So you sit and think of love
I wait, hate all the more, I fall
On skinned knees I crawl
I want to set you free
Recognize my disease
Love, Sex, Pain, Confusion, Suffering
You're there crying, I feel not a thing
Drilling my way deeper in your head
Sinking, Draining, Drowing, Bleeding, Dead
~ Confusion, Alice in Chains
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Sixth Orochi
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Room of Fates, Inside the Shinrin Jinja
"...It's been seven long years..." Hirotsugu spoke, "...Welcome
back, Mizuryu Yui..."
Shiki scowled, seething. "...Father..."
Seven whole years since their last meeting. It was no surprise
that this meeting was just as frosty and as chilling as the
last. How many times had Shiki pictured this in her mind?
Seeing the older man. Her Father. Hearing him breathe. Watching
him speak. Shiki had waited for this moment for too long. But
now it was finally here. She was face to face with Hirotsugu.
The Honshu Koga. The true ruler of the Island of Honshu, leader
of the Mizuryu Clan and first of all four of the Koga. Hirotsugu
smirked to himself and turned around to face his young daughter.
He rested a hand on his waist as he spoke. "Well. You've
surpassed what I expected of you. In more ways than one. I truly
expected the likes of Zanmaru-kun, Ryoko-kun and Setsuki-kun to
fall to you, Mizuryu Yui. But to defeat both Hibuki-kun and
Yagami-kun... that is something I would not have expected.
Kudos. I must admit that I seriously underestimated the value of
your talents those years ago. Your Mother would be proud."
Shiki's fist shook. "Don't you dare talk about my Mother! And
don't try making any excuses for yourself! For seven years I've
thought of nothing more than this day. The day that I would get
my revenge on you. And I won't weaken for you or your
ill-conceived words. You are going to die, Father. Right now."
"...You really have grown up strong," Hirotsugu admitted;
ignoring Shiki's comments and threats of death, "It is quite
possible that you would have fulfilled the mission I set out for
you. But I could not have been sure of that. Hence the Scroll of
Kokomaru..."
At that point, Shiki didn't understand what Hirotsugu was
talking about. But she did have one issue remaining on her mind.
The one she had told Yagami of. And now she needed the answer to
it.
Shiki's hand reached behind her back and gripped Miyuki. "I
really couldn't give a damn about what you expect of me. But I
have one question. That only you can answer. Why did you abandon
me? Why did you leave me for dead? How could anyone with a sound
human conscience... do that to someone else?"
Hirotsugu crossed his arms and let his smile become a frown.
"You still didn't heed my words back then, did you? A conscience
is a weight on the shinobi back. To become a true ninja one must
strip themselves of caring and love and emotions. We must be as
ice. Lacking the warmth that binds normal people to each other.
That final step towards my own journey into becoming a true
shinobi came on that day. To forsake my own daughter... to cart
her off in a squalid slum in Morioka... that was the last test
of my humanity. But... there were more reasons than just that"
Shiki probed him. "...And...?"
"Since the time of your birth, Yui-chan, you were modelled,"
Started the Honshu Koga, "To be the ultimate kunoichi.
Possessing a heart born of ice and a will made of steel. I
sought to bring this out in you. And though I was largely
successful in bringing out your great talents for the art of
killing... there was one thing about you that I simply could not
erase. And that was the accursed kindness you possess. The
kindness that prevented you from taking human lives... even
though you were fully capable of such. The conflict between your
kind nature and the killing urge I nurtured inside you led to a
dual-persona. The kind side of you was reflected in your normal
life as Yui. Outside of that, the darker part of you was marked
by the trade name you took on as a shinobi. That name was Shiki.
The name I believe that you regard yourself with when you wear
that facial mask nowadays. And because I couldn't draw out your
full potential... you were worthless to me. That was why you
were sent off to some random location in Morioka."
So that was the truth behind her name. But still, it gave rise
to more questions. "You used me! I wasn't some ninja of your
clan that you could throw away when you felt like it! I was your
daughter! What possible aims could you have for me that were so
unreachable that you had to throw me out into the streets for?!"
