Zipangu Quest 1: Night of Fated Meeting

I was heading to my car after a night at the hospital ready to go home and rest after a long night of Doctor Vahlen’s terrible jokes and Meredith's incessant teasing. While reaching for my keys a sudden gust of wind lifted some dust into my eyes. I quickly lifted my arms to my eyes when an even larger gust of wind started blowing. My lab coat flapping in the breeze I was soon surrounded by a shell created by the roaring wind. Then suddenly, a kaleidoscope of blinding light pierced through my eyes as white noise and screams filled my ears. I opened my mouth and began screaming but no noise came out as the wind forced itself down my body tearing my consciousness into pieces, then my mind fragmented like broken glass and I finally passed out.

“aaaaaaaaaaaAAaaa.....”

Free from the suffocating pressure I finally opened my mouth, tasting a cool fresh air you would never find in the inner city.

I quickly snapped opened my eyes and glanced around. I was lying down in a windy field of tall grass. The many strands of golden grass wavered around my body like the hair of a maiden creating the calming noise of the ocean. I stared up at the beautiful flaxen moon and the constellations....

How odd, the constellations didn’t match any of the patterns from back home. Though I barely knew anything about stars I at least knew the basic patterns like Ursa Major, Minor, and most importantly the North Star. But I couldn’t even find one them after staring out into the sky. Well stars were never really my strong point so perhaps that basic knowledge was pushed out of my head in order to make room for organic chemistry.

“Well, well what do we have here?”

The dusky teasing voice of a woman sounded above my head, abruptly ending my monologue. I quickly glanced up and saw a soot skinned woman with large bull horns leering at me with her dirty golden eyes. She had long tufts of spiky black hair that reached to her shoulders then spilled down her back. Instead of hands, she had dark black fur covering her arms that ended with sharp blood stained claws instead of hands. Her torso flowed down smoothly from her ample bosom to her tight stomach. But instead of legs, her lower body was comprised of six hairy appendages that, like her hands, ended with ivory white tusks.

“I knew I missed one of the ninjas. You guys really are tricky bastards, always flitting around and throwing your poisoned knives everywhere. But you scum will never beat an Ushi-Oni. After all we are resistant to your flying blades and immune to your various poisons.”

With a short laugh she stomped closer to me and leered menacingly with a large grin displaying her many sharp white teeth.

“But first I’ll have some fun with you before I claim Lord Akane’s prize for killing the very last ninja of the old Hideyoshi clan.”

With a quick thrust she stabbed one of her ivory legs at me. The tusk pierced three inches into the ground. Luckily I had been anticipating an attempt on my life and had agilely rolled out of the way.

“Nice reactions” she smirked.

I quickly flipped to an up right position then promptly dropped into an orthodox boxing stance.

“No blades. No bombs. No tricks. Just your fists. I have to admit boy, you’ve got guts”

She gazed into me with an impish grin while I glared back into her depraved smiling eyes.

“And the silent type too” the beast said with venom dripping from each word “you really are my type boy.”

I slowly gulped down the lump that was forming in my throat. -calm down, calm down. Just two hours ago you were just finishing your shift at the hospital. Dr Vahlen was talking about blood transfusion and her crappy joke about how vampires were great artists since they were good at drawing blood actually made you laugh! Then Meredith came up and spent the rest of the day making crappy blood related puns. You most likely collapsed due to over work while on the way to your car and this is just a dream. You are dreaming about giant spider ox women trying to murder you. Yes! This is just a drea-


The sharp pain of the Ushi-Oni’s claws slicing my cheek immediately brought me back to my senses.

“Oooh, nice you dodged that one too. But if you don’t put your head in the game I am going to gut you.”

crap this isn’t a dream

“Tell you what boy, I’ll give you one free strike and if you can hurt me I won’t kill you.”

I tentatively raised a skeptical eyebrow, this seems almost too good to be true. My heart racing I looked at the Ushi-Oni and waited for her to finish her offer.

“I’ll just turn you into my personal cock slave instead”

Her smouldering lust-filled eyes locked into mine as I scowled back like a cornered animal.

“One shot boy” she grinned in a sultry tone as she closed her eyes and raised her arms.

Not wasting this one chance I lunged in, slipped under her guard, then ran like hell.

