story Episodes 9 & 10

Episode 9: Domon the Oni! Unknown Power!

In the previous episode, Fuuko succeeded in defeating Reiran. They discovered that she was merely another mannequin; the real elemental was a small kid called Ganko. Ganko joins them as they press onwards to defeat Kurei and save Yanagi. They come upon a dark stone room where a murdering giant named Sekioh awaits them. Domon chooses to challenge him, and the fight begins...

Domon's fist slams repeatedly into Sekioh's stomach. Sekioh smiles down at the puny figure before him. Fuuko and Ganko watch worriedly, but Recca points out that although Sekioh seems to be standing firm, Domon is actually pushing him back with the force of the punches. Jumping into the air.

Domon's fist connects with Sekioh's cheek and sends him flying across the dim room.

The group cheers at the simple victory. The celebration halts as Sekioh clambers to his feet. He holds out the elemental weapon, Sekichu, removing it from it's position at his waist. It glows and stones cling to his body, ripping away from the stone walls. An impenetrable stone armor forms around him.

Angrily, Domon advances again, striking Sekioh forcefully in the stomach. Domon clutches at his fist in pain, dropping to the floor. Sekioh grins, the grabs Domon's injured hand and hauls him off the ground. He retaliates Domon's attack by slugging him harshly in the abdomen. Domon's eyes widen in agony as he thinks, "So this is the power of an elemental weapon."

Domon recalls an earlier visit with Kage Houshi. She hands him an elemental weapon of his own, Saturn's Ring. It hooks onto his nostril to replace his ever present nose ring. She warns him that the elemental weapon's choose their own masters. One must prove themselves to receive the power.

Domon sails across the room from Sekioh's punch. His back collides with a pillar and he slumps to the floor. He laboriously rises again and returns to the battle. Sekioh smirks. He uses shards from his stone armor and projects them at Domon with a thrust of his arms. Domon attempts to avoid them, but he collapses after the assault.

Seeing that Domon persists in trying to get up, Sekioh leaps into the air, preparing to imprint Domon into the ground. Domon looks up to see Sekioh flying towards him, ready to crush him. The scene floods red with blood.

Sekioh staggers backwards clawing at his face, blood streaming down the sides. Domon sits up, his hands held before him, blood tingeing the tips of his fingers. "My stooge-style defense, the eye-jab!" Behind him, Recca, Fuuko, and Ganko cheer. Domon smirks and charges at Sekioh again. Debris showers Domon unexpectedly. Sekioh lifts up Domon and knees him in the stomach, then slams him to the ground. He lifts a foot to crush Domon, but an explosion on his back stops him. The fireworks don't even faze him as he whirls a chunk of rock at the unsuspecting ninja, causing Recca to connect with the wall on the opposite side of the room. Behind Sekioh, Fuuko vaults toward him, Fujin prepared to attack.

Sekioh grabs her in his large fist. Domon stands and hits Sekioh. Sekioh simply uses his elbow to thrust Domon to the ground again, setting his foot on Domon's back to prevent any other attempts at getting up. Sekioh constricts the fist surrounding Fuuko, intending to squeeze her to death. Domon watches in consternation. Straining his muscles, he tries to stand again, but Sekioh stomps down on Domon again and again, continuously pushing Domon back to the floor, squeezing Fuuko even tighter.

With a burst of strength, Domon lifts Sekioh's foot, causing him to topple over and release Fuuko. Fuuko gasps as Domon's nose ring shines. Domon looks down at his nose "Looks like I passed the first test."

The two opponents clash again. Sekioh grasps Domon's fist intending to break his hand. Instead, Domon breaks through the stone armor surrounding Sekioh's fist and crushes his hands. He slugs Sekioh and sends him soaring back, dragging along the ground and creating a deep indention.

Kurei laughs at the scenario unfolding before him. One has the Fujin, one has Saturn's Ring. Who knows what power the little guy possesses. Koganei enters informing Kurei that although Yanagi's blood pressure was high, nothing unusual was found from the first test. Kurei tells Koganei to escort Yanagi to her next exam. She hums the entire way. When Koganei asks why she's so happy, she informs him that her "Knight" is coming to rescue her, and she's trying to be brave for him.

