FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The lightning struck outside with such ferocity in the darkness outside of Arca's castle. The then still young King Arca sat upon his throne, staring at the two that had been brought to him for judgement, a young wolf and a young tanuki, Bound and forcedly knelt before him.

"Hunter Vale, I should have known it to be you again... Haven't you learned from the last time?" The king said harshly as he slowly stood up and looked the young wolf over, "But Matthew here... your only punishment is to be emprisoned for a couple of days..."

The young wolf closed his eyes, "What are you gonna do to me Arca? you gonna stick me in a place where I'll never see the sun ever again?" he said, almost expecting the fate.

Arca looked down upon him scornfully, "Worse my child... You will be... Banished!!!"

The wolf's eyes popped open and quicky stood up, but the chains connected to the collar he wore prevented him from making a move for the king's throat, "WHAT?!?! Arca this is madness, you cannot do this!" he screamed angrily as they began taking Matthew away to his Jail Cell.

Arca looked to the young wolf with Disdain, "Hunter, I've warned you three times and your disregard for my decree has forced me to take drastic measures..." with that the young Lion took his claw and made a mark over the Wolf's eye, the wolf screaming in agony. "Let this mark tell all of Arca you have been disgraced and no longer ALLOWED TO BE A PART OF OUR SOCIETY!!!!!"

Suddenly Ikage awoke with his hand forcefully punching the wall and placing a dent into the stone wall, screaming loudly, "ARCA!!!!!!" He panted heavily as he ran his paw over the scar on his eye, the very scar King Arca made twenty years ago. "It... It was a dream... only a dream..."

he said softly.

He looked to the others who were still fast asleep. Kaede, the Snow Leopardess, Hiei, the white rabbit, Jubei, the Shadow Fox, and Taki, the young panda, all on the floor of the cellar with their mats, sleeping peacfully, but not Ikage. He always found it hard to sleep, the nightmares would continously haunt him. He finally stood up and headed to the main Bar, but instead of stopping in the bar, he walked outside, staring at the full moon, looking heavily upon it. It felt like his soul was lead, and nothing could bring him out of this funk, especially after a failed attempt on the King's Life, especially because he didn't fail it, he couldn't do it, had the teachings of being cold and calculated failed him? He closed his eyes and began to ponder, when a familar voice came from behind him.

"Can't Sleep?" it asked from the darkness of the tavern.

Ikage didn't turn, knowing full well it was the snow fox that let them stay at the tavern, the owner of the Tail Underground. "Nah... just felt like looking at the sky..." he said, covering up what he really wanted to say.

Ian easily saw through the guise, "If you were looking at the stars then why are your eyes closed?" he asked in a friendly manner

Ikage huffed in frustration and looked to him, "Because I can use my super ninja awareness to see them..." he snapped back.

Ian looked to him and placed his paw on Ikage's shoulder, "No need to bare your claws there Champ... I know you have nightmares... I've had to build the walls at least five times since you came here..." he said gently.

Ikage looked down and closed his eyes, "Sorry... it's just..."

Ian looked to him and knew what he was going to say, "Arca..." Ikage nodded, "I don't know why I couldn't do it... my heart told me it was what I've always wanted, but my head said not to..."

Ian looked to him and shook his head, "I think it may be the other way around... perhaps it was the sight of seeing him in fear that kept you from killing him..."

Ikage nodded softly, "Perhaps... perhaps not... the main thing is, I couldn't do it... I couldn't dive my ninjato into his flesh... I couldn't assassinate my target... What the Hell is wrong with me?!"

Ian sighed heavily and looked to him, "perhaps it was fate..." and with that, Ian went back inside of the Tavern. Ikage sighed gently, 'perhaps it's time I meditated on this...'

Meanwhile, back in Han-Ma, in the Golden Capitol of Ryo-Ma, a young guard in the dungeon came walking through, in the midde of a shift change. The Young tiger looked around for the previous guard to take over for.

"Shen?! Shen Where the hell did you go?!" he huffed a bit as he started to search around within the dungeon, his mundane, yet glimmering armor reflected the dim lights of the torches that are constantly going in the dungeon.

Suddenly, something out of the ordinary catches his eye, he looked over to a Cell and stared at a figure covered in blankets, huddled in the corner of what is Tang's cell, "Tang?! what's Wrong you cold in there?" The guard asked. He stared at the darkened figure and recieving no reply. The guard carefully unsheathed his sword and slowly began walking to the cell, "Tang?! are you there?"

With that, the guard carefully opened the cell door and began moving closer to the body, "Tang... I'm only trying to help you... please answer..." As he looked down he then saw the pool of blood on the ground and began to panic, he then flung the sheets off of the body when he found a scaled figure before him.

"BY THE GODS!!!!! SHEN!!!!!" he screamed as he dropped his sword in utter horror. With that, he started moving backwards and falling over his own tail and quickly getting back up, heading to the throne room.

Within the throne room, the young emperor, dressed in his finest silk robes and brading in his hair, sat at his desk, "At this rate I'll never get this paperwork done..." he sighed heavily.

Suddenly, like a hurricane, the young guard bursts into the door and screamed loudly as he knelt before the emperor, "My lord... My lord, Tang has escaped... and he's... he's killed Shen."

Xing rose from his chair and looked down to the guard before him, "I want all on duty guards to look for them, but keep the shift changes so we'll have fresh men, I want Tang found and right away... I pray he doesn't make it past Han-Ma..."

The guard nodded softly, "We should also warn the surrounding areas..." he said frantically.

Xing gave a nod, "good idea... I shall away tomarrow to warn Arca of our escaped convict..."

Suddenly Ikage opened his eyes , sweat pouring down his brow, now dressed in his ninja outfit, panting heavily, as if he had run the marathon. 'Please' he thought gently and he looked to the two lit candles in front of him, 'please just be a bad nightmare... please don't...' Suddenly, his train of though was broken by the sound of a melodic bird from outside the window in which he was meditating in.

