bug type Pokemon who dressed in the black garb here. And Zenpai was among them.
"Zenpai!"
Rachael called the name of the Scyther, turning Zenpai's attention to her.
"Oh…" Zenpai mumbled. "…Good morning, Rachael."
"Whew!" Rachael said. "I was so scared when I heard that a mysterious Tsujigiri killed the sons of a Hokage. I am so glad that it isn't you who got killed!"
"…" Zenpai became silent for a bit before he spoke up. "The ninja Pokemon that were killed… They are my elder brothers…"
"What?!" Rachael said and looked at the corpses of the ninja who were killed by the Tsujigiri. One of them was a Heracross while the other was a Pinsir. There were several marks of katana slashes on their bodies, and their bodies were soaked with clear liquid.
"AEAH!" Rachael covered her eyes with her paws as she saw the corpses of the dead Pokemon. "This is so cruel! Zenpai, I am so sorry about this…"
"…" Zenpai said nothing and looked at the corpses again, but he didn't show any emotion on his face.
"…Zenpai."
Another voice called the Scyther. Zenpai turned the attention to the speaker and saw a Scizor in the black garb.
"…Hokage." Zenpai said.
The Scizor looked at Zenpai, and then he looked at Rachael. "…Is she your friend?"
"Yes." Zenpai answered.
"…I see…" The Hokage spoke and looked at the corpses of his dead sons again. "This isn't the first time something like this happened. Since two weeks ago, after you left the forest capital, the incidents like this happened almost at every night, and I have never thought that it would happen to someone from our clan…"
"…What will you do about this?" Zenpai asked.
"…Our clan and I will take care of them." Hokage answered. "We will hunt this Tsujigiri down until we find them, and then we will bring them to justice. You don't have to worry about this."
"…As you said, Hokage." Zenpai said and bowed at the Scizor.
After that, Rachael went back to the orphanage. Zenpai decided to come with her as Julia's orphanage was the only place in the Leafburg City that Grass type Pokemon and Bug type Pokemon didn't have any conflict. And because his ninja clan was busy finding the Tsujigiri, they could have a conversation freely here without worrying of the eavesdropping from ninja.
When they reached the orphanage, they found Jasper there.
"…Zenpai." Jasper mumbled softly.
"…" Zenpai said nothing.
Jasper approached Zenpai. "Zenpai, I am so sorry about your losses…"
"…Think nothing about it, Jasper." Zenpai answered softly. "By the way, Jasper, can you help me about this?"
Zenpai handed two photos that were taken at the crossroad of the Forest Park to Jasper. They were the photos of the corpses of Zenpai's elder brothers.
"…Do you have any clue about the marks of katana slashes on these corpses?" Zenpai asked.
Jasper looked at the photos. "…Whoever did this must be a very skilled swordsman. I doubt there's many Pokemon like that in the Principality of Leafburg."
"…Then…" Zenpai handed over several other photos to Jasper. They were the photos of the other victims' corpses. "Do you see any other clues?"
Jasper took a look at those photos. This time, Jasper's eyes became wide.
"The marks of Kanata slashes…" Jasper mumbled. "They are all same!"
"Yes." Zenpai said. "This proves that it was the same Tsujigiri who attacked those Pokemon, including my elder brothers."
"Not only that…" Jasper continued speaking. "A Tsujigiri is a samurai who attacked other Pokemon in order to test their new katana or to develop a new battle style… But…" Jasper looked at the photos again. "Those marks told me that the Tsujigiri used the very same katana at every attack. Wasn't it strange?"
"T…Then…" Rachael spoke up after listening to the duo for a while. "That Tsujigiri may attack another Pokemon because they want to develop a new battle style…"
"I don't think so…" Jasper said. "The marks of katana slashes on these victims… are all done in a chaotic manner… If that Tsujigiri truly wants to develop a new battle style, the marks wouldn't be chaotic like this…"
"…And…" Zenpai spoke up. "Normally, the Tsujigiri usually attacked defenseless Pokemon, but this one… They attacked all kinds of Pokemon, be a helpless Pokemon or a great ninja Pokemon… It was wrong… As if… The one who attacked them was… a Psychopathic swordsman…"
"T…That!" Rachael gasped again. "Yesterday, at the juice bar, I heard from two travelers that there's a psychopathic killer who escaped from a prison in the Dustorm Empire! It must be them!"
