LEMON MEGA MIX SIDE STORY
THE LADY AND THE TIGER


Greetings one and all from Zach!  This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic 
for a larger audience and I hope you will enjoy my efforts.  The story is set in 
Hiei and Vegeta's Lemon Mega Mix world that they have created, so I would 
encourage you to read Episodes One and Two of the main story line (found in the 
Sakura Archive under Hiei and Vegeta) so you get the appropriate background.  
Otherwise, you might be confused as to what's going on.

Also, this writing contains scenes of graphic violence, sex, and even profanity 
(gosh!), so if you're under the age of 18 do me a favor and don't read it.  And 
if you are even remotely offended by it don't come complaining me.  You were 
warned.  However, it you just think it sucks, then let me know.  If for some 
bizarre reason you actually like it, then drop me a line at 
zachary_murdock@hotmail.com.  I will appreciate all comments good and bad in an 
effort to improve my writing.

All the characters used in this story that I haven't created are the property of 
their various creators namely SNK, Hiei, and Vegeta.  This is strictly a non-
profit work written only for my amusement.  Midnight Tiger (Steven Chang) and 
Nightshade are my characters and they won't take lightly to being misused by 
other authors without my permission! :) Nuff said.

One final note, my story is a fairly long one that will be broken up over 
several chapters.  Since its plot stands on its own Vegeta set it aside in its 
own section on his WebPage.  All in all there will be at least five parts with 
the possibility for more depending on how long the Lemon Mega Mix lasts and the 
feedback I get.   So with that in mind, here we go! 

EPISODE THREE: A NEW EVIL EMERGES

By Zach

Cheng Seizan, one of Kakugo Jin's recruiters, had set up an information network 
to seek worthy female fighters for his master's tournament.  Centered in a 
warehouse in Hong Kong, the former gangster was his secure in the knowledge that 
he would succeed in gathering the most contestants.  While the other fools 
flitted from one country to another, seeking individuals on their own, he used 
servants to do his footwork for him.  Cheng's network of agents touched every 
major city in the world.  With the Evil Boss' resources behind him it would 
expand further too eventually encompass the Earth and the other realms.

Like a spider in the middle of giant web, he sat patiently behind his desk 
waiting for the next fly, or rather the next player, to be caught.  Around him 
his human servants scurried about gathering information from an array of phones, 
readouts, and computer consoles.  His demonic and other worldly minions lurked 
in the shadows, awaiting his command.  Devilkin, Reapers, and even a Balrog had 
been recruited by him to provide any services the Netherworld had to offer.

Dressed in an elegant yellow and orange Chinese robe, Cheng exulted in his good 
fortune.  Beside him a naked slave girl filled his empty goblet from the crystal 
decanter she carried.  With a smile of satisfaction he drank deeply, savoring 
the tangy sweet taste of the blood and wine mixture.  The drink made his own 
blood boil, so he reached out and pulled the girl next to him.  He began 
fondling her breasts, twisting and pulling the rings that pierced her nipples.  
The slave gasped in pleasure and pain from his torments, but remained still as 
she awaiting his command.  

After a while he tired of this and pushed her head down to his groin.  Setting 
the decanter aside, she reached into his robe to grasp his member and stroke it 
into hardness.  The slave then bent down and began to slowly suck on the end of 
his cock.

Oh yes, life was good.  So far his organizational efforts had rewarded him with 
the location of five beautiful and skilled female fighters.  Of course once his 
network had found them, Cheng himself transported himself to recruit the ladies 
personally.  Except for one, discovering their dearest desires to motivate them 
into joining the tournament had not been difficult.  Yuri however didn't desire 
power and money.  But when she heard that King was participating she jumped at 
the chance to face her.  Apparently some bad feelings had developed between the 
two former teammates and Cheng idly wondered what could have caused it.

His musings were interrupted when the front doors of the warehouse exploded 
inward with a blast of black eldrich energy.  A shapeless blob of pure darkness 
appeared in the doorway and glided into building, undulating and pulsing like 
some living thing.  Stretching nearly thirty feet across, it wasn't solid, 
rather it was the complete absence of anything, a void that absorbed anything it 
touched.  Thick tendrils of the stuff reached outward from it, probing the 
surroundings, as if seeking prey to swallow into the darkness.

No one, demonic or otherwise, had seen anything like this.  Nor had their 
existences prepared them to face the terror or doom the void projected.  Several 
humans screamed in terror and ran, others simply fainted, and the rest stood 
still in shock.  The demons drew back, suddenly afraid despite their 
immortality.  Only the Balrog stood firm, but even he hesitated, unsure of what 
threat this new presence presented.  

Cheng stood up and pushed the slavegirl from him.  She drew back from his 
apparent anger and then saw what come through the doors.  She yelped in fear and 
scurried underneath the desk.  Cheng ignored her and drew upon the infernal 
power Kakugo Jin had given him.

Just as he was prepared to blast the darkness with hellish flame the void 
stopped.  He watched in amazement as it began to shrink, condensing into the 
small form of a young Japanese woman.  She stood there watching him with her 
arms crossed and smirk on her lips.  She was dressed in a skintight black suit 
under a hip length embroidered kimono, which was also in black.  The only color 
was the silver oriental dragon emblazoned across the left side of the garment.  
She wore no jewelry except a silver necklace, again in the shape of a dragon, 
which adorned her neck.  Her jet-black hair was straight and shoulder length and 
hung around her oval face like a cowl.  

The girl smiled, her black eyes shining with evil mischief as she began to walk 
towards Cheng's desk.  He was suddenly aware of how terribly beautiful she was 
glided with uncanny grace across the floor.  She stopped about twenty feet from 
him and reassumed that casual cross-armed stance.  She moved her head around, 
scanning the warehouse and it's occupants, which stood frozen by the spell she 
seemed to have cast on them.

"Not bad, " she said in soft mocking voice, "could use a good interior decorator 
though."

"Who the hell are you?" demanded Cheng, finally finding his voice.

"None of your concern," she replied as she looked back into his eyes.  "I hear 
that you work for the Kakugo Jin.  I want you to take me to his realm."

"Lord Jin sees who he wants too, no one else."

"I would suggest that reevaluate your opinion.  I will not take no for an 
answer."

"You can't just walk in here and make demands!  Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, I do and I'm impressed!" she laughed as she gestured around, "I'm 
surprised that a mere worm like you could accomplish all of this!" 

Cheng stepped back as if slapped.  The insolence of this woman was intolerable!  

"Kelezog!" he shouted at the Balrog, "show this one the folly of her actions!"

The twelve-foot tall monstrosity smiled toothily, spread his great bat wings and 
brandished his weapons.  In the Balrog's right hand he wielded a great, jagged 
sword and in his left coiled a long whip.  With a roar Kelezog charged towards 
the woman, flames blazing from its nostrils.  As the Balrog attacked he whirled 
the whip above his head as he prepared to show this puny morsel the full terror 
a warrior of hell could deliver.

The black dressed woman looked up and grinned.  Kelezog's battlecry was suddenly 
cut off as the void exploded outward and engulfed the demon.  Cheng strained his 
senses trying to figure out what was happening but no light or sound could be 
perceived from the impenetrable blackness.  

Moments passed and then the Balrog's sword shot out of the darkness, spitting 
sparks as clanged against the floor.  The whip came next, followed by pieces of 
the demon's armor.  Then a hand appeared, trailing blood as it flew out and then 
the rest of the arm followed.  Cheng stared in horror as more body parts 
proceeded to be hurled from within the void to be scattered across the interior 
of the building.  The demon champion was being dismembered alive in there!  The 
deluge of gore ended with the Balrog's head landing on Cheng's desk, its 
sightless eyes staring at him in silent agony.  

That was all his remaining servants could stand.  They turned and fled from the 
horror they had witnessed.  Those demons that could teleported, the rest ran, 
flew, or slithered, some crashing through the walls in their haste to get away.  
As they retreated, the void pulsated spastically, as if inwardly laughing at the 
chaos it had caused.  

Cheng decided that it would be a good time to make his exit as well.  He turned 
and ran for the nearest opening only to find him jerked to a halt.  A tendril of 
blackness had shot out of the darkness and had wrapped around his leg.  With a 
jerk it threw him off his feet and began dragging him into the void's embrace.

"NO! NO! NO!" he screamed as he scrambled to find some purchase against the 
relentless pull.  But his efforts were fruitless and soon he was dragged crying 
and begging into the nightmare.  As he passed across the boundary almost all of 
his sensory input ceased.  There was no sight, sound, or smell.  He could no 
longer feel the floor, but the pressure and pain from the tendril was still 
there.  Other than that, only a deep cold remained.  But instead of freezing his 
body it chilled his soul instead as if leaching his vital essence.

Cheng shrieked in silent terror as new pressures began wrapping themselves 
around his other limbs and throat.  He envisioned what had happened to the 
Balrog and struggled with his entire demon aided strength, but darkness' grip 
was incredible.  Slowly it began crushing and choking him and he felt his ribs 
creak as they began to give.  The pain was unbearable and prayed desperately for 
some means of escape, even if it meant his demise.  But the darkness wouldn't 
let him accept death's sweet embrace.  The pressure loosened, allowing him a few 
tortured gasps, before it increased again with greater force.  Thus it seemed to 
continue forever until he heard the woman's quiet ridiculing voice next to him.

