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Chronicles of TheFili: Chapter 4 - "Double." "Redouble."[]

Now for something different. I have decided to chronicle all possible Kongai Fan Fiction that still remains (given that the official Kongai Forum also had fanfic that was now sadly purged) on this website so that none may further succumb to destruction. The reason I decided to name these blogs "the Apocrypha Games" is that firstly, Kongai is a game (duh!), secondly, "apocrypha" refers to the fact that these stories are at best dubious to Sirlin's official "canon" of Kongai (even tough there isn't that much in the first place) and finally, "apocrypha" also means that these stories are not canon to my attempt at fan fiction (Project Kongai). I have neither used any ideas from these stories (hopefully mere coincidences if any similarities ever show up), since my story has 1. The concepts have been planned out meticulously long ago before I found these. 2. Features original characters from my other concepts Mavericks. And 3. Most of these stories would have some direct conflict with any lore I would have proposed.

Note that the fanfic here has been unaltered, bad grammar and all.

Anyway, here's the 13th book of the Apocrypha Games (and the last chapter for this Chronicle), originally written by Kongregate's TheFili (Nov 11, 2008), sourced here.

P.S. There was no scroll marked on this one. I have put it in here for future reference, as the last scroll is marked like the others.

Scroll 1[]

The fire did not soften the face it illuminated. Yoshiro was glad that Rumiko hadn’t just suggested to kill him on sight.

“Some might say that’s a bit harsh,” he ventured.

“’A life in honour is the only life’, remember?” was her flat answer. “If he accepts justice, he can at least regain some of it.”

“Yes, it’s very likely that this argument will succeed with him. What with him being so reasonable.”

Rumiko said nothing and stared ahead. He knew that look on her. She might listen to whatever he said, but in the end, she would do as she pleased.

He got up and walked away from her – though not necessarily into less bloodthirsty company. He seemed to be about the only one not eager to get to Onimaru’s inner self with a blade.

The Amazons were sitting closer to the second fire. Sleeping, talking, staring into space. He gave Ashi a smile for some reason and helped himself to another piece of leftover boar.

A life in honour is the only life… Had Higashi meant for them to kill Onimaru? Very probably. The honest answer would have been: “I don’t like that order”. But what response would that be for a warrior to give?

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” said Helene’s voice beside his ear.

He managed not to jump. “Go ahead,” he said, “I have no other plans tonight.”

“Not here, maybe. It would look…”

“What do you think it would look like if we crept off into the forest together? This way we can pretend to have a nice little chat about dinner,” he said, stressing the last word just enough to be audible.

“Do you really think that will work?”

“No.” A smile took a quick tour of his face and departed. “But why not try anyway? So, let’s get down to the meat of this conversation.”

“What will happen when we find him?”

“I think half of our little group will try to kill him on sight. Rumiko because she thinks that our rules demand it, Anex because she has sworn too , and the rest of you, I just don’t know, maybe just to be in on it. Why, what are your plans for that particular evening?”

She stared at him. “Aren’t you worried?”

“Right now? No. I’ll worry when we find him. Until then, I’m trying to feel confident and sort out the others’ plans. I’d like to know who will be at my when I try to actually talk to to a guy who’s always like a raging boar…. hey, I’m getting good at this.”

“I’m not planning to assassinate him.”

“That’s a load off my mind. Any reason, or do you just like to strive against the stream?”

The gaze of her blue eyes became hard, her voice quiet and icy. “I don’t think you realise that the man we are talking about killed my husband. So I’d appreciate it if you could be serious for a moment.”

She continued: “We don’t really believe in death penalties. Our enemies die on the battlefield, in a duel, or in hiding, if they are cowards. Don’t think that I’m worried about him – it’s the Qu… Princess. If she kills him from hiding, or without a real fight, she will be ruined in our eyes. And someday she will realise this, and it will kill her.”

“So basically, it’s all right if she warns him first? You really love your rules, don’t you?”

Helene put her head to one side. “You’re one to talk, Circle-man. Your companion gives him the choice of being assassinated and committing suicide. Yes, I eavesdropped, sorry. The point is: Anex will not forgive either of you if you kill him, and she will be after you then.”

Yoshiro took a deep breath. “So, let me summarise: We have t keep Anex and perhaps one or two of the othr Amazons from killing him without a proper fight, we have to prevent Rumiko from assassinating him, and all the while we have to be careful to defend ourselves against an insane samurai with a big sharp sword and impenetrable armour.” He shook his head. “Very well done now I am worried.”

“We’re not alone, though.” Her voice became softer. “I think we can count on Phoebe, and probably Ashi, too.”

“Ashi? Always scowling, doesn’t talk, carries a big, big axe? Oh yes, she will definitely help to calm the situation down.”

After some silence, he finally said: “I’ll have to think about it. But don’t worry, we’ll all eat tomorrow.” His grin was a little strained as he strode away from her into the forest.

His head turning and in dire need of some clearing. Onimaru, Higashi, Rumiko and the Amazons were turning in front of his inner eye while he tried to think of a way to prevent them from killing each other.

He didn’t know how far off he had wandered, and he didn’t notice the tall figure until he almost ran into it.

“Oh no, not you as well.”

The man that could only be Amaya (the mask was a giveaway) stood just there, arms folded. “I’m sorry, is this an inconvenient time?”

“That doesn’t even begin to describe it. But, since you are here, anyway…”

The punch was to quick for Amaya to react. A short jab on the chest took away his balance, and gave Yoshiro the opportunity to hit him under the chin. The force of the blow lifted the masked man off the ground, and just before he fell, Yoshiro sent a kick after the punches.