"I don't think so." Jasper said. "Only warriors from the Principality of Leafburg used a katana as their weapon… Well… There's some warriors in the Theocracy of Venturnome who also used a katana as their weapon too… But there's no way for a prisoner from the Dustorm Empire to use a katana. Plus, I heard that the prisoner already escaped to the Fireview Kingdom, so it wasn't them for sure…"
"Anyway…" Zenpai spoke up. "I think we should return to the Forezon Village as soon as possible. It's not safe to stay here anymore."
"I Agree with you." Jasper said. "I think we should leave for the Forezon Village at the dawn of tomorrow."
"That's good." Zenpai said. "If we hurry, we could reach the Forezon Village at the dusk of the day after tomorrow."
"I… If that's so…" Rachael spoke up. "I will go and buy some souvenirs for mother and my friends… And I need to send another postcard to her too."
"Then…" Zenpai walked toward the entrance of the orphanage. "Jasper, you take care of her for now. See you near the city gate at tomorrow's morning."
After finishing his words, Zenpai left the orphanage.
"Alright." Jasper turned his attention to Rachael. "Rachael, let's go."
"Okay." Rachael said.
Rachael and Jasper went to the Post Office to send another postcard to Lydia, telling her that they will arrive at the Forezon Village at the dusk of the day after tomorrow. After that, they spent almost the whole day at the souvenir shop.
"Geez… Girl…" Jasper mumbled to himself after they finally left the souvenir shop with several bags of souvenirs in their paws. Now the time was 14.00.
"Oh!" Rachael said when she saw another shop. "Jasper! I have other things to buy!"
"Again?!" Jasper said. "Don't you think that you have bought too much stuff already?!"
"No!" Rachael said and pointed her paw at the shop she mentioned, which is the alchemy shop. "Jasmine gave me a book about potion making, but I have neither apparatuses nor bottles. So, I will go and buy them at that shop!"
"Well… If you say so…" Jasper said.
-Three hours later
'…I will never go shopping with a girl again…' Jasper thought as they finally arrived at the orphanage. They then had dinner with Julia, Jasmine and the children. When dinner ended and Rachael finished washing dishes, Jasper told her to go to bed as soon as possible because they will leave at the dawn of tomorrow.
"Good night, Jasper." Rachael said.
"Good night, Rachael." Jasper said. Then Rachael moved upstairs and entered her room. She then laid her body on the bed and went to sleep.
-Meanwhile…
"Master Floratree…"
"Hm? Jasper? Here for another round?"
"No… I have come here to say farewell to you because I need to go back to the Forezon Village at the dawn of tomorrow."
"I see…"
"And… There's one more thing…"
"…What is it?"
"…The mysterious Tsujigiri…"
"!"
"Those marks of katana slashes on the corpses of the victims … They told me that the one who killed them must be a very skilled samurai… And… In the Principality of Leafburg…"
"...'There's no one who is as skilled with their katana as me.' Thas is the thing you wanted to say, right?"
"M…Master! I… I didn't mean that!"
"…And you also doubt that I am the Tsujigiri that killed many Pokemon in the Principality of Leafburg, right?"
"I…I will never think like that! I know that you would never do something like that! And you are the Hero of Legend! A hero will never do a bad thing like that!"
"…Well… Jasper… My friend once told me this; 'The story of living creature's existence is not fathomable.' So, I may be that Tsujigiri… Or not…"
"Master…"
"Jasper, if I am that Tsujigiri, will you defeat me or will you let me go?"
"M…Master! I… I will never be able to defeat you…"
"… Didn't you remember what I told you, Jasper?"
"B…But still…"
"Jasper… You still have a long way to go. During your life, you will come across several choices which you must choose. No matter what, do not regret in your decision. If you do, your life will lose its meaning and you will be as good as dead…"
"…Master Floratree…"
"…Anyway, if you don't come here for a match, how about a round of chess to train your mind?"
"I will lose to you again, master, but I will do my best!"
"Good. Here I come!"
Dawn of the Next Day…
"Oh my… You just came here two days ago and now you must leave again…" Julia said. Now Julia, Jasmine, Jasper and Rachael were at the place where Rachael parked her carriage. Rachael and Jasper's bags were already in the carriage.
"Julia…" Jasper looked at the Serperior.
"Don't worry about me, Jasper." Julia smiled gently at the Sceptile. "Mother will be fine.
"Okay…" Jasper said.
"But…" Julia looked at Jasper. "Come here and give mother a big farewell hug!"
"Geez!" Jasper spoke. "I am not a child anymore!"
"Don't be shy!" Julia said. "Come here, sweetheart!"