-----------

Stress often builds up in the cut throat medical world. Some people relieve that stress by fucking, others with drugs, anime, and various other things. But hey, I don’t judge. Whatever scratches that itch. Personally I chose exercise. Probably since I’ve pretty much seen enough of what drugs could do to people in that shithole city I used to live in during my early years and women always seemed like too much trouble. I hiked, biked, boxed, and even did various other types of activities from free running to tai chi to keep myself in shape and prevent the madness of medical school from sinking in. But even all of that exercise couldn’t prepare me for a-

“I’M GOING TO RAPE YOU, THEN I’M GOING TO GUT YOU YOU FILTHY NINJA!”

Well that.

Dashing like hell I heard the thunderous crashing of the Ushi-Oni’s six legs pulverizing the earth behind me.

This was bad, I had bolted into the forest hoping that the trees would hinder the advance of the large Ushi-Oni, but instead the raging bull blitzed towards me smashing the trees aside. Not only was she big, but she was fast. We had been running through the forest for what seemed like an eternity and she certainly wasn’t giving up. I ran further and further into the woods then suddenly I reached a clearing and tripped over something.

What I had tripped over was a corpse. An oddly dressed woman that could only be described as a ninja. I landed face flat into the mud, staining my starch white lab coat with the blood and guts of the woman below me. The scent of blood flooded my senses as I looked into the carnage in front of me. Limbs and heads littered the open field like trash. Blood stained the ground with a sickly maroon while broken blades littered the ground marking the graves of the people who were massacred.

An ominous growl sounded behind me as the black beast pounded her way to me, pulverizing the entrails lying on the ground. Her eyes were glowing bright red and potent steam poured out of her mouth like a demented furnace. She then peered down into my face and snarled at me.

“I see you’ve met the old Hideyoshi ninjas. ”

Heart racing a million miles-per-hour I darted my eyes back and forth looking for an escape. The Ushi-Oni realized what I was doing and started to snigger.

“You don’t have any where left to go boy, if you keep running then you are going to end up in the Kitsune village up ahead and I know they aren’t going to take kindly to a human, especially an ex-Hideyoshi ninja like you.”

Okay so my choices right now are either complete and utter annihilation at the claws of a mad ox-spider-thing or a hoard of fluffy tailed women. Though I do know how to hold my own in a fight,  I also know for a fact that my strength would be useless against my pursuer. Weighing my options I quickly sprang up and started headed towards the village.

“DAMN WHELP, THEN I’LL TEAR YOU APART WITH THE KITSUNE!”

This is not good, this is not good at all. I bolted through the forest until finally I burst out of the woods and straight into an open road with the Ushi-Oni trailing behind my toes.

 "▂▂▂▂▂▂▃▃▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅!"

Jesus Christ of Nazareth, she’s still after me.

With fifty meters left I tore across the country side until I finally reached the village. But what greeted me was utter silence. The streets were barren except for the few mice scurrying around the streets. The town was dark with the only one source of illumination, the moon. I had ran from a field of corpses to a vacant town.

fuck
Fuck
FUCK

And here I thought I could finally receive at least some form of protection from some furry tailed women but instead I am left in a ghost town with a mad beast on my tail.

Suddenly, with a resounding crash the house next to me exploded. And out of the dust and rubble crawled out the Ushi-Oni.

“Looks like the Kitsune abandoned this hick town, can’t say that I blame them”

Not listening to the Ushi-Oni I bent down and picked up a long bamboo pole on the ground. The situation had gone from fight or flight to fight or die. And if I were to die right now, might as well go the same way I lived, fighting to the last breath. I quickly formed a stance, preparing to a fight to the death.

“Wow, you really got guts there mister” a sugary voice chirped up from above.


Slowly turning my head to the right, I locked eyes with a white haired little girl lying on top of the roof of the house next to me. She had alabaster hair and crimson eyes that gleamed like rubies in the night. Silky white hair poured down from her head like rays of moonlight pooling onto the thatch roof. Out of her head were two soft fox ears poking up into the sky. She wore a pale pink-white mini-kimono with flowers painstakingly stitched into her dress with two long fluffy white tails rising up into the air from her shapely buttox. The aura of a gentle princess emanated from her eyes with a teasing smile painted on her proud face.

“Say would you like some help?”

Without breaking eye contact from the alluring child I slowly nodded my head.

