The moon was a slender crescent hanging low over the Tokyo sky line. Atop a tall business building a woman stood. She wore a white lab coat over a plain black skirt and red top, her black hair pulled into a bun, and she stared out at the city with blank eyes. A solitary black cloud drifted across the moon and simultaneously four people materialized on the building.
The woman spun around, sensing their presence, and immediately a change overcame her. Her clothes shifted and warped into a purple kimono. Her hair fell from her bun and grew down in waves to her back. She opened her eyes to reveal silver irises. She gave a cold smile to her four followers, "Have you brought it?"
The four lifted their heads to reveal the familiar faces of Akumugi, Kaitouai, Hasaki, and Nightshade. Akumugi stood up and presented an old sword to Kuroko.
She took it and unsheathed it, letting it glitter in the moonlight. "Yes…this is indeed the sword that sealed me, Mashiro."
Hasaki stood now, unsheathing her own sword, "Shall I destroy it mistress?"
"No my dear, this sword possesses great power…power I can use against those meddlesome boys." Kuroko swung the sword through the air a few times and smiled, "If I remember correctly it can control and summon spirits and apparitions…spirits like the little Halfa."
Nightshade stood and laughed, "You're going to make him turn on the others."
Kuroko shook her head, "Far more sinister than that Nightshade…but first I need you four to go collect the little boy…it's time we up the game's a bit."
((The Next Day))
The sun stretched its rays over the grounds of Genkai's temple. It was promising to be a wonderful Saturday morning. At least for those sleeping in that morning; Danny, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama had been summoned for training. How Genkai had gotten all of them together this early in the morning would remain a mystery to even Koenma…but they were there and Genkai was ready to run them to hell and back. Genkai had tried to find Hiei that morning but he had mysteriously disappeared and not even Kurama could find him.
Danny yawned and started to fall asleep where he stood but Genkai suddenly appeared before him and punched him in the gut. Danny keeled over, "Augh!"
"Halfwit, this is not nap time…we are here to train you…especially you…so that you can fight Kuroko and not get killed," Genkai growled.
"But it's like four in the morning," Danny moaned, "I'm not awake yet."
"We'll just have to wake you up then won't we? Drop and give me ten."
"Only ten…whew that's a relief," Danny said, dropping to the ground.
Genkai smirked, "No…ten thousand. Start pushing."
Danny groaned and dropped to the floor. He started to do them and got to about fifty when Genkai stopped him, "Alright…time for some physical sparring," Danny grinned excitedly and Genkai cut him off, "with OUT the use of your powers."
"What! But why?"
"Because…I'm sure there have been times when you've been cut off and could only sit and get your ass beat…well not anymore…we're going to whip you into shape." Genkai said turning to Kurama. "You fight him Kurama, you have the most control."
Kurama nodded and stepped up to face Danny. Danny gulped and shifted into what he had seen the others use as a fighting stance and held his hands up. Genkai smirked, 'At least he pays attention,' she thought.
Although that was the last good thing she thought. Danny was on the ground in less that a minute thanks to Kurama's quick movements. Genkai sighed and asked Kurama to try and slow himself down and he obliged…but Danny was still down in about a minute. "Alright…stop…Kurama I want you to spend the next few hours teaching Danny some decent fighting moves. Yusuke and Kuwabara, you help him."
And thus an entire morning was spent attempting to teach Danny how to fight. Genkai watched from the sidelines with a scowl. It would take awhile for him to actually make any improvement but the only way to learn how to fight well was from experience. Little did she know just how much experience he would receive in just a few minutes…
Danny collapsed to the floor, laying flat on his back panting for breath. Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara all stared down at him, "Maybe we should give him a break," Kuwabara muttered.
Yusuke laughed, "Are you kidding…this is nothing compared to what granny put me through when I was training."
Danny groaned, "I can't take this…I'll never be able to beat Kuroko at this rate."
"Hey…don't sweat it…we'll give you a break alright," Yusuke said and the three left the room to speak with Genkai.
