When Shadows Rise

  “The Master wants his answers slut and you are gonna tell him everything.” Seiya ran her hand over the swollen flesh, smiling. The pain from this creature was exquisate. Pure as the light she was supposed to be able to use. It filled her like a delicious three course dinner. Addicting like the finest drug, even better than sex. If she would just talk. Kaneda promised her heart’s desire if she could just get the location of the Guardian from this woman. Trading off one stranger for the joy of having little Hana strung up like this with Gregor chained on the floor watching. Teach them to forget who belonged to who.

  Her fingers tugged harder as she fantasized. “Tell me bitch!”

  Suteko hissed. Her brother was safe as long as she didn’t talk. If she could get this mad woman angry enough she would go too far and then it wouldn’t matter. You can’t get information from the dead. She could then apologize to Chris and Akuma. ‘You know…Kaneda doesn’t keep promises.” she whispered.

  “You are wrong woman,” Kaneda’s voice clawed like ants on the skin as he stepped into view. “I keep my promises. I told you that you would be mine Suteko and you are. To do as I wish.” He gestured for Seiya to move back. He flowed around the chained Star Knight and laughed. “It seems my sweet Pain is very thorough following her orders and you will tell me where he is woman. If I have to have her pull it from your bones.”

  Even though it was useless she reached as deep as she could. She let her lips slip into a smile and she felt power tickle up. “No Kaneda. I won’t betray those I love.” It wasn’t strong but it touched on her heritage and she let power spill from her skin. The chi power was not as strong as when she was Unicorn and she couldn’t channel it but it burned pure in the murky shadow filled room, striking the dark Lord like a slap, sending him skittering back to the doorway. “Stop her!”

  Seiya smiled, reached back and punched her hard, rocking Suteko’s head back. The light snapped off as she passed back into unconsciousness. “Damn bitch will not give in. There must be another way to get the location.” Kaneda’s hood turned and she could feel his displeasure. “Come woman, leave her for now. We need to set a trap.”

  ***

  Across two halls the Kouhei appeared inside the last room they knew she had been in. The shielded room inside the shadow general’s quarters was empty. Even the chains were missing this time. Minerva went straight to the door, extending her senses as far as the shield allowed. There didn’t seem to be any conscious minds in the outer chamber. Concentrating she slowly opened the door. The outer room was also empty. She gestured for the rest to follow her.

  As his team moved out through the general's chamber Jaeoh stood in the center of the room, his eyes on the floor. The tools and victim might have been removed but there were a few signs. Drops of blood that had not been cleared up. Kneeling down he could see that the floor was pitted, as if the blood had eaten through. He got back up, “Where are you?”

  Minerva led the team out of the room, carefully checking ahead of them. This hallway was empty of even basic shadows. When they came to an intersection she paused, searching mentally. “There is a gather five hundred yards to the left.” Her voice was distracted as she mentally searched. “But Unicorn is only 100 yards to the right.” She looked over her shoulder at Jaeoh. “She isn’t alone.”

  The Kouhei nodded. Rescue was never easy. “How many?’’

  She did a quick count, her brow furrowing as it wasn’t clear.. “There is one human with her but the shadows,…I can’t count them . “ she looked forward again. “It is like she is surrounded but not by minds I can touch.” She opened her eyes. “The one to worry about is the human.”

  "We'll deal with whoever it is once we are there."

  Leading the way, Minerva kept the Kouhei form being spotted. The small shadows seemed to swirl past heading in the direction of the gathering. None of them even paused for a moment, Minerva's shield managing to cover the entire group. She paused them each time a creature passed until they reached he final intersection. She stopped then and held up a hand. "There is a problem," she said as she looked around the corner. She quickly explained what she saw.

  Samuel slid up. He recognized the Reaper from before. This time he had a friend and they were guarding a door that glowed darkly purple in the gloom. "Heh, problem she says." Earth slipped his Si into both hands, twirling them. The mingled earth brown and green power flickered along the tines. "We got two Reapers here, man." He looked back to his leader. Jaeoh's eyes were glowing with green flames in the dim light.