Finally Amaya lay slumped against a tree, a couple of leaves sailing down on him. “A perfect Rising Dragon – claw, breath and tail. Interesting to see Higashi still teaches the old methods.” His voice was strange, not only muffled, but somehow distorted.

“Would you rather fight some other time?” Yoshiro asked with mock concern. “Don’t feel obliged on my account.” He edged closer to his fallen opponent, then lunged when the man was on his feet again. His strike connected just below the battered mask. It was all Amaya could do to keep on his feet. “Why do you follow us?” Yoshiro demanded, using the pause to catch his breath.

“Why do you go ahead?” All of a sudden, Amaya was full of vigour again. He dropped a small ball in front of Yoshiro; light and smoke filled his vision and choked him. The next thing he knew was that he saw Amaya’s silhouette farther away in the night, going through the motions of preparing a Chi Blast.

He raised his hands, looking forward to the moment when the energies would rebound onto…

Instead of light, absolute darkness swept towards him like a thundercloud, tore his defenses to shreds and knocked the life out of him. He was down on all fours, gasping in the cold forest air while he felt little volcanoes of pain disgorge their lava all over his skin.

He tried to muster the strength for a Chi Blast of his own, but it was weak, a mere fizzle. What little energy there was went astray, tore some branches of an impartial tree and shocked some birds into flight. He heard Amaya utter a word in a strange tongue, and when the last syllable reached his brain, the world started to blur.

Amaya came forward, cautiously and holding another ball in his hand.

“I’ll tell you why you go on,” he said with that strange warbling voice. “Because you were told to by Higashi. And he’s the Master, right?” He effortlessly dodged Yoshiro’s punch and continued: “Probably you really think he’s the greatest thing since the dawn of time, and he has so much to teach. So you learn from him, profess your allegiance, follow his every order. You did all that and up to now, it was easy.” The mask came closer, a distorted grimace of metal. Yoshiro tried to hit it, but couldn’t lift his arm.

“It’s different outside the walls. Don’t you have that feeling? Not a bit?”

“You’ve already met Rumiko,” Yoshiro said uncertainly. “She has pretty much taken the lead, so it’s no use trying to convince me.”

“I don’t want to talk to the hand, I want to talk to the ear. You have doubts, don’t you? That’s good, shows intelligence, shows you’re thinking.”

“It’s not intelligence you’re talking about. ‘Power lies in the centre of the Circle…’”

Amaya’s hand was at his throat and pressed him against a tree. “’…not outside of it.’ That is what I am talking about. Don’t you dare imply that I…” He glanced down at his own armoured hand and let go of Yoshiro. Then he took a step back, arms outspread. “I just want you to ask yourself: do you obey the letter or the spirit?”

Yoshiro’s hand, that had shot forward for another Rising Dragon, stopped just short of the metal chest at hearing his most secret thoughts from Amaya’s mouth.

“Higashi is all about the letter. And Rumiko… why am I telling you?”

“What do you want?” whispered Yoshiro.

“Much better question, much better asking. First: I don’t want Onimaru killed, if it can be prevented. Second: I want you and Rumiko to return home safely. Don’t look so surprised, we’re fellow warriors after all. Third: I want to go with you and dethrone Higashi.”

Yoshiro lifted his fist. Amaya pointed to the ball. “Again? Good. Now, I don’t expect you to be enthusiastic about the idea. Just take a little time and judge Higashi by his own standards. Is it your Circle he represents?”

He turned to go. “I will follow you and the others. Tell Rumiko or don’t. If you do, please apologise in my name for the little trick I played on her. Just remember: I am not your enemy, if you don’t want me to be. I’ll be seeing you.”

When Amaya had gone a few steps, Yoshiro said: “You studied under him, right? Is he the reason for your fashionable outfit?”

The figure froze on the edge of darkness. A hand clenched. Opened again. The boots took a few hesitant steps towards Yoshiro. “Fair’s fair, I guess.” The voice was strained, as far as you could make that out. “I’ve seen your soul, why shouldn’t you see mine?”

One glove was raised behind the head and fumbled with the mask. A bit like Onimaru’s, Yoshiro thought briefly. The other hand came to the first’s aid and finally the metal barrier came loose and was lowered.

It was not easy to stifle an outcry. “Did you really think only dark magic could backfire?” the shifting ans strangled voice asked.

After another moment, the mask was between them again.

He trained me, pushed me harder, a little harder every minute. We both knew I had potential, but he was obsessive, said I could be… ‘him again’. Now the armour’s dark magic is all that keeps me alive and in one piece, literally. I should be grateful that he let me have it before he Exiled me. But I find that pretty hard. So, is that your Circle, Yoshiro?”

The young man said nothing but stretched his hand. A moment passed before Amaya took it.

“Kongai, Amaya.”

The mask hid any reaction from view, but the hard breathing offered a clue.

When he came back to the camp, Yoshiro hardly heard the others, didn’t see them, and told Rumiko some half-baked story about where he had been so long and what the distant noise had been. She might have noticed that he didn’t joke around for once, but was probably just grateful.

Higashi’s voice was in his head. “That’s it, Yoshiro. Train the Blast tomorrow, too. But your mastery is outstanding, and one day, you might be me again.” That strange phrase he hadn’t understood but had taken for high praise.

And above it hovered Amaya’s… face? Faces? The contours never seemed to be solid, a visage of fog and liquid stone, illuminated by the cold silver light of the stars. For a moment it looked male, then it was a woman’s face, then it became something else entirely. And always, the eyes kept their tortured expression.