“BACK OFF CHILD THIS ONE’S MINE”

The Ushi-Oni slammed her talon down onto the ground visibly shaking with rage.

“I can either give you a better spear” the girl continued, obviously ignoring the irate Ushi-Oni “Or I can imbue you with my magic, either way you are going to win with my help.”

A saviour had descended in the form of a young girl. But, if there was anything I had learned from my childhood was that any good offer always had some strings attached.

“Whats the catch.”

Looking straight at me with confidence burning in her eyes she grinned, “I’m in need of a companion for my travels, a man with the skills and the guts to fight against even the strongest of monsters, what I need is a warrior.”

The Ushi-Oni guffawed at the foxes words.

“A WARRIOR, HAH! THIS MAN IS A NINJA. HE IS NAUGHT BUT A COWARD THAT HIDES IN THE DARK”

Exasperatedly I sighed.

“I’m actually a doctor”

“Mmmmm, and what delicious voice” the tiny fox girl squealed while blushing “but that works as well. Ninja, doctor, spaceman, whatever you may be, you carry yourself with the strength of a true warrior and that’s the qualification I really need.”



Blushing at her praise I proceeded to question her about her proposition.

“Tell me about the spear”

“Very well then, the spear is a weapon that my family has held in possession for a very long time, one that sunders through even the toughest of flesh. It has many enchantments on it that will protect it from breaking and gives the wielder strong resistance to demonic energy and projects a barrier of magic. Far better than that measly bamboo pole of yours.”

“And the magic?”

“Quite simple really, I place a few spells on you, binding your soul  to mine for a short while. My divine power will flow through your soul and give your body strength, speed, stamina, and even divinity.Divinity gives a man and aura that allows you to channel energy into weapons like a staff or your fists that can burn a monster wreathed in demonic energy like that Ushi-Oni. However, it won’t have the same effect on neutral or divine monsters. It also gives a man high regeneration powers. Though your contract with me at most will be able to heal only minor wounds.The contract is only temporary so you won’t end up as my mind slave or anything. The biggest risk however is that you might end up overexerting yourself.”

“Just one more question, why can’t I choose both?”

Rolling her eyes as if what I had said was the stupidest thing in the world she sighed before answering me.

“Because, you don’t have enough carrying capacity for all that magic. You would explode like an over inflated ball. Now choose, your dance partner is getting restless.”

I began weighing the options in my mind. Clearly the young Kitsune was hiding much from me but from what I could gather, the spear gives me a strong weapon and a decent defense but my body would remain in its weak human form. Choosing magic on the other hand would give me strength, speed, and the stamina to match these monsters in mortal combat with the downside that I may burn myself up. Though the spear was clearly the safer option I knew I was going to have to take a risk if I were to win against the Ushi-Oni.

“Magic”

“Good choice! But since we are going to go with magic I’m going to go weave a contract with you. You don’t mind waiting a bit spider freak?”

“All Ushi-Oni desire a good fight. And you are making this ninja worth fighting”

“Doctor”

“Whatever, now please give me your name so I can weave that contract of ours.”

I clenched my fists around my staff then deeply exhaled, resigning my fate to the petite Kitsune. I was caught between a rock and a hard place but this was no time to be choosey. The snow colored fox was giving me a way out and I would have to be an idiot to refuse any form of rescue at this point.

“My name is Jin, Jin Fujimoto. And I’m not actually a doctor yet, I’m just a medical intern.”

“A what?”

“STOP FLIRTING AND HURRY UP WITH THAT CONTRACT ALREADY”

“Geeze spider tits don’t gets your webbing in a bunch” pouted the fox “but she does have a good point though.”

Finishing her dialogue, the dainty fox lept from the roof she was lying one and daintily perched herself onto my shoulders. She then wrapped her plump thighs around my head and lightly pressed her crotch against the back of my head. Needless to say, I immediately blushed bright red.

“Aaaw Jin aren’t you just the cutest.” the tiny fox girl giggled while suggestively rubbing her thighs against my cheeks.

“Y-you haven’t told me your name yet.”

Grinning naughtily at my obvious attempt to change the topic the child giggled as she began to gently stroke my face with her twin silky tails.

“Oh yes, I do suppose you should learn the name of you cute cuddly companion form now on, my name is Setsuko Yukimura. Now that we are acquainted, Jin Fujimoto I name you vassal of my household.”