"Had enough worm?"  The voice said as he felt her breath kissed his ear.  

"Yes! Please! No more!" Cheng begged.  He still couldn't hear his voice, but 
apparently she could.

"Take me to Jin's home and then I'll release you."  Her mouth was nibbling on 
his earlobe.  Normally Cheng would have enjoyed the sensation, but now it just 
reminded him how close to death he was.

"Yes! Right away!" he said hastily giving in to the woman's demands.  Focusing 
his will he opened a portal to Pandemonium, swiftly taking the two of them 
across the interdimensional space.  Within moments they arrived on to the empty, 
blasted landscape several miles away from his Lord's stronghold.  The woman 
noticed this and was not amused.  

"Why didn't take you take us directly to Kakugo Jin's castle?" she demanded.

"I have been forbidden!  He would destroy me!"

"Too bad, its a shame he won't be able hear you scream," she replied as the 
pressures reapplied themselves.  Worse this time, for it felt like they were 
trying to twist and pull his limbs off.  In desperation he tried to send a 
mental call to his master.  But the pain from the tendrils choking and crushing 
him shattered his concentration.  

Another eternity passed and then, before he lost consciousness, the agonizing 
torture stopped.  The darkness suddenly receded and Cheng found himself dumped 
to the ground.  Groaning, he looked up to see the woman looking down on him with 
an expression of disgust.  

"I supposed it would be a mistake to kill you now," she said in a disappointed 
voice.  "Your death might cause Kakugo Jin to become aware of my presence.  That 
would be inconvenient at this stage.

"On the other hand," she continued cocking her head as if considering the 
problem. "If I leave you alive you could go report to Jin right away.  That 
would be even more inconvenient.  

"But that would be a mistake on your part," she said as the woman bent down, her 
eyes looking into his with a soulless black gaze. "For then you would have to 
admit that you allowed me to enter his realm without his permission.  I doubt he 
is of a forgiving nature and you will most likely kill you for your weakness.  

"I however will not be so lenient," the woman said in a more menacing tone. "If 
I discover you told anyone about this incident, the pain that you have 
experienced so far will be nothing compared to the tortures I will inflict over 
your pitiful soul for the next thousand years!"

Cheng trembled in fear when the woman gave her warning, but when he looked into 
her eyes he thought he go mad with terror at what he saw there.  In those black 
depths he saw a raging evil so ancient that its existence must have predated 
history itself.  Even worse he recognized it.  A dark hungry force that had been 
thought to have been vanquished long ago. 

"Who...who are you?" he stammered.

"The girl, whose body that I possessed was known as Nightshade," she answered 
smiling. "But you Cheng Seizan may recognize who I really am.  I am Nu Long-
Wang."

"The Nightdragon!"

"That's right.  I am the Dragon King of the Night, the Render of Souls and 
Consumer of Worlds."    

"But...but you were destroyed by the sorcerer An Xiang!"  

"Wrong, I was imprisoned by him.  Sealed away in this necklace for over 3,000 
years.  For all those millennia I waited and plotted as my power was slowly 
drained from me.  To be wasted by those mortals who thought use it for their own 
foolish purposes.  But it has become their undoing and I have partially freed 
myself.  Since then I have discovered that Kakugo Jin has the means of fully 
freeing myself and I intend to get it. 

"Now you know who I am and the power I possess," the woman said as her smile 
disappeared to be replaced by an inhuman scowl, "My threat is real.  You will 
keep silent on this matter?  It would be best for both of us if Kakugo Jin never 
knows my presence."

"Yes! Oh yes I will!" 	

"Swear it."

Cheng swore.  Cheng swore such oaths that his soul would be damned if he did not 
comply too the woman's wishes.  Afterwards, she seemed satisfied with his 
sincerity and dismissed him.  Cheng was more than happy to take his leave and 
teleported back to Earth to regroup his forces.  He hoped that he would never 
have the opportunity to encounter the woman again...

After Cheng left, the woman gritted her teeth and fumed.  She should have killed 
the fool for depositing her so far away from Jin's castle.  Time was of the 
essence and she needed no further delays.  She had not lied when she said the 
Nightdragon's power had been slowly drained away.  Now, there was only a 
fraction remaining, quite enough to accomplish her goal, but nothing else.  
Nightshade would have to conserve the power carefully in case she needed it.    

Still, what was done was done and the reasoning made sense, Nu Long-Wang thought 
to herself as she began walking towards the mountains.  At her full power the 
ancient evil could easily best an upstart like Kakugo Jin, but in her weakened 
condition the outcome would be different.  There was no reason to seek a 
confrontation.  In fact, walking in like this would allow her to use 
Nightshade's considerable skills to sneak in and take the brazier without Jin 
noticing. 

While she traveled the entity known as Nu Long-Wang seethed in anticipation 
within its stolen body.  Finally, after all these millennia, it would be freed.  
The Golden Brazier of Xiang, a mystic artifact that Kakugo Jin possessed, was 
the key that would break its prison and release it from its bounds.  Then once 
that was done the Nightdragon would return to Earth to wreak vengeance on Xiang 
and the one that had betrayed it, including their descendents.

Starting with Steven Chang, the demon hunter who called himself Midnight 
Tiger...     

* * * * *

Steven Chang walked up the stone steps of a Buddhist shrine located in the hills 
near the city Nant'ou in the island country of Taiwan.  There within its 
peaceful confines dwelt his old friend and teacher Zhu Feng.  He had been taking 
lessons from the priest for five years, ever since Steven left San Francisco 
when he was nineteen.  His first teacher, Wan Fu, had referred him to Zhu to 
help Steven develop his spiritual abilities.  Now, over year a later, Steven had 
returned to seek help that only Zhu Feng could provide.

At the top of the stairs, under the top of an ornate arch that guarded the 
entrance, he saw a young woman working.  She was sweeping off the autumn leaves 
that had gathered on the steps.  Steven always had a weakness for beautiful 
women and he paused a moment to watch.  She was slender and well built.  Her 
magnificent mane of waist length black hair blew slightly in the breeze as she 
brushed the broom back and forth.  Dressed in slacks and a short sleeve shirt 
she would have looked out of place, yet exuded and aura of calm and serenity 
that seemed appropriate for this place.

As he looked deeper, Steven noticed other things.  Her movements were graceful 
and precise, those of a trained martial artist.  Her lithe form was well 
conditioned and strong.  Her Chi was strong too, it's strength and color denoted 
a potential for great power and ability.  She must be a formidable fighter, he 
thought, I wonder if she is a student of Master Zhu Feng?

Athena Asamiya suddenly looked up, noticing that she was being watched.  
Standing about halfway down the steps was a man.  He was tall and powerfully 
built and looked like he was in his mid twenties.  His features were a mixture 
of Oriental and Caucasian with deeply tanned skin and slanted green eyes.  The 
man's hair was shoulder length and pulled back in a ponytail.  He was wearing 
jeans, leather bomber jacket, and a black "Sisters of Mercy" tee shirt.  Over 
his shoulder was slung an army issue green dufflebag.

Seeing her look up, Steven noted her delicate, Japanese appearance.  Her liquid 
blue eyes watched him with a mixture of curiosity and caution.  An unusual color 
for her apparent heritage, but not totally unheard of.  Nodding in her direction 
he said, "Excuse me miss, is Master Zhu Feng in?"  

<His Mandarin is fluent if accented>, Athena noted as she scrutinized him. Ever 
since her participation in the King of Fighter's tournaments she had made a 
habit of evaluating potential competitors.  A Westerner no doubt, possibly an 
American, but not a soldier.  His hair was too long.  He was polite at least and 
she wondered if he was here to challenge her master. He certainly has strength 
and power.  If his speed and skills were as great he would be a difficult 
opponent to face.  

Still, there was more to someone than their physical prowess, she thought to 
herself as she began to examine his Chi.  Then she gasped and took a step back, 
startled by what she had just seen.

"Are you all right, Miss?" he asked seeing her reaction.

"Yes, I'm fine," replied Athena she said as she regained control of herself.  
His aura was strong and well developed.  He had not ignored the spiritual side 
of his training.  But this was not what had shocked her.  Superimposed over him, 
like a ghostly shadow, was the image of a black and gold tiger.  Somehow a 
powerful spirit had been bonded with this young man; a fact that Zhu would most 
interested in.

"I see if he is taking visitors," she said, curious herself as to who this 
stranger was.  "Who should I say is calling?"

"Please tell him Steven Chang is here to see him," he answered.  His eyes met 
hers she noted a deep sadness that lay underneath his friendly manner. "He'll 
know who I am."

"All right, you can wait in the outer courtyard.  I will return shortly." Athena 
turned and walked quickly into the shrine.  Who was this man and what could be 
his business?  Somehow, this Steven Chang did strike her as worshiper come to 
ask for the priest's blessing.  Yet he said her master would know him.  Perhaps 
Mr. Chang was here to consult Zhu about the priest's more esoteric abilities?  

She located Master Zhu Feng in the main temple, meditating before the great 
statue of Buddha.  He was elderly Chinese man, well into his sixties, yet 
possessed a springiness that denied his years.  He wore the traditional 
garments, which suited his role as a priest.  But it was his mind that truly 
distinguished him.  Like herself, Zhu was a powerful psychic and seer.  His 
powers were great and varied and for this reason she had sought him out to 
become his student.