"Honoo?!" he said shocked as he saw the Phoenix, standing on the window sill and blinking as he looked to the note attached on his talon.

As soon as he pulled it off the Phoenix took of for whence it came, back home to his master Emperor Xing, he looked down at the note and then closed his eyes, clenching the note in his paw, he quickly ran downstairs and looked to the rest of the ninja team, "WAKE UP ALL OF YOU!!!" he screamed.

All four of them woke up and gently began rubbing the sleepiness from their eyes, Jubei being the first one to say something, "What's with all the fuss Boss? I was having this wonderful dream about running through a garden..." he began.

Ikage rudely interupted, "Jubei now's not the time! I've just recieved word that Tang has Escaped, as you may remember, Tang was the man who attempted to assassinate our now Emperor... We must apprehend him, preferably alive..."

Jubei looked at him and gently yawned, "can't we do it tomarrow... I kinda was up late drinking with Xi and Ping... my head hurts too..." he sighed as he fell back into the mat, practically asleep again.

Ikage sighed heavily and nodded, "OK then, I'll take two of you, Hiei, Kaede... we're going out... suit up and search the city... we can't let Tang Escape..."

As the Search would continue until the mourning came, young Xing made his way towards the throne room of Arca, the leader of the country, Along with his two body guards, The Blue oriental dragon named Feng, who's armor was reminicent to that of a Samurai's and Khan, the White Tiger who's armor was ornate and beautifully made from orichalcum as was the halberd on his back.

The Guards would meet the three with an abrupt "HALT!" and a crossing of their Halbeards, signifing of lack of passage.

"Let me through!" Screamed the young fox, "This is a matter of Dire Urgency that must be attended to NOW!!!!"

The guards looked at each other and nodded softly and uncrossed their halbeards. With that Xing quickly bursts into the throne as he looked to the king on his throne.

The Fox gently began to bow and looked up to the king, "King Arca, I've dire news. There was a convict that escaped form my homeland, and he's a very dangerous man..."

Arca nodded softly and looked to him, "Oh Really? what does he look like?" he asked.

The young fox looked up, "He's a young male tiger.... about..." suddenly, his voice trailed off as he sees the man standing behind Arca.

He was a young male tiger dressed in a blue Japanese Kimono and had a metal fan in his paw and a devious smile on his face.

Xing then suddenly stood up and pointed to the man, "That's him, that's Tang, he's killed one of my men in his escape attempt..."

Arca smiled, "Oh really? Xing from what I've heard from Tang is you started the uprising in Han-Ma seven years ago. He says his family was the rightful rulers of his country."

Xing looked to Arca with a look of surprise, "But Arca, we're allies... how could..."

Arca stood up and pointed down to him, "Allies with you?!?!?! HA! don't make me laugh Tail Raiser! I would never be allies with a Tail Raiser!"

Xing stared at Tang and then at Arca, "ARCA YOU FOOL!!!! you've no idea what Tang is capable of."

Arca was about to speak, Tang gently placed his paw on Arca's shoulder and smiled, "Let me tend to this Tail Raiser My leige... I will make sure he never sees the light of sun ever again..."

Arca nodded and looked to Xing as the guards quickly arrested him and chained him up, "Very well Tang... it's nice to see someone around here understands me..."

With that, the young fox was dragged away as he stared in utter horror as Tang laughed manically and dragged to the dungeon, "Oh and don't worry about your friends Xing" Tang began, "They'll be seeing you soon..."

Behind one of the curtains though, stood a young tanuki staring on as the events unfolded. The tanuki narrowed his eyes gently as he began to turn around, "I've got to warn the others... something's not right..."

Suddenly, as he turned, the tanuki was met suddenly by the newly appointed chancelor smirked, "Uh uh... young one... now we can't have you ruining my plans now can I?" he laughed as he took the young tanuki and looked to Arca. "LOOK!" he screamed, "A Supporter for the so-called emperor Xing, We must imprison him too!" he screamed.

Arca nodded softly and motioned to his guard, "To the Dungeon with him to!!!" with that, the Tanuki was dragged away as well, and in the words of Tang, would never see the light again.

Inside the Tavern, the young yet somewhat shy Hiei stood over by a piano that was in storage looking over the ornately carved ivory and ebony keys. He was now dressed as a young Geisha would his flopped ears over behind his head and dressed in a beautifully ornate Kimono. He sat down at the piano and lightly ran his paws over the keys and began to play a sad melody, reflecting the very loneliness he felt when he was raised in the orphanage. He closed his eyes as he concentrated, his paws seemed to have a mind of their own. He gently smiled, though the tune was sad, playing music always made him happy, even alienated him for a while. But that was all changed when he joined the White Lotus.

Suddenly, there was an unfamiliar voice from behind him that made him jump and stop playing, "Not many can play Piano who were born in Han-Ma..." it said.

The young rabbit slowly turned his head to find a chubby bear looking over him whilst he played. Hiei blushed softly and shrunk down, seeming ashamed, "I'm sorry... I didn't know I wasn't allowed back here..." he said softly.

The young bear smiled, "It's quite alright... I've been wondering when someone around here was going to learn to play that dusty old thing..." he smiled gently, sitting down next to him.

"Play it again?" asked the young bear.

Hiei slowly and cautiously began to place his fingers on the keys and continued playing from where he left off, making the young bear smile, "The melody is lovely, but I can feel the sadness from within your soul as you play, you're heart is heavy with some burden from the past, or even now..." The bear said, looking to the rabbit, "What could it be?"

The young rabbit stopped playing and looked down, "Well... I was raised in an orphanage for a long time... I never knew my parents... they both supposedly died during a war several years ago..." he said.

The young bear nodded softly, "I am sorry to hear that..." he said as he held is paw out gently, "My name is Alin.... Alin Raven what's yours?"

