Insertion

 

    Part 77

 

    The Hot Springs Devil!

 

+++++++++++++

 

    Mount Phoenix

 

    "You've retrieved the map?" asked
the aged looking 
birdman who stood
before Kiima, Dan, and her two wards.

 

    "Yes," replied Kiima.

 

    Dan was standing behind them with
his arms crossed, 
while the other three
bowed deeply in front of the throne. It
was covered 
by silken veils that hid the
emperor from view.

 

    "It reveals the hidden source of the
springs?" asked 
the old man.

 

    "As you can see," replied Kiima as
she held the page 
up to him. "We shall
fly to the indicated area immediately.
Soon, the 
cursed springs will be no more
than a memory."

 

    "Good, good," said the old man.

 

    "But before you leave Captain Kiima.
His highness 
grants you an audience. No
doubt he will wish to praise you for
your 
success."

 

    Kiima blinked in surprise at this
announcement.

 

    "Lord Saffron will address us?" said
Koruma.

 

    "But, he's not here," said Dan as he
looked at them 
all for a moment.

 

    Kiima finally noticed his posture
and blushed. "Why 
aren't you bowing
fool?!"

 

    "Bowing to what?" said Dan as he
looked at her.

 

    "Lord Saffron! Please forgive him,
he..."

 

    Dan snorted and jumped over her
head, landing beside 
the throne. He
pulled on the rope opening the shades
before anyone could 
react. "Look, not
here. See?"

 

    Everyone blinked as they found
themselves staring at 
an odd looking
statue. It was a clown with a drum in
his lap.

 

    "Forgive me, liege, but...I never
imagined that the 
heir to the throne of
Phoenix Mountain... would look exactly
like one of 
those statues that you find
outside a restaurant," said 
Koruma
dumbly.

 

    "This is one of those statues that
you find outside a 
restaurant," said
Kiima as she stared at it.

 

    "AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHH! His highness
has run off 
again!" cried the old man.

 

    "So, should we go to this place on
the map...or..." 
said Dan as he looked
at Kiima for a moment.

 

    "No fool! We have to find Lord
Saffron!" growled the 
woman.

 

    "Oh," said Dan with a small shrug.
"Okay."

 

+++++++++++++

 

    "Are we there yet?" grumbled Usagi.

 

    "Bweeee!" cried Ryoga from the top
of her head.

 

    She sighed and looked at her
parents. "Are you sure 
this is my
cousin?"

 

    "Yes dear," said Yohiko with a small
sigh.

 

    "But...it's a pig," said the girl in
irritation as 
she plucked the animal off
the top of her head and held it at 
arms
length.

 

    "Yeah? So? I know a guy who turns
into a duck," said 
Carrot with a small
shrug.

 

    "Oh," grumbled Usagi as she put
Ryoga back onto her 
head.

 

    The animal snorted and clung on
again.

 

    "Are you sure?" repeated Usagi.

 

    "How long is she going to be like
this?" asked Plum 
as she looked at Ukyo.

 

    "Well, I'm used to this sort of
thing. Ryoga's curse 
is new to me
though," said the chef with a small
shrug.

 

    "Still, Curses of Jusenkyo very
tragic," said the 
girl.

 

    "Well, I'm not so sure the pig
doesn't deserve it," 
responded Ukyo with
another shrug.

 

    Ryoga squealed at her angrily.

 

    "We're getting close, it's just past
that seventh 
mountain!" said Plum as she
pointed in the right direction.

 

    "Good," said Yohiko.

 

    Ryoga squealed excitedly on top of
his cousin's head. 
"Ouch! Quit it!"
cried the girl.

 

    "Hey, a hot spring," said Carrot as
he smiled to 
himself. "Maybe we should
stop. Ryoga won't be much good to us as
he is 
now."

 

    "All right!" cried Usagi happily.

 

    Carrot and Yohiko smirked at each
other as the youths 
rushed off towards
the entrance.

 

    Herb landed beside them and looked
at them both. 
"Hey, there's a hot spring
up ahead... Oh."

 

    "The point of scouting ahead, is to
tell us before we 
get there," said
Carrot.

 

    "I'm not used to this role,"
grumbled Herb as she 
blushed slightly.