He of course noted Athena's presence as soon as she entered the room.  She 
explained to him that Steven Chang wanted to see him.  He grinned widely at the 
mention of the young man's name and asked to have sent in right away.  And could 
she bring in some tea please?  Thank you.  Athena told Steven where to find the 
master and then went into the kitchen.  There while she was brewing the potent 
mixture that the master liked she kept her ears and mind opened for the 
conversation in the other room.

"Steven!" Zhu exclaimed.  "It's been over a year!  To what do I owe the honor of 
this occasion?"

"Sufi (teacher)," replied Steven as he bowed to his former instructor.  "I 
apologize for not having visiting you but circumstances prevented me from doing 
so."

"No need, I am glad to see you," Zhu paused as if noting something missing.  
"Where is Ryoko? The last time I saw her you both seemed happy to be together.  
Will she be coming as well?  Don't tell me that old goat Wan Fu succeeded in 
breaking the two of you apart!"

"She...she is why I have come to see you," the young man said, wincing in 
apparent pain from Zhu's question.  "Wan Fu has disappeared and I think he's 
dead, perhaps killed by her."

"This is dreadful! What happened?"

"Ryoko had been possessed by powerful and evil spirit."

"Hmmm, I sense that this will be a long and difficult telling.  Please, sit with 
me and have some tea.  We will talk."

"Thank you, it would be nice to able to relax for once."     

They sat down together as Athena brought out the tea.  Introductions were made 
and the two students eyed each other speculatively as they sipped the brew.  Zhu 
expertly led them into a conversation discussing the variations of Pakura, the 
martial art he taught.  The subject gave Athena and Steven a common topic of 
interest and soon they were debating the merits of different techniques.  

"Steven," Zhu said after seeing the young man was finally relaxed. "I believe it 
is time we heard your story."

Steven nodded and opened his dufflebag.  Reaching in he pulled two objects.  The 
first was a Darn-do, a three-foot long Chinese broadsword suitable for chopping 
and thrusting attacks. The second was a black and gold leather mask in the shape 
of a tiger's head.  Athena leaned forward to examine it.  It bore a similar 
resemblance to the spirit she saw earlier when she examined Steven's aura.  This 
should be interesting, she thought as she sat back to listen to Steven speak.

"Sufi you will know already some of what I'm going to say, but I'll start from 
the beginning for clarity and Athena's understanding.  The sword's name is Ghost 
Cutter and this is the Mask of the Black Tiger.  These items are tools I use in 
the profession that is my legacy.  I am a demon hunter, like my father and his 
father before him.  For generations, stretching back thousands of years since 
the dawn of history my family has protected humanity from enemies from the other 
side.  We stood as guardians at the threshold, beyond which terrible 
supernatural evils plotted to enslave or destroy mankind.  

“To assist us in our duty a pact was formed with a powerful spirit named Gui Hu 
or the Black Tiger.  A portion of the spirit's power was sealed away in the mask 
to be used by the one chosen to wear it.  Wearing it grants the bearer the 
enhanced senses and the strength of the Tiger.  He can sense magical and 
infernal energies and has a fighting chance of defeating the more powerful 
demons in mortal combat.  

“The sword is said to have been the same one used by my ancestor who was the 
father of the family line.  Forged from a fallen star, it holds great magical 
power and is pure death to spirits and demons.  Indeed, it is magic enough that 
it has survived all this time not nicked or scarred.  It is one of my family's 
greatest treasures and is the primary weapon of the one chosen to wear the mask.

“I am that chosen one now, though it is mostly by default.  There is none of my 
family left to take up the task.  So it falls upon me to bear the responsibility 
despite its heavy burden."

"What happened to your relatives?" asked Athena.

"They died, " Steven answered sadly," some by old age and disease, but most by 
murder.  My family has made many enemies, especially among those who worship or 
ally with diabolic forces we fight so hard to destroy.  It was a war that 
resulted in the destruction of both sides.  My family is dead, but most of the 
groups we fought against were destroyed, some by my own hand.

"One such group was the Dragonwatch and their enforcers, the Nightdragon's, the 
servants of the evil spirit Nu Long-Wang.  The Nightdragon's specialized in 
assassinations and worshipped a malignant spirit whom they named themselves 
after.  These cultists drew their power from Nu Long-Wang, making them a force 
to be feared during China's turbulent history.  In modern times they hired 
themselves out to the highest bidder, but often they performed their missions 
under their own secret directive.

"The Nightdragons were similar to my family in that they had formed a pact with 
a powerful spirit.  Also like us, they had sealed part of Nu Long-Wang into an 
object, in this case a silver necklace, to give its wearer power over darkness 
and death.  Their chosen bearer could summon forth a void of pure negative chi 
giving them an incredible advantage in combat.  Anyone in the void is cut off 
from the physical world, almost as if they were in a separate universe ruled by 
the wearer of the necklace.

"The present bearer is a woman known as Nightshade.  Before you ask Sufi, that 
was Ryoko, the one who was with me when I was your student.  Although she had 
been trained by the cult too fulfill a destiny they desired, she abandoned them.  
She rejected the death and evil that prevailed throughout the Nightdragons and 
ran away.  Through the power of the necklace and her own considerable skill she 
became one of the most accomplished cat burglars the world has ever known.  

"I met her three years ago during one her "jobs".  She stole a valuable object 
from a friend and I attempted to get it back.  We fought and Ryoko beat me.  
After I recovered, I tracked her down and she defeated me again.  I then found 
out whom she sold the object too and tried to take it back.  Ryoko then showed 
up and in a sudden switch helped me retrieve it.  

"I don't what exactly she was thinking but after that we started meeting each 
other again and again, sometimes as rivals, but more often as partners.  It 
wasn't long before we were more that just companions either.  We had a grand 
time together and I sorely miss those days.  But it didn't last.  In a way we 
were just too incompatible.  After a while we realized this and departed each 
other's company.  This was shortly after I left Master Zhu Feng's instruction.

"Things were going all right for the both of us.  We were still friends so we 
got together occasionally."  Steven didn't mention that some of the old fire was 
still there.  Those meetings were more just friendly outings.  The sex was good; 
they just couldn't stand each other for more than a few days.  "Anyway, that 
ended when Nightshade's past finally caught up with her."

"The Nightdragons hadn't forgotten her or the destiny they had chosen.  They 
ambushed us about four months ago and took Ryoko.  I was severely injured and 
left for dead.  I don't know what exactly their goal was but I could guess.  I 
think they wanted to draw more power from Nu Long-Wang using Nightshade in some 
mystic ritual.  After I had healed enough, I attempted to find the Nightdragons 
before they succeeded but failed.  By the time I managed to track down their 
location the ritual was already over.

"They didn't complete it though, something had gone wrong.  When I arrived most 
of the assassins were dead.  The remainders were being tortured by Nightshade.  
When I saw her she was no longer the Ryoko I knew, but something terrible and 
evil.  The necklace that held the Nightdragon spirit had cracked allowing some 
of it to escape.  It possessed Nightshade and had turned her into a sadistic 
killer.  I knew that when she was finished with the cultists she would kill me 
as well.

"But she didn't, though she might as well have.  She left after defeating me, 
leaving me severely injured in body and spirit.  I think she spared me so that I 
would suffer in the knowledge of the death and destruction she would cause 
because I failed to save her.  

"But I recovered and sought out Master Wan Fu for advice.  However when I 
reached his dojo in Hong Kong I found it ransacked.   There was blood all over 
the shrine where Wan Fu meditated.  I didn't find any bodies, only signs that a 
fierce struggle had taken place.  Since I have yet to hear from him, I can only 
assume that Master Wan Fu is dead.

"I also think that Nightshade was the one who killed him.  She and Wan Fun never 
got along and I believe the Nightdragon's corruption is making her act out all 
her evil desires.  But Ryoko herself is not responsible for the evil actions if 
there is anything left of the old Ryoko I have to try and save her.  If I could 
somehow seal away the spirit then Ryoko's soul would reassume control.  It 
seemed to be an impossible task but after months of searching I think I've found 
the solution.

"In ancient times their lived a sorcerer named An Xiang.  According to family 
legend it was him who forged the sword and mask for my ancestor.  To do this 
Xiang used a magical artifact of immense power, the Golden Brazier of Xiang.  
Within its fires his greatest magic was born or, if he wished it, consumed into 
nothingness.  I think that the necklace that Nightshade wears was created in a 
similar fashion.  By using the brazier, the necklace can be repaired and Nu 
Long-Wang will be sealed back where it belong."

"So you have to get this brazier, take the necklace from a woman you've never 
beaten, and then repair that necklace utilizing a magical artifact that you 
might not know how to use?" questioned Athena in disbelief.

"That's right."

"Pardon my saying so, but that seems to be one of the most foolish plans I have 
ever heard!"

"I agree with you completely," Steven said shrugging his shoulders, "but I don't 
have any choices in the matter.  But there is also something else to consider.  
I believe that Nu Long-Wang wants to be released into this world.  This would 
require that the necklace be destroyed completely so as too break the seals."

"So that means the Brazier..."

