Lightning! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kimagure Gakuen "I hope you'll like it too. I'm sure a couple of people will badmouth the school to you but I wouldn't listen to those guys. We'll have to miss the first period so I can show you around the school grounds. Come on, quick now." Yui gripped the handle of her book bag and daintily followed after her class superior, Haruko, keeping up as she led through the gates of Kimagure Gakuen. The following half-hour was spent with Haruko, touring all over the school. The newest student was shown all the ropes around the place. How to get to all of her classes, the people to avoid, the people best to make friends with. Most important of all; Yui was shown the full layout of the school. The four main buildings were divided up into departments which were further divided by each separate classroom within them. Those four subdivisions were Humanities (History, Sociology, Psychology), Fundamentals (English, Math, etc) Sciences (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology) and last but not least, Computers and Media. Which was where Kimagure Gakuen seemed to shine most. By the time that Haruko went through half the tour, they were walking along the stone path that curled around the circular main garden that adorned the front half of the school. Haruko spouted gabs and gabs of information about Kimagure. Mostly about the teachers and which of them were the most capable. Sometimes there was talk about the founding fathers of the school. And though Yui really didn't want to seem rude; she doubted that she needed to be told about any of that to settle into this school. But Haruko was the class rep; she would surely know best. And there was the added benefit of Haruko's cuteness, something Yui had no qualms in enjoying from a little distance. Haruko marched forwards and pointed at each little detail that she believed Yui needed to know about. While Yui herself just sort of nodded along, not really taking any notice on Haruko's part. But her mind re-focused on something else. Yui kept walking behind Haruko, but her mind abruptly became alert. A tremble passed down her spine. Her senses suddenly began kick starting. And she knew what that meant. Yui's normally innocent face darkened with a frown. There was another Shinobi nearby. But she couldn't look around. That would give her away. Haruko kept talking in front of Yui. While the younger woman kept up the pace, she remained cautious. And that caution was more than warranted. A dark spark set in through Yui's mind which meant immediate danger. Acting on reflex, Yui took the initiative and ran ahead into Haruko. The class rep gave off a feminine yelp as Yui tumbled into her. What she could not have seen was the blurred flash of a weapon that whizzed straight by the two of them and spiked the cold stone of the ground. Yui's head tilted upwards as she lay on top of the startled Haruko. She looked up to one of the surrounding department buildings. High in that sunny, bluish sky; upon the highest point of the roof of the humanities department... was the shadow of a figure. He stood up with his arms crossed, his feet planted firmly on the railing of that building. There was no denying that he was a shinobi. And then Yui shot another serious look behind her. She saw a shuriken lodged into the ground. That was what that ninja had attacked with. Yui was furious. It was one thing to attack her, but do it in front of an innocent girl like that? Who did that bastard think he was messing with? The unknown ninja stood up above; watching Yui. Then jumped backwards. Right out of sight. But by this time, Yui wasn't the only one whom had lost her patience. "Yui-san!" Haruko bellowed, "What is the matter with you?! Get off me!" "Oh... uh... sorry..." Yui gave an awkward glance back down at her class rep. She peeled off the girl, standing upright. Haruko did the same and dusted herself off, patting off some of the dust that had been pressed into her short school skirt. "Honestly..." Haruko said with a huff, smoothing out her rumpled blue skirt, "...What on earth did you do that for?" Yui nervously ran a hand through the back of her auburn hair, again blushing. "...I'm sorry, Haruko-san. I guess I must have slipped on something while we were walking. But could you excuse me for a moment? I have to use the restroom." And with that last comment, Yui turned on her heels and sprinted away from Haruko down the long stone path that surrounded the