"…Fine." Jasper walked up to Julia and gave her a hug, which made Julia very happy.
"Your mother will miss you so much." Julia said after Jasper finished hugging her. "Don't forget to send a word to me. And Rachael, take care too."
"Sure." Jasper said.
"Take care, Jasper. Rachael, I hope the book I gave you will prove to be useful to you." Jasmine spoke.
"You too, Jasmine." Jasper said.
"Thank you for your kindness, Julia! And Jasmine, thanks for the book!" Rachael said. Then Rachael and Jasper got into the carriage, and then it gradually moved out of the parking area.
"Good bye! Jasmine! Julia!" Rachael waved at the Serperior and the Servine.
"Bye! Rachael! Bye! Jasper!" Jasmine said.
"Don't forget to change your underwear every day, little Jasper!" Julia said.
"JULIA!" Jasper's face became red after he heard Julia's words.
After the carriage passed through the city gate, it moved along the road that led to the Forezon Village. And after it had left the city for a while…
"…" A Pokemon appeared and jumped into the carriage. It was Zenpai.
"Good morning, Zenpai!" Rachael greeted.
"Hey, it's good to see you again." Jasper said.
"…" Instead of greeting back, Zenpai just nodded in response.
"Zenpai?" Rachael looked at the Scyther, but he didn't respond to her.
"…Let him be, Rachael." Jasper said. It seemed like he understood what was going on with Zenpai.
"Are you sure?" Rachael asked, and Jasper nodded in response.
"Okay…" Rachael said.
-Later, in the evening…
Because the carriage moved at a higher speed than before, Jasper could say that they will reach the Forezon Village at the dusk of tomorrow for sure. But even during dinner, Zenpai still didn't say anything.
"Zenpai…" Rachael spoke after dinner. Now all of them were sitting around the campfire.
The Scyther heard the call from Rachael, but he didn't respond to her.
"…Let me guess…" Jasper spoke up. "It was your step-mothers, right?"
Zenpai still said nothing, but this time, he nodded in response.
"Stepmothers?" Rachael asked.
Jasper was about to say something when Zenpai suddenly spoke up. "It was just… They… They fell into grief after their sons were killed."
"What? Then…" Rachael tried to understand what was going on. "Those Heracross and Pinsir that were killed by the Tsujigiri… They are… your half-brothers?!"
"Yes." Zenpai nodded. "Being a Hokage, my father had three wives. They are Heracross' mother, Pinsir's mother and my mother. Heracross is my father's first son. Pinsir is my father's second son. And I am his third son. Despite having three wives, the only one he loves is my mother. But after my mother was killed in the War of Jasmine…"
"…His step-mothers didn't treat him very well…" Jasper explained. "And… I had seen how… mean his elder brothers treated him…"
"…" Zenpai said nothing.
"Zenpai…" Jasper spoke up again. "Despite them being your elder brothers, but deep in your heart, you are actually glad that they were killed, right?"
"What?!" Rachael said unbelievably, and she was shocked even more when she saw Zenpai nodded!
"…" Rachael was shocked. Her time with Jasper and Zenpai showed her the side of them that she had never seen before, especially about their past. Jasper was an orphan, but he lived in a warm life at the orphanage while Zenpai had a family, but his family led him to live a cold life…
"…I am sorry, Zenpai." Rachael said.
"…Rachael, you should go to sleep by now. Tomorrow we still have a long way to go. You too, Jasper. I will keep watching here." Zenpai spoke up.
"Zenpai..." Rachael said.
The Next Day…
The new day started with a refreshing morning. Zenpai seemed to have returned to his usual self already, which made both Jasper and Rachael happy.
'Zenpai…' Rachael thought. 'Be strong…'
The journey continued. This time, Zenpai told Rachael to speed up the carriage so they would reach the Forezon Village within this evening.
"Good." Zenpai spoke as the sun started descending toward the border of the sky. "We only have a few more miles to go!"
"Teehee!" Rachael smiled innocently. "I can't wait to show mother what I bought! I am sure she would be very happy!"
"Geez…" Jasper mumbled.
"What's wrong, Jasper?" Zenpai asked.
"…Let me tell you something…" Jasper lowered his voice so Rachael wouldn't hear him. "Do not go shopping with Rachael or—WHAT!"
Jasper and Zenpai almost lost their balance when the carriage suddenly stopped moving.
"What was that, Rachael?!" Jasper asked.
"Jasper, Zenpai, look!" Rachael pointed her paw at the road ahead them.