The young bunny blushed, unable to look at the bear, obviously shy, "I'm... I'm Hiei... I'm... pleased to meet you..."

Alin looked to the young rabbit and blinked, and then slowly pulled him into a hug, smiling, "You don't have to be shy around me, we're all equals here are we not?" he asked.

The young rabbit nodded softly and looked to the bear gently, timid and shy as he was, he always desired companionship, "y.... yes we are..." he said.

Just Outside of the Tavern, the young panda girl named Taki gently groomed the hedges with her Kama's making sure everything was even and straight, keeping her head fur pulled back and wrapped tightly in a bun, sighing heavily, she decided to wear fashion of the current Country they are in by simply wearing a plain shirt and a pair of leather pants. She would be then met by Jubei, the Shadow Fox, with his black head fur pulled back in a pony tail and a pair of glasses on, wearing his usual beautiful Kimono.

"You're garden is comin' in really Well Taki... I'm impressed... Might I get one of your Crimson roses? I so love the smell of those beautiful flowers..." he asked politely.

Taki nodded softly and cut him a rose , handing it to him, "Careful, this one still has the thorns." she said smiling.

Suddenly, a low rumble came from above the earth as clouds slowly took the beautiful sunny skies, Jubei looked up suddenly and sighed gently, "oh there goes another beautiful day taken by the rain... I do admit rain is beautiful as it gives plants their life they need, but still it's nothing like a nice warm and sunny day..."

Taki nodded softly, "speaking of which, we should both get inside before we get rained on, I don't like having to adjust my hair ever fifteen minutes..." she said as she stood up gently.

As they returned inside, Ian was at his normal place as he gently wiped down the bar as he normally does, dressed in his white shirt and green vest over it. Suddenly, a glimmer came from out of the corner of his eyes as he saw the ring on his finger glow dimly, the very ornately designed ring made of Orichalcum and Bloodstone that was given to him by the emperor himself.

The words of the emperor ringing in his mind, "If anything happens to you then the ring will glow, and the same will happen to your ring when I am in trouble..."

Ian closed his eyes, "Oh No...." He suddenly looked to Ikage, dressed in a green tie up vest and leather pants.

Ian gently got Ikage's attention and motioned for Ikage to move towards the bar. "Ikage... something is wrong..." he said as he showed the ring on his finger.

Ikage nodded and looked to Ian, obviously understanding what it means, "Who is it bound to?"

Ian looked to Ikage, "it's bound to Xing..."

Ikage's eyes shoot wide open, but before he could speak, there was a sudden burst from the door and two familiar figures appeared before them. It was Khan and Feng, but Feng was limping and being held up by Khan.

"IKAGE!!!!!" Screamed Khan as he practically dragged the dragon inside.

Ikage quickly ran to the aid of the young dragon and helped him in sitting down on a chair, "What the hell happened?" Asked Ikage.

Khan looked to Ian and then to Ikage, "It would seem Tang has turned Arca against us, that weak minded fool had his guards attack us, but none withstood my blade, but poor Feng here wasn't so lucky... but he's only lightly wounded..." Ikage began to gently wrap his wounds up carefully.

"Damnit, this isn't good Arca is in grave danger... and as much as I hate to admit it, but we may have to save him..." Ikage sighed and looked to Ian, "I'm gonna need a Diagram of the whole castle... and I'm gonna need full details."

Ian gently shook his head, "Unfortunately I do not have that, but I do have intricate knowledge of the castle, as I was a member of the guard at one time... I will do all I can to help."

Later the group bunched into Ian's room as Ikage and the rest of the ninja as Ian described in intricate detail how the castle is laid out.

As soon as Ian finished, Ikage gave a gentle nod softly and looked to his team, "Alright then... here's the plan... We're gonna have to strike fast and hard, we're gonna split up into two teams, Team A will consist of myself and Hiei, Kaede, you and Taki will make up the other... Jubei will be active scout with his Shadow melding abilities. Now Hiei and I will enter from the Sewer entrance, making our way to find the Emperor, the rest of you will go and spy on Tang, find out what he's up to..."

Hiei nodded softly and pressed his fist to his chest, nodding softly, his shyness now fadding away, "Aye sir, I will not fail you..."

Kaede nodded softly and looked to Ikage, "Excellent strategy sir... We'll report to Jubei once we find something out..."

Meanwhile, whithin the prison, the young emperor was chained and locked in a dismall cell as he looked down.

"Arca... what have you done..." he said with a heavy heart, across from him was the young Tanuki, not chained, but still locked up in the cell across from him.

"I'm sorry my emperor... I have failed you..." he said gently, closing his eyes.

Xing chuckled lightly and looked to him, "It is alright, you've no need to be sorry, I should have seen this coming from the beginning..."

His ears suddenly picked up as he heard heavy footsteps coming down the corridor, finding them to belong to his captor, Tang, who stood over him victoriously outside of the cell.

"Well well, if it isn't the emperor of Han-Ma... how very delicious to see you on the receiving end this time..." Tang laughed heartily.

Xing pressed his ears back in anger and growled, "What do you want Tang... "

Tang dismissed the guard and smiled gently as he opened the cell and gently cackled, "All I want from you now is information... " he said as suddenly the darkness from underneath his robes forms into a swirling mass of tendrils, spiked and angrily thrashing about, "I'm looking for the leader of the White Lotus, she's the only one who could ever stop me... Tell me where she is Xing... and no harm will come to you..."

Xing looked to him defiantly, "Even if I did know I would never tell you..." he growled.

Tang laughed and smirked, "have it your way!" and with that, he tore Xing's clothes to ribbons with the tendrils.

Xing stared on as the tendrils left him naked, "You're... You're a..."

Tang abruptly interrupted, "Darkness caster? yes... yes I am Xing... now tell me where Boss Lady is.... or I will be forced... to hurt you..." he laughed maniacally.

Xing looked to him angrily, "I TOLD YOU TANG I DON'T KNOW!!!!!!"