Hirotsugu chuckled. "You just don't get it, do you? Did you not
think it was odd that you have faced only five of the Orochi to
get here? I honed your great talents for one reason and one
reason only. To take your place in my ninja team. In other
words... you are the Sixth Orochi!"
"W-what!?" Shiki yelled, stunned, "Y-you're... lying! That can't
be! What made you think that I would have worked for you after
what you did to me!"
Hirotsugu answered that. "You were intended to be the last of
the Orochi, my dear. The final ninja that would complete the
team. If you had joined us... then nothing could have stopped
the Six Orochi. But when I saw that kindness in you seven years
ago... I knew that you were unfit to hold the position. By
abandoning you in Morioka, I hoped to instil a deep hatred and
sense of betrayal inside of you. One that would overwhelm the
good-hearted nature. I knew that one day you would be coming
back to Tokyo. To take revenge. To kill me. It's time to become
ice... like myself, Yui-chan."
Shiki's fist shook as his held Miyuki. "S-shut up!! I'm not
listening to any of this! None of it! You're not my Father!
You're just some manipulative ex-shinobi with illusions of
grandeur!"
And to that, Hirotsugu smirked. "Good girl. That's it. The
vociferous anger I hoped to make you suffer with, my dear
Yui-chan. You feel it, do you not? A rage so strong and cold
that it constantly threatens to consume you? You should not
resist its will. Let it take you over. Let your hatred become
your strength."
Shiki closed her eyes and tried to block all this talk out. "I
said shut up!"
"Ah. Still some conflict left in you," Hirotsugu claimed, "It
seems that the soul of Yui has yet to fall to the soul of Shiki.
Maybe hearing what I've planned for Japan might make more sense
to you."
"J-Japan...?"
The Honshu Koga nodded to that and then turned his back to
Shiki. He crouched down and picked up the Scroll of Kokomaru. It
was growing bright blue. A faint glow but a noticeable one none
the less. He turned back around and faced his daughter. "Do you
happen to know what this is?"
Shiki gave no reply.
And Hirotsugu took that as Yui's way of saying 'no'. "It is
called the Scroll of Kokomaru. I assume that Genryukai-dono
neglected to mention it. But then he probably has no idea that I
still possess the scroll. You see... the fate of the Tengu
Kokomaru has more of a chain effect on today's society than he
believes. When the Kagayaku Clan gained their great powers and
the other leading lords banded together to stop them, our family
of Mizuryu sought solitude to come up with ways to counter the
threat. This gave rise to the Scroll of Mizuryu. The scroll that
possessed the technique we documented as a new weapon against
the Kagayaku. The one you must have read to learn the Mizuryu
Gijutsu, the power of self-hypnosis. And yet... although it
contained great power, the Scroll of Mizuryu was absolutely
nothing in comparison to the power of the Scroll of Kokomaru.
The other lords of the Tengu Kokomaru joined forces and created
this Scroll. Which contains the most secret and sacred of
shinobi techniques. A power so great that the Kagayaku ran in
fear from it. And the strength of this skill decimated the
Family so badly that only a few of their kind remain in this day
and age. But the survivors of the internal wars of the Tengu
Kokomaru were fearful of the power of this skill they had
created. So they used all their remaining power to cast a spell
upon it. It was a sealing rite. They bound the scroll with
something called Fuin no Seishinryoku (Seal of Willpower). It
was decided that the scroll should be entrusted to those who
helped defeat the Kagayaku. The Mizuryu Clan. Our ancestors.
Then the four remaining shinobi clans of the Tengu Kokomaru;
Ishida, Matsumoto, Watabe and us the Mizuryu, all went our
separate ways. Ending the will of the greatest ninja union of
all time. But contact between the four clans did not end. The
four leaders of each clan maintained union. And they always
have. Even into the present day."
Shiki blinked with surprise. "...You mean..."
"Yes," He confirmed, "The Four Koga are the direct descendants
of the leaders of the Tengu Kokomaru. The Scroll of Kokomaru was
entrusted to me by birthright. And though dear old
Genryukai-dono stole the Mizuryu Scroll from the Shinrin Jinja,
he was unsuccessful in stealing the Scroll of Kokomaru."