  "Back off Earth, this belongs to Rage and I," he pulled his katana, letting the power slip down the blade. Rage grinned and slipped up to his leader’s side, his short gladuis glowing red. As one they stepped into the hall.

  The two reapers immediately flowed to block their way. Tall, thin and ragged looking, they were like creatures from some fantasy film. The creatures carried the traditional scythe. In a deep, tomblike voice the creature on the right swung his scythe to block the aisle. "You shall not pass."

  Rage smiled wider. "Who said we want to pass dust bag?" As one Rage and Draco struck, blades glowing as they fought.

  Sword against scythe normally would be a one way ticket to a grave but these two warriors were masters of their chosen weapon. Between their techniques and the power that being Kouhei gave them sparks flew. A hall is not the best place to swing the normal scythe but if it is apart of you there are things you can do that a normal human can not.

  The Kouhei warriors took part of the shadow Reapers off with each swing or thrust but the creatures managed to get a few energy sapping blows across. Rage mostly shook off the blows, the shadow powers not effecting the bear like man. The trickle of blood into his eyes just made him smile wider as he closed past the reach of his opponent and with a cry he thrust forward, burying his gladuis into the midsection of the shadow minion. His grin widened to a truly hideous sight as he pulled the power from the reaper. This greater shadow held more energy than the other shadows he had fought. They were locked together for long moments as he sucked it dry, the red glow lighting up the hall.

  Draco's battle was wilder. His katana flashed as he spun and slashed. Again pieces of shadow fluttered into the darkness. His more precise attacks removed the outer layer of his opponent, exposing the black skeletal form in places, but something odd was happening. The few wounds that he picked up were slowing him down more than he expected. He hissed as the scythe caught him along the thigh. The wound was shallow but he felt his power flowing out along with his blood. He stumbled to the side before taking a deep breath and dodging as the scythe came back around. The beast was not prepared as the Kouhei bounced up and onto the descending blade, his green flame covered blade circling to removed the hood and head from the Reaper. Everything paused for a moment then the robe collapsed inward. Jaeoh landed lightly but then stumbled letting out a low hiss. He grabbed his thigh with a confused look on his face. It was a shallow cut, why did he feel so weak? He leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and concentrated on his balance.

  Gregor turned to say something and stopped. Jaeoh was leaning against the wall as blood slid down his thigh. "Sweet water! Front and center!" He crossed to his leader, dropping to a knee to inspect the wound. From what he could see it was shallow but the amount of blood was wrong. It looked almost like Jaeoh was reacting like Unicorn. Not as intense but wrong for a Kouhei.

  Shayla stepped up and placed her hands over the wound and let her gift flow. The green healing energy closed up the cut but slower than expected. She cut a glance at Gregor who nodded once. The silent communication went unnoticed as Jaeoh scanned the hallway beyond. "Enough fussing Shayla. We need to get into that room." He pushed her away gently but firmly, turning away before the wound was fully healed.

  As he moved forward Gregor gestured to Uhanzee and Samuel to flank him. It might normally be his place to flank their leader but he
needed a word with the women. Turning to Hana he growled softly, "What the hell is up here ladies? Why is he reacting like Unicorn.? The growl in his voice would have frightened a normal woman. Like an angry polar bear, he seemed to fill the hall. Shayla and Iriko shook their heads and turned to Hana. She straightened and raised a hand.

  "He is still our leader, the same man who saved our souls. This is just," she paused searching for the right words. "Just another part of him. It will become clear in a little bit."

  Gregor gave his partner a hard look that softened briefly as her eyes pleaded with him. "It better, little Nezuze. It better."

  Uhanzee and Samuel followed their leader into the room, blades drawn. They looked about, eyes darting about them. The room was empty but for a woman in a long gown who was kneeling before the woman they came to save.