"Yes," said Steven completing her thought, "the Brazier can destroy as well 
create. Nightshade will be looking for the Brazier as well.  Once I find it she 
will come to me.  Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate the Brazier.  It's 
as if it vanished from the face of the Earth!  That is why I come to seeking 
your help Sufi."

"Hmmm, it is well that you decided to consult with me Steven," said Zhu after 
some thought.  "I believe that I know the information you seek."

He paused again before speaking.  Steven waited despite his impatience.  Master 
Zhu Feng liked a captive audience and pushing him would only make him delay 
further.  Still, Steven felt his hope rise.  He had spent the last few months 
frantically searching for the Brazier after he had learned of its existence.  
Going from one source of knowledge to another, often finding that Nightshade had 
been there before him.  Her method of information gathering was rather messy, 
not to mention gruesome, and left him little to go on.  

It was all part of the sick game that she was playing with him where she made 
the rules.  Steven guessed that she was trying to demoralize him further and it 
did have an affect on him.  But, he had been through hell (both literally and 
figuratively) several times in his life and giving up was no longer part of his 
nature.

<But I wish the nightmares would stop>, he thought to himself.

Zhu coughed and Steven brought his attention back to his old teacher.

"Long ago," Zhu Feng began, "there was a war fought between the forces of evil 
for dominance of the Netherworlds.  On one side was Mephisto the ruler of the 
realm of Dyval.  The other was Modeus, ruler of Hades, and his general Kakugo 
Jin.  After a great battle in the dimension of Limbo the two demonlords were 
killed leaving only Kakugo Jin.  The armies of light, which had watched the 
whole affair while gathering their strength, chose that moment to strike.  
However the General could not be defeated and instead was sealed away on the 
realm of Pandemonium with the remnants of the infernal forces.  

"Steven, you said you felt as if the Brazier was no longer on this world.  Your 
instincts were correct.  Among the warriors in the army of light, there was a 
sorcerer whose name has been forgotten.  However, he was a direct descendent of 
An Xiang and had the Brazier in his possession.  With its power he summoned 
spirits from the astral plane to destroy his enemies.  Combined with his magic 
and martial skill he thought he was unbeatable.  He challenged Kakugo Jin to 
battle, confident that he was superior.

"He was wrong and was defeated.  Kakugo Jin took the Brazier as a trophy before 
he was exiled and I can only assume that it's with him to this day.  Getting it 
will be difficult.  Pandemonium is a sealed dimension.  Traveling there is 
impossible."

"Ghost Cutter can pierce the dimensional boundary, or so I've been told." Steven 
answered, his hope rising.  "I'll find a way, now that I know where it is."  

"Steven, even if you somehow managed to crossover you would have to face Kakugo 
Jin and his horde.  None of the warriors of light could defeat him.  A mere 
human, even one with your incredible abilities could not stand against his 
power.  You must find another way to help Ryoko, even if means killing her.

"Sufi, I can't do that!  Even though we no longer love each other I still care 
for Ryoko a great deal." He bowed his head and softly said, "I have to save her.  
I can do no less."

"Despite your feelings you must.  If the Nu Long-Wang were ever..." Zhu suddenly 
paused and cocked his head. "Do you sense that?"         

Athena had found her torn between the two views.  She sympathized with Steven's 
feelings for his former love, but agreed with Master Zhu Feng's realistic 
assessment.  Now, her attention was suddenly focused onto the astral plane where 
she felt a disturbance forming.

"There!" she shouted pointing towards a corner of the temple.  The space began 
to ripple in that area and then point of light appeared.  The light expanded 
outward filling the shrine's interior with otherworldly radiance.  Demonic 
figures appeared and launched themselves out of the portal.  A dozen small red 
and purple-skinned Devilkin armed with short spears spread out to form a 
vanguard.  Three Shadowknights armored in black platemail and wielding two-
handed swords followed them. These floated up to the ceiling as a horned reaper 
with a huge cleaver made its entrance. The heavily muscled demon stepped to one 
side as an ectoplasmic multi-tentacle thing slid in through the gate.

A second portal appeared and the leader of the evil force emerged.  He was human 
in appearance with slicked back brown hair and a sparkling smile. His eyes 
however glowed with infernal fire as he stood confidently and scanned the room's 
occupants.  He appreciated the looks of shock and disbelief that appeared on 
their faces.  Though it was the pastel pink gi that he wore that really threw 
them off.

Dan was quite pleased with himself; his plan was going perfectly!  He had 
followed Cheng's example and had recruited otherworldly allies to assist him.  
Dan would need them because he knew that Athena, the psychic girl, would 
perceive his demonic nature.  She would not likely accept his Lord's kind 
invitation to the tournament.  Overwhelming force was necessary to quickly 
subdue her.  With this many demons on his side, despite her unexpected allies, 
he would capture her easily!    

"That's our target!" Dan shouted as he pointed towards Athena.  "She will be a 
worthy contestant for Lord Kakugo Jin's tournament!  The other two 
must...Aaakk!"  

A teapot flung across the room by Steven suddenly interrupted his speech.  The 
teapot hit with tremendous force and shattered against the karate expert's 
forehead.  Stunned, Dan fell backwards as the hot tea drenched his upper body.  
His demon forces turned to look back at their dazed leader, shrugged their 
equivalent of shoulders, and charged the trio.

Steven had taken the opportunity given by the distraction to put on the mask.  
He felt the power of the Black Tiger flow into him as he and the spirit merged 
into one form.  He was now Midnight Tiger, scourge of demons and those who 
worshipped them.  He gripped Ghostcutter in his right hand as his senses 
expanded outward.  The forces of the universe, the Yin and Yang, swirled around 
him and joined with his own Chi.  What were before ghostly auras were now clear, 
as he perceived the mass of his enemies' Chi and those two powerful spots that 
were his allies.  

Moving with the energies' flow, he slipped past the devilkin and engaged one of 
the Shadowknights.  He beat aside his opponents sword with his own and cleaved 
off its head with one clean blow.  The helmet rolled across the floor as black 
energy spurted from the decapitated body.  It staggered around, flailing with 
its sword.  Midnight Tiger pushed it into a cluster of devilkin and it nearly 
killed one with a wild stroke.

The horned reaper noticed him and raised its head to scream out a battlecry of 
challenge.  It leaped forward and swung down its cleaver in a viscous overhand 
chop.  The demon hunter stepped to one side, barely avoiding being sliced in 
two.  He stiffened the fingers of his left hand into two points and thrust them 
into the demon's eyes.  The horned reaper screamed in pain and clutched his 
wounded orbs, a victim of the Steven's Hand of Dawn maneuver.  Blinded, it was 
unable to defend itself as the martial artist began hacking at it mercilessly.

Midnight Tiger strove to survive, not to win fairly the battles he fought...

Several devilkin, intent on their mission moved forward to capture Athena as the 
remaining Shadowknights threatened Master Zhu Feng.  The old seer positioned his 
hands into the fifth mudra position and began chanting a mantra.  A glowing aura 
of golden energy appeared around him and absorbed the demons initial blows.  
Undaunted, the Shadowknights circled him, searching for a weak point.

One drifted too close and Zhu's hand snapped out to grab it by the throat.  
Changing his chant to a more offensive tone as he hardened his grip, his other 
hand maintained its position to sustain the spirit shield.  The Shadowknight 
began to shake and convulse as mantra intensified.  Pieces of black armor began 
to crumble and drop off.  Finally when the chant reached its climax, the seer 
clenched his fist as the malignant spirit exploded in a scream of black energy.

"PSYCHOBALL!" shouted Athena as she blew apart one of the devilkin with her 
psychic assault.  The rest scattered around her and began harrying her with hit 
and run attacks.  They didn't want to hurt Athena just weaken her to a point 
where a telling blow would incapacitate her.  Athena wouldn't cooperate though.  
She teleported outside their circle and kicked one in the chin.  The thing 
mewled pitifully as it slid across the floor, its jaw broken.  Athena moved her 
arms and posed in a kung fu stance, waiting for their response.

Seeing an opening the devilkin pounced just as Athena hoped.  Snapping her arms 
downward she summoned her psychic energy into a whirling maelstrom of force 
around her.  The effect was like moths hitting a bug zapper.  The smell of burnt 
flesh filled the area, as the little demons bounced off her defense in an 
explosion of sparks.  Wisps of smoke came off them as they writhed in torment on 
the floor.

Rejoicing in her victory, Athena failed to notice that the ectoplasmic horror 
had decided it was time it acted.  Seeing her distracted, the thing formed a 
club out of one pseudopods and clipped her in the temple.  The young woman 
staggered and was unable to block the follow-up punch to her solar plexus.  
Blackness descended over her as she dropped bonelessly to the floor.

Chortling to itself the blob snaked more tentacles across the room to drag the 
unconscious Athena towards it.  If its comrades could just keep the other two 
humans busy long enough, Dan and it could get away with the prize.  With another 
tentacle he shook the man to awareness so he would be ready to create a portal 
to Pandemonium.  Then it would teleport out of this bloodbath before it was 
exorcised or worse.

Despite the tremendous damage Midnight Tiger had dealt to him, the horned reaper 
was still fighting.  Still blinded he charged forward, sweeping his cleaver 
before him in wide arcs.  Steven was forced to jump back several times to avoid 
being run over.  Seeing an opportunity he dived under the weapon and rolled up 
stabbing the demon in its groin.  

