Yokai Domination

The battlelines had been drawn.

The two young heirs, Sheru and Xiomazu, would combine their strengths alongside the Daimyo of Kansai, Donburi. Together they would fight on the behalf of Japan, and possibly the rest of the world.

Across from them stood the determined Shinobi.

Undaunted by those who considered his goals fiendish, the many souls bound inside Shinobi would fight to create an immortal future, where death was nothing but a bad joke.

Besides Shinobi was his indefatigable protege, Akuma.

She had never once questioned his teachings or personal resolve to pursue unlikely dreams.

Tomorrow marked 11 years since the pairing had met, and 10 years since she had become his student.

She listened as her own student Xiomazu passionately claimed that following Shinobi wasn’t the right choice.

“Our bond has been toughened through dauntless work that only the two of us will ever know. That warming sentiment of comradery is all I’ve ever needed to know my pursuit is warranted. Jointly, Akuma and I are but one step from becoming saviors. Why must you persist on claiming us as devils?”

Shinobi said this as he put his arms tightly around Akuma’s, and together they held her sword.

“In all my years shared between the souls in my body, I’ve never met such a shining champion such as yourself, Akuma.”

“I’ve never properly had the chance to thank you for your servitude. Time has been…lacking. Yet, once we redeem the lost sheep that oppose us, you will forever have my undivided attention.”

“Tell me, if there was something I could do for you as a token of my thanks, what would it be?” Shinobi asked, presenting a faint smile.

Akuma maintained her grasp around the sword, now joined by Shinobi.

“One more chance to fight beside you before the awakening,” she said.

Shinobi hesitated momentarily, looking at her cracked mask as his smile faded.

“But of course. If that is what you wish.”

He let his hands go, retrieving several of the kunai from the ground as they flew back to his hands.

“Nobu Atawana.”

“Akemi Soto.”

“Misaki Kaichu.”

“Yuuko Tai.”

“Naoki Wakasa.”

"Saeko Nagata."

“Satoshi Hachiman.”

“Wataru Mizuno.”

“These are but a few of the souls I hold in my very arms and body. Tell them they have no chance to return in your arms,” Shinobi demanded from the opposing side.

“We’ll honor them by stopping you from defiling their memories, and creating puppets,” Xiomazu said back.

“With or without Akuma.”

Xiomazu had hoped this last thought would somehow convince her.

“Goodbye then, Xiomazu! Whatever remains of you I will be sure to properly bury!” Shinobi said as he grit his teeth.

Immediately he chucked out several of his kunai towards the trio.

One was deflected by Xiomazu’s sword, swatted out of the air.

“Spinaroo maneuver!” Sheru shouted, curving her body nimbly around the projectiles, which Donburi proceeded to do as well by jumping to the ground, and spinning.

He sprung back up just as Akuma was upon him, and their weapons clashed once more.

“You really gonna disgrace yourself like this in front of your student?!” Donburi shouted at her.

She gave no reply.

Donburi let one tonfa brace her attack, while the other he swung at her from the side.

She had no choice but to curve her sword at an angle to block both attacks, but this left her in an awkward position, as she slouched to fight Donburi’s pressure.

As the weapons pushed against each other, Xiomazu came running up from the left of Donburi.

Weakly, he swung the sword at her leg with just an arm, but Akuma saw this and finally broke off the attack and attempted to leap backwards.

Before she could, Xiomazu had grabbed one of her arms with his free arm, preventing her from moving.

Now with her movement and sword occupied, Sheru just had to deliver the final blow.

She approached from the right of Donburi, and with tears in her eyes, she swung her sword at Akuma’s open body.

“Behind you,” Akuma said.

As she said this, each of the kunai Shinobi had previously thrown were now flying back at them.

Xiomazu, Sheru, and Donburi had no choice but to each break off their attacks, avoiding the projectiles as they did so, but allowing Akuma to survive.

“Was it to save herself, or save us?” Xiomazu could only think.

The kunai returned to Shinobi, and floated around him.

These were gathered by more from the pile on the ground, eventually forming a swarm of black soul sucking objects.

Then they combined together, forming a much larger kunai.

Shinobi launched it directly at Donburi.

“There’s no way Donburi will be able to dodge that!” Xiomazu thought.

“Sheru!” Xiomazu shouted, with little time to spare.

He ran in front of Donburi, and held his sword out.

Sheru soon joined him, getting the message, and together they braced back the advancement of the kunai as it heavily pushed against them, sending a few sparks flying.

“What’s going on!?” Donburi shouted, unaware of the projectile attack.

“Just stay there!” Xiomazu shouted back.

“I ain’t some kind of cheerleader, tell me where to go!” Donburi yelled.

The kunai pushing against Xiomazu and Sheru’s swords then exploded back into a multitude of individual kunai again.

Each of these kunai surrounded the two.

Sheru and Xiomazu stood back to back.

“COME TO US AND DEFLECT SHIT!” Xiomazu frantically shouted, raising his sword.

Donburi dashed to the two with a smile on his face.

