Twist of Fates

After the killing of former Kogasuma emperor Sing do Sho, Black Dragon Jamesu hid within the CM nation under the protection of his friend Yamashidi in a warrior monk temple. With news of his sister Princess Meiko being involved in a relationship with CM Lord Zando Yokomoto's eldest son, Zando Jr., Jamesu decided to leave the CM nation and move to the Union Republic to try to find her. Jamesu is a top suspect in Sing Do Sho's killing and Kogasuma emperor Fuji as ordered his arrest for his "possible involvement".

Meanwhile, Matt Yokomoto has vowed to make his Spider Ninja clan the top clan within the CM nation and has been informed of a engagement meeting between Emperor Fuji's son, Ari and Yuki Wu, sister of Juki and Zuki Wu. Ari and Yuki's relationship was conceived by Zuki Wu to empower his stature within the Kogasuma. Matt plans to assassinate as many members of the party as he can to show his power and skill.

Ari Fuji meets his father in a forest resort, awaiting his official engagement ceremony. The emperor is very eager to see his son married, but has issues with Yuki Wu's siblings. The emperor wants the additional power that the Wu family of nobles would give to his throne, but he has a dislike for Zuki Wu and considers Juki Wu to be an agent of an enemy clan. Father and son discuss their differences. As soon as Yuki, Zuki and their entourage arrive, Ari exits to greets them. Yuki is accompanied by her good friend Princess Meiko. Zuki has tried to degrade Meiko throughout the journey to the resort, the two having long standing bad blood. Yuki and Ari greet one another. As the emperor enters the room with his guards, everyone falls to their knees with respect and obedience. The emperor is seated and he waves for them to stand. Zuki Wu says, "My emperor, your son has chosen one of the most beautiful flowers of this kingdom to be his wife. I hope the marriage is soon and that they have many happy and healthy babies. With this marriage will come a union of power and harmony." After a few minutes of silence Fuji looks over to Yuki and says, "Come to me girl. I wish to ask you a question." Yuki stands and quickly moves to the emperor. He asks, "Is this engagement your idea or that of my son? Is this a union of love or of power?" Yuki looks to the emperor and knows what her brother wants her to say, but she says, "It was my idea, I asked for his hand in marriage, I love him regardless of his place within the nation. You have my life on that my emperor." Zuki grumbles as he hears this. The emperor looks over to his son and says, "This engagement has my blessing. I will issue a wedding date within a month." With that one of the emperors spokesman appears and says, "Please entertain yourselves at out banquet outside on this fall day. We have much to be celebrate." With that the group begins to exit the room, but the emperor orders one of his aides to hold Princess Meiko back for questioning. Meiko is shocked but stays as the others leave to banquet. Zuki giggles as he sees Meiko on her hands and knees, he whispers, "Your neck may become a bit longer by the day's end."

Meanwhile near the resort, Matt Yokomoto and forty of his top Spider Ninjas have mapped out the exit routes of the Kogasuma parties. Matt instructs them to attack in full force one of the three differing exit parties that will leave the resort as it finishes. Matt insist that the emperor will be in one, Ari/Yuki in another and Zuki and the nobles in the third. Matt says, "We will strike with full force onto one of these parties. We either kill the emperor, his son or many of his nobles. If we try to attack all three we risk losing. I will have the heads of Kogasuma power to greet my return. My daddy will be very pleased and will surely overlook Yamashidi and his treacherous behavior. How angry will he be if I kill the sister of his dear friend Jamesu. Killing Meiko would also teach my brother a lesson. His actions with Meiko has shamed my family and nation to no end." Matt laughs, "He will have no power to stop me."

After several days of wondering aimlessly alongside the Union Republic/Kogasuma border, Black Dragon Jamesu, cloaked, has come across a message sent by his sister Meiko about this engagement party and wishes that he can meet her afterwards. Jamesu knows it would be a high risk to enter the Kogasuma nation with a warrant out for his arrest, but decides he needs to see his sister as soon as possible. He says to himself, "I have kept a low profile for too long. I killed that monster Sing (Do Sho) and if Fuji wants me dead, he will have to kill a honorable man. I belong in my nation, with my people, that is what my father would have wanted."

Emperor Fuji looks over Meiko as she kneels on the floor. He asks, "Princess Meiko, have you heard anything from that brother of yours, Jamesu Kamihoto?" Meiko looks up and says, "I heard from him over three months ago by message, but he refused to give me his location." Fuji says, "He is wanted for the killing of one of my predecessors. I would like to 'question' him about his involvement. You know many within the noble class have shunned you for any silence you have shown toward your brother's involvement. Many say he is now a CM spy?" Meiko says, "My emperor, he would never work to harm our nation. Please view him with just eyes. Think of your son, what he would do if someone would do harm onto you." Fuji barks, "Do not speak to me about my family, the subject is your renegade brother. Your time is limited. If I have not heard from him soon, you will have more to answer for. You know Senator (Zuki) Wu would be very happy to see you hang for your brother's alleged crime and your involvement with Zando Yokomoto Jr." Meiko replies, "I know my emperor, I bare the full weight of my family now and I do so in honor." Fuji says, "I respect that and that is why I have ignored their calls for revenge and vengeance from the nobles, but I will not ignore them forever." Meiko says with tears, "I thank you my emperor for your patients, please give my brother a chance." Fuji stands and exits the rooms. Meiko lies on her hands and knees, crying.