"So what do you plan do with it!? As if I have to ask!"
Again, Hirotsugu chuckled. "I am going to open Fuin no
Seishinryoku. I will unbind that ancient seal because I have
discovered the way to do this. Our forefathers decreed that the
seal will be broken and the scroll will be opened once the
'spirit of nation' is restored. They believed that use of the
scroll would be safe if the country stood united rather than
divided against each other like it was in our feudal past. But
no one person in this country will ever stand on their own two
feet as long as the western superpowers hold us by the throat.
We need to return to the individuality and isolation of our own
hearts and minds. Once that spirit of self reliance reaches a
peak... it will give rise to the shattering of the Willpower
Seal."
"Bastard," Now everything made sense, "That was why you wanted
Fujiwara-sama to announce the re-assertion of the Closed Country
policy. So that we would learn to think as a self-reliant unit.
That surge of 'willpower' will break the seal. And allow you to
unlock the power of the Scroll of Kokomaru..."
Hirotsugu nodded. "Correct. When the seal breaks I will have the
powers of the ancient ones. The great skill that was able to
destroy the Kagayaku Family. I will use all that ancient power
to smash the other three Koga and take over Japan. To rule in my
own name. The feeble people of this nation, growing lethargic
and obese on the powers and influences of the west, will no
longer serve a weak, helpless government and a pathetic Prime
Minister. They shall bow to a new Emperor. Now, the seemingly
deceased wish of the Tengu Kokomaru, the will to usurp the
ruling powers... it will all be realized by my hand. I will
become Kami-sama no Nihon (God of Japan). No military power will
ever be able to stand against me, national or foreign. The three
other Koga and their respective ninja clans will all die. It
will be the glorious, beautiful birth of a new Japan."
Shiki gave him a scowl of pity. "...And exactly how did I fit in
all of this?"
"Heh, heh, heh," Hirotsugu sniggered lowly, "You have no idea
how powerful you are. Or how important you are to my plans. I
threw you away to strengthen myself and replace your kindness
with hate. I let you stay at Morioka with your adoptive parents
long enough to grow into a powerful kunoichi. And I sent each of
the five remaining Orochi against you. But not specifically to
kill you. Rather... to test you. To see if you had grown into
the strength that I had beaten into you during your childhood.
And you've exceeded even my wildest dreams. You may still
possess that disgusting kindness in your heart... but your
strength makes you more than worthy."
"For what?" Shiki asked.
"...To be my successor," Hirotsugu answered, his face darkening,
"We of the Mizuryu Family are destined to rule. We were the
primary Family of Tengu Kokomaru. We spearheaded the fight
against the Kagayaku. We were entrusted with the Scroll of
Kokomaru. We are the backbone of this nation. It is our
birthright to rule Japan. Once I takeover... and when I die
after doing so... I will need someone to follow in my footsteps.
That will be you. You shall carry the blood of the Mizuryu Clan
to new generations. You shall protect our rule until it is time
for your offspring to take control. And so the cycle will
continue. The Mizuryu will finally have what we deserve.
Ultimate, un-shared and un-contested power over Japan."
The Burning Kunoichi's fist kept shaking at the hilt of Miyuki.
The part of her that was Shiki was being seduced into this idea.
And the other part of her that Yui was... frightened. So many
emotions were swirling around in her head. Anger, hatred, fear,
desperation, anxiety. But even deeper ones arose from the offers
of Hirotsugu. Like greed and power hunger. The dark and yet
somehow inviting idea of absolute power. Shiki released the
handle of her sword and held a hand to her chest. Another
internal battle between the personae of the dark Shiki and the
kind (Hazumaru) Yui was taking place. And Hirotsugu could see
it.
His smile brightened. "You can feel it, can you not? The will of
the Mizuryu and the old Tengu Kokomaru. The will to rule. You
cannot escape it. Even if you kill me now that will make you
next in line to be the Honshu Koga. So join me. Follow me as the
heir to my future empire and we will control this country as
Father and Daughter!"
The side of the girl that was Hazumaru Yui managed to hold out.
"...N-Not a chance!"