He then began to wave his tonfas around rapidly, so fast they were a blur, and deflected every projectile that approached around them.

A sound of metal rain ensued, created by the onslaught of kunai against tonfas.

Xiomazu and Sheru ducked beneath his furious deflections, unable to help.

“Starting to sound like us Xi-man!” Donburi said under his breath.

However, despite this protective instance, the kunai were relentless.

Any that had bounced off Donburi’s tonfas simply returned.

The swarm was thick, and Xiomazu could no longer see outside the wall of kunai. Not only this, but Shinobi seemed like he could keep this up forever, as indicated by Donburi’s sweat.

“HAHAHA!!! MY OWN BROTHER HITS HARDER THAN THESE!” Donburi laughed, showing a second wind.

“Don’t doubt me yet you two. Just find a way out of this!” Donburi tried to whisper.

Xiomazu studied the swarm as best as he could.

Akuma and Shinobi were not in sight, but if they hadn’t moved, then they would still be in the same spot.

“Sheru! I’m going to throw you!” Xiomazu said, still ducking beneath Donburi’s protection.

“You’re fucking crazy!” Sheru ridiculed him back.

“I know we’re desperate, but come on!”

“You still believe there’s a sea turtle out there right?” Xiomazu asked.

“Of course I do, but even if there was one outside this kunai wall, I still wouldn’t jump through!” Sheru yelled back.

“You wouldn’t?” he asked again.

“What’s your plan?!” she asked, not answering.

“I’m going to try to channel my yokai’s ki, so I can travel fast enough that things move slow. I don’t expect it to be good, but combined with your maneuverability, maybe we can get you through.”

Xiomazu had said this with sincerity, expecting Sheru to ridicule him.

The silence between his plan and her answer was embarrassing enough, however, he believed it would work.

During his training, Akuma had told him about the ins and outs.

His altered blood would grant him abilities of speed.

However, this came at a risk.

For if he could not control it himself, not only did he risk Sheru’s livelihood, but there was also a chance of losing control, and the yokai taking over.

He simply had to close his eyes, and coincide with the yokai at the same time.

Easier said than done.

“I understand our teachings are different in some ways, but Donburi has said we can never allow the yokai to help us,” Sheru finally spoke.

“The risks could be catastrophic…”

“What other choice do we have? Xiomazu asked back.

“Donburi can’t keep this up forever-”

“YOU BET YOUR ASS I CAN KEEP THIS UP FOREVER!!!” Donburi yelled at the top of his lungs, intimidating everyone around him.

As he said this, a stray kunai passed through his blockage, and hit Sheru, causing her to droop over.

Xiomazu was quick to remove it, but the fear was now present.

“SHIT! IS EVERYONE OKAY!?” Donburi yelled, trying to look back.

“What happened?” Sheru asked, still laying down, unaware she'd been hit.

“This can’t continue much longer Donburi! If you get hit, we’re done for!” Xiomazu shouted.

“Let me try!”

“No. I can’t have you two risking that, it’s far too dangerous for heirs to try,” Donburi said back.

He inhaled, then exhaled a large amount of air.

“But sir!” Xiomazu pleaded.

“I’ll do it,” Donburi said.

“You said-”

“If Shinobi wants an encore, I’ll give ‘em one,” Donburi cut Sheru off.

“Sheru, take the emblem from my necklace. I won’t be needing it anymore.”

“What?! Of course you will! You’re not going to die!” Sheru frantically said.

“Nah. People will keep playing my music, so I’ll never truly be gone,” Donburi laughed.

“And besides, you’ll name that sea turtle you find Donburi, won’t you?”

Sheru stood up and hugged tightly around him.

“I’m not naming a turtle a stupid name,” she cried into his back.

“Xiomazu. Make sure you listen to my lil furball here. Sheru doesn’t like to talk much, so when she does, that means she trusts yah.“

“My brother Buff told me about a lil girl he loved. Said he was real pissed he couldn’t save her.”

“Guess he’s gonna be upset I beat him again at something.”

“I wish I’d have gotten to know you sooner, Donburi,” Xiomazu said as he stood up.

He reached forward to consult Sheru.

“Hell yeah. Wish your teach was half as cool as me, don’t you?” Donburi laughed.

For the first time in ages, Xiomazu had felt something remotely close to sadness.

In an instant, Donburi stuck both his arms into the air.

This caused a propulsion that sent every kunai flying into the air.

The suddenness of this air movement caused Xiomazu to stumble back a few paces, but he kept his footing, watching as Sheru held on around Donburi’s necklace.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Donburi shouted.

His voice was booming, shaking everything around, and a green array began to form around his limbs.

Donburi then began to levitate into the air.

With an increasingly strong wind, the necklace broke off Donburi’s neck, and Sheru flew backwards with it into Xiomazu, who caught her.

Together they ran away, glancing back and watching the display.

Giant arms and legs fashioned around Donburi, as if he was the pilot of a mech.

He stood about 15ft tall, and floated within the middle of a big green featureless giant.