grassy front gardens of this elite but un-hostile school. Haruko blinked. Had she even told Yui where the bathrooms were? Nonetheless, Yui dashed around the corner of the Humanities department building and opened her book bag. The green-eyed girl pulled out something. A facial mask. One that was enough to cover her face and nose flawlessly. While the remaining length was allowed to flow down her back like a scarf long enough to touch the ankles. Yui's expression darkened. Her sweet eyes thinned out into harsh ones. Her brown furrowed. And a grim scowl crossed her face. It was almost as if the sweet girl of Hazumaru Yui was... vanishing away for another persona... She tied the facial mask around her mouth and nose, leaving the upper half of her face to view. Luckily she had brought most of her gear with her in the thought of having to deal with something like this. "You might be able to frighten Hazumaru Yui..." A shadowy chuckle escaped the girl's full pink lips as the mask settled over her face. "But lets just see how you handle Shiki..." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shinrin Jinja The Shinrin Jinja was not like other temples in Tokyo. Nor was it like any other ancient building to have existed there. While the surrounding city; flooded with rampant technology and blunt westernisation, was relentlessly busy and public, Shinrin was quiet. Silent. It was adorned with adjoining gardens of freshly trimmed green grass and romantic cherry blossom tress. A large stone path cut straight through the centre of the front gardens and ran around the entire complex of the shrine. And a new measure of keeping outsiders away; was an elongated metal fence built of black-painted grates which had been forked into the soil of the outer gardens. With the combination of the security fence, the inner and outer gardens, the Shinrin Jinja was a gigantic yet archaic complex. It would take a normal person about fifteen minutes to reach the shrine doors from the shrine gates. The Shinrin Jinja had been built in the very centre of Tokyo. From an outside perspective, it was a beautiful home of spirit and soul. In itself; it was the centre of the Honshu Island's real power. It was no coincidence that this happened to be the very home of the Mizuryu Clan. Deep within its main halls and chambers, which had been solidly built with 17th Century Japanese architecture in mind; stood the guards and followers of the Mizuryu Clan. One of the four major ninja clans in all of Japan. The group that were under the direct command of Mizuryu Hirotsugu, the Honshu Koga. They supported his power and held strong against the rising influence of the other three Koga. It was no secret that the Honshu Koga had the Lion's Share of the power base in this country. But those who worked for him were unwilling to lose that power to the other three Koga. Doing so would mean forfeiting their own power. Towards the back of the innards of the Shinrin Jinja, was a sizeable room. Full of space and calmness. It was known as the Room of Fates. Aside from some great surrounding statues of ancient spiritual gods and the flame torches that kept the room alight, nothing else was there to decorate it. Even though decisions were made in that room that would determine the fate of millions of Japanese offspring. Right now it contained two people. Or more specifically, two shinobi. Setsuki leaned back on the frame of the left wall and curled his rosy pink lips into a knowing smile. "Tell me, friend. Has Zanmaru-san gone to kill the girl? Like Yagami-sama has ordered?" "Yes," The younger Shinobi, standing to the centre of the room, kneeled downwards and ran a hand through his short blonde hair. Across his face was a Kabuki Cat Mask, "He has. And knowing him; his zealousness is sure to get the job done. But... I am concerned. This action seems somewhat heavy handed. Sending one of us, The Six Orochi, to a high school to take down some rogue kunoichi? I don't think this girl is that big of an issue." "Well, she obviously holds sway in Hirotsugu-sama's mind," Setsuki pulled his left arm upwards while his back supported him against the wall. With him came a colourful red rose. He held it to his nostrils and absorbed the clear scent. Wonderful, "We can only assume that our input is essential to our Lord's plans. And time is not on our side. After all... there are only five of us just as yet. The Sixth Orochi has not arrived. When that Shinobi comes... then we can begin. Then we can start everything that Hirotsugu-sama has shaped for us. But I suspect that does not concern you in this subject." 