After a three hour banquet, Ari/Yuki prepare to leave. Zuki bids them farewell to Ari and says, "I welcome you to our family. You will be much happier and my sister will be an excellent wife." Yuki looks crossly at Zuki, who continues to giggle and talk. Meiko soon appears as many begin to leave. Yuki notices her sad features and walks up as asks, "What did the emperor want? Any news on Jamesu?" Meiko says while wiping away tears, "This is your day of happiness, I have no news to give. I am so happy for you. We have to design a wedding dress and prepare for the future." Zuki walks over and says, "After your wedding my sister, you will need better friends then this trash. Her family has shamed this nation and she will have to hang for her brother's rage and crimes. Poor, poor Meiko." Meiko swells with fury, her face reddens. Yuki hisses, "You have spoken too much brother, her issues have nothing to do with you." Zuki tries to reply but Meiko and Yuki walk away.

Matt Yokomoto and his ninjas prepare for an attack on the caravan as the parties exit. Fuji leaves to the west first with a smaller caravan. Two other parties leave for the south, Matt decides to attack the one going toward the southwest believing that with Emperor Fuji or Ari are in that caravan. Fifteen miles from the resort, along a the deep forest, Matt and his spider ninjas decide to spring the attack. Ari and Yuki are in this caravan. Princess Meiko has decided to join them instead of  going in the caravan with Zuki Wu. As the sun lowers in the ski, Matt orders the attack. A hail of fire arrow hit the scouts to the front and rear of the caravan. Several trees are dropped to make escape impossible on either side. Several explosive arrows are shot near the main carriage that Ari and Yuki are in. Matt appears and rushes toward the burning carriage. A fierce fight ensues with Matt, the spider ninjas, and the many Kogasuma royal guards. One explosive is shot into the carriage and badly injures both Ari and Yuki. Meiko, who is near the tail end of the caravan tries to help her injured friends, but sees overwhelming forces around her.

Having studied Meiko's letter Jamesu is nearby and hears the explosion of the spider ninja attack from his horse. He rushes down the trail at full speed. Soon he sees the caravan grossly overwhelmed by the spider ninjas. He leaps off of his horse and attacks them. Matt turns and notices the mask of Jamesu and shouts, "So Black Dragon, you decide to confront me when I am nearest to my glory. Your death will make this even better." Jamesu says, "You swine, I will leave you to rot in this forest boy." Meiko hears her brothers voice and runs to him. Meiko and Jamesu see each other but have to defend themselves against the savage attackers. Meiko shouts, "Ari Fuji and Yuki Wu need help badly brother!" Jamesu says to Meiko, "I need help taking these bastards down. I need you to become 'your dragon'!" Meiko says as she comes closer to her brother, "I can't, Yuki and Ari don't know of my other identity." Jamesu says, "Damnit Meiko, they are injured and can't see anything. I need you to transform, I need a dragon by my side. Embrace your dragon heritage." Meiko sheepishly looks at him as he fends off two spider ninjas. Meiko is then tackled from behind by a group of spider ninjas. Matt engages in a sword battle with Jamesu. Jamesu looks out of the corner of his eye to she Meiko being kicked and punched my the ninja. Matt hisses, "You ignored my challenge for too long. You have dishonored two nations." Jamesu is able to slash Matt's chest but is attacked from two other spider ninjas from behind.

Jamesu continues to fight under overwhelming odds as the attack continues. He soon hears Meiko delivering chops to the ninjas who attacked her with a fierce moan of anger. He looks and sees her quickly chopping the ninja down. Their eyes lock and he knows Meiko has become the dragon fighter that he had asked for. He continues to make his way toward the injured party as Matt tries to stop him. Meiko, in a full battle rage, tears off her kimono, revealing her dragon ninja uniform.

 She quickly places her facemask, sleeves and bracelets on and jumps into the fight to her brother's back. The two dragons cut down the majority of the spider ninjas. Matt continues to fight Jamesu, but soon loses any advantage he had as Jamesu pummels him with anger. Many of the Kogasuma guards are either dead or are badly injured.

Matt and Jamesu continue to fight as they enter the dark forest. Meiko enters the carriage and helps Ari and Yuki out. Both are bloodied and very dazed. Soon Jamesu returns. Meiko asks, "Where did Matt Yokomoto go? Did you kill him and the others?" Jamesu says while wiping blood from his fist, "I lost that weasel in the forest. I cut down four more of those spider ninjas, but we have to move fast. We don't know if they have a counter attack ready." Meiko says, "We need to get all the injured the medical attention." Jamesu shouts, "Take my horse to the village down the road, some ten miles. I'll stay here and defend this place." Meiko questions, "Brother, you could be..." Jamesu barks, "Go! I'll be alright!" Meiko quickly rides Jamesu's horse away as Jamesu nurses the injured.