Danny sat up wearily and looked to the door they had left by; he noticed a familiar figure standing in the doorway. "Sam…how long have you been there?"
Sam shrugged, "Yukina told me you'd be back here…you look like hell Danny."
"Gee, thanks Sam," he muttered wiping the sweat from his brow, "the guys were just putting me through a work out from hell so I'm surprised I don't look worse."
Sam sat down next to him and put an arm around his shoulder, "Don't feel down Danny…from what I've heard these guys have been fighting baddies for years…you've only been doing it for a few months now. You'll get better I know it…you just have to pace yourself," she said with a smile.
"Well, well…isn't this touching?"
Sam and Danny gasped as Kaitouai, Akumugi, Hasaki, and Nightshade all appeared around them. Danny grabbed Sam's hand and stood up protectively, "What are you four doing here?"
Akumugi grinned under the bandages around his face, "We'll give you three guesses ghost boy."
Kaitouai stepped forward and took a grab for Sam. Danny's eyes glowed green and he suddenly went intangible and pulled him and Sam under the floorboards of the temple. He reappeared behind Kaitouai, without Sam and in his ghost mode, and kicked her square in the back. Kaitouai stumbled forward and spun around, "So you got rid of the little girl…perfect she would have only gotten in the way anyways."
"You leave Sam out of this," Danny growled lunging at the woman but Akumugi grabbed him from behind.
"You still haven't guessed why we're here."
Suddenly Akumugi's arm caught fire and he let go of Danny and stumbled back, "Shit! Shit! Put it out!" He shouted and everyone turned to the window where Hiei stood with a scowl.
"Well, well if it isn't the little imp," Hasaki said, drawing her two katana. Hiei drew his own blade and the two disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Danny kicked Akumugi away and launched himself at the bandaged man. Kaitouai made to go after them but a vine wrapped around her ankle and caused her to pitch forward. She looked over her shoulder and smiled, "So the hottie fox demon has come…lovely," she said. Kurama glared at her from the doorway where he stood with Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Sam who had gone to get them.
"I'll handle her. Yusuke you take Nightshade and Kuwabara you watch over Sam in case any of them get out of our grasp," Kurama muttered.
Kuwabara frowned, "Awh man…how come I can't fight."
"Look you protect the girl alright…I'll give you first dibs on Kuroko if she shows up," Yusuke promised. Kuwabara scowled but agreed and the two sprung after their opponents.
((Hiei vs. Hasaki))
The two appeared and disappeared through the trees outside the temple, their swords striking faster than the human eye could follow. Hiei wondered to himself why the four followers of Kuroko had appeared so randomly, they were up to something and he wondered what. He parried a strike from Hasaki and slashed out with his own katana. Hasaki blocked it and then pushed him back, 'God damn woman,' he thought.
Hasaki smirked at the perspiration appearing on Hiei's brow, "You amuse me imp…that cold hatred in your eyes is familiar to me."
Hiei growled, "Stop talking wench."
She frowned and made a move to cut Hiei's head off but he ducked and appeared behind her, his blade to her throat, "Why are you here?"
Hiei was surprised to find she did not struggle against his hold, instead she smiled and leaned back to whisper in Hiei's ear, "We're here for the ghost child…soon he will be dead to you."
((Kurama vs. Kaitouai))
Kurama pulled back on his whip, sending Kaitouai flying across the room. She slammed into a nearby wall and slid to the floor. She recovered quickly though and picked herself up, her black wings opening, she hissed at Kurama, "I don't care how pretty you are…I'm not one for rough play." She launched herself at Kurama; claws extended, and started taking swipes at him. Kurama dodged nimbly from side to side then, when he was far enough away, struck out with his whip, cutting across Kaitouai's cheek. Kaitouai reached up and touched the blood, "God how many times must I tell you I HATE PEOPLE MARING MY FACE!" Her eyes glowed red and she began to flap her wings, gaining air and flew straight for Kurama.
Kurama flicked his whip at her and it wrapped around her waist. He swung her over his head and into another wall. She crashed through it and the rubble collapsed around her.