'Cat Mask' looked over at Setsuki, his brow furrowing. "...What do you mean by that?" "Just that... your concern is not for the success of Zanmaru-san. But more for the safety of your younger sibling. I believe that she attends Kimagure Gakuen, does she not?" Which was true. Something that Cat Mask could not and would not deny. It was probably the main reason that he didn't want the Mizuryu Clan or the Six Orochi anywhere near the school his sister attended. "How did you know?" Setsuki slipped his soft sapphire eyes shut, cracking a smile. "Emotions are like the scent of a rose, my friend. A lack of familiarity makes them hard to detect. But an affinity for the smell allows for quick knowledge. It's not like I've never had a will to protect something special to me. But you must realize. Hirotsugu-sama will not tolerate this kind of compassion from you. We forsook that right when we all became members of the Six Orochi." Cat Mask looked away from Setsuki. "I know that. Emotions like caring and concern are useless to shinobi. Much less an Orochi like myself. But I can't turn my back on my flesh and blood, Setsuki-san. Doing so would make me devoid of my own humanity." To that, Setsuki smiled again. "You youngsters. You're too expressive. But I'll give you a hand in this case. Zanmaru-san can be counted on to overdo it. His blood thirst knows no bounds. So I'll head to Kimagure Gakuen to keep an eye on him." Cat Mask nodded, smiling back. "Thank you. I'll repay the favour someday." "You've no need," Setsuki pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on and then walked forwards a little, his sandaled feet peering from the long length of his white and blue stripe hakama. He swiftly pulled his right hand up and made the two-fingered sign of the Shinobi. Right before a chorus of wind echoed around him. Cat Mask looked on at the slightly older fighter as a fierce wind overtook him. It surrounded Setsuki's body completely, allowing his long ponytail of jet black hair to rise upwards. That wind twirled sharply into itself; and vanished upwards. Setsuki disappeared. But left behind one last comment of his to ring in the echoing halls of Shinrin Jinja. "To be honest, my dear friend, I am intrigued by the severity with which Hirotsugu-sama wishes to see this girl dead. Such a kunoichi must be powerful. And I am looking forward to seeing that power for myself..." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kimagure Gakuen Zanmaru slid to a stop high above the school, standing silently on the stone paved roof of the humanities department. His mission today was to kill the girl whom had come to Tokyo from Morioka. And she was bound to show up at some point in time. Then he would slice her in two. The psychotic man walked up to the very edge of the building and pressed his foot into the metal safety railing that had been etched around it. He looked downwards to the main courtyard of the school without climbing the railing. The front of the school was deserted now. Everyone had made it to classes. Which would make it easier to take out the kunoichi. A woman he was soon going to meet. "So, Hirotsugu-yarou wants me dead so badly he's willing to litter a school with his filthy shinobi bodyguards, eh? You couldn't have written 'scum' anymore clearly over your face if you even tried." Zanmaru shifted around at the sound of another voice. A female voice. His feet swung him around on their balls to see the girl. She stood across from him, besides one of the compact doors that lead inwards to the main building. As the wind picked up; her dark sandy brown hair soon flocked with it. As did the lengthy trail of her facial wrappings. But she had not donned the clothing of a shinobi. She stood in the garbs of a schoolgirl of Kimagure Gakuen. Not very smart. But they knew she had enrolled in this school anyway. Zanmaru smiled behind his own facial wrappings, letting his thin arms lower to his waist. "Not bad. You had the skill to sneak up on me. Without detection. But you wasted a great opportunity to strike me down with that childish bravado of yours. And that is a mistake that will cost you dearly, I assure you." The girl made the two-fingered sign of the shinobi. "I don't need sneak attacks to take out a scumbag like you. So what's your aim? Why bother attacking two defenceless girls like that?" Zanmaru smirked. "Target practice. And a lure. I