"A pity. You do not seem to understand this situation. You are
destined to be my heir. And if you will not become so with
reason... then you shall become so with force." Hirotsugu shook
his head, and pulled aside the large sleeve of his informal
kimono. He was retired now; so he was not an active shinobi. But
he was intending to do something. Shiki saw this but did not
care. She gripped the hilt of Miyuki again and ripped it from
its bamboo sheath. She gave a heart-rending scream of anger an
then thrust herself straight for her Father across the Room of
Fates. Hirotsugu pulled up his hand and his eyes hardened. As
soon as Shiki reached him he forced out his hand and a bright
white flash illuminated the dark hall. Hirotsugu's expression
was filled with equal anger and zeal as he screamed out the name
of the attack.
"Kokoroha!"
(Mind Wave!)
And 'Kokoroha' was the last phrase that Shiki heard as she felt
herself thudded into a deep unconsciousness state, collapsing to
the ground.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"...W-Where... am I...?"
Yui sighed as her eyes fluttered open. That Kokoroha thing was
some form of Ninjutsu. But she couldn't quite place it. But that
became the least of her worries. Yui nudged herself up and held
a hand to her forehead. Her free uncovered eye looked down at
her body. And she noticed that she was not in her ninja gear.
All her weapons (her bamboo sword Miyuki and the remaining
shuriken created for her by Genryukai) were still with her; but
she was dressed in her Kimagure Gakuen schoolgirl outfit. What
was this about? What did Hirotsugu do to her? Yui stood up
urgently and looked around. And she was even more shocked to see
that she was not in the Room of Fates anymore. She was on a huge
circular pillar. From one side to the other it was about fifty
metres long. The pillar was erected in a void of space. Towards
the bottom of that void were the colours of a beautiful sunset,
all of them mixed together to create a wondrous background. The
skies above were of a different tone. They were bleak and grey,
full of thick dark clouds that broke with loud thunder and
lightning every few seconds. Two settings that were meshed into
one. What on earth could that mean? Where was she?
Yui searched around for something. Or someone. Aside from the
pillar there was nothing at all at this beautiful-ugly place.
How would she get home? How did Hirotsugu send her here? The
heart of the young Yui began beating faster and faster from the
worry of all this, but then that changed when she saw a new
figure step onto the pillar with her. The body blurred into view
via Ninjutsu teleportation. With a young woman's figure and
dressed fully in light brown ninja clothing. With a bamboo sword
similar to Miyuki on the back of her waist and twin shuriken
pouches on both her legs. And... most distinguishing of all, was
the chocolate brown hair, emerald eyes and facial wrappings...
There was a quiver in Yui's throat. "...Is that... me...?"
"Heh, heh, heh," The image chuckled to herself, "We are not the
same. I am Shiki. The darker side of you that was created from
the training and brainwashing that our Father subjected you to,
seven years ago. It was why the Room of Meeting felt so familiar
to you. It was where you were trained. But because you could not
abandon your kindness... there was a conflict inside your
mind... one that gave birth to me. A second personality born of
hatred and anger and killing. Unlike you, I am a true shinobi.
Worthy to be the future ruler of Japan."
Yui shook her head. "No! Hirotsugu-san is mad! He won't succeed!
And I don't want to follow him into his grave! I'm going to stop
him before he can break the seal!"
"...Really...?" Shiki chuckled again, then jumped into the air
slightly. She swiftly blurred into nothingness and shifted
behind Yui. The schoolgirl froze up as Shiki reappeared behind
her, more than ready to kill. But no weapon had been drawn,
"...And what makes you think that you have it in you to be a
killer? You're weak, Yui-chan. A snot-nosed little girl trying
to be a kunoichi. There is nothing about you that is capable of
killing someone. You're too feeble. You need my power to stop
Hirotsugu-yarou. And as I see it... his influence would give me
the kind of power I've been nurtured to love. Even if I kill
him... I could become Honshu Koga. I would control over one
quarter of the political power in this country. With the Scroll
of Kokomaru open, I could eventually kill the other Koga and
take over rest of Japan. I could be Kami-sama no Nihon. But with
you and your benevolence in the way... I will never have the
glory that I so rightly deserve. As foretold by the birthright
of all Mizuryu. Do you realize that? Your kindness is my
weakness."