  Jaeoh stood frozen for a long moment. His eyes riveted to the woman in chains. He could just barely see her chest rise as she breathed raggedly. He moved in a flash, his katana out and at the throat of the kneeling woman. "Get her down, NOW!" His voice was low, intense with an almost echo.

  The slender woman looked up at Jaeoh and whispered. "I can not My Lord." she reached up and her long elegant hand passed right through Suteko's leg.

  Jaeoh started and then looked closer. This woman had cat slit pupils. "What the hell are you?"

  "I am your guardian my Prince." He eyes glowed in the purple darkness as her voice stayed soft and calming. "She needs you now young master. If you don't get her out of here soon she will die."

  Samuel rested a hand on Jaeoh's arm. He could feel a tremor pass through his leader and spoke as calmingly as he could. "She is telling you true man. Those chains embedded in her suck her strength. They are killing her slowly. She could barely stand the last time she had them on." The concern in his stocky friend's voice cut through Jaeoh’s anger and confusion.

  "How do we get her down, woman?" He asked more politely this time.

  The willowy stranger stood as Rage and the ladies entered the chamber. Minerva centered her attention on the woman and blinked. The stranger's form flickered from human to cat in her mind's eye. "Persephone?"

  The woman looked over and shook her head. "Demeter. How?" Then she smiled. "Oh, Minervan, I see." She turned back and rested a hand on Jaeoh's quivering arm. "My lord, you need to release her. Your sword..."

  "What?!" Jaeoh brought the sword back up, thinking that the woman wanted him to kill the one he came to save.

  She shushed him softly, "You must use it to break the chains."

  Gregor looked back and forth between Jaeoh and the stranger, then circled around to behind Suteko, preparing to catch her. Even the battle hardened warrior was unprepared for what he saw. He let out a gasp when he saw was remained of her back. "Damn it to hell!" He whispered. "Jaeoh, stop pissing. We have to get her down...carefully."

  Samuel moved to grab the chains like he had done before but Demeter held up a delicate hand. "No warrior, your method will make it worse. Only My Lord can free he now!"

  Shayla stood back, nearly ill from the pain and glee that hung about the room. The taste of both victim and torturer was heavy in the air. "Get her down and fast." Across the room she could feel Suteko’s heart stuttering as it tried to keep her alive. "I don't care how but get her down!" Iriko and Hana rested their hands on Shayla and eased a shield about the sensitive healer.

  Jaeoh gestured to his men. "Get ready," then he closed his eyes and breathed. Something made him pull the sword up before his eyes and words he never heard before in a language dead and gone filled him. A peace he never had filled him for an instant before his blade flashed. First to the right and then the left. The chains broke with a puff of green smoke and the eerie wail of a dying shadow beast filled the minds of those in the room. He stayed down on one knee, blade extended and eyes closed as Gregor caught Suteko, carefully.

  Shayla shook herself free of her friends and rushed over. She slapped her hands to Suteko's temples and flooded her with clean green healing energy. As before, it was a battle to force it through the shadow taint. "Damn it Unicorn, fight it!" she whispered to her patient. "I'm not letting you go!"

  Time seemed to speed up then as things happened so fast. Gregor carefully lowered the nearly dead Star Knight toward the floor but the strange cat eyed woman yelled for him to stop.

  Uhanzee's head came up as he heard movement coming toward them and questions started to flow. Hana pulled forth the Topaz key. "Quickly everyone together, their coming!" She held up the key and slid it into a lock that wasn't there. The room was flooded with golden light and everyone in the room faded form sight as the door burst open.

  Iriko stared right into the eyes of the man who had nearly killed her and smiled, a smile worthy of a Kouhei. She mouthed a word as she disappeared. "Gotcha!"

  ***

  Chaos erupted as the Kouhei, Minerva, Demeter and Suteko appeared in the middle of Setsuna’s pristine living room. The senshi had just returned from a battle at two separate temples to find the golden glow flooding the living room. Questions flew as they spotted Suteko and the strange maiden.