was sure that if you found those girls dead then you would come after me, miss..." "In this form, you can refer to me as..." The girl's eyes darkened, "...Shiki..." Again, Zanmaru just smiled to this, not really taking her intent seriously. After all; he had a mission to fulfil here as well. The psycho-ninja lowered his hands all the way to a small pocket compartment at the side of his left thigh. Etched into the fabric of his garbs. His eyes thinned out as his finger hooked into something under the flap of the pocket. A shuriken. There was a flash of alertness within those darkening eyes of Shiki; but she didn't move a inch from her current position. Then Zanmaru acted. His whole body shifted forwards as he flung a sharp metal shuriken at Shiki. But it was no ordinary attack. While it swerved through the air, the shuriken exploded with a bright golden electrical energy. Writhing over its jagged edges. Shiki blinked furiously. This buffoon knew about Compound Ninjutsu techniques? Regardless; Shiki bounded to one side of the attack and slid opposite, her trainers grinding into the stone of the ground, waking the dust and friction. The shuriken lodged into the ground at the point at which Shiki once stood. Making Zanmaru watch her intently. "You are very skilful when it comes to avoiding attacks," He yelled, the wind blowing once again behind the two of them, "There aren't many ninja who can navigate their way around my Shuri-Rai (Shuri-Thunder) technique that easily. No wonder Hirotsugu-sama wants you dead." Shiki stood upright. She was a lot more concerned with what Zanmaru had just done. "...You must be one of the head cronies of the Honshu Koga. And that's how you know Compound Ninjutsu. The art of combining two sub-styles of Ninjutsu to produce even more devastating attacks. Like fusing the Weapon-based style of Shuri-jutsu (Art of Shuriken) with the Elementally Chi-based style of Inabikari-jutsu (Art of Lighting). Hirotsugu-yarou was the one who revolutionized that art." Zanmaru smirked again, reaching back to both of his thighs. And the shuriken pockets that were made into them. "Well now. You've been doing your homework, haven't you? You have completely changed from that feeble girl I saw before." "...Yui-san is a weakling," Shiki replied, "I am what you should be worried about." And then Zanmaru deftly crouched forwards, spreading his feet apart. "You give me your true name freely? Aren't you afraid that I'll reveal your real identity to Hirotsugu-sama?" Again, Shiki made that two-fingered sign of the shinobi. "No. Because in just a few moments; the only ones you'll be whispering my name to... are the spirits." "Mighty sure of yourself, aren't you?" Zanmaru then flung both arms forwards, throwing two electrically charged Shuriken at Shiki, "Double Shuri-Rai Attack!" That same move again. Shiki scowled at Zanmaru and jumped upwards. Her body moved like speedy blur; right up into the sunny skies above Kimagure Gakuen. The Shuri-Rai both went straight under her; through into the metal railing that was hung around the other side of this building's roof. Zanmaru scowled back at her. She was quick on her feet. Just like Cat Mask and Yagami. Not to worry. There was more to Zanmaru than just the throwing of regular shuriken. A secret he would soon share with Shiki. The psychotic ninja looked upward into the skies; keeping his eye trained on the younger girl. While his hand roped around to his back. To that gigantic curved-edge shuriken strapped to it. One that he had lovingly dubbed, Gyakusatsu (Slaughter). "Fool!" He screamed to her, "Do you think that jumping into the air will save you from my next assault? I am Zanmaru! The Lightning Shinobi! Master of the Art of Shuriken and Second of the Six Orochi! You shall die in the name of Hirotsugu-sama!" While midair, Shiki vaulted backwards. Her nimble body flipped through the air; over and over again; till it landed foot-first on the metal railing on the other side of the roof. Shiki mounted the railing in a crouched position; leaving one hand free while the other grabbed the steel. Whatever Zanmaru had planned; she was ready and willing to cope with it. The older man braced himself and pulled out that large shuriken he had strapped to his back. It was huge; and was over a metre in length from one opposite tip to the other. He pulled out the magnificent death star and held it in front of him from the small hole in its centre. Zanmaru grinned from behind his mouthpiece and shifted his body