The three some race up the stairs and see another door. Recca opens it and...

"WASSUP!!!" Koganei greets them, grinning widely. Fuuko and Domon charge but Koganei easily defeats them. He walks to the other side of the room and presses a button on the wall. A thick wall appears from the ceiling, threatening to cut off the path. Domon runs to hold up the wall, commanding Fuuko and Recca to continue without him. However, the power of Saturn's Ring flickers and he loses strength.

When he looks beside him, he sees Fuuko and Recca join him in the struggle again the wall. Footsteps advance behind them. "Why are you wasting your time testing your strength against a wall? What kind of games are you playing when you should be rescuing Yanagi-san?"

Koganei, Ganko and the three struggling to keep up the wall gape at the figure of Mikagami standing behind them, a mocking expression on his face.

Episode 10: Crashing Flames!! Two Hokage!!

Last time, Domon challenged the giant Sekioh. After a strenuous battle, Domon prevailed gaining the power and acceptance of Saturn's Ring as his elemental weapon during the battle. Yanagi is sent to her next examination while Recca, Domon, Fuuko, and Ganko encounter a smiling Koganei. Instead of fighting, Koganei causes a wall to appear from the ceiling and block their way. The group strive to keep the passage unblocked by using their strength to hold up the wall. Behind them, Mikagami unexpectedly approaches.

Kurei, Mokuren, and Yanagi watch Mikagami's arrival from Yanagi's testing area. A scientist informs Kurei that the swimming pool in the back is dried up. Mikagami teases Fuuko, Domon, and Recca as they support the wall. Fuuko bitterly asks why he's not trying to get revenge for his defeat while their preoccupied with holding the wall.

Mikagami smiles almost menacingly. Not a bad idea. His sword flashes as it strikes several times with swift, sure strokes, and the wall comes tumbling down, right on top of the three who were bolstering it up. Kurei's eyes widen slightly as he sees Ensui. Oblivious to their constant watchers, Mikagami challenges Koganei to a fight stepping over Domon and Recca. The members of the Reccagumi lunge at Mikagami, yelling at him for the careless destruction of the wall.

Koganei attacks Mikagami suddenly, but Mikagami blocks with ease. Koganei smiles with respect. Mikagami returns the smile confidently, stabbing at Koganei who defends with some difficulty. Kurei grins. Fujin, Saturn's Ring, Ensui, these idiots should prove entertaining. So what's that last kid hiding? Mokuren brushes aside Kurei's contemplation, plastering his face to the screen and drooling over the close-up of Fuuko. That's who I wanna kill. Kurei agrees to allow Mokuren that pleasure. But that last guy...what power does he have?

Koganei states that Mikagami must be the knight Yanagi was talking about earlier. Recca is indignant at that, but Mikagami cuts him off. You permitted her kidnapping. Instead of saving your Hime, you test your meager strength against a wall. If she's hurt in any way, you'll pay with your life. Mikagami raises Ensui to Recca's throat.

Recca smirks. He'd protect his Hime no matter what. Mikagami lowers Ensui. Then you're not ready to die yet. Koganei slams the Kougon Anki on the ground, forming a deep crack in the ground that separates Recca and Mikagami as they leap back. He commands the Reccagumi to stand back so he can fight Yanagi's so-called "Knight."

Mikagami orders Recca to continue on while Koganei battles with him. Distracted, Koganei looks up. Uh oh! no one was supposed to get past me. Koganei leaps after the escaping group, but Mikagami blocks the way. He tells Recca to keep going when they turn around to regard the commencing battle, after all, Recca is the one Yanagi truly wants to see. Koganei curses softly. Oh well, they'll lose upstairs anyway. Mikagami narrows his eyes.

Ganko warns them to be careful as the proceed to save Yanagi. Traps huh? Compacting ceilings? Arrows shooting from the walls? Pitfalls? Recca nearly topples into a pitfall, barely regaining his balance and leaping across after Fuuko and Domon cross easily. The three narrowly avoid becoming shishkabobs as they dodge the "arrows" suddenly protruding from the walls. The group increases their pace as parts of the ceiling begin to lower. They almost reach the end, but the last wall is already too low to run under. Recca's eyes narrow briefly. APPEAR FLAME! A large ball of fire erupts from his hands - Kurei's eyes widen in shock - and smashes the wall into pieces. Amazed, Ganko softly murmurs, "He shoots fire" The group runs through the next set of doors.

