The Juniper Challenge

After Juki Wu was badly beaten in a fight with Valerie Fox, Demon Keyoto became enraged that Juki was so badly beaten. He furthermore was furious that Valerie sent a letter signed in Juki's blood. To defend the honor of Juki, Demon Keyoto has decided to challenge Valerie Fox. He issued a letter of challenge to be delivered by Demon Devin and he and Erisu have set off to confront Valerie.

Demon Keyoto and Erisu ride quickly down a pathway in the Juniper forest. Keyoto has received information that Valerie Fox may be in this area. The day is cold and windy and Keyoto is near his clan villages. Erisu turns to Keyoto and asks, "What do you plan to do to Valerie? Do you intend to kill her?" Keyoto says while looking forward, "I want answers for why she beat Juki so badly. I want to know why that note was signed in Juki's blood. I can't let this kind of thing go unanswered. It will be Valerie's decision as to what I do." Erisu says, "Has Yellow Demon asked you about this incident since he's returned?" Keyoto says, "I informed him and he wanted to accompany me but I wanted him at the headquarters on the island. He needs his rest and Gen. Hiroto is planning a defense of our home villages if it's proven that Yamada and Diablo Batista are kidnapping our villagers." Soon Keyoto spots someone riding a horse across the woods. Keyoto says to Erisu, "That's Valerie Fox, go bring her to me!" Erisu quickly rides off down the trail.

As Valerie Fox rides down a small forest trail she hears the gallop of a horse to her rear. She turns and sees Erisu riding toward her at full speed. Valerie sees him as he yells, "Stop there! Demon Keyoto wants to speak to you at once! Don't resist or you'll regret it!" Valerie takes off down the trail. For several miles Erisu chases Valerie on horseback through the forest. Erisu continues to yell, "Stop at once!" After several warnings, Erisu pulls out a whip and starts swinging it toward Valerie and her horse. Valerie thinks to herself, "If the bastard hits me with that whip he'll be the one who will regret it." Erisu yells, "You're messing with the wrong guy lady!" Erisu's whip strikes Valerie's horse. Valerie tunes to him and as he continues to swing his whip. She moves to the horse's right side as Erisu comes closer, as the horses run at full speed down the trail.

She straddles the horse's torso while leaning to the right as Erisu comes within arms reach. He yells, "Stop or else you'll feel this whip!" Valerie looks over and as Erisu flings his whip toward her again, she throws a powder bomb onto Erisu. He eases back but quickly follows again. Valerie looks back, now fully upright on her horse's back as Erisu comes closer. She thinks, "I've had about all I'm going to take of this guy and his whip." As Erisu comes closer again, Valerie leaps onto a tree branch from above. Erisu looks up as she vanishes into the tree. As Erisu looks over his back he sees her leaping from the tree. Valerie kicks Erisu off of his horse and onto the forest floor.

Erisu rushes to get his bearing as he roles on the forest floor. As he does Valerie leaps onto him. They wrestle, Valerie keeps Erisu from rolling onto his back as he tries to find a weapon. She grabs his arms and holds them to his back and keeps him close to the ground, preventing him from getting enough leverage to stand. She quickly ties his hands together. Erisu yells, "Get off of me, face me if you are to kill me Blue Kunoichi!" Valerie says, "I'm not going to kill Demon Ninja Erisu." She stands and pulls Erisu to his feet. She says, "Don't do anything stupid, just lead me to Keyoto!" Erisu yells, "Free my arms at once and I'll take you to him!" Valerie brandishes one of her hip tantos and says, "You are not in the position to give orders. Walk!"

As Erisu and Valerie walk down the trail Erisu says, "Aren't you going to go retrieve your horse?" Valerie says, "We'll walk, it's good exercise. I'll go get my horse after I deal with Keyoto." Erisu says, "What gives you the idea that you can 'deal' with Keyoto?" Valerie says, "I can't imagine why Keyoto would come here and try to hunt me down." Erisu yells back furiously, "Remember what you did to Juki Wu?" Valerie replies, "Are you serious? Keyoto is upset by that? Oh, very well." Erisu continues, "Master Keyoto is most angry by the way you injured Juki Wu. He'll put you in your place lady. Keyoto will wipe the ground with you." Valerie sighs and says, "I wrangle fifteen hundred pound horses almost everyday, I'm not as terrified of a three hundred pound Keyoto as some are." Erisu barks, "We'll just see won't we!"

After twenty minutes Keyoto has become concerned at why Erisu hadn't returned. Keyoto dismounts from his steed and starts to walk down a narrow trail. Within ten minutes he sees Erisu walking toward him with his arms tied behind his back. Erisu spots Keyoto and runs toward him. Keyoto says, "What happened? Why are your arms tied? Where is the Blue Arrow?" Erisu says, "She's nearby. She knocked me from my horse and tied my hands." Keyoto raises his voice and says, "She did what?" Erisu replies," She leaped from the trees and knocked me off. When I tried to stand she wrestled me to the ground and tied me. She's very strong and quick. My hands were tied within seconds." Keyoto unties the binds and says, "Where is she?!" Valerie whistles from behind. Keyoto and Erisu turn and see her standing between two trees.