 

    "The kids are too green for that
kind of work," said 
Yohiko. "Carrot and
I did it earlier, and it's your turn."

 

    Plum was standing in the middle of
the road, looking 
at a large crack in
the ground. "Uh oh," said the girl with
a slight 
frown.

 

    "What?" asked Carrot as he walked up
next to 
her.

 

    "Big crack in ground is never a good
sign," replied 
the girl as she looked up
at him.

 

    "Oh yes. I forgot to say, the
springs appear to have 
been attacked,"
said Herb.

 

    "Great, he sucks at this too, we
might as well have 
sent Usagi," grumbled
Yohiko.

 

    "Well, we'd best go get the kids.
Come on Herb," said 
Carrot as he pulled
the girl along behind him.

 

    "Unhand me! My legs work fine!"
snapped Herb 
irritably.

 

    "Fine, fine. Let's just go. Those
idiot girls 
probably took Ryoga with
them," said the boy with a small sigh.

 

    "I'll try to get him to you before
he passes out from 
blood loss," muttered
Yohiko as she sighed and started
walking.

 

    Plum found herself standing alone as
the group 
separated. She turned her head
and saw a footlocker on the side of 
the
road. It shifted, and a man fell out
onto the ground looking rather 
beaten.

 

    "Aiya!" She rushed over to his side.
"What happened 
here Mr. Employee-type
person?"

 

    "D-devil! The Hot Springs Devil
attacked!" muttered 
the man as he passed
out.

 

    "Hot Springs Devil? What in the...?"
muttered the 
girl to herself.

 

+++++++++++

 

    "Ahhhhh," was the collective sigh
from the group of 
girls as they sat in
the water.

 

    Yohiko walked up to Usagi and pulled
the pig off of 
her head. He was clinging
to her for dear life, and wasn't moving.
"You 
forgot your cousin," she said with
a small smirk.

 

    "What? Ryoga you pervert!" screamed
Ukyo as she 
covered herself up suddenly.

 

    "The poor jerk is out cold, guess we
were too much 
for him to handle," said
Yohiko cheerfully.

 

    Plum walked up nervously and poked
her fingers 
together. "Um, it's not safe
here."

 

    Usagi and Ukyo looked around for a
moment and 
blinked.

 

    "You know, she might be right,"
commented 
Usagi.

 

    Several women were floating around
in the water out 
cold.

 

    "Yeah, I guess so," agreed Ukyo.

 

    Yohiko shrugged and unceremoniously
tossed Ryoga over 
her shoulder. He
sailed over the wall and into the men's
side. "Don't 
worry about it kid. Hop
in," she said to Plum as she started
removing the 
girl's clothes along with
her own.

 

    The little girl blushed and sat down
in the water. 
"Shouldn't we be ready for
an attack?"

 

    "Nah, let the guys worry about it,"
said the woman as 
she winked at her.
"Besides, how long do you think a
pervert would last 
with this group?"

 

    "She's got a point," said Ukyo
cheerfully.

 

    "Oh, okay," said Plum.

 

+++++++++++++

 

    "Wonder how long until we're
attacked?" asked Carrot 
as Ryoga came up
from under the water and gasped.

 

    "I...saw..." muttered the lost boy
with his eyes 
wide.

 

    "Yeah, I'm sure you'll treasure the
memory always," 
grumbled Carrot.

 

    "Tell me about it," said Herb as he
moved over to 
Ryoga's side.

 

    "Oh, forget about it. It was just
Ukyo," said Carrot 
as he rolled his
eyes.

 

    "Yes, but I had no idea those
bindings she 
wore...were that tight!"
said Ryoga as he looked at Carrot with
tears in 
his eyes.

 

    "Found a new love?" snorted Carrot.

 

    "I doubt if they can compare to my
wife," said Herb 
with a serious looking
nod. "Still, I am curious."

 

    "What wife?" snapped Ryoga as he was
shaken out of 
his stupor.

 

    "Don't start that again," grumbled
Carrot.

 

    "If you want to see them so badly,
go take a look. 
They're just over the
wall," said Carrot as he pointed it out
to 
Herb.

 

    "Do you think they'd mind?" asked
Herb with a blush 
on his face.