Yui again heard that subtle chime sound. The sound of blur
movement. She blinked one second and looked forwards. Shiki was
standing across from her again. But unlike before, she now had a
weapon drawn. A shuriken from her left thigh pouch. The Dark
Kunoichi smirked for a moment and then idly threw the shuriken
at Yui. The schoolgirl gasped as it zipped past her right arm.
Grazing it. She cried out as a second shuriken came and slashed
her other arm, drawing a deeper gash and therefore a deeper flow
of blood. The Kimagure Gakuen school uniform offered little
protection from Genryukai's sharp shuriken stars. Yui gripped
both sides of her shoulders with both hands. To contain the pain
and to stop the flow of blood.
Shiki continued to smirk. "You fool. This is a battleground of
the mind. If you fall here then your body becomes mine. Aren't
you going to fight? Come on, fight! Submit to your anger and
embrace your true nature. Embrace me..."
Yui looked up at her. "...I won't lie. I need your power. I've
always needed your power... your courage. As Hazumaru Yui... I
am just another helpless human being. As Shiki... I am
powerful... strong... brave... almost fearless. However I don't
need your blood-thirst or your ambition! You might be the source
of all my strength... but you represent every devious, evil act
that Hirotsugu-san has committed against me and others,
Shiki-san!"
"Stop resisting it," Shiki barked, "I'm the Sixth Orochi. I'm
the daughter of Hirotsugu-yarou. I'm the one who defeated
Yagami-san. And I've done nothing but exist up until now. You
could not hope to stand against Hirotsugu-yarou and the Mizuryu
Clan without me. If you reject my influence here... you'll die
by their hands. And what of Haruko-chan? Your feeble nature
would never keep her safe. Do you realize that? By rejecting
me... you're endangering the one who we care most for."
But, just then, a smile pulled across Yui's lips. She lifted her
head upwards and looked over at the representative shinobi of
the darker half of her mind. "Wrong. You are my true enemy. You
are... the Hirotsugu of my mind. And although I've used you as a
weapon against the likes of the Orochi and the Mizuryu... from
now on, I will rely on... my own strength. And that strength
will protect Haruko-chan..."
Shiki began to scowl. "Silence!"
She hurled another of those razor sharp shuriken at her good
half in that second. But Yui saw this and went for her own
shuriken pouch. She quickly withdrew one and tossed it at the
exact same speed. The two metal death stars clashed against each
other noisily over the wide stone pillar. And Shiki's eyes
widened as her attack was deflected.
Yui still smiled, one eye shut. "Well... how about that? I
guess... you aren't the complete source of my power after all...
huh?"
"You're a fool," Shiki barked, lowering her arms, "If you think
you can go this alone then so be it. But one day you'll be
fighting an enemy that is far too strong for you. Then you will
need my strength to add to your own. Be sure of it. One day...
you'll come crawling back..."
That image of her dark side soon began to shatter. Like glass.
Shiki froze and then each piece of her began to float away into
the winds of Hazumaru Yui's mind. Soon enough she was gone from
the pillar. The stage of mental combat. 'Shiki', the darker,
evil side of Yui that was sculpted within her from childhood;
would always be there. But for now... that darker nature would
remain buried. Allowing Yui to continue her work.
It was time to finish the job.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Room of Fates, Shinrin Jinja
"...It cannot be..."
Hirotsugu was astounded. It was simply amazing. Even though she
had been blasted with the Kokoroha, Shiki was waking up just a
short few minutes later. The young woman groaned roughly into
her long facial wrappings and slowly but surely pulled herself
upwards from the awkwardly clumped position she fell into. Her
bright emerald eyes fluttered open and looked up at the startled
older man. The Honshu Koga. Her Father. Shiki slowly stood on
two wobbly but determined legs and faced off with him. After
waiting so long, after fighting so many fights, it all came down
to this. Shiki locked eyes with her father and frowned from
behind her facial wrappings. No matter what... it was time to
end him.