Tang smiled maniacally and growled gently, "suit yourself..." he chuckled as he shoved one of the spiked tendrils up Xing's tailhole, causing Xing to scream out in pain, grabbing onto the chains forcefully, with another tendril wrapping around his hardening member. Xing closed his eyes in utter pain as the tendril slides deeper and deeper into him, causing the blood to gently drip out.

"P... please... stop..."

Tang Growled playfully and looked to the emperor and chuckled, "MMMMmmmm.... I see why you like to take it up the ass... it's very hot..." he taunted as the tendril around his member tightened. Tang then placed his claws on his Xing's ribcage, growling, "last chance Xing..."

Xing growled loudly as he closed his eyes, "I... I don't... know... stop... please..."

Tang growled loudly and ran his claws over the young king's flesh, causing him to scream in pain, and shoved the tendril in, causing his mouth to foam out in utter pain, not dead but passed out . The tanuki watched on in utter horror, but something came over him, he growled loudly as he looked to Tang.

"s.... STOP IT!!!!!!!"

Tang then turned his attention to the young ninja, "fine then... perhaps I should get the information from you then..." he said, as he slowly approached the cell, causing the Tanuki to shrink away from the tiger, as a demonic visage came over his face.

Outside the castle, Hiei and Ikage made their way to the sewer and stared at the gated area.

Hiei shakes the gate and nods, "it's strong, but we can get around it easily..."

Ikage nodded softly and the two of them stood straight and chanting their ninja mantra as they also did their hand gestures, "Rin, Hei, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen, Rin, Hei, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" they chanted together and finally when they stopped, they both faded into their mist forms as they gently phased through to door slowly and rematerialized, on the other side.

"That was easy... come on Hiei!!!!!" screamed Ikage as they ran through the sewer.

It took fifteen minutes of runing and slashing through random small enemies, as Hiei and Ikage finally reached the Dungeon, looking around frantically, "Mi Lord?! Mi Lord?!" screamed Ikage looking around, finally hearing something in the first cell the beaten and bloodied body of the young Emperor, "MI LORD!!!" yelled Ikage as he pulled out a lockpick and quickly picked the locks of his shackles.

The young emperor panted heavily as he looked up to the young ninja obviously in pain still, "I... Ikage..."

The wolf gently hushed the young king, "Save your strength Mi lord..."

He suddenly looked up to Hiei and nodded, "Hiei, you take Xing back to the Tail Underground... I'm going to help Jubei and the others..."

Suddenly, there was a moan from behind Ikage in which sounded familiar, he turned about and saw another ninja laying on the ground, also blodied and bludgeoned.

"HIEI! there's another White Lotus ninja here! he screamed as he ran over to raise his head and ripped the cloth over his nose and muzzle.

"uuuggghhhh..." moaned the young tanuki as he attempted to focus on the man who was holding him.

To Ikage's surprise, the tanuki was familiar, twenty years... twenty years and this is how he finds his mate.

"M... Matthew?" he asked softly, staring into the young Tanuki's eyes.

His ears perked and he looked at Ikage, focusing hard on his face, "do... do I know you?" he asked.

Ikage pulled his mask and looked at the Tanuki, "Matthew... it's me... Hunter..."

The tanuki smiled and placed his hand on his mate's cheek, "H... Hunter?! you're... You're alive... I... I ran from Arca to search for you... I thought I'd never..." he started.

Ikage interupted with obvious tears in his eyes, "Shhhhhh Matthew don't speak... save your strength..." he said softly, stroking his hair gently.

Matthew smiled and looked to his lover, "I... I didn't talk... no matter what he did... I... I fought as long as I could Hunter..."

Ikage took the tanuki's paw in his hand, closing his eyes, "Please... please tell me you'll be ok..."

Matthew looked to the young warrior over him and smiled, "Hunter... I... I'm not going to make it... I'm sorry it ended like this my love..." he said weakly.

Hunter opened his eyes suddenly and looked to him, his tears falling onto his mate's face, "Matthew no! after twenty years... Twenty long years of hoping to see you again... it can't end like this!"

With that, the young Tanuki's eyes began to close, also welling up with tears, "I'm... I'm sorry Hunter... but know this... even in the after life... I will always... love you..." and with that, Matthew's hand fell from his lover's face and his eyes closed forever.

"M... Matthew? Matthew?! MATTHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ikage screamed shaking his mate's lifeless body and burring his face into the tanuki's chest.

Hiei started over towards his greiving commander to place a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

it was only met with a simple command, "Go... Xing is our top priority... I'll deal with Tang personally..."

Hiei nodded softly and began running off in the direction in which he came. Ikage gently place his hand gently over his lover's face gently, "Matthew... my love... Tang will pay for this..." he jumped up quickly and began running through the castle as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, as Tang returned to the Throne room and smiled as Arca looked to him, "Tang, where have you been? I've been needing you to aid me in this new Royal Decree..."

Tang smiled and looked to the King and smiled, "I'm sorry to say... but you've outlived your usefulness to me young King, I will be leaving your service... or should I say, you'll be leaving mine..."

Arca looked at the tiger and blinked a bit, "What are you saying Tang? I thought you were my chancelor... why would you leave now?" he asked, but suddenly, something in his brain snapped as he seemed to awaken from a sleep and blinked, "wha... what the, Tang... oh good you've returned, I've been meaning..."

Suddenly, Tang looked to the king and smiled, "Well My King you just woke up from a sleep that I had put you in..." he smiled gently as the dark tendrils began flowing from below his robes as lightning struck, the young tiger's eyes glowing red, "This is where you will die Arca, I shall take your empire, along with Han-Ma now that Xing is dead..."

Arca looked at Tang and blinked, "you..." Arca began as he shook his head, "You... YOU USED ME!!!!!" He Screamed as he pointed.

Tang laughed loudly, "It's finally time you realized... since you have just lost your allies... everything you ever loved will be destroyed, even your precious son Prince Le'on..."