 

    "Of course they would. The danger
element is what 
makes it fun," said
Carrot cheerfully.

 

    "You sound like that old man!"
snapped Ryoga.

 

    "I wasn't the one singing the
praises of Ukyo 
Kuonji's breasts a
minute ago," snorted the man as he
closed his eyes and 
sat back against a
rock.

 

    "I was not! I was just surprised
that's all!" cried 
the boy defensively.
"And I don't love her!"

 

    "Wonder if Akari is that stacked?"
muttered Carrot to 
himself.

 

    "Hey!" snapped Ryoga.

 

    "What? You don't wonder?" replied
the man as he 
arched his eyebrow at the
boy.

 

    "That's not the point! Don't talk
about my girlfriend 
that way!" snapped
Ryoga.

 

    "You know...Yohiko married into the
Hibiki clan as I 
recall. That would mean
Usagi, isn't really your cousin," said
Carrot as 
he looked thoughtful for a
moment.

 

    "I...what?" Ryoga stared at him for
a moment.

 

    "Enough of this. I must know!" cried
Herb as he was 
suddenly overcome with
chargin. He waded over to the wall with
a 
determined frown on his face and
started to scale it.

 

    "Sheesh, and Yohiko calls me a
pervert," muttered 
Carrot to himself.

 

    "Hey! Usagi is over there!" cried
Ryoga.

 

    "Do you wish to join me then?" asked
Herb as he 
stared at Ryoga for a moment.

 

    "I...No! Stop that you pervert!"

 

    "What is this word? I keep hearing
it? What does 
pervert mean?" asked Herb.
"My queen calls me that all the time. 
It
puzzles me."

 

    Ryoga blinked at him again. "What?"

 

+++++++++++++

 

    "What's all that shouting?" muttered
Plum.

 

    "The idiots don't realize we can
hear them, that's 
all," said Yohiko with
a small frown.

 

    Usagi was blushing and staring at
the wall, while 
Ukyo had a few spatulas
ready to lob at anyone who dared peer
over the 
wall.

 

    "I don't believe this!" cried Ukyo
angrily.

 

    "Hey. What's that?" asked Plum as
she stared at the 
water.

 

    "Huh?" replied the other women as
they turned towards 
what she was
pointing at.

 

+++++++++++++++

 

    "Lord Saffron! Where are you?"
thought Kiima as she 
flew along the
ground with her three companions. "He
shouldn't have gone 
below! Not in his
current state!"

 

    "What are you on about?" grumbled
Dan as he frowned 
at her.

 

    "Our lord is missing!" she snapped.

 

    "Don't get mad at me, I never even
met the guy. Calm 
down, I'm sure he'll
be back before us."

 

    "I hope you're right," said Koruma.

 

    "Lord Saffron could be in danger
though!" cried 
Masara.

 

    "I doubt it," muttered Dan
irritably.

 

+++++++++++++

 

    The girl's side was staring at a
huge shadow in the 
water. "What the?"
grumbled Yohiko. "What is that?" She
peered at the 
shadow for a moment and a
metallic sounding ring filled the air.

 

    "Something is happening!" cried
Ukyo.

 

    The water around the blasted upward,
and a few of the 
rocks in the spring
suddenly exploded around them. They all
dodged around 
the falling stones.

 

    Plum was clinging to Usagi when it
all settled down, 
and they were all
looking at a huge red thing shrouded in
the steam. 
"Aiya! What this is?"

 

    "It's huge!" cried Ukyo as she threw
several spatulas 
at it.

 

    The thing unceremoniously hissed at
them and deflated 
into little more than
a spot on the water.

 

    Yohiko walked up to it and frowned.
"It's... a pool 
toy."

 

    She turned around suddenly as a ring
flew out of the 
air towards her. "What?"
she managed to catch it between her
hands and was 
thrown back by the force
of its motion. She was pushed halfway
across the 
springs and slammed into a
boulder. It shattered under the force of
her 
impact and the ring continued to fly
away.

 

    "Mom!" cried Usagi.

 

    "Miss Yohiko!" called the others.

 

    "What the?" muttered the woman as
she shook her 
head.