downwards; bracing all strength into the power of the throw. Shiki took note. But also of the bright golden glow that was surrounding Zanmaru's giant shuriken. Looked like he was capable of pushing his natural Chi element, electricity, into the weapon. Zanmaru then gave a fierce war cry as he swung his electrified shuriken around himself and then straight at Shiki. The charged-up death star moved like its natural lightning straight for the kunoichi. Shiki snorted at the attack and did the same as before. She jumped straight upwards in a brilliant blur of movement. The Kyoudai Shuri-Rai (Enormous Shuri-Thunder) technique was avoided. The large weapon ripped open the metal grid of the opposite railing, slicing through it; well out of Shiki's way. Not quite the result that Zanmaru was expecting; Shiki was sure of that much. While leaping upwards; Shiki looked down at the older shinobi. "That wasn't your trump card, was it!? If it was then you've signed your own death warrant by challenging me, Zanmaru-san!" Though Shiki couldn't hear it, Zanmaru was chuckling. "Heh, heh, heh. Overconfidence. The downfall of the weak. You haven't even seen my true power yet, little girl. But now it's time to reveal it all. The Second Orochi cannot be defeated!" Zanmaru thrust both feet downwards and took a deep breath. He brought his hands together and performed a series of katas with both. His eyes slipped shut through the entire process. But it bore results. The Gyakusatsu, which had now been flung a good fifty metres away, was the centre of the action. It stopped its spinning midair and froze. Then that spinning resumed at an even faster rate. But in Zanmaru's direction. The Giant Shuriken altered its direction and returned to where it came from. It then span past the far metal railing then climbed upwards. Which put it in a direct course for Shiki. The brown-haired girl didn't notice this until it was too late. The rapidly spinning weapon came up in a speedy motion. The girl grunted as it sliced open the fabric over the arm of her school shirt, cutting open her arm. She gripped the wound swiftly and begun plummeting back down to earth from the loss of momentum of her jump. While the Lightning Shinobi; Zanmaru, grinned like a madman from behind his mouthpiece. The spinning giant shuriken stopped in the air again, hanging above in position, more than ready for Zanmaru's next command. Shiki managed to regain her composure, landing on the stone floor of the roof. She slipped one of her eyes closed while keeping the other on Zanmaru. "...N-Not bad. You're a little better than I expected. I didn't think you could... control the Kyoudai Shuri-Rai as well as cast it." Zanmaru giggled evilly. "Imprudent girl. Did you actually believe that you could challenge a member of the Six Orochi and live? There are none who can. Your fate is death. By my hand. Those who stand against Hirotsugu-sama can expect nothing less." And so Zanmaru began his next set of hand commands for the frozen-in-air Gyakusatsu. He looked up at it. The weapon soon began spinning again. It swung around in path and rotated backwards towards Shiki. The younger woman looked up as the giant shuriken descended at her from a diagonal angle. She actually had underestimated this man. But even so... she was more than a match for Zanmaru. While Gyakusatsu plummeted at her; Shiki stood upright but focused her attentions on Zanmaru; not the shuriken. She remained still and silent. Just until she brought up her hands. Zanmaru scowled. "Fledgling kunoichi! If you had sense you'd try to dodge the attack!" Shiki pressed all of her attention into her hands; ignoring Zanmaru's comments. Not that he wasn't an important component in what she was intending. Shiki flashed her hands around in a series of actions that emulated the katas that Zanmaru had performed. But her work was much faster and much more exotic. Her hands moved in a blur; pressing from one hand pose to the other; until both hands were clasped together in the double-handed sign of the shinobi; her thin fingers interlocked. The Gyakusatsu came zooming down in about a metre's distance; ready to kill the girl. Of course, Shiki had other plans... "Shunhenkou!" A puff of spiritual smoke enveloped both Shiki and Zanmaru. But the results were something else altogether. Zanmaru blinked as he waved away the smoke. He looked across from him and saw Shiki; standing in the exact same position he had been in. He was confused; very much so, until it lost its meaning. The