Arca stared angrily, "Tang you will DIE FOR THIS TRASGRESSION!!!!!" he screamed as he unsheathed his sword and prepared for his attack, but was only met with a tendril around his neck and his sword was knocked away, the tendril squeezing tightly around his neck.

"NO!!!!!" screamed a voice from behind as an orichalcum sai appeared from seemingly nowhere, but the attack was for naught as a tendril wrapped itself around the bladed weapon.

Tang turned and smirked, "Well well, if it isn't Xing's little assassin's from within the White Lotus..." There stood the Shadowed clad once snow leopard Lady Jade.

"Ah, Lady Jade, just one of the people I wish to talk to... I need information..."

Jade narrowed her eyes as she pulled the other sai out from behind her as she jumped into the air, "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT!!!!!" as she was about to attack, she was met with her own sai thrown at her shoulder and two of Tang's tendrils wrapping around her legs. Tang laughed maniacally as she spreads out her legs, being hung upside down.

"Now then... you've got three chances for this... and I want the real answer... Tell me where Boss Lady is..."

Just before she was to resist, Suddenly, there was a flash of glimmering light as though a sword was cutting through the dark tendrils causing them to drop the two.

Tang smiled gently, "Well finally glad you could join us Ikage... or should I say Hunter..." he said as he slowly turned around, regenerating the lost limbs of darkness.

Sure enough, before the fallen chancelor, was Ikage, minus his mask, standing before him and holding his ninja-to backwards, staring with tears in his eyes.

"Jade... Arca... Leave..." he abruptly said.

Jade nodded softly as she hobbled to Arca to Aid him. Arca shook her off and stared to her, "This is my empire... I wish to see this man dead for his crimes!" he screamed.

"Suit yourself if you have a death wish..." retorted Jade as she quickly dashed away, pulling the sai out of her shoulder as she did so.

There they stood, Ikage and Tang staring each other down, tears trickling down Ikage's cheeks, he slowly held up his sword and narrowed his eyes, "You will die today Tang... you will die for everything you've done... for Arca... For Xing... and even for my love... Matthew!!!!!!!"

Tang laughed evily, "So that ninja boy was your mate... too bad I didn't have more fun out of him then... I would have loved to see how much rage you truely hold in your heart Ikage..." he sneered.

"ENOUGH!!!!!" Ikage screamed as he ran towards Tang, only to be met with a shuriken burried in his shoulder from one of the Tendrils, causing him to fall over and land painfully on the hard stone floor, hearing some of his bones crack from the Force.

Tang smiled evily and laughed, "Ikage.... you're such a fool..." he began, "Now you're truely damned, I've hit you with my poisoned shuriken, with the jumping around you've been doing and the Adrenaline in your blood, you will be dead within thirty minutes!" he yelled as he pointed.

Ikage then slowly began to get up, favoring his left shoulder, groaning loudly, "more then enough time to kill you Tang... If I'm gonna die... I'll take you to HELL WITH ME!!!!!" he screamed

With that, he furiously swiped and slashed at the darkness caster, but each blow was met with merely a tentacle that would easily regenerate. With each swipe, the blood in Ikage's body would pump faster and faster, until suddenly, Tang took Ikage by the throat and tossed him hard to the ground, making more bones crack and crumble within his body from the force.

"HUNTER!!!!!!" screamed Arca as the body bounced his way, barely able to catch it.

Arca knew that Ikage and his group of Assassins were the last resort to kill this madman and so, he gently raised the young warrior's head, as he was barely able to focus on the young king's face. Ikage held his hand up shakingly to the king in which the King quickly grasped to support him.

"S.... Sire... do... do you h... hate us Tail Raisers?" Arca shook his head softly, not sure of what to say to the question. Then, Ikage's eyes began to close, his grip loosening on the king's hand, "Well... I'll... I'll be one less Tail Raiser.... for you to worry about..." And with that, Ikage's eyes closed and his hand fell to the ground.

Arca looked at the young warrior's broken and lifeless body, his pain now ended, his last words echoing through his mind. 'I'll be one less tail raiser for you to worry about...' Arca slowly closed his eyes and held the Valiant warrior close, the only hope for the Kingdom of Arca is no more... the last hope for the kingdom he built was dead.

The Ninja team had finally returned to the Tail Underground safely, with Hiei gently tending to Lady Jade's wounds, as she sat still whilst he stitched the wound.

Taki looked over the wound as Hiei was patching her up, "you were lucky to only get the shoulder..." she said.

Jade looked around worriedly, "Where's Jubei?" she asked in concern.

Suddenly, from the darkness, the young shadow fox came into view, no longer wearing his glasses and his long unbraided hair flowing down, "Right here my love... but I'm afraid Ikage hasn't returned yet... I am worried about him... and since we now know Tang is a Darkness Caster... I won't be able hide from him anymore in the Shadow..." he said, closing his eyes.

Hiei nodded softly as the young bear came up behind him, looking to him as he stitched up the young woman.

"I knew you were hiding something... I just didn't know what it was..."

Hiei then turned around to find the voice belonged to Alin and looked down, "I'm... I'm sorry Alin... I did not mean to... I was only looking out for the well being of my team if too many people knew..." he stammered.

Alin gently placed his finger over his mouth gently, "Don't worry about it, you have to patch up your friend now..."

Just then, the door flung open and a dark figure stood within the door. Hiei quickly grabbed his Kusirigama, as Jubei unsheithed his tantos, with Taki taking Kaede to the back to finish the stitching. Ian was also standing at ready with his gundaggers drawn ready to battle. The Figure stepped forward to reveal that it was Arca, carrying Ikage's lifeless body into the tavern.

"IKAGE!!!!" screamed Jubei as he rushed to his leader, and the young King.

Arca gently lays the body on a table, "it will do you no good... Hunter Vale... is dead now... I brought his body so we can at least give him a proper burial..."