 

    The ring continued it's path into
the air, and 
stopped at the top of a
staff that poked out from behind the
rocks 
nearby.

 

    "Who?" muttered Usagi dumbly.

 

    A small boy appeared before them, he
had black hair 
with orange highlights.
His clothes were unusual, expensive
looking silk 
garments with a cape, and a
plate of armor over his chest. He held
an odd 
looking staff in his hand with a
ring on the top of it.

 

    "Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Fools! Those who
dare try and use 
these hot springs
without my expressly given consent, are
not long for 
this world!"

 

    "What the?" grumbled Yohiko.

 

    The girls were all staring at him,
looking rather 
dumbstruck at the haughty
looking child.

 

    Finally, Usagi spoke up.
"EEEEEEEEEKKKKK! A 
PERVERT!"

 

    The rest of the girls, Yohiko
included, promptly 
screamed and dove a
little deeper into the water. A moment
later, Usagi 
and Yohiko stood up,
dressed in bathing suits.

 

    "I wish I had one of those,"
grumbled Ukyo.

 

    Plum nodded in agreement, her face
completely red. 
"That jerk! He same age!
What doing thing like this?"

 

    "Good question," grumbled Ukyo.

 

    "There's that word again," commented
Herb as he 
peered over the wall.

 

    "We heard screaming!" called Ryoga
from beside 
him.

 

    Carrot was wisely absent.

 

    Huge boulders were ripped up from
the springs, and 
flung towards anything
male.

 

    The boy laughed at this as the ring
flew from the top 
of his staff and
shattered the stone. Ryoga and Herb were
sent back behind 
the wall, with boulders
in their faces. "Fool! You underestimate
the power 
of the Kinjakan!"

 

    "Is Hot Springs Devil!" cried Plum
in shock.

 

    The boy fell face first onto the
ground as Yohiko 
planted her fist into
the back of his head. She had come up
behind him 
after throwing the boulder.

 

    "So this is him huh?" muttered
Yohiko.

 

    "Yes, apparently he's been trashing
the area for the 
past two or three
days," said Plum as she finished
dressing herself with 
Ukyo.

 

    Carrot walked up behind them and
picked up the boy's 
staff. "Bothersome
little runt isn't he?"

 

    "What are you doing over here?!"
cried Ukyo 
angrily.

 

    "Oh shut up. I waited until you were
all dressed," 
replied the man with a
casual snort. "Besides, all of you are
too young to 
interest me anyway, and
I've seen her naked before." He jerked
his thumb 
at Yohiko.

 

    The woman growled and blushed at
this, but didn't 
press it. "Who is this
little bastard?"

 

    Carrot looked over at the wall for a
moment. "The Hot 
Springs Devil."

 

    "I know that!" snarled Yohiko.

 

    Carrot thought about it for a moment
and sighed. 
"Never heard of him before."

 

    "You know something, I'm not stupid,
Carrot," replied 
the woman.

 

    "Maybe I do, but I've got my own
reasons for not 
saying anything," he
responded coolly.

 

    "Right," grumbled Yohiko irritably.

 

    "Kill me! I would rather die than
endure this 
humiliation!" snarled the
boy as he struggled against the ropes
they had 
used to bind him.

 

    "Okay," said Carrot as he started
towards him.

 

    "He's just a kid!" cried Usagi.

 

    "What?" muttered the boy as he
looked up at 
them.

 

    "He asked for it though," said the
man as he stared 
at the dumbfound boy.

 

    "You! I'll get you for this!"
snarled the boy.

 

    "Not if you're dead you won't," said
Carrot.

 

    "We don't have time for this Carrot,
quit screwing 
around," said Yohiko.

 

    "Remember that you told me that
later," he responded. 
His face wasn't
visible to them and they couldn't read
anything from his 
voice.

 

    "Whatever, can we go now? We need to
get to Mount 
Phoenix," said Yohiko.
"We've wasted too much time as it is."

 

    "Wait a second! You're going to
Mount Phoenix?" said 
the boy.

 

    Carrot smirked. "What of it?"

 

    "If we use the Kinjakan, I can get
us there by this 
evening," said the boy
calmly.

 

    "It will take two more days," said
Plum as she looked 
up at Yohiko.