Setsuko then leaned her head down and gently kissed the top of my head. Then slowly my body began to fill with power as ancient symbols and holy energy began emanating from from my soul. My being was filled to the brim with power as Setsuko’s divine protection covered my body. Obviously pleased with her success, she nuzzled my hair with her cheek with a childish smile and giggled.

“Go get her tiger...”

A bit worried about the fact that the Yukimura was still riding my back I peeked up at her.

“Hey Yukimura get off my back I’m going to start fighting soon.”

“No can do Jin” she said while gently stroking my hair “This is our first contract so we have to keep in contact, without my touch you would revert immediately to your lowly human status.”

Gritting my teeth and accepting the fact that I was doomed to fight with a young girl’s crotch rubbing against the back of my head I quickly surveyed the situation. Before the only slight advantage I had against the Ushi-Oni was the fact that I was smaller than my monstrous foe. But now with Setsuko’s contract and my enchanted bamboo spear I now had the speed and the reach to fight on an equal level with my six legged stalker.

Releasing a jet of steam from my breath I made a quick step then shot in. With a deft sweep of my staff I aimed for the underside of the Ushi-Oni’s talons and aimed for the six joints under her legs.With a whirlwind of blows I deftly shattered her six legs with a resounding crunch. The Ushi-Oni let out a blood curdling screech and collapsed to the ground, her supports shattered. Despite smashing the demon’s iron like legs my staff did not break.

“See Jin-boy, with my enchantments you don’t even have to worry about that simple bamboo pole shattering. I’ve enchanted it to the hardness of even the greatest of steels,” boasted the fox.

I grunted back a response then sunk down low again. For the first attack I had the element of surprise but the Ushi-Oni was already getting up. It appeared the woman had a very robust regeneration technique implemented into her DNA.

“Lucky shot” bellowed the Ushi-Oni “BUT NOW ITS MY TURN!”

The Ushi-Oni charged into me and began to launch of flurry of blows into my direction. Her claws descended upon my staff like a war hammer. Each hit sinking deeper and deeper into my guard, I knew by instinct that she was going to break through.

After almost being pushed to the limit I quickly lunged back a few paces from the Ushi-Oni. Then I dug my staff deep into the ground and without a moments pause I shot a cloud rubble into the beast’s crimson eyes. With the demon blinded and hollering I shot into an alley, waiting for an opportunity.

“COME BACK HERE YOU BASTARD” the Ushi-Oni howled as she blindly thrashed around destroying houses and swiping her claws into empty air.

“Now’s your chance!” whispered the Setsuko “Her back is turned to you!”

With one light step I silently flickered back into striking range then unleashed a tempest of blows against her.

Arms
Head
Stomach
Spine
Legs
Thorax

I pounded a rain of blows against her body tearing muscle, pulverizing bones, and rupturing organs.  Screaming like a mad beast the Ushi-Oni tried to block my rain of blows with her claws but three precision strikes tore through her guard. Without mercy, I kept rhythmically striking her body, every hit scattering her tar black blood into the air like flowers. Finally the Ushi-Oni collapsed into a pile of her own blood unable to move or even regenerate.

I raised my staff up high, preparing to land the final blow.

The Ushi-Oni stared me straight into my eyes and growled.

“Do your worst boy.”

With a resounding crack I slammed my staff down into the Ushi-Oni’s head, shattering her skull and scattering the final spray of jet black blood into the ground. Then like a marionette with its strings cut I started to fall down.

-But what about the child on your back?-

“Shit”

Desperately I tried to bend my body in a fashion so that the child on my back wouldn’t slam into the ground with me. And through some miracle I managed to fall down onto my knees.

“Jin!”

The small girl quickly dropped off my shoulders then held my face with frightened shaking hands.

“Jin, please don’t die on me!” the tiny fox screamed.

Shaking like a leaf while staring into my face, tears began to form in her ruby eyes. Unable to bear the look of terror in her face I painfully forced a smile. Then in an attempt to comfort her I reached out my hand and gently caressed the top of her head.

“Don’t worry Setsuko, I’m just exhausted. Give me a few hours of rest and I’ll be up and running again.”

“Do you promise?” she mumbled while burying her face into my chest.

“Of course...”

And with that I drifted into the darkness.