Valerie says calmly, "Why did you send Demon Erisu after me. He whipped my horse and almost hit me? He said something about Juki Wu?" Keyoto coldly says, "Indeed it's about Juki Wu. Not only did you beat her badly but now you insulted the honor of Erisu. How dare you send me a letter signed in Juki's blood. What kind of a monster are you?" Valerie replies with aggression, "Juki Wu attacked me and challenged me. She lost fair and square. She said you still wished to harm my elder sister for tearing your wrist. Juki also blamed me for her imprisonment and threatened my life......verbally that is. I have to say her skills were laughable to say the least. I'm truly surprised you are here to defend her honor. How could you defend the honor of a girl who left your clan and tried to marry a Kogasuma royal?" Keyoto simmers and barks, "Juki will be a Demon Ninja as long as I see fit. I take the blood of Juki very seriously. The blood signature is a challenge I can't ignore. I take that as a serious call to fight." Valerie says, "With all that your clan is embroiled in right now, why would you waist your time with matters of Juki Wu? Your villages are being attacked by both Kogasuma as well as CM forces in some manor. A sizable minority of your villagers have lost faith in you. And you're here challenging poor little me." Keyoto bellows, "I once trusted you very highly but now I don't know. I will soon make my presence known in my villages. But I can't let the honor of my Demons be trampled upon." Valerie interrupts with anger, "You attacked my sister and you got hurt, you were in the wrong. Juki attacked and later challenged me. She got hurt and she was in the wrong. Erisu came after me and whipped my horse and he was sent back defeated. He was in the wrong. How possibly can you say you are 'defending' honor?" Keyoto roars, "Let's see what you're made of. I want to see what a 'Fox' can do. I'm not going to be talked to like a monkey." Keyoto gets into a fighting position. Valerie does the same while saying, "It's a shame you waste your time on these foolish endeavors."

As Keyoto and Valerie are about to fight, four young villagers come across and Erisu stops them. They plead, "Help us! Our village is being attacked my Dark O Fu's minions and a wild swordsman named Taketoshi!" Keyoto and Valerie turn. Erisu says, "What village do you come from?" One of the boys says, "Maki village sir!" Keyoto says, "That is one of my villages. I helped build a dam for that village when I was twelve. My grandfather designed the market building in the village's square." The villagers recognize Keyoto and say, "Master Keyoto, come help us. They have attacked nearby villages in the past and have killed many over the last month." One boy say, "My brother was beheaded by Taketoshi." Keyoto turns to Valerie and says, "Leave me, I have to defend my villages!" Valerie replies, "You will need help against Dark O Fu and his clan. That's why I was in the Juniper forest this morning, to scout the area." Keyoto says, "I welcome the help!" Valerie says, "I have to find my horse and get my arrows, I'll be right back!" Valerie quickly vanishes. Erisu says, "She probably just left us master. Lets go and stop these bastards." Keyoto replies, "Let's go, she can find her way to the village but I think she will help is....I hope."

Keyoto, Erisu and the boys arrive at the village's entrance and see several fires. Keyoto and Erisu brandish their swords and enter the village. It's quiet as they walk to the village square. Keyoto and Erisu tell the boys to hide as they notice a crowd in the center of town. Keyoto walks up into the crowd and roars, "I am Demon Keyoto! Who dare attack my village!" The crowd looks upon Keyoto with amazement as a man in purple stands and says, "I do! I, Master Taketoshi have claimed this village as mine. You have no power here Demon Ninja." Keyoto simmers with rage as he sees many dead villagers at the feet of this grey-haired man. Keyoto bellows, "Did you kill these people? I am Demon Keyoto, master of the Demon territory and leader of the Demon Ninja clan. If you have killed my villagers, you will answer to me!" The man yells, "I am Master Taketoshi and you will bow to me!" Taketoshi take out his mighty sword and points to Keyoto and says, "I have fifty members of my clan here. Just try to take me on!"

Taketoshi orders three of his archers to come before him. Taketoshi orders them to fire an arrow into a villager if Keyoto makes a move. Erisu walks behind the crowd  as he notices more of Dark O Fu's minions entering the village. He hands swords to the male villagers as they keep a low profile. Erisu tells them to be ready to attack the minions. Keyoto shouts to Taketoshi, "What kind of a beast would kill innocent villagers? Fight me with your word old man. If you can beat me, you can have this village." Taketoshi laughs and says, "I already have this village. Why would I waste my time fighting you. Your head will be in my hand by the end of the day. Now bow Demon Ninja!" Keyoto looks at the scared villagers as Taketoshi's archers draw back on their bows. Taketoshi yells even louder, "Bow to me Keyoto...NOW!" As soon as Taketoshi ends his command, three fire arrows fly from behind Keyoto and into the faces of Taketoshi's archers. The three archers fall dead as the crowd screams. Taketoshi looks shocked as Keyoto turns and sees Valerie Fox several yards behind him. Keyoto turns to Taketoshi and yells, "Bring it on!" .......

by Jesse Nightingale ©2005

 

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