Jubei looked on as the king gently lays the wolf down on the table, he dropped both of his tantos to the ground his mouth agape, "D... dead?! no.... NO THAT CAN'T BE!!!!!" he screamed as he ran to his dead leader. "IKAGE!!!! IKAGE NO!!!!" he cried in vein as tears ran down his cheeks.

Hiei had a look of disbelief as he found himself finding Alin and crying into his shoulder wildly over the fallen leader. As soon as Taki was finished, Kaede, who had receded the Shadows from her fur walked over to Arca and grabbed him by the Collar of his shirt.

"YOU SEE THIS!!!!" she screamed at him, "THIS IS WHAT YOUR BIGOTRY GETS YOU!!!! A WORLD FULL OF PAIN AND MISERY FELT BY ALL!!!! NOTHING BUT DEATH AND CHAOS!!!!"

Arca looked at her sternly and grabbed her paw, "I understand your pain miss... but I now see that my hatred can be manipulated by those seeking to do my land harm. Now all we can do is simply sit here and come up with some sort of plan... besides loosing perhaps the most capable warrior here..." he explained calmly.

Meanwhile, in another dimension away from the living world, Ikage lay on a cobble stone street. He slowly awakened and began to stand up, using his Ninja-to to ease him back up, moaning gently, "Am... am I dead?" he asked himself almost thoughfully.

"Yes... yes you have, but you died prematurely Hunter Vale... or is it Ikage of Han-Ma... you confuse me a whole lot... Hunter, you go by many names in the land of the living..." said a strange voice from behind him.

Ikage turned quickly to find another wolf dressed in Leather with an odd looking skirt, barely covering anything, but the shirt seemed to be a one piece seperated only by a belt. The wolven figure also carred a grand scythe over his shoulder as he stood there, leaning on a waist high grave.

"Who are you? and what's with the scythe... Don't tell me you're wanting to fight too..."

The figure laughed and came closer, "No Hunter, obviously, you've never heard of my stories... I am Crescent Moon, the reaper of souls for the Goddess Ellysa. I actually have come to you bearing a gift..." he said calmly as he walked towards the young ninja. "You are currently unprepared to fight Tang as you are... follow me... and Ellysa will bless you with the means to defeat Tang..." he said calmly as he walked away towards a shimmering light.

Ikage slowly sheithed his Ninja-to as he slowly began to follow the young wolf.

Whilst in the Real World Ian and the others were huddled around in a circle as darkness slowly seeped around the city as Tang's influence grew to an almost catastrophic proportions.

Kaede sighed a bit and looked to everyone else, "The only one thing that Darkness is weak against is light, but we've no idea what happened to the very last light caster, as there is only one every thousand of years..."

Suddenly, the young king looked to Kaede and blinked, "Light Caster? what do you mean by that?" he asked.

Kaede nodded softly and looked to him, "Light Casters are elementalists from the land of Han-Ma who have control over the element of Light... along with the power to heal, they can also use their powers to destroy the darkness in the hearts of man and so can they destroy Darkness Casters..."

Arca stared at her and sighed heavily and shook her head, "Then all is lost..." Kaede looked at him and blinked, "Why do you say that Sire?" she asked.

He sighed gently, "I had a member of my guard like that, and... he was not originally from here... he never told me where he was from... but he had the exact abilities you described..."

he said.

Kaede shook him, "FOR GOD'S SAKE MAN!!!! where is he?" she asked.

Arca closed his eyes, "Burried in the cemetary with all the great heroes of this country and forever known as a great man... Link Vale... the man who fathered your leader..." he said with a heavy heart.

At that Kaede slowly lowered her head, "Then... all is truely lost..." she said. Suddenly, they all hear a sudden rapping at the door, it was loud, yet taunting, Kaede shook her head, "This is it... if I'm gonna die... I'm gonna die fighting... are the rest of you with me!" Arca, Jubei, Hiei, and Taki all nod their heads softly and pulling their weapons out reading for the final stand.

In the realm of the dead, Crescent Moon had been leading Ikage for days on end, the young Ninja obviously not tired at all.

"Even in death you never tire, what is your secret young warrior?" the reaper asks.

Ikage didn't look to the wolf, just simply stated, "I'm determined... I will not give up on my team, I may be dead but even in the after life I will stop at nothing to get back to them..." he said abruptly.

The reaper looked to the younger wolf and smiled, "You would even fight me? is there someone you care about there?" The young wolf shook his head, "No... you've already taken the one person who ment the world to me... now I have to make sure you don't take have to take any more innocent people..." he said.

Crescent Moon then stopped and looked to him, "You'd risk your soul for people you don't even know, the very team who could possibly betray you, and a King who loathes your kind? You'd protect them all?! why for? what would be the purpose in all of it?" he asked.

Ikage stopped but not turning around, "Because..." he started, "If I don't stand up for what's right... who will?" and with that he continued onward toward the light.

Crescent Moon could only smile as he watched the young wolf walk in, "He's Proud... much like his father... Ellysa... you chose wisely yet again..." he said as he finally began to follow.

After a few more days they finally reached the light and within it, lay a bare white room with a young lynx child and a small globe floating in front of her, she looked with disdain as she stared at it.

She then turned her attention to the two wolves and smiled gently, "Thank you Crescent Moon, that will be all..." she said softly.

He bowed before her and smiled to Ikage, whispering lightly in his hear, "Many fear me in this life, it feels good to not be feared..." as he walked off to return to his duties.

The young lynx walked over the the obviously taller wolf and smiled, "Welcome Ikage... this is my room where I normally watch over my creation... not many mortals are able to visit here..." she said softly.

Ikage looked to the young girl and nodded, "So you must be Ellysa, the Child like goddess... so, your legends are true..."

She smiled gently and nodded, "Yes, but there is a reason why you are here Hunter... you know of Tang, and you know there is only one way to defeat him..."