vivid chime of spinning metal rang in his ears. Before he could even realize it, the Gyakusatsu same straight down at him. The older man coughed up a geyser of blood into his mouthpiece. The giant shuriken impaled him with one of its four points; straight through the stomach. And so the Lightning Shinobi felt the taste of his own attack. The electric charge from the weapon shocked his body senseless. His head jerked wildly from both the pain of the blood-oozing wound and the pain of the vivid electrocution. Once it had taken its toll; Zanmaru fell backwards; with his own shuriken lodged in his abdomen. He collapsed to the ground in a heap. Alive; but stunned and mortally wounded. Shiki lowered her hands and walked up to the downed ninja. He had over estimated himself after all. And Shiki didn't even have to use any of her own weapons to kill him. The girl went over to Zanmaru and crouched downwards, looking him in the eye. "...Looks like you fell prey to your own powers." She spoke. Zanmaru coughed again, spurting blood through the dark purple wrappings around his mouthpiece. "...How... did you...?" "Switch our positions?" Shiki replied, "It's called Shunhenkou (Instant Alteration). It's a Contemporary Art invented by your master, the Honshu Koga. It allows the user to switch places with the target. If used fast enough." Though it was a struggle, Zanmaru managed to laugh groggily. "...Heh, heh, heh... I see. You clever bitch... you've been trained in... Mizuryu style.... Ninjutsu... no wonder... Hirotsugu-sama wants you... eliminated..." "There's no chance of that," Shiki answered, looking down at the dying man, "Because your Lord is going to fall to me. This is why I came to Tokyo. To kill the Honshu Koga." Zanmaru was just about to make another comment in reply to that. But he didn't get the chance to do so. The second his lips parted from behind his mouthpiece, a streak of power came down across his neck in a flash. A gush of blood spurted across the stone ground of the roof as the attack hacked off the shinobi's head in one clean stroke. The decapitated head of Zanmaru rolled away with open, bloodshot eyes, while Shiki looked up urgently. There was another shinobi standing across from her. Atop the metal railing of the roof. A young man, dressed in a white and blue hakama, with an unsheathed katana at his hand. He possessed somewhat feminine looks, with long jet black hair tied back into a low-hanging ponytail. His large and healthy black eyes looked down upon Shiki from the metal railing. He had been the one to finish off Zanmaru. Shiki eyed him cautiously. "...Who the hell are you?" "Kugure Setsuki," The youthful man took a bow, "At your service." That wasn't enough for Shiki, though. "You must be one of the 'Six Orochi' I keep hearing about. Nobody else could kill someone else that easily." To that, Setsuki nodded; sheathing his katana in the sheath at the side of his waist. "You are correct. I am the Third Orochi. But that man you just defeated was a failure. We had a feeling that things would not go well for him. So to spare him prolonged agony by bleeding to death; I put him out of his misery. It is best that way." Shiki stood upright. "I see. So that's all you've come for?" "Quite the little fireball, aren't you?" Setsuki replied, chuckling, "Fresh from your battle with Zanmaru-san and yet you are willing to challenge me. But the spilling of blood is not my true intention today. All that I wanted was to see the power of the girl that Hirotsugu-sama wishes to see dead so badly. And I am pleased with what I've seen so far. Zanmaru-san was clearly no match for you. You are as deadly as you are beautiful." Great, now one of the Six Orochi was hitting on her. "...I'm going to kill that Lord of yours." "We shall see, my dear," A circular wind began to surrounded the charismatic Setsuki, enfolding him with storm and leaves. Soon after that moment he vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the ringing echo of his voice, "We shall see." Shiki snorted, gripping the wound at her arm. She had to get it bandaged up before she lost anymore blood. Then she had to dispose of Zanmaru's decapitated remains. The last thing she wanted to do was to put this school into a panic by having a dead body hanging around the roof of the humanities department. And with these powerful 'Six Orochi' ninja running around... ....Killing Hirotsugu would be tougher than she first thought.
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