Xiomazu could now see Akuma and Shinobi, who both were bracing against the suddenness of the wind caused by Donburi.

The eye Xiomazu could see of Akuma’s was wide open, just as Shinobi’s were.

They couldn’t believe what they were seeing either.

Donburi lifted his left arm, and the figure he was inside moved its left arm simultaneously.

He did this with the right arm as well.

The black X’s that were taped across his eyes fell off, revealing his scarred eyes.

“First thing I see when I get my sight back is Shinobi cowering in fear of my might! Wow! What a treat!” Donburi laughed as his voice boomed once more, magnified by the figure he was in.

“I can see it all from up here!”

“Donburi…you-” Akuma couldn’t muster the words.

“YOU ABSOLUTE FOOL!!” Shinobi laughed.

“I’m well aware of what happens when you use your yokai’s abilities. You gain great limited power, but at what cost? A yokai's total domination can only spell death! AHAHAHA!!!” Shinobi continued to cackle.

Donburi clenched his fist, and punched it at Shinobi.

The force behind it was so powerful that the wind knocked over trees in the distance.

Shinobi was nearly blown back by the wind, but Akuma grabbed his arm, and pulled him back to her.

Donburi then attempted to clap both Daimyos and squish them, bringing his hands together while they were in the middle.

Both Akuma and Shinobi were quick enough to avoid this, and jumped up onto his arm, primarily with Akuma’s speed pulling Shinobi along with.

They ran along his arm, aiming to reach his shoulder.

Shinobi readied another kunai, tossing it at Donburi’s face inside the figure.

“WOOOOOOOO!!!” Donburi shouted again, sending a wind pulse at the kunai, and sending it flying miles away out of sight.

Donburi lifted his arm up, launching Shinobi into the air, while Akuma dug her sword into the figure’s green arm to keep herself positioned.

Shinobi landed back on the ground a distance away, tossing more and more kunai that Donburi blocked with his shouts.

Akuma continued to climb up the giant’s arm like hiking a mountain.

Donburi tried to swat her down with his free arm, but she was too nimble, adjusting herself each time to just barely avoid him from touching her.

Each attempt sent her scarf whirling around from the wind.

“Donburi!” Akuma shouted up to him.

He looked down, along with his giant’s massive face, and attempted to eat her with his mouth.

She narrowly avoided this with the help of Shinobi’s distraction, as he ran towards Donburi’s legs, causing Donburi to turn his attention.

Donburi’s giant legs stomped around, causing a small crater with each impactful pounding, however Shinobi was far too nimble to avoid these sluggish attacks.

Shinobi tossed several kunai that stuck into Donburi’s leg, with each kunai placed higher than the other, producing a makeshift staircase of sorts.

Shinobi then used this to run up, cackling as he did so.

“YOU SHOULD’VE TOLD ME IF YOU WERE SO DESPERATE TO DIE!!!” Shinobi laughed, now having reached the other arm.

Donburi shook himself around frantically, trying to shake the hitchhikers off, but each held on tightly with their swords lodged into his giant’s body.

He had no choice, but to fall forward, hoping to smash both of them in the process.

As he fell, both Akuma and Shinobi leapt off him safely.

They stood at his side as his giant crashed against the ground.

Too sluggish to get up in time, Akuma and Shinobi stepped atop his back.

“FINISH HIM, AKUMA!” Shinobi shouted.

In her hand, she materialized her tanto dagger, along with the kitsune symbol that hung from it.

Flames grew around it, emitting the area the higher she raised the dagger, ready to plunge it in.

But she hesitated.

“I never held a grudge, even after you took my sight, Akuma…” Donburi said, unable to lift his giant’s body.

Though he could not look up at her, and instead faced the ground, Donburi had known this was it as he listened to the familiar fire’s sound above that had once blinded him.

Akuma was going to kill him.

“Go on then. I’d rather die by your hand, than be trapped in that man’s game of fate,” Donburi sighed.

“AKUMA, DON’T!” Xiomazu shouted, returning to the scene, hoping to stop her.

Sheru trailed behind him, unable to keep up with his speed.

Even as fast as Xiomazu was, he still wouldn’t make it in time.

“You were a good friend, Donburi…” Akuma said with regret, raising her weapon.

Bang.

Suddenly from out of nowhere, a direct energy blast plowed through Akuma’s chest, scorching her, and proceeded past her, striking Shinobi as well.

The pair fell down onto Donburi's giant back, each whimpering from the sudden pain.

The shot had come from a distance, as Xiomazu turned to find out there was a truck parked away, indicated in the dark by its bright headlights, but also the energy trail that led back.

In the driver’s window, a familiar Kazue Kinoskue looked out with anxious eyes.

Above him atop the truck’s roof was Tuff Buff.

In his hand he held his pistol, now augmented with a scope atop it.

He puffed out a cold breath of air.

With this energy powered pistol, Buff had saved the day, with not a second to spare.

The phone call he'd gotten from Donburi earlier was just in time.