He looked to her and stared, "I thought you weren't supposed to meddle with the affairs of mortals." he said.

She nodded, "Only in extreame cases I am allowed, and this is one.... Tang must be stopped at all costs... I have seen the terrible cataclism he'll wreak upon my creation if he isn't stopped..." She slowly pulled on his pant leg to make him come down to her level as he fell to one knee, "And you know how to stop him, but you don't have the means..." she said.

Ikage nodded, "So how am I to defeat him if there's no way for me to win?" he asked.

Ellysa looked over to a corner of the room to a ghostly figure in shining armor and a smile on his wolven muzzle.

Ikage slowly stood up and stared on as he looked upon his hero, the man he had looked up to from the beginning.

"F... Father?!"

The Figure smiled gently, "yes my son... it is I... Link Vale..." the figure said.

Ikage slowly stood up and walked to the figure, "Father... I..." he began but was abruptly cut off by his father.

"Shush, my boy, I know you've done some horrible things, but you did what was right in the end... now... I've much to tell you but little time to tell it in... My son, I am the Light Caster from this Millenia..." he said calmly.

Ikage blinked slightly and looked to him, "But... Father... I thought... I thought you were..."

The figure shook his head, "No son, I was once an advisor to the previous emperor of Han-Ma... I found that Tang was not only a darkness caster... but he also was using the Emperor to his evil deeds, and thus... With no one believing me, I was casted out... I had come to Arca seeking shelter when I met your mother Hunter..."

Ikage blinked a bit, not knowing what to say, "I... Dad... I..."

Link gently pulled his son into a loving embrace, "Ellysa told me what we have to do, you and I are to bind souls together... so that you can use what I've learned in the many years of practice with Light Casting that I know... please Defeat Tang... and bring honor to our family... and our homes... both Arca and Han-Ma..."

Ikage's eyes widened as he heard these words, "Father... I.... I don't believe I can..." but without hesitation, Ellysa had finally finished her spell as Ikage was distracted, as Link's soul seeped into Ikage's through his eyes and mouth in the form of a ghostly vapor. As the two souls were finally combined, Ikage fell the the ground, exhausted from the transfer.

The young Lynx looked to him and frowned gently, "We haven't much time... your friends are in danger..." she said softly.

Ikage then looked to her strangely, "But... it's been days... how..."

Ellysa looked to him and hushed him gently, "Time flows differently here... now you must go..." and with that, the young lynx girl began chanting frantically, casting the final spell to send Ikage back to his body in the realm of the living.

Meanwhile, back in the realm of the living, the Ninja had all finally come outside for the final confrontation, in an attempt not to mess up the Tail Underground. Ian was laying in the gutter, bruised but not badly hurt, while Jubei and Hiei were still battling along with Arca, Kaede and Taki were trying to stay out of the fight, for it was Kaede that Tang wanted, by now the darkness had taken Tang's fur and changed it from white and black to black and red, corrupt to the core as more tendrils flayled about.

"It's no use... I told you all... IT'S USELESS!!!!" he screamed as Hiei tried to grapple the tiger with his Spiked Chain Kusurigama. "There is no winning!" he screamed as one of his tendrils grabbed onto the chain and threw the poor rabbit against the cobble stone street, with bones snapping harshly.

"HIEI!!!!!!!!!" Screamed Alin as he ran to the young rabbit, holding him in his arms, "Hiei... are you ok?"

Hiei gave a weak smile, "Yeah.... I'm... fine... not gonna die that eaisily... heh..."

Jubei watches on and then looks to Tang angrily, "you BASTARD!!!!!!!!" as he charges him, but only to find himself being flung much like Hiei was.

Tang then turned towards the young Kaede, "Now my dear... it's time to find out what you know about the Boss Lady..." he said chuckling.

As the tendril got close to the young snow leopard, a burst of movement suddenly came from the Tail Underground knocks Tang away from Kaede and causes him to flip end over end onto the ground hard. Everyone looked up to see that the source of the blow was Ikage, their so called dead leader.

Tang slowly looked up and stared angrily, "IKAGE?!?!?! IMPOSSIBLE!!!!! I WATCHED YOU DIE BY MY OWN HAND!!!!!!!!" he screamed.

Ikage payed no attention to the tyrant has he went over to Hiei first, checking on him and looking him over.

"You poped your shoulder out of place... hang on, this is gonna sting..." he said.

Hiei braced himself as Ikage poped his arm back into joint and pats his partner on the shoulder, "Thank you... for everything Hiei..." he said gently.

Hiei could only stare on as he stood up. "Ikage?! where are you going?" he asked.

The young wolf stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes, "I'm gonna finish this... once and for all..."

With that, he then made his way to Ian, who looked up at him wearily, the young wolf smiled, "Ian... you were a good friend... thank you..." suddenly Ian felt his wounds closing up as he pated his shoulder.

Ian stood amazed and couldn't say a word as Ikage gently stood up and walked over to Kaede, "Kaede thank you for you help when you gave it..." he then turned to face the tyrant then just as Arca came out from the tavern amazed at Ikage's sudden recovery.

"IKAGE!!!!!!" screamed Kaede as she ran up behind him, "Where are you going?!"

he turned to her and merely said softly, "I have to put an end to this... I've no choice in the matter..."

Ikage then stood in front of the now recovering Tang, as the rest of the group hurried back into the Tavern. "No Matter Ikage..." Tang said growling, "I'll just have to kill you again to prove you that your attempts are FUTILE!!!"

Ikage didn't say a word, he took the ninja-to and sheith off his back and burried it into the cobble stone ground and closed his eyes, with the sword in front of him. He then began chanting and using the hand gestures he had learned as a child, "Rin, Hei, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen, Rin, Hei, Toh, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" he chanted furiously, matching the hand gestures with the words, after a few repetitions on the last word, a Pillar of light suddenly surrounded him that decended from the heavens, causing him to float up slowly and gently a few feet above the air, and when the pillar recided, there stood Ikage, but not like he was before, he no longer had a Black outfit on like the others had, his clothes had turn white, as pure as a snowflake, as his Fur also changed, matching the hue of his father's white fur in life.