Shoving the sword to its hilt, Midnight Tiger twisted the blade and jerked it 
out.  A fountain of blood and gore erupted out of the wound as the reaper reeled 
in agony.  Steven rolled to his feet and slashed backward.  The blow split the 
demon's spine and it collapsed, cracking the floorboards.  Before the monster 
could pull itself up the martial artist stabbed downward with Ghostcutter, 
piercing it through heart.  The reaper spasmed for a few moments and then died, 
permanently.  No immortal could resurrect itself from being killed by this 
blade.  Freeing his sword, Midnight Tiger then whirled around seeking other 
opponents.

"Oh shit!" he cursed seeing the limp form of Athena being carried into a portal 
by Dan. Before he could intervene the remaining devilkin flung themselves at 
him.  Steven cut his way through them, turning aside their attacks and moving so 
that they got in each other's way.  He grabbed one by the arm and used him to 
block his comrades spear thrusts.  The little demon made a poor shield kicking 
and screaming like that, so Midnight Tiger threw him into another one.  He 
cleaved a spear in two and the head beneath it.  Pulling his sword free, he 
kicked a devilkin whom had decided to chew his leg off.

"Steven!" shouted Zhu still engaged with the last Shadowknight,  "The portal!"

The gate was rapidly shrinking like a door swinging shut.  Acting on instinct, 
Steven hurled his blade at the opening.  Ghostcutter spun end over end through 
air and sailed in point first just as the portal closed around it.  It hung 
there, suspended in midair with only half the blade visible as if stuck in an 
invisible post.  Where the blade disappeared ghostly green foam formed and run 
down the sword to drip onto the floor.  There the ectoplasm dissipated, 
vanishing in green smoke.

Even unarmed Midnight Tiger was more than a match for the remaining demons.  
With quick powerful blows he dispatched the devilkin remnants. Seeing the only 
remaining opponent, he ran over to Shadowknight.  Dodging the armored figure's 
sword strike, Steven grabbed its arm and twisted it around.  Slipping behind it, 
he snaked his arm under the knight's and gripped its neck.  Thus immobilized it 
was easy for the priest to banish it. 

The fight was over; the dead demons were dissipating into wisps of greenish 
black smoke.  Those few that survived fled through a gate that the pink dressed 
man had created.  Master Zhu Feng was unharmed and Midnight Tiger was already 
mending the minor wounds he received using the Chiatsu healing technique that 
Zhu himself had taught him.  There was little time though, he was unsure of how 
long the sword would hold the portal open.  Deciding that it would be foolish to 
run into trouble unprepared, Midnight Tiger ran over to his duffel bag.  He 
dumped out its contents and began stripping off his bloody clothing.  

Zhu watched apprehensive but curious as the young martial artist began dressing 
himself.  Down to his underwear, Steven a put on what appeared to be a black 
bulletproof vest and groin protector.  The old priest's eyes widened when the 
demon hunter put on a harness with a shoulder holster, but said nothing. Over 
that he wore a black gi trimmed in gold with a snarling tiger emblazoned across 
its back.  Finger-less gloves and bracers went over his hands and wrists and on 
his feet pulled some unusual looking combat boots.

"Steven, did you hear what that man said?" Zhu asked as his former student 
continued arming himself. 

"Yeah, I heard...Kakugo Jin," he replied.  He picked up Ghostcutter's scabbard 
and looped it over his back.  He then began pick various weapons and placed them 
conceal areas on his body.  In the holster he put .50 caliber Desert Eagle.  On 
the other side he balanced it out with three spare clips and two grenades. 
Around his waist under a gold sash was a steel chain with weights on each end.   
Then he checked down the sides of the open front of his gi to make sure the 
throwing stars there were secure.  Finally he strapped a trench knife to the 
inside of his right boot.  

Zhu wondered how his former student managed to get all that weaponry through 
customs.  Taiwan had very strict laws on the matter.  Still, he knew that Steven 
had many secrets about his past, which he did not elaborate.  He watched as 
Steven folded over the top part of the now half empty duffel bag and strapped it 
down.  Picking it up he slung it over his shoulders like a backpack, making sure 
that the scabbard wasn't impaired.  

"You seem well equipped," quipped Zhu.

"I like being prepared."

"You are going after them then?"

"Yes I am.  This can be no mere coincidence.  Those demons work for Kakugo Jin 
and he has what I want.  I don't know what's going on, but I'm going through 
there and I'll get the Brazier."  Seeing Zhu's troubled expression he continued.  
"Don't worry, I'll find Athena and get her back if she doesn't do it herself.  I 
might even see if I could cause some trouble too.  After all that's what a 
demonhunter does, thwarting diabolic plots and all that."

"I will see what I can do here.  There are some others that I must consult with.  
They might have knowledge that will vital if you are too succeed.  We will send 
help as soon we can if possible."  Master Zhu Feng bowed to Steven and then 
reached to grip his hand in western fashion.  

"Good luck Steven.  May the fates smile upon you."

"Thanks Sufi, I'll need all the help I can get."

Turning around, he walked over to where Ghostcutter hung in midair.  Grasping 
the hilt and hoping he knew what he was doing he slashed downward.  The space 
parted like some great wound and the light reappeared.  Stepping through before 
it closed, Steven Chang found himself hurled through space and time.

* * * * *

Athena dreamed...

In her dream she was fighting a battle against a demonic horde.  Beside her were 
Steven Chang, Masters Chin Gentsai and Zhu Feng, her teammate Sie Gentsai, Yuri, 
Mai, Blue Mary, and others she didn't recognize.  They were steadily carving a 
path through the swarm to its center where the demonlord stood, his huge No-
Daishi ready and waiting for blood.

Steven leapt forward and engaged the demon.  There was a spray of sparks as 
Ghost Cutter and the demon blade clashed against each other.  The demonhunter 
was shoved away and then barely avoided being cleaved in two.  As it was a 
stream of red began pouring down his left arm.  Undaunted, he renewed his attack 
and a flurry of blows was exchanged.  

The battle raged on as the two opponents fought.  Then Steven penetrated his 
foe's guard and scored a deep wound in his demonlord's leg.  With a roar of pain 
and anger the demon summoned a vortex of black eldrich energy from his sword and 
launched it at the demonhunter.  Steven stood his ground and held up Ghost 
Cutter in a two handed grip to block the blast.

At first it seemed as if he was holding, the crackling forces impacted the blade 
and split around it, leaving Steven untouched.  But then his wounded arm 
trembled and collapsed.  His defense was shattered and the demonhunter was hit 
with the full furry of the attack.   Steven was hurled backward, tumbling across 
the ground.  The demonlord was quick to take advantage of his opponent's stunned 
condition.  He leapt high in the air and came down for the killing strike.

Before he hit a great shadow appeared over the area, blocking out the light of 
the three suns.  Athena looked up to see a huge void shaped in likeness of a 
dragon looming overhead.  She felt the awesome terror it radiated as it opened 
wide its great maul.  The reincarnated goddess screamed as the black dragon 
plunged downward, engulfing the entire battlefield in its cold darkness.

And then there was nothing...   

Athena woke with a start, the memory of the dream still fresh in her mind.  Her 
legacy had given her many powers including that precognition.  During the last 
year she would sometimes receive visions of future in her dreams that could 
eventually come true.  Most were mere possibilities of future events, others 
though were immutable and would happen as she saw it.  The problem was telling 
the difference.

That is why after she completed high school she moved to Taiwan.  Athena's old 
teacher, Chin Gentsai, referred her Zhu Feng, a noted psychic and seer.  With 
his guidance she was more able to understand and interpret her visions.

Athena was confident that the demonlord she saw could only be the Kakugo Jin 
that Zhu had spoke of.  There would be a showdown with him in the future, but 
whether it would be Steven that fought him or someone else she couldn't say.  
But if he did fight Jin alone, she was certain that the demonhunter would be 
destroyed.

That left the dragon and Athena also knew that it must be the Nightdragon from 
Steven's tale.  But now that she saw it she realized she knew its other names as 
well.  It was also known as Tiamat, the Mithgard Serpent, the Great Beast, or 
simply the Wyrm.  Many cultures shared a common myth of great serpent that 
sought to devour the Earth.  She shuddered at the thought of it being released 
into the world.

<Or worlds>, Athena thought as she began to get her bearings.  She was laying on 
a cold rough surface.  Glancing around she saw a blasted wasteland that 
stretched to the horizon.  Despite the three suns that blazed overhead the air 
was chill as a bitterly cold wind blew across the land.  To other senses the 
place looked worse.  The land was almost completely devoid of life, as if 
someone had tried to sterilize the area with a great fire.  Even without the 
multiple suns overhead she knew that she was no longer on Earth.

Then Athena felt an immense source of negative Chi behind her only twenty feet 
away.  Leaping to her feet she spun around to face the threat.  Athena gasped in 
astonishment at the sight of the ebon skinned demon standing there regarding her 
calmly.  She didn't need to be told who this was; she recognized the demonlord 
from her dream.

"Kakugo Jin," she said as she conjured her fighting costume and placed her body 
in a ready stance.

"Greetings Athena Asamiya, " Jin said bowing graciously.  "It is an honor and 
pleasure to meet you.  Welcome to my world."