  Demeter was currently kneeing between Oak and Earth, her head down and a soft ancient prayer on her lips. Gregor had passed Suteko to the dazed Jaeoh who placed her on the floor, his sword still clutched in one hand.

  Shayla broke the tableau with hard orders. "Everyone back off. Those with healing I need you now. Everyone else get out!" When Jaeoh started to move she stopped him and gestured to his other hand. Somehow Suteko had curled her fingers about his. Very softly she told him to let Uhanzee take his sword away. He released his treasured blade without a thought, eyes on one very pale and swollen face. Once his hand was free he reached out and brushed the long silken strands from her face. He sank down, dazed and confused, the wound on his leg started to seep, coating his thigh in bright blood. Hotaru, Mamaru and Usagi all added their strength to Shayla's, channeling gold, silver and purple energy into her clean green. They fought a different battle now. No one noticed the green flames that flickered around the clasped hands.

  Across the great room Gregor loomed over the willowy stranger. His eyes still held a touch of red, anger at the damage done to one of their own made him short. "Who are you? What did you do to her?"

  Demeter, kept her eyes down, her hands clasped in her lap. "I did nothing to My Lady. I could never harm her."

  "Who are you..." Gregor got into her face but blinked at the answer from an unlikely source.

  "My sister, Demeter is who she is you big bully." Persephone jumped between the woman and Gregor. She placed a paw on her cheek and they communed for a moment before she slowly transformed into another willowy beauty.

  Gregor and Uhanzee gasped and looked to Hana, who simply shrugged. The senshi looked from one to the other, then at the crystal cats. "Twins?"

  Persephone turned and tried to glide to her mistress' side. She was stopped by Gregor's gladuis. "Answers cat. You aren’t going near her till I get them."

  Persephone gave him a pained look and sighed. "I told you, she is my sister, Demeter. She had been searching for Jaeoh but when I found him she went back undercover."

  "And?"

  "Please Master Swordsman can this wait a little? My Lady needs more than the healers can give her. She needs her Lord's Light and clean moonlight on what skin she has left." Demeter's voice was begging. "If we don't move fast this all will not matter. We will lose them both again."

  Whether it was the sincerity. the pleading look on her delicate face or more likely the matching concern on Persephone's he let them up. As one the cat women moved across the room and placed hands on Jaeoh's shoulders. Be it chance of fate or not Suteko lay directly under a skylight and the full moon glowed down on her.

  "You must remove what is left her clothing My Lord, then call the light."

  Jaeoh looked up, brow furrowed then he nodde
d. With a pass of his hand the tattered remains of Suteko's gi faded away, startling the working healers. Then three voices lifted in a long pure tone. Two clear sopranos and one deeper tenor, blending together. Everyone in the room felt a power rising as a wind came from no where lifting hair and ruffling clothing. Suteko’s form lifted from the floor and floated at Jaeoh's eye level. The tone changed then as his voice alone rang out. Calling on an ancient gift not seen in 3000 years the green flames sprouted from his arms to flow around and about Suteko and Jaeoh. Shayla was forced back, gently as the power did battle with the shadow taint coursing through Suteko's body.

  Every eye was turned to the battle between black shadow power and the new green fire. A cowled creature, like an extension of the Shadow master fought tooth and nail with a green flaming dragon. The battle was fierce, darkness doing its best to defeat the light but a single white beam of moonlight struck the shadow as Usagi used her crystal. It stunned the shadow long enough for Jaeoh's jade dragon to sink tooth and claw into the shadow and tear it apart. As it shredded away Suteko took a deep breath and screamed. Immediately Shayla and the others turned back to sending waves of healing into her body. The wound that was her back slowly closed as everyone watched. Smaller wounds closed like they were months old and even the gash on Jaeoh's leg disappeared.