"No... that can't be....THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!" screamed Tang. Ikage opened his eyes and lays his right paw upon the handle of his sword.

"Yes Tang... it's over for you now..." he said, "With the power of my father's soul, the man you betrayed, I will destroy you Tang... and your darkness will no longer plague these lands ever again."

Inside the Tavern the group watched on Jubei's eyes closed as he smirked, "Well I'll be... shall we chalk this one up to Divine intervention then? because I don't see how else it could have possibly happened otherwise..." he said.

Suddenly, there came a loud noice from behind them as a barely concious Xing started limping downstairs, followed by a concerned Khan.

"MY LIEGE!!!" screamed Khan, "You shouldn't be out of bed like this... you're bound to hurt yourself even further..."

Arca stared at the young king, as he was obviously concerned with how the fight was going, "No, I must see it... I must watch... I need to see Tang's final breath..."

Xing hobbled over to the window hurriedly to watch as the fight had begun, he blinked a bit as he watched the fight, and thought back to his vision from before, the night he saw death in the arms of Arca... he finally realized something.

"My... My vision's about to come to fruition..."

Ian blinked a bit as he looked to Xing, "But Xing, I thought you had said Arca was to take my head, but here we are currently in the same room on the same side of this struggle."

Xing nodded softly, "I missinterpereted it... the darkness surrounding the one cutting someone's head, that wasn't metaphorical, that was actual darkness... and Ian, it's not your head that's gonna be taken... that head belonged to Hunter Vale... our Ikage..." he said frantically.

Ian looked to the young King and closed his eyes, "Then have Ellysa save us all..."

Outside, the blows were being exchanged one after another as the two belted each other with their fists and claw rather then weapons. Ikage was though quick to dispell any attempt to regenerate Tang's Tendrils with bolts of pure light. Tang finally lands a blow that connects with the side of Ikage's face, causing his eye to swell up. Tang then jumped into the air and swipes with his metal fan for a killing blow, but only met the ground as Ikage rolled out the way and flipped onto his feet again.

Tang smiled gently, "Do you not realize Ikage... you've lost... there will be no way for you to win..." he said.

The two then charged each other and locked their weapons together, their teeth gritting as sparks began flying literally from their weapons. Tang smirked as he slide the blade of Ikage's sword into the hole of one his fans, and used it to disarm him, and then kicking his leg from behind and standing on his calf muscle, he prevented Ikage from standing up.

The tiger smirked at the position he was in as he pulled the young wolf's head back and laughed maniacally, "This will be my greatest trophy ever... destroying the last Light caster... what no man has ever been able to do."

Tang pulled back with his fan as he was about to go for the death blow.

"IKAGE!!!!" screamed a familiar voice from behind him as suddenly, an orichalcum sword clanged to his feet.

Without a word, Ikage suddenly grabbed the sword and parried the blow, countering with his own attack by stabbing the tiger into the sternum. Tang's eyes widened at the sudden pain that he stumbled back a bit as Ikage pulled the blade from his sternum. As Tang fell to his knees, he looked up at the young wolf standing over him.

"Tang..." he said softly, "your over confidence was your downfall... Never underestimate... the power of your friends, and the will of the people..." and with that, Ikage lobbed the Tyrant's head off, finally silencing the evil man for good.

Ikage looked over to the young man who had gave him the now blood drenched sword that saved his life. Sitting on the ground was a the nude emperor of Han-ma, smiling gently as the young wolf walked towards him. The wolf looked down and smiled only saying, "My liege..." and falling over into his arms, the young king gently hugging him softly.

"It's ok Vagabond..." he said gently, "Rest now... for it's all over..."

Several days past and peace has finally returned to the land. Jubei, Hiei and Taki had finally received their orichalcum weapons and became fourth coil members of the White Lotus society. All the ninja, including Khan, Feng and Xing were inside with the other patrons, celebrating the victory over the darkness, and finally returning peace to the land. the only one who wasn't there was Ikage. Though he resurrected, his bones had still been broken, an unfortunate side effect as he was bandaged up, bruised up and scared pretty badly from the last encounter, but his fur had returned back to normal.

The young wolf looked to the sky, with his left arm in a sling as he closed his eyes and bowed gently to the stars, "Crescent Moon... please care for my Matthew in the after life... make sure he isn't bound to this earth alone..." he said gently and returned back to simply watching the stars.

"So here you are!" said the young Tender of the bar smiling softly as he walked outside, "Everyone's been wondering where the hero went..." Ikage chuckled a bit,

"Yeah, tell them he's already inside... Xing was the real savior..."

Ian looked concerned to him, "Matthew?" he asked suddenly.

Ikage looked to him and blinked, "How'd you know?!" he asked.

Ian looked to the sky, "Arca had told me about him whilst he was here when you were... well dead... I do appologize..." he said.

Ikage nodded softly, "I just hope that he's in a better place now."

Suddenly, another familiar figure came over to the two at the tavern from the Castle, the King of Arca himself. Ikage suddenly frowned as the King made his way to the young wolf, "Ikage..." he began, "This is already hard to put in words... but..." with out saying another word, he gently pinned a medal upon his vest.

Ikage looked, "This was the same medal my father was given... the highest honor in Arca..." The King nodded, "don't go wearing that around now, I've still a reputation to fulfill..." he said.

Ikage narrowed his eyes as the King began to leave, "Have you learned nothing from this ordeal King?! when will you stop your senceless hatred?"

Arca closed his eyes, "I have my reasons..." he merely said.

"Will there be a day when you will get over this stupid hatred?" asked Ikage.

Arca did not look back, he continued back towards the castle after saying, "We shall see what the future holds..."

--fin