Athena didn't reply.   She began focusing her psychic power in preparation for 
an all out assault.  It was her sacred duty to destroy evil wherever it may be 
found.  Though she was sure she would die in the attempt, she would not hesitate 
in the presence of such corruption.

"There is no need," Jin said as he held up a hand to forestall her attack. "Your 
death is not what I seek.  I have an offer to make you."

"I will not deal with the likes of you!"

"Please, hear me out," he replied.  He then went on to explain about his 
tournament, its rules, and the prize.  As he spoke, Athena began to have a 
feeling of dread forming in her gut.  Something about what Jin was saying, her 
dream, and what Steven had told her were combining together into a disturbing 
premonition.

"Did a woman calling herself Nightshade join your tournament?" she asked hoping 
his answer would be the one she wanted to hear.

"To my knowledge no one named that has," Jin answered somewhat curious.  "Who is 
she?"

"Do you have in your possession the Golden Brazier of An Xiang?" Athena 
inquired, ignoring the demonlord's question.  She tried not to breathe a sigh of 
relief, not wanting to give Jin any sign of what she was thinking.

"Yes I do," Jin replied. "If you enter my tournament and win I will gladly give 
it to you as your prize."

Athena bowed her head, contemplating what she must do.  If this demon was 
telling the truth, Nightshade was not here.  But that didn't mean she might show 
up in the future and join the tournament.  If Nightshade were as powerful as she 
feared, she would be able to win the contest and claim the artifact as her 
prize.  Then all would be lost.  There was now only one way Athena could see 
that might prevent it.      

"I will join your tournament," she said quietly.

"Excellent," Jin replied, though he was still curious of Athena's knowledge of 
the Brazier and whoever this Nightshade was.  But he didn't really care what 
motivated her as long as she was in the contest.  Athena, being a reincarnation 
of a goddess, would bear watching.  He had hopes that the young woman would 
survive and make it to the finals.   

Though she had tried to hide it, Jin sensed Athena was relieved when she heard 
that Nightshade was not in the tournament.  This might be worth investigating.  
If the woman was powerful enough to worry Athena then she might also prove to be 
a worthy candidate.  He would have to command his minions to be on the lookout 
for her.

Time for that later, there were still more contestants to greet and to set on 
their path.  There was also the strange occurrence of a gate opening, but no one 
being there when he arrived.  Jin had a feeling that something unwanted had 
entered his realm and he did not ignore his instincts.  

Stepping through his own gate, the demonlord left, leaving Athena alone starring 
at the line of black mountains.  
 
* * * * *

Yuri Sakazaki strode across the blasted marches of realm of Pandemonium steadily 
making her way to her goal, the black mountains beyond which was Kakugo Jin's 
castle.  Cold wind blew across the plains as she hugged herself in an effort to 
keep warm.  Her normal costume, consisting of only the top half of a white gi, 
blue leotard pants and top, and red sneakers, did little to keep out the chill.  
She flipped a few brown tresses out of her eyes and readjusted her red headband.  
Yuri was glad she had kept her waist length hair tied in a loose braid or it 
would be flying all over the place.  

She belatedly wondered how in the hell she had gotten into this mess.  
Yesterday, after she had finished her workout at the gym, Cheng Seizan had 
approached with an offer.  She was invited to a tournament, an all female one, 
and it would honor the sponsor greatly is she attended.  Yuri really wasn't in 
the mood.  While she welcomed a chance to prove to herself how skilled she had 
become, Yuri was still recovering from her breakup with Garcia.  

"I can't believe that bastard cheated on me!" she cursed into the emptiness. The 
pain of the Garcia's betrayal was bad enough, but what really made it worse was 
that it was King whom Garcia slept with.  King, her former teammate and teacher, 
was one of the few people she had looked up to in admiration and respect.  

"All's fair in love and war, kitten.  You should know that," King had said to 
her later.  

Yuri cursed again and stopped, her mind filling with the bitter memories.  She 
clenched her hand into fist and tensed the arm.  The muscles along it pumped up 
and became clearly defined.  The combined betrayal of Garcia and King had almost 
too much for her.  She had almost...but no, she was strong now.  Powerful enough 
that she didn't need anyone!  

“No one is going to take advantage of me ever again!”

When Cheng had mentioned that King would be participating in the tournament, 
Yuri knew her course was clear.  It had been the older woman's fault that this 
had happened.  She seduced Garcia knowing that Yuri and him were in love.  King 
turned her boyfriend's heart away from her and took it for herself, the bitch!  
She was just a damn gold digger wanting a part of Garcia's inheritance.  Yuri 
would join the tournament, track down her former teammate, and challenge her.  
When she defeated King she could finally end the pain that tortured her soul.

Yuri held her pose for several seconds, her entire form rigid with anger.  Then, 
with long slow sigh she let it go.  She released her tension from her and 
relaxed.  That was better.  She had a lot of pent-up emotions in her that she 
had to keep in check.  She had too keep her focus constant if she was to have 
any hope of defeating King and winning the tournament.

The tournament, thinking about brought her back to the reality that she found 
herself in.  Cheng had promised Yuri her greatest wish if she won the contest.  
She thought the idea was ludicrous until she found herself in this other place.  
The demon that met her here, Kakugo Jin, had told her what she had to do.  
Afterwards he vanished leaving her alone on this blasted landscape.

She only hoped that King was freezing as much as she was.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed that the air was suddenly growing 
warmer.  Looking down she saw wisps of steam rising from little fissures that 
were appearing in the ground.  The ground began to tremble around her and the 
cracks began to widen releasing more steam.  

Yuri cursed and began running.  Just what she needed!  A damn volcano was 
forming underneath her!  Before she could move more than a dozen paces a spire 
exploded out of the ground in front of her.  The black rock thrust itself upward 
until its tip reached thirty feet in height.  As Yuri spun around other spires 
shot up ward around her as well.  Before she could react she found herself 
trapped in a circle of rock.

"What's going on here!?" she shouted as she tried to remain standing.  The 
trembling increased to its zenith as two final columns appeared side by side in 
the center of the circle.  Then the shaking ceased and the air became cloudy 
with mist.  

Yuri looked around frantically, her lithe body moving into a ready stance.  
Could she get out?  That would be a pretty impressive jump to get over that 
wall.  

A chorus of mocking laughter from in between the columns caught her attention.  
The mist was thick there and she peered intently to try and make out the source 
of the sound.  Something was forming in there, she thought as she spotted 
shadows of movement appearing in the mist.  

Then suddenly a tendril of gray flesh shot out of the mist towards her.  It was 
over an inch thick and at its end was a curved head complete with a solitary eye 
and a mouth full of tiny feelers.  About eight inches down two arms sprouted out 
the trunk with little clawed hands on the ends.

Yuri yelped in surprise as she dodged out of the tentacle's path.  It looped 
around, guided by the head, and came back at her.  She ducked and struck back, 
chopping down on the limb as it shot past her.  The edge of her hand impacted it 
with a solid "crack!" and it fell limp on the ground.

Before she could rejoice in her victory, seven more tentacles hurled themselves 
at her.  Yuri dodged and blocked as best she could but she couldn't defend 
against them all.  The limb's color blended perfectly with the mist and they 
attacked her from all directions.  Taking a chance, she summoning her Ki. 

"KA-OH KEN!" she shouted as she threw a fireball into the area where they 
originated.  

"Yes!" she exulted as a roar of pain filled the circle as her attack detonated 
against something solid. Then she gasped in shock.  The resulting explosion 
cleared away some of the fog and she stared in horror at what it revealed.

It looked like a giant floating slug with a dozen limbs hanging down from 
underneath it.  Like its limbs, the main body was grayish white giving it an 
effective camouflage in the cloud of steam it generated.  Tubes ran down its 
back, which pulsated as it breathed, blowing out mist with every exhalation.  It 
had an enormous beak and a single monstrous eye that leered at her as it held up 
a charred tentacle, the victim of her fireball.

"Ouch," the burnt member's mouth spoke, "that hurt!"

"We can't let this mere human treat us like that!" shouted another one, 
somewhere over to her left.

"I'm hungry, when do we eat?" questioned a voice to her right.  .

"We have to catch her first!" replied a tentacle from above her.

"She looks tasty enough," commented one behind Yuri.

"Save some for me!" exclaimed another.  Oh hell! They were all around her!

"Ouch..."

"LET'S GET HER!"  

"Oh shit!  What are you?" shouted Yuri as she threw another fireball.  This time 
the thing was ready and it shifted to the side, dodging her attack.  Seeing an 
opening the tentacles charged at her and suddenly she found herself on a 
desperate defensive.  The injured one hung back regenerating while the others 
penetrated her guard and wrapped themselves around her limbs and body.

Yuri fought back, one her strong arms ripping itself free from the tentacle's 
grip.  She smashed one of heads, stunning with a right cross, liberating her 
other arm.  Yuri then gripped one of the limbs, which had snaked itself around 
her waist, and tried to pry it loose.  Before she could accomplish that more of 
the seemingly numberless appendages clutched her arms and pulled them apart.

"She's feisty!"

"Just the way I like it!"

"Pull her in!"

"Ouch..."

"HEAVE HO!"