((Yusuke vs. Nightshade))
Yusuke fired off a blast from his spirit gun at Nightshade, but was disappointed when the blast merely deflected off of the blades Nightshade had made manifest with his hands. Yusuke decided the spirit gun blasts weren't working, 'Can't use my shotgun either cause the others might get hit,' he thought.
"Pay attention punk," Nightshade shouted as he slashed at Yusuke's abdomen. Yusuke jumped back and then punched Nightshade in the face. Nightshade licked the black blood from his lips then started after Yusuke again.
((Danny vs. Akumugi))
Danny blasted at Akumugi with ectoplasm blasts but Akumugi simply deflected the blasts with a thought. "You're so weak ghost boy…I don't how you've lasted this long against us," he chuckled. Danny growled and made his ghost energy shift into its bo staff form. He spun it around and went to slam it down on Akumugi's head but the bandaged man simply caught it in his hands and grinned manically.
"You know I really pity weaklings like you. Personally, I was never weak. I was once a powerful half demon feared by all in the village I lived. They thought they could destroy me with fire…but even that merely scarred me…why do you think Kuroko hired me…hired any of us…we are powerful and none of you can beat us," he boasted.
"We'll see about that," Danny quipped, pushing harder on the staff.
"Yes…I guess we will…NOW!" Akumugi shouted.
Suddenly Kaitouai sprang from the rubble and flew straight for Sam. Kuwabara jumped in the way but Kaitouai shoved him aside with her telekinesis and dove into Sam, overshadowing her much like she did Yukina when they first introduced themselves. Danny, distracted, spun around, "SAM!"
"Not so fast," Kaitouai said from within Sam. The others daren't move for fear of what Kaitouai would do with Sam. Akumugi tossed Kaitouai/Sam a dagger, she caught it easily, and then held it against her own neck, "One step closer and I kill the girl…you ghost boy…detransform now!"
Danny's eyes widened, "No you can't hurt Sam!" He made to step forward but Kaitouai/Sam pressed the dagger closer to her throat, a trickle of blood appeared.
"I said power down boy!"
Danny stopped abruptly and lowered his head, 'She…she's not kidding,' he thought. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to go back to human mode.
"What do you want?" Yusuke shouted seeing as Danny was in shock.
"Simple…you all dead so that Kuroko may rule," Nightshade answered.
Suddenly Hasaki appeared back in the room and ran at Danny. Before he could stop her or even think about what was happening the sword Hasaki was carrying pierced through Danny's abdomen. Danny cried out in excruciating pain as the blood began to spread across his white shirt. Kaitouai, satisfied, stepped out of Sam. Sam blinked, confused at first, she snapped back to reality when she saw Danny with a sword through him and she screamed in horror.
Hasaki caught the boy before he fell forward and pulled the sword out. Kurama noticed the hilt and scowled, "That sword…"
Yusuke, realizing what they had just done to his friend, held up his hand and fired off a large blast at Kaitouai and Hasaki, "GOD DAMN YOU!" However, they and the two male villains had disappeared.
Sam collapsed to the floor in anguish, "This can't be happening…he can't be…he can't be!"
Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama couldn't bear to look at her but each of them was lost in their own thoughts of what they had just witnessed. The same thought was on each of their minds though…was Danny Fenton really…dead?
Hiei stood a top a tall tree watching the scene unfold before him, his thoughts drifted back to Hasaki's words, We're here for the ghost child…soon he will be dead to you. He scowled as the wind picked up in the trees and he stared up at the cloudy sky, and then disappeared.
To Be Continued…
AN: So hope all my US friends had an excellent Turkey Day and stuff and also enjoyed this chapter of Han Rei. We're just about to enter the arch of the story I was REALLY looking forward to…it's going to be so awesome! Next chapter is where things get real complicated and if this chapter shocked you…you just wait. Only hint I'll give is just think about 'The Ultimate Enemy' and you may have an idea of what me and Crimson Ninja have in store! BWAHAHAHAHAHA…REVIEW XD