Fifteen minutes late, a large group of Kogasuma troops arrive and spot Jamesu. Zuki Wu is among the group and shouts, "Black Dragon Jamesu has killed my sister and Ari Fuji, kill that bastard!" Several troops grab Jamesu and drag him to the road. Zuki giggles as they chain him and prepare to drag him. Jamesu shouts, "I didn't harm these people, look at the dead spider ninjas! There is proof of my innocence." Zuki laughs and says, "They are your troops you fool!" Just as Zuki is about to order Jamesu dragged, another convey of Kogasuma troops arrive. Emperor Fuji is in this group and orders Jamesu taken to the Imperial Palace for questioning. Zuki shouts, "My emperor, he has nearly killed your son and my sister, he has to die here!" Emperor Fuji shouts, "I decide what happens to Black Dragon little man. If you talk to me in that manor you will be killed on the spot!" Zuki cowers. As the injured Yuki, Ari, and Kogausma troops are transported to a medical facility, Jamesu is taken away for his judgment.

As Meiko searches the village for help, she sees the huge Kogasuma caravan enter the village. She hides and watches as they transport the injured . She sees her brother in chains in a cage at the end of the caravan. Tears come to here eyes. She soon leave on horse to the Imperial Palace to try to help her brother when he arrives.

The next morning, Lord Zando Yokomoto is informed of his son's attack on Ari Fuji and Yuki Wu. He orders his son to return to the CM nation at once. Matt, still nursing his wounds, with the fourteen surviving spider ninjas in his attack group, grumbles of revenge onto Jamesu for forting his assassination plans. Matt simmers in his wooded hut and declares, "Black Dragon will regret his interference. I will make that wondering bastard pay dearly. When I see my daddy, I will demand that Yamashidi be demoted for his friendship with that outcast. I will further challenge Black Dragon to a death dual, any where, any time. His skills are weak, I will easily destroy him." 

Jamesu is brought to the emperor's throne room the next evening. Jamesu is weak from having no sleep for two days as he was interrogated. Meiko is also brought to the throne room and becomes enraged as she sees her brother still in chains and very tired and hungry. Fuji enters the room and orders Meiko and Jamesu to kneel. Neither do so and a guard kicks Jamesu to the floor. Meiko shouts, "Go ahead and try to knock me to the ground! He is a man of honor and dignity. How dare you treat him in such a manner." Fuji shouts, "Princess Meiko, I am shocked at your fire, your passion. But I would not jump to conclusions just yet if I were you." Meiko bows to one knee and looks the emperor in the eye with anger as he continues.

Emperor Fuji says, "My son told me while recovering from his injuries earlier today that Black Dragon helped fend off the Spider Ninja attackers. He said he was accompanied by a pink clad kunoichi. Both fought off Matt Yokomoto and his clan." Meiko looks over at Jamesu has they hear this. Fuji continues, "I also have also known for over two months who the killer of Sing Do Sho is. A guard of Sing's who escaped the castle informed me this it was you, Black Dragon Jamesu who kill Sing So Sho." Meiko's enthusiasm sinks as her brothers guilt is revealed. Fuji adds, "Many of the nobles are loyalist of the late emperor and would love to see you drawn-and-quartered. But they don't know what I know. I am glad to be rid of Sing. He had used me to get him to his position last year and if it wasn't for his death, I would have had to battle him later. You probably did me a favor, killing that bastard. I will pardon you of that crime......but remember, any other emperor will likely have you killed if they know that you are the true killer. It would be wise of you to remember that. Even Sanamoto would have been honor bound to kill you for killing Sing Do Sho. Since I don't belong to the royal Kogasuma family I had the advantage of overlooking such things." Meiko runs over to Jamesu and says to Fuji, "Is he free to go, he needs help?" Fuji says, "He will be released and secretly removed from the palace. A statement of his innocence for the crimes against my son and soon-to-be daughter in law will be issued. Black Dragon, I want you to hunt down Matt Yokomoto and anyone else who was responsible for attacking my family.....that's when you are up to the mission. I don't want too many people involved with this." Jamesu says, "Yes my emperor. I must ask, where is my brother Juno?" Meiko says, "He has been in the Union Republic looking for you. I had sent him a message but don't know if he received it." Fuji walks to Jamesu and places his hand on Jamesu's shoulder and says, "I will call upon you for other missions in the future. I hope I can rely on you." Jamesu bows and both he and Meiko are dismissed.

As Meiko and Jamesu exit, Meiko says, "I'm shocked Fuji knew all along about your involvement. He seems to want to use you for some other missions." Jamesu says while rubbing his swollen wrist, "I have no idea at what he wants me to do. I have to think this over. I am a patriot, but I will not do evil acts, even on outsiders. That is what my father would have wanted. I will never work for evil. I hope the emperor knows that." Jamesu looks over at Meiko as they are escorted outside of the palace. He says, "I too want to know what involvement you had with Zando Yokomoto Jr. and why you were in the Union Republic." Meiko says, "I have my reasons. Please don't ask any more." Jamesu looks at his sister with a puzzled look as she looks forward.

by Jesse Nightingale ©2006
creative input by James Breece.

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