With one coordinated pull the tentacles jerked Yuri off her feet.  She found her 
suspended upside down as she was hauled towards the main mass of the monster.  
She struggled valiantly but could no longer get the leverage to free herself.  
The limbs stopped her in front of the slug like body still hanging in between 
the two central spires.  Forcing her into a spread eagle position, they placed 
her hands and feet against the columns on either side of her.  The rock rippled 
and pulsated.  Like melting wax it began to flow over her limbs and solidified, 
entrapping them in the rock.  It was warm, but not hot, and it bound in an 
inescapable grip.

The main mass floated closer and Yuri found herself staring in its huge eye.  
Images started flooding in her brain and she suddenly understood what was going 
on.  These rocks used to be a temple dedicated some forgotten gods that the 
inhabitants of this world worshipped long ago.  The pillars were used to secure 
the sacrifices that the people gave to their deities.  It was then abandoned 
when Kakugo Jin and his hoard showed up.  This demon and its brood had moved in 
and made their home.  

The tentacles were its children and they were hungry!  It thanked Yuri for her 
sacrifice and in return it would make the experience more pleasant.  The images 
changed and she felt a fire that seemed to grow in her groin and then radiate 
outward.  Her entire body tingled and she began panting at the onslaught of the 
sensations.

The tentacles, seeing that their prey was ready, began stripping Yuri of her 
clothing.  Using their claws, they ripped her gi off so that it fell to the 
ground.  Tearing little holes in the leotard they slipped underneath it and slid 
across her smooth skin.  Yuri moaned as they entwined themselves around her body 
and then pulled outward, ripping the thin fabric with ease.  

As the broodlings gained more access to her skin, they began sliding their 
mouths up down her arms and legs.  The cilia felt like a thousand little tongues 
that tickled and teased Yuri's sensitive flesh.  She couldn't help but groan at 
the sensations she was receiving; she had never experienced anything like this.

"Oh please...stop," she begged but the tentacles only laughed at her.  Again she 
tried to pull her limbs free but the rock bindings held her fast.  Even worse 
the tension from her struggles was making her even hotter, despite her disgust.

"Hey baby, " whispered one next to her ear.  "You want it bad don't you?  Don't 
worry we are here to please!"

The limbs slowly made their way inward towards Yuri's more intimate areas.  Some 
caressed her inner thighs and arms as others kissed their way up her sides.  
Reaching her chest two tentacles ripped away her bra to reveal her pert round 
breasts.  Encircling them, the broodlings began massaging and squeezing causing 
Yuri to moan even more.

Her ass was receiving similar treatment as the broodlings there began their 
ministrations.  They used their mouths to great effect, making her buttocks 
spasm as they ran the little cilia over them.  Not to be out done the ones at 
her breasts latched on her to her nipples.  Yuri gasped in pleasure as the 
tentacles sucked and tickled them into rocklike hardness.

"See?" continued the tentacle at her ear.  "Your body wants it.  You're 
practically dripping already!"

As if to prove its point the broodling moved between her legs and began rubbing 
her pussy through her panties.  The thin cloth was stained dark from her juices 
and made squishing sounds as it moved across her clit and lips.  The young 
martial artist's body shuddered as the overwhelming sensations raced through 
her.  The pleasure was intense and demanding that Yuri could not help but to 
give in to it.

Yuri screamed as her first orgasm overwhelmed her...  

* * * * *

"What the hell was that?" questioned Midnight Tiger as he walked through the 
mist.  His trip through the portal had deposited him on a broken landscape with 
no sign of Athena or the pink dressed man that took her.  Setting his sights on 
a distant line of mountains he began walking.  It was the only significant land 
feature around here and he found no other clues.  Soon afterward a thick mist 
appeared out of nowhere and had engulfed the demon hunter, leaving him 
hopelessly lost.

Then he heard the woman's scream.  Was it Athena?  He couldn't tell but it gave 
him a direction.  As he ran, cursing as he stumbled across unseen rocks, the 
noise began to become more distinct, yet softer, as if the person was loosing 
their strength to yell.  Midnight Tiger pushed himself further, running at a 
full sprint.  More than once he fell, but each time got up and kept going.  Hold 
on, he prayed to the unseen woman, I'm almost there!

He could only hope he would make it in time.

* * * * *

Yuri shuddered and tried to catch her breath as the tentacle rubbing her panties 
finally stopped.  But her relief was short lived as the cloth was torn away to 
expose her completely.  A new limb opened its orifice wide as it began lick up 
her juices.  Another tentacle shoved it aside so it could stab deeply into her 
cunt.  Undaunted the other moved up to suck on her clit.

Another moan escaped her lips as her body began moving on its own, trying to 
move downward to meet the tentacle's thrusts.  She felt another orgasm build and 
this time she tried to hold herself back.  After to first one she felt much 
weaker and she was afraid the things were sucking the life out of her.  

Yuri realized how useless it was when another tentacle invaded her pussy.  The 
two began moving so that one was thrusting inward as the other withdrew.  After 
a few minutes of this intense fucking, Yuri's will broke.  She screamed again as 
the tide of pleasure washed over her and picked her up to smash her down again.  
Relentless, the broodling increased the speed of their tempo savagely stabbing 
in and out.  Yuri felt the tide rise again and again as she came, the sensations 
bringing ecstasy but washing away her remaining strength. 

The girl now hung limp between the two columns, moaning and twitching feebly as 
the slug and its brood drained her fading life energy.  Other tentacles joined 
their brethren fucking her pussy and she groaned in pain and pleasure as her 
cunt was stretched to its limits.  A lone appendage, having been pushed out of 
her pussy by the others, wormed its way into her asshole.  The fluids from her 
dripping cunt gave it the lubrication it needed to invade the tight orifice.  

The ones at her breasts pushed her tits together so that a third limb could 
thrust back and forth between them, its mouth dancing with Yuri's tongue.  Four 
others had each claimed a limb for their own and were busily caressing her arms, 
thighs, and buttocks.  Finally, a lone tentacle had wrapped around her waist and 
groin to continue to suck on her exposed clit.

The young woman shuddered once again as another series of orgasms raged through 
her.  Afterwards, she was totally exhausted and felt herself slipping into 
unconsciousness.  Though the pleasure was incredible she knew the things were 
killing her, but she had no strength left to fight.  It was funny in a way.  
Yuri had joined this tournament to prove that she was strong enough, that she 
could stand on her own.  Now it looked as if her first battle would be her 
last...

* * * * *

A circle of black columns appeared out of mist and Midnight Tiger realized that 
the screams, no longer audible, were coming from there.  Seeing no entrance, he 
continued running forward.  When he was about fifty feet away, Steven flipped 
the quick release straps on his pack and freed himself from its weight.  Still 
running, he focused his entire Chi and what he could gather around him into the 
palm of his right hand.  Sparks trailed outward as the air became ionized from 
the intense energy being gathered.  Then, when the timing was right, he launched 
himself at a pillar with his palm leading.

"HEAVEN'S FURY REVEALED!" he shouted as his hand slammed into the pillar with 
all of the force his body could put behind it.  At the same time he released the 
Chi energy which exploded into rock like a shaped charge.  The spire shuddered 
and blew up in a shower of fragments.  Maintaining his momentum, Steven dived 
through the falling derbies and rolled to his feet.  Quickly scanning the area, 
he was unprepared for the sight that greeted him.

<Holy Shit! What is that thing doing to her?>

Midnight Tiger quickly recovered from his shock and acted. In fractions of a 
second he drew and threw six throwing stars at the monster.  The blades flew 
true and a half dozen tentacles were severed, screaming as they flopped onto the 
ground.  The floating slug spun around to see what had killed its children.  
Spotting Steven, it blew out another cloud of mist that covered the area.  Thus 
hidden it moved silently over to the side and hurled its remaining children at 
the martial artist.

But Steven wasn't blinded, not completely.  The mask and his mystic training 
gave him other senses he could rely on.  Though the currents of Chi were weak in 
this area, he could sense their flow as they moved around the spires.  He heard 
the song of the wind and the hidden mass that moved through it.  With the wind 
came the scents it carried, sex, blood, and death.

Drawing Ghostcutter in his right hand, Midnight Tiger hacked at the broodlings 
as they charged him out of the fog.  Running towards their origin he attacked 
any appendage that came near him.  Steven leaped forward and slashed backward 
with his sword opening a great gash in the thing's side.  Spinning around he was 
preparing to attack again when he was staggered by a mental assault.

Images flooded Steven's brain, vivid reflections of memories of his life.  There 
weren't happy recollections but the worst times.  Those events in his life, 
which shook him, broke him, and ultimately shaped him to be what he was today.

He was in a restaurant in San Francisco where he as a young child of twelve sat 
laughing with his parents.  Then the Golden Serpents showed up and began 
spraying down the place with machine-gun fire.  His father had been cut down in 
front of his eyes as his mother huddled herself over him.  He could feel the 
jolts of the bullets as they impacted into her body...

Two years later his guardian and teacher Wan Fu took him out into the wilderness 
and abandoned him.  Survive or die Steven, Wan Fu had said when he left.  He 
didn't return until three weeks later...

Back in San Francisco when he had his next encounter with Golden Serpents.  He 
was nineteen and full of youthful overconfidence.  But they were ready for him 
this time.  They had learned from their last mistake and armed themselves with 
heavy weapons.  He won but had to drag his bleeding and broken body out of the 
flame engulfed warehouse...