Jasper and Zenpai looked in front of them and became shocked, as there were two Bug type Pokemon in the black garb laid down on the road there! Zenpai could identify them as the ninja from his clan!
Zenpai quickly grabbed his bag and jumped out of the carriage. Jasper and Rachael then did the same thing.
Three Pokemon quickly ran up to those two ninja Pokemon, and they found that one of them had been dead already! The other one, however, seemed like he was at the death's door. It seemed like both of them were attacked by someone, and the marks of katana slashes on their body told them that the one who attacked them was the very same Pokemon who killed Zenpai's elder brothers!
"Hey! You!" Zenpai approached the nearly dead ninja Pokemon. "What happened?! Who attacked you?!"
"Z…Zenpai?" The nearly dead ninja Pokemon mumbled with a very faint voice. "T…Tsuji…giri… H…He…a…ppeared…T…Too…S…Strong…"
"Oh no!" Rachael said.
"H…Hoka…ge… chased…a….after…h…him" The ninja Pokemon continued speaking.
"Hokage chased after that Tsujigiri?!" Zenpai became shocked. "W…Which way did they go?!"
The ninja Pokemon used the last of his strength to point at the woods right of him, and then his breath stopped…
"W…What should we do?!" Rachael asked.
"…I will go…" Zenpai spoke up. "Jasper, take Rachael back to the Forezon Village."
"No!" Rachael said. "You can't go into the woods alone! It's too dangerous! I will go with you!"
"…Absolutely not!" Zenpai said. "It's too dangerous for you to go into the wood, especially now it is almost night time. Plus, I made a promise to your mother to keep you safe."
"B…But it won't do!" Rachael said. "It is also dangerous for you to go alone, Zenpai! At least, let Jasper and I come with you! I can heal you with the potions I made last night!"
"…Although I don't like the idea of letting Rachael come with us, I agreed with her that you can't go there alone." Jasper spoke up. "I will never let my best friend to face the danger alone. So, I will go with you, no matter what you say, Zenpai. And if I go, Rachael must come with us too, right?"
"Right!" Rachael said and looked at Zenpai with a determined face.
"…Fine." Zenpai yielded. "But both of you must fall back if things get ugly, okay?"
"Okay!" Rachael and Jasper spoke.
"Then, let's go." Zenpai said, and then the trio went into the woods together.
The trio followed the Hokage and the Tsujigiri into the deep Leafburg Forest. They could easily tell where the Hokage and the Tsujigiri went by the marks of katana slashing and the shuriken that were stuck on the trees.
"Damn it!" Zenpai mumbled as they headed deeper into the forest. Now the day was already over and the night already came. "Where's that damn Tsujigiri?!"
"This way!" Jasper pointed at the tree ahead that had a shuriken stuck on it.
"That way…" Rachael spoke up. "It will lead us to an abandoned temple in the middle of the Leafburg Forest!"
"What?!" Jasper and Zenpai looked at Rachael. "How did you know about that?!"
"W…Well…It's not that important!" Rachael said. "L…Let's go there!"
"Right!" Jasper and Zenpai said.
Followed the marks of battle and Rachael's guide, the trio arrived at a set of stairs which will lead them to the abandoned temple.
"The temple is just upstairs!" Rachael said. "Let's hurry!"
The trio started going upstairs. As they went upstairs, they could see the abandoned temple closer…
And finally, after going upstairs and passing through the gate of the temple, they reached a courtyard in front of the abandoned temple. Despite it was already dark, the courtyard of the temple was bright because of several torches around here.
"Look! There's someone over there!" Rachael spoke up. The trio then looked ahead and saw that there were two Pokemon on the other side of the courtyard, in front of the abandoned temple…
The first Pokemon was a Scizor in the black garb that laid on the ground. It was very easy for Zenpai to tell who he is.
"Hokage!" Zenpai spoke up, but the Hokage didn't respond to him. He just laid there on the floor… like a corpse.
"…You've finally come…"
A voice of the second Pokemon attracted the trio's attention. The owner of that voice stood near the body of the Scizor. That Pokemon was… a Sceptile in a light swordsman garb with a long katana in his right paw. His body was soaked with red liquid called 'blood'.
After seeing the Sceptile, Jasper quickly spoke up with a shaking voice.
"M…M…Master Floratree?!"
To Be Continued…
Dragon of Vale: Two more chapters to go and Tail 1 will finally end!
Oh… Things didn't look very good here, right?
A special thanks to Ridin Valon for helping me with the error correction.