 

    "I think we should take his way,"
said Usagi.

 

    "Come on, let's go collect the
boys," said 
Yohiko.

 

    "Do we have to?" grumbled Ukyo.

 

    "Yes, we'll probably need them,"
said Plum.

 

+++++++++++++++

 

    The boy rode atop his staff, the
ring was moving 
along the ground and he
was going at an incredible rate of
speed.

 

    "Whoa. He's fast," said Usagi as she
struggled to 
keep up.

 

    "You're just slacking off, that's
all," said Carrot 
as he carried Plum on
his shoulders.

 

    Ryoga was being dragged along the
ground by Herb. 
"Slow down you jerk!"

 

    "You're not hurt, quit complaining,"
snorted the 
Dragon-man as he glanced
back at him.

 

    "Damn you! I'll get you for this
Herb!" cried the 
lost boy angrily as he
was hit in the face by another rock.
Herb was 
correct though, he wasn't even
feeling it.

 

    "Hey! I can see it! It's Phoenix
Mountain!" cried 
Plum.

 

    "Finally," grumbled Ukyo as Yohiko
dropped her wrist. 
She had been pulling
her along as well.

 

    The boy smirked as he stopped next
to a doorway on 
the mountainside. "This
is the entrance to the inner halls."

 

    "Yeah, thanks kid. You've been a big
help. I'll see 
you later," said Carrot.

 

    "I'm surprised you were able to keep
up," admitted 
Saffron as he looked at
the Kinjakan for a moment.

 

    "Bye Mr. Devil, you weren't so bad
after all," said 
Usagi.

 

    "The brat bothers me," grumbled Herb
as he glanced 
back at the boy.

 

    "We shouldn't trust him," agreed
Yohiko.

 

    "You're right, he's going to show us
the way," said 
Carrot.

 

    "What?" muttered the boy dumbly.

 

    "Come on kid, we're not stupid
enough to leave you 
out here alone,"
said Carrot with a chuckle.

 

    The boy growled at this and stepped
back. "I 
won't."

 

    Carrot leaned his head in next to
the boy. "Come on 
Saffron, lead the way
to the map, or I'll tell the Musk King
here who you 
are. Think you can take him
now?"

 

    The boy's eyes went wide and he
gasped. 
"You...knew?"

 

    "I'm looking for someone, and I'll
bet I'll find him 
when I find that map,"
said Carrot quietly. "We've got a score
to settle. 
I'll worry about you later."

 

    Saffron growled and nodded slowly.

 

    Yohiko blinked and stared at Carrot.
"What did you 
tell him?"

 

    The rest of the group was waiting
for an answer as 
well.

 

    "I threatened to tell his parents
what he was doing 
at those springs if he
didn't take us where we wanted to go.
The little 
runt is a Phoenix native."

 

    Saffron looked back at Carrot for a
moment and 
growled. "You'd better keep
quiet about this."

 

    "Lead the way then, and no tricks,"
said the man as 
he smirked at him.

 

    Everyone took that as proof of what
they had been 
told. Yohiko was still a
bit skeptical though.

 

    "I trust you about as much as I
trust Xellos," she 
grumbled.

 

+++++++++++++

 

    "Hot springs you say?" asked the old
man as he stood 
in Lord Saffron's
bedchambers. They were preparing for the
boy's 
return.

 

    "Yes, I think this Hot Springs Devil
the landlings 
are talking about is him,"
said Dan with a small nod.

 

    "I'm forced to agree," said Kiima
with a small 
nod.

 

    "Well, Kiima did well in picking you
up," said the 
old man cheerfully.

 

    "Who says she picked me?" replied
Dan casually.

 

    Kiima looked at him for a moment and
frowned. "Still, 
if he is instinctively
seeking out Hot Springs. It could only
mean one 
thing."

 

    "Yes, the transformation is at
hand," agreed the old 
man. "We must get
control of the source of Jusenkyo now."

 

    "That's good to know," said a
familiar voice from 
behind them.

 

    The trio turned around to face the
doorway. 
"What?"

 

    "Hey Dan, I've come for my map,"
said Carrot as he 
stood at the head of
the group. They were standing in the
doorway glaring 
at them. A trail of
fallen guards in their wake. The
entrance to Saffron's 
bedchamber was a
long bridge that stretched across a two-
thousand-foot 
drop.