Hirotsugu gave a surprised smile. "Such strength... I assumed
that the Mind Wave would have you down for some time. Time
enough for you to see sense and join me. But you are not like
other kunoichi. Or other shinobi for that matter. You are
special. You truly are my daughter, Mizuryu Yui."
Shiki gripped the hilt of Miyuki. "I abandoned the name of
Mizuryu long ago. Just as you abandoned me. Now I have been
hired to kill you. Your life ends today."
"Heh," Hirotsugu grinned, closing those dark eyes of his and
whispered to himself, "I can guess who paid you to kill me. The
Hokkaido Koga. Smart move, woman. No wonder I loved you so. Even
though you are a member of the Ishida now..."
Whatever Hirotsugu said to himself, Shiki ignored it. She went
for the handle of her bamboo sword on her back waist and
withdrew it in a flash. The young woman then charged straight
ahead at the still, calm, close-eyed Hirotsugu. He knew what was
coming. He didn't fight against it. His plans had failed. And he
was about to die.
{I wonder...} Hirotsugu thought as Shiki neared him, {...Does
Yui-chan know who the Hokkaido Koga really is? I suppose not.
Well then, Fumiko. It seems as though you have your wish. My own
daughter will kill me... and you will have your revenge. But
once her darker, true nature comes to light... my wish to rule
Japan will live on in her actions. Then we shall see... who the
true victor is in all this...}
Three seconds later...
...Hirotsugu's head was chopped straight off his shoulders.
The decapitated corpse of the Honshu Koga collapsed to the
ground, spurting vicious pints of blood from the sliced neck.
That crimson red blood splattered all over the floorboards of
the Room of Fates. While his head whizzed through the air in
motion. Until it tipped back down to the ground and rolled into
a stop. The lips of the head were still sporting a smile.
Shiki's sliding slash came to a stop as she brought herself to
one. She stood still for a moment. Then she dropped the now
bloody Miyuki to the ground and absorbed the sudden silence in
that room.
A tear slipped down Shiki's cheek, over her wrappings.
"...Mission complete..."
The Honshu Koga... was dead.
...But what would be the repercussions?
Only time, it seems, will tell.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When I'm wakin'
And I'm achin'
Time for sleeping, yeah
When I'm sayin'
Time to go and
I've been hurtin', yeah
When I'm layin'
I'm still tryin'
Concentrating on dyin', yeah
You're right as rain
But you're wrong to blame
Agreed my crime's the same
My sins I'll claim
Give you back shed pain
Go find a place for own shame, yeah
So you can deal
With this thing unreal
No one made you feel any hurt, yeah
Body's movin'
Only provin'
No one needed to move
Still believin'
Yet mistaken
All God's Children, yeah
And I must say
I was stupid
Selfishly she consumed, yeah
And you must change
Patterns all we trained
Or n'er regain peace you seek
Now you hear me
For the things I see
Yeah, I believe in inner peace, yeah
Throw Out
Blow Up
Hold In
Show Fine
No Signs
Grow Blind
~ Shame in You, Alice in Chains
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
END OF BURNING SPIRIT, KUNOICHI!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaiser's Afterthoughts
---------------------------
* My first ninja story. Some of the plot is quite basic at the
heart of it, but this story was less about romance and revenge
as it was about action and politics. I'd like to think that I
pulled off that amalgamation well, but if I didn't, there's
always sequels to work with. I already have plans for Burning
Spirit Kunoichi 2, I'm just debating whether or not to follow
through and actually start writing it. Especially since I've
started to get back into the fanfiction world.
* One odd thing I did with this fiction was add suffixes (i.e.
-san, -chan, -yarou, -sama). I don't usually do that with my
Japanese-based stories because they can complicate matters, but
I've been giving them a whirl recently. I feel (to a certain
extent) comfortable with them, but I won't be using them for
stories other than those linked to Burning Spirit Kunoichi.
* This was actually written shortly before Christmas of 2004,
but I didn't think to post it anywhere. Sorry about that.
* The songs 'Something to Believe In', 'Confusion' and 'Shame in
You' do not belong to me. They are property of the Offspring
(Epitaph) and the former Alice in Chains (Columbia). I claim no
ownership of them, whatsoever (as if I could write songs THAT
good).
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