Kurei watches and rewatches the tape of Recca calling on his flame. Yanagi quietly shrieks as jolts of electricity dance through her veins. The torture ceases temporarily. He grabs her by her chestnut mane and lifts her face to meet his. He turns her face to the screen that shows Recca running. That boy, he glares at her threateningly, who is he, really?

He lips turn up a little as she responds, "He's my friend." Kurei slaps her across her cheek, leaving an angry red mark, and demands for the truth. Only one other can shoot flames from his arms other than himself! Is the boy a magician? Does he have gasoline up his sleeves? WHO IS HE REALLY? Yanagi watches Kurei, terrified. She stutters that she's only known Recca-kun for a short amount of time...

Kurei's eyes widen further, then he relaxes and chuckles, releasing his tight grip on Yanagi's shoulders, so that's Recca, huh? He instructs Mokuren to await his guests. But first, he has business to attend to with the boy named Recca. What an important day today is. Who would have though they'd meet again after all these years? He laughs wildly, throwing his head back. The scientist's watch him with poorly concealed fear. Yanagi is even more terrified.

Koganei and Mikagami proceed to fight, evenly matched. They break apart. Koganei grins at Mikagami's strength. He asks where Mikagami got his sword. Mikagami nonchalantly answers that he made it from the swimming pool in the backyard. Koganei continues to smile. Well, since Mikagami was obviously using an elemental weapon, he'd just have to break out the real power behind his Kougon Anki as well...

The Reccagumi runs up yet another set of stairs and reach yet another double door. Ganko informs them that the next room should be empty, but the room after is the perfect place to fight. They open the door cautiously anyway. See? There's nothing, Ganko recoils in fear. "It's been 400 years. Rec-ca," states the man standing before them.

"400 years? You expect me to remember you?!?!" retorts Recca.

Ganko trembles. "Why is Kurei here.?" Recca. Fuuko, and Domon glance at Ganko. Kurei?!?!

Recca charges Kurei, his fist surrounded by his Flame. Kurei smirks and blocks Recca's fist with his hand. Recca is stunned.

Kurei tosses Recca back into Fuuko who steadies him. Recca tries his attack again, this time launching a huge fireball which engulfs Kurei in its burning flame. Got him! Kurei smiles condescendingly. He stretches out his arm at his side and Recca's Flame vanishes. Kurei mocks Recca. Your Flame isn't enough to defeat me. You haven't been using it since you were an infant, 400 years ago, when I gave you your scar. The three listened attentively.

Kurei recounts the past, when the Hokage ninja were exterminated. Why? For the elemental weapons of course. After the defeat of the Hokage, the weapons were scattered. It'd be an advantage to have all the elementals to take over the world. That's why they kidnapped Sensei. So what does Yanagi have to do with any of this? Why was she taken as well? For her healing power. Kurei tells them of his father's wish for immortality, and Yanagi is the key. Angry, Recca again summons his flame against Kurei. Casually, Kurei attacks with his own flame, canceling out Recca's.

Resuming his story, he tells Recca that they were born in the same Hokage village 400 years ago. Recca denies it, but Kurei assures him that it is the truth. Kurei snaps his fingers, and the floor splits to form a hole beneath them. Fuuko, Domon, and Ganko drop into the abyss while Recca clings to the edge of the floor with one hand.

Walking up to Recca, Kurei asks if the woman, Kage Houshi had two moles on her chin. Recca confirms Kurei's suspicion by demanding how he knew. Kurei smiles and avoids the question, instead responding that there is a large room above the corridor they are in. If Recca lives long enough, they'll fight there. Recca smirks. "Kurei, you better start praying, I'll make you scream for mercy, Hanabishi Recca," Recca releases his firm grip on the floor, "shall defeat you shortly!!!"

Kurei observes impassively as Recca falls down into the dark abyss. "One who chooses to enter the gates of hell? Come, little boy, show me your power!'