Him standing over the body of Jennifer, his first love.  He had foolishly 
accepted her help in destroying the Golden Serpents and now she had paid the 
price.  The Tong had come for Steven.  When they couldn't find him they tortured 
and killed Jennifer instead.  Fifty-seven Golden Serpents died that night...

Defeated by Nightshade, he had been unable to overcome her power of the void.  
Steven lay on his back at the edge of roof of the twenty-story building where 
they fought.  Nightshade stood over him with that soon to be familiar smirk on 
her lips.  Her foot was resting on his chest and he knew that she was 
contemplating whether to send him over the ledge...

He had arrived too late.  The room was covered with blood.  The Nightdragon 
assassins had been killed by their own creation.  Nightshade stood in the 
center, savagely fucking the two remaining female cultists with tendrils of 
black energy.  Seeing him, she smiled evilly and engulfed him in her darkness...

At first Yuri didn't realize what was happening.  She had felt herself blacking 
when all of a sudden she heard an explosion.  Then a wave of warmth washed over 
her and she suddenly felt stronger.  It was as if her body had sucked up the 
incoming energy in an effort to replace what had been taken.  The tentacles 
fucking her suddenly left leaving her alone.

Lifting her head she saw a fight taking place in the mist.  On one side was the 
floating slug and its children. On the other was a black dressed warrior wearing 
a Tiger Mask and wielding a sword.  Looks like I won't be dying after all, she 
thought.  Then the man doubled over and clutched his head as if in great pain.  
His sword dropped to the ground and he collapsed to his knees.  The monster 
floated closer opening wide its sharp beak.  Oh no!  Frantically, Yuri began 
searching for a way to free her herself.

She tried to pull her limbs out of the rock bindings with no success.  They were 
simply too strong.  As she looked around for some other means of escape 
something caught her eye.  On the column to her right, she spotted a set of 
small obtrusions set in a star pattern about four feet below her.  

Maybe they're some sort of control panel, she reasoned, but I can't reach them 
trapped like this!

An idea came to her.  She couldn't manipulate the stone buttons with her hands 
but she could move them with her mind.  Yuri closed her eyes and began to 
concentrate.  Using a similar technique as her Ka-Oh Ken fireball, she focused 
her Ki within her.  Once she was ready, she opened her eyes and projected the 
energy towards one of the stones.

It quivered a bit and pushed inward, but nothing happened.

Yuri cursed and tried again on a different one.  This time she was rewarded.  
The stone around her arms and legs melted and flowed back into the rock.  
Falling downward, she landed with her hands and flipped her self upright.  
Breaking into a run she charged the demon, but quickly realized she wouldn't get 
there in time to keep it from killing her would be rescuer.

"Look out!" she shouted.   

Yuri's warning brought Steven back to reality.  Through the flitting images he 
could see the thing's beak about to bite his head off.  Jerking his head back, 
the sharp bill closed on empty air with a crack!  Steven picked up his sword and 
thrust forward into the monster, plunging the blade deep into the eye.  It 
screamed in agony and hurled itself backward, pulling the weapon from Midnight 
Tiger's hand. 

One of remaining tentacles sneaked around behind Steven and wrapped around his 
neck.  Still dazed by the psychic attack he was unprepared as it jerked him 
backward off his feet.  Another one dived inward, intent on plunging into his 
abdomen, but Steven caught it with both hands.  It thrashed about as the 
tentacle around his neck began to choke him.  Straining his neck muscles to 
prevent his throat being crushed, he struggled with other demon brood.

<This is not good>, Midnight Tiger thought to himself as he saw the one 
remaining approached, readying itself to help its brethren tear him to pieces.  
Letting go with one hand, he reached down pulled his trench knife from its boot 
scabbard.  Reversing the blade, her plunged it into the broodlings head.  

The razor sharp knife penetrated its skull and pierced its little brain.  The 
demon spasmed and died as Midnight Tiger grabbed the one still choking him.  
Using the knife he sawed through it and hurled the bleeding stump away from him.  
He then rolled to his feet but was then momentarily distracted as the naked girl 
leap forward to engage the enemy.

Finally reaching the fight, Yuri launched herself at the demon broodmother.  
Spinning her body, she screamed a fierce Kiah shout.  The impact of her jump 
kick staggered the monster backward.  The young martial artist quickly followed 
with a rapid series of punches and kicks that buried themselves into its soft 
hide.  

Reacting to this new attack, the tentacle that was about to kill Midnight Tiger 
charged Yuri instead.  She tried to block its thrust, but remained intent on her 
offensive.  The girl winced in pain as it gouged a deep tear along her side.  As 
the tentacle looped around Yuri braced herself for another strike, still focused 
on the demon mother.  But before it could hit her, a throwing star impaled the 
broodling and sent it convulsing to the ground.  

Now unhindered, Yuri continued her attack.  The wound hurt, but the pain just 
made her more angry.  King and Garcia's betrayal, this stupid tournament, and 
all that she had suffered since were too much.  This thing is going to die for 
what it had done to me! 

Yuri's anger opened a door deep within her core and the power flowed outward.  
Whirls of golden energy swirled around her.  Acting on some primal urge, focused 
all that energy into her fist and struck upward in a jumping uppercut.  

"HA-OH SHOUKOU KEN!" she shouted as her hand penetrated into the demon's flesh. 
The power discharged and Chi fire raced through the bloated form as insides were 
ruptured by the energy.  Gouts of gold flame sprouted along monster as the power 
burst from within it.

As the fire ran across the demon's body it encountered Ghostcutter still impaled 
in the monster's eye.  The sword flared bright blue as its energies mixed with 
Yuri's.  The combined power exploded outward, engulfing the demon, and shooting 
upward in a scintillating column of gold and blue flame.  For a fraction of a 
second, the line of light bisected the heavens, then faded away.  There was a 
clang as Ghostcutter dropped to the ground and then there was only silence.  Of 
the demon, there was no sign, except the faint lingering smell of burnt flesh.    

Wounded, but victorious, the two warriors turned to face each other across the 
battlefield.  At that moment Steven never saw a woman so magnificent as Yuri.  
Splattered by the blood of her enemy, she stood proud and unbroken.  A glowing 
golden nimbus surrounded her naked glory as the power she had summoned faded 
back in her.  She stared at him directly in the eyes with her vivid brown ones 
as if to acknowledge their mutual victory.

Unfortunately, the scene was totally ruined when Yuri felt the combined stress 
of exhaustion and blood loss suddenly hit her.  Her eyes rolled backward and she 
collapsed to the ground unmoving.

"Oh hell," cursed Steven as he rushed over to her.
   
* * * * *

Several miles away the possessed Nightshade stood over the limp form of Sonya 
Blade.  Like all the rest, the blond federal agent had succumbed to Ryoko's 
void.  Of the beings she had met, only Midnight Tiger was unaffected by it and 
that only by long association with Ryoko.  A fact that made him potentially very 
dangerous, but even the demonhunter would be inconsequential once she had the 
brazier.  

Nu Long-Wang had been surprised when Sonya had challenged her.  And it was 
irritating that she had to use more of her precious power to defeat the woman.  
However the encounter had yielded some interesting information concerning recent 
events that were occurring in Pandemonium.  Apparently, Kakugo Jin was holding 
an all female tournament, an interesting and potentially useful development.

Then a distant thunder caught the Nightdragon's attention.  Her head snapped 
around and she stared intensely towards the disturbance. 

"Midnight Tiger!" she snarled savagely. "So you managed to cross over.  Good 
enough, it will save me the trouble of hunting you down on Earth when I am 
freed.  You will not escape my wraith!"

An inhuman growl sounded from her throat when she saw the gold and blue beam of 
light shoot upward into the sky.  The sound was full of dark anger and what 
could be anticipation.  Tendrils of black energy began forming from her aura and 
lashed angrily in the air.

"So you have found a new ally," she said with a voice full of malice.  "Midnight 
Tiger, you will soon learn how great of a mistake that was.  She will die like 
the rest.  I will not be satisfied until all that you hold dear in reduced to 
ashes.

"And as for you Gui Hu, with your pawn Steven destroyed you will be crippled and 
helpless before me.  Then betrayer you will not escape infernal retribution and 
my just vengeance.  I will enjoy tormenting you for rest of your pitiful 
existence!"

A groan at her feet brought Nightshade's attention back to Sonya.  A cruel smile 
appeared on her face as she contemplated what to do with her defeated opponent.  
It would be very pleasurable to ravish her with the Nightdragon's power and then 
kill her.

But then something hidden within the evil entity made her reconsider. Though it 
was tempting, the Nu Long-Wang decided that leaving Sonja alive would serve her 
purposes better.  Again killing her might attract Kakugo Jin's attention.  Also, 
alive she would warn the other contestants not to get in Nightshade's way, that 
doing so would only result in humiliating defeat.

Nu Long-Wang would make sure the woman learned that lesson very well indeed.


END OF CHAPTER

Next Episode: THE ALLIANCE 
The stage is set as four new players enter the game!  Unwilling to tolerate the 
presence of a demonhunter in his realm, Kakugo Jin sends Vermilion out to hunt 
down Midnight Tiger.  Meanwhile, despite Steven's protests Yuri Sakazaki fights 
Seung Mina in deadly battle that might mean her death!  Who will win? Find out 
in the next episode!