 

    "It is comforting to know that I am
not too late," 
said Herb as he crossed
his arms and chuckled.

 

    "That was enjoyable," said Saffron
as he glanced down 
at one of the fallen
guards. He'd almost started giving
orders to kill the 
others, but they'd
started beating on his men rather
easily. He'd decided 
to join in, rather
than risk discovery just yet. "Too bad.
Kiima, destroy 
them."

 

    "What?" said Herb as he spun around
to stare at the 
boy.

 

    "Yes my Lord!" screamed the woman as
she 
charged.

 

    "Heh," said Carrot as he stepped
back.

 

    "Not so fast," said Dan as he
appeared in front of 
him.

 

    "Not yet Dan," replied Carrot
coolly. "I'm saving you 
for later. How
about that map?"

 

    Dan chuckled and tossed a rolled up
scroll from 
inside his shirt at the man.
"Here."

 

    "What are you doing?" cried Kiima.

 

    "Relax, that's just a copy. We still
have the real 
one," he whispered to her
carefully.

 

    It was obvious that Carrot had heard
him, but the 
others were occupied by a
new wave of guards.

 

    "So, I can destroy Saffron easily
now," said Herb 
with a cold smile on his
lips.

 

    "Arrogant landling," snarled Kiima.

 

    "Really Kiima, insulting a King that
way," said 
Carrot.

 

    "Hello Herb," said Dan as he turned
to face the 
man.

 

    "It's Lord Herb!" cried the old man
in shock. "No! 
It's too soon!"

 

    "Thousand Wings of the Seabird
attack!" cried Kiima 
in shock as she
jumped back away from the man.

 

    Herb dodged easily around the
strikes and chuckled. 
"Die!" He raised
his hand, and a bolt of power shot
towards Saffron. The 
boy's eyes went
wide with fear.

 

    Dan appeared in front of him with
his wings spread 
wide. He snarled and
backhanded the ball of power away. "Not
so 
fast!"

 

    Carrot stood by and did nothing. He
chuckled and 
watched as Dan scooped up
the boy and tossed him to Kiima.

 

    "Get to Jusendo, I'll hold them
off," he 
snarled.

 

    The woman nodded, and jumped off the
bridge and into 
the air.

 

    "No!" snarled Herb as he started to
give chase. A 
strong blow to his chest
sent him sprawling back into the others.

 


    Ukyo managed to catch him and
staggered back 
slightly. The guards were
now all defeated and they turned to look
at Dan 
for a moment as he floated just
above them on the bridge.

 

    "Think you can take all of us Dan?"
asked 
Yohiko.

 

    "Ah, the things I do for love,"
replied the man as he 
chuckled. He
reached into his shirt and pulled out a
small remote.

 

    "What the?" muttered Carrot as he
uncrossed his arms. 
"Everybody jump!
Now!"

 

    The bridge exploded in a huge ball
of flames as Dan 
pressed the button on
the small remote. The explosive charges
he'd set up 
went off all at once,
shattering it completely.

 

    "What have you done!?" cried the old
man in 
shock.

 

    "I'm not strong enough to fight them
all, take all 
the men you can, and get
ready for them at Jusendo. We've got to
hurry." 
He dove down after the debris of
the bridge and chuckled at what 
he
found.

 

    Carrot, Usagi, and Yohiko were
carrying Plum, Ryoga, 
and Ukyo. Herb was
descending under his own power, but he
couldn't hold 
himself up much longer. He
was now following after them in a
controlled 
fall.

 

    "Come to finish us off?" snarled
Yohiko as she 
clutched Ukyo a little
tighter.

 

    "Please," snorted Dan in disgust.
"I'll be waiting 
for you at Jusendo
Carrot, don't disappoint me."

 

    "Count on it," said Carrot coldly.
"Come on, we're 
wasting time by staying
here." He dove towards the ground and
was followed 
by the others.

 

+++++++++++++

 

    TBC...

 

    Next Time: Jusendo!


 

--- Carrotglace

--- carrotglace@mindspring.com 

--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.


	     .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'