189A/N: Oh minna-san! One question...this story has soooo many chapters. I don't know when it'll be finished. So...I decided to put a part 2 of Dimensions. It'll still be the same plot and all don't worry. I just want to put it in another separate story. It'll be called Dimensions 2. Keep an eye out for that and it'll be starting on Chapter 31.
Anyway, please enjoy! Thank you for all reviewing Dimensions! And thank you beta-reader HatefulShinobi. Also a shoutout to my friend livi510! You're the best!
Chapter 30: The Way of a Kochou Samurai
"Chotto matte! Kochou Demon? Right here, right now?!" Sanomi shouted.
"Hai! The pain that you are feeling is the pain that Akemi-sama is giving off from getting the demon out of the way. Your Kochou Dimension has gone haywire!" Chikako explained.
"Akemi-sama is fighting? Nani?!" Sanomi clutched her head.
"Don't give in Sanomi-chan! Akemi-sama is fighting for you!" Sanomi screamed once more from the pain she was receiving.
"Sanomi-chan!" Sakura ran over to her and a kunai was flying towards Sanomi. Kakashi blocked it once more and struck the Sound nin.
"Sanomi! Daijoubu ka?" Kakashi asked.
"H-Hai." Sanomi muttered. Sakura's eyes widened seeing a silver-haired little girl right by her side.
"W-Who are you?" Sakura asked.
"Ugh...no time to explain. Sakura, Sanomi. I'm assigning you an A-rank mission. Sakura, wake up Naruto and Shikamaru."
"What are we supposed to do?" The pink-haired kunoichi asked.
"You are to chase after Sasuke who is chasing after Gaara. I don't like the chakra that Suna has." Kakashi muttered. He then started to make hand signs with the blood on his thumb in order to do a Summoning jutsu. Out of nowhere a brown little bog with a Konoha headband appeared.
"This is Pakkun. He'll guide you on the mission. He's a Konoha shinobi, too. Sakura, do it now!"
"Hai!" As Sakura and the little dog, which surprisingly spoke, tried to wake the two boys, Sanomi walked over to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, I don't think this is a good idea. I don't like the number of people who are doing this mission." She muttered.
"The best idea is to stay here." Kakashi responded to her.
"NANI? THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! I WANT TO PROTECT SASUKE!" Sanomi shouted as she clutched her fist in her side. Three Sound nin were around the student and teacher. Sanomi and Chikako ducked down as Kakashi quickly defeated them with his fists.
"You will. After Pakkun and the others get out first you'll go next when the time is right. Chikako will guide you on the mission also, ne?" Kakashi eyed Chikako's tiny form. Chikako dusted off her cerulean dress and bowed.
"I-I'll do my best..." Chikako whispered.
"You sound hesitant about this..." Kakashi heard her tone of voice. Chikako lifted her head up and she nodded.
"Doushite?" He asked. Chikako fiddled with a good answer and she had no choice but to whisper it in Kakashi's ear.
"N-Nani?" He whispered madly.
"Hai." Chikako responded softly.
"Sanomi...the demon?" Kakashi questioned as he turned to her attention. Sanomi nodded gently and rubbed her arm playfully.
"Chikako..." Chikako faithfully lifted her head and took a look at the masked Jounin.
"Protect Sanomi at all costs." Kakashi commanded. Chikako nodded and she took out her Crest Steel Bow.
The arrows were in good condition and she took a good look at Sanomi. Sanomi was struggling with the pain that Akemi-sama was taking.
/Kuso.../ Chikako felt the smooth bow she was holding. She couldn't believe that she just left Akemi-sama at the dimension to fight on her own. She wanted to help dearly but remembered making a promise to her when she took guardianship of the Kochou Samurai.
/Protect the Kochou Samurai only. Not anyone else/ Chikako thought sadly.
If she disobeyed the rules then Akemi-sama would give a cruel punishment. But Chikako didn't care, she cared for both of them. When Chikako last left her, she gave a little amount of power to Akemi-sama in order to fight and transform to her Kochou Spirit form of a butterfly. She wasn't sure if it would be enough, but she did the best she could to help both of them.
Meanwhile, Sakura woke the two boys, even though Shikamaru was already awake from the start, which bothered Sakura. He received some good bites from Pakkun as punishment. Suddenly out of nowhere, a Sound nin was about to attack them but Maito Gai flew with a mighty kick. He made a hole in the wall in order for the group to get out. They went immediately so that Sakura could explain Naruto what was happening.
"Sanomi, hide behind a wall. Sound nins might sneak by, but you'll know what to do." Sanomi nodded and ran by a nearby wall with no Sound nin. As Chikako was following her Kakashi made one more comment to her.
"Don't let Sanomi overuse her Kochou chakra. If she does there are possibilities of the demon."
Chikako pouted, but he was right. She was doing her job accurately so that nothing bad would happen to Sanomi. This was Chikako's time. This was her time to protect Sanomi from any harm. But she was more worried about the Kochou Demon coming out of her body and using her.
/IIE! DON'T THINK ABOUT STUFF LIKE THAT!/ She scolded herself.
Chikako put her quiver of arrows behind her back. She had an arrow ready for any harm. She spotted a Sound nin behind her and Chikako swiftly flew her arrow through the ninja. He was dead in an instant and Chikako saw one more Sound nin trying to get Sanomi in the air. Chikako got one more arrow in her quiver and let it fly. The Sound nin had a kunai ready but felt so much pain in his side. He saw an arrow stuck to him and went down to the ground with a thud.
"Iie! Sanomi-chan!" Chikako spotted Sanomi fighting a Sound nin using punches and kicks. But every time she does a certain movement her eyes were turning onyx and crimson.
"Kochou Style: Petal Dance no jutsu!" Sanomi had a pink orb around her and sharp petals of cherry blossoms flew rapidly. The Sound nin had no chance since he was so close to Sanomi in order to make a move. Sanomi panted slowly and heard Chikako's shout.
"Nani?" Sanomi yelled.
"Don't fight!" Chikako shot an arrow at the Sound nin behind her and the Sound nin was out like a light.
"Naze desu ka?" Sanomi asked.
"Do you want the demon to take over you? Don't exchange blows! Your eyes are already on that stage!" Chikako was practically yelling at her.
/Oh...Akemi-sama.../ Chikako thought madly to herself. She wasn't being herself at that time since she was on an important mission.
Sanomi's Dimension
/Ah! Kuso!/ Akemi-sama was virtually using all her strength with her Kochou form. The Kochou Demon was finally in its true form.
/Damn.../
The Kochou Demon had crimson eyes like thick blood from a fatal murder of a shinobi. It was a gigantic butterfly but filled with darkness. It had most unusual beauty because of the darkness of itself. Akemi-sama could see through the wall and that the demon was no pushover.
/How did it receive this much strength?/ Akemi-sama thought.
/It's been years ever since.../
The demon screeched like a sonic wave. Loud and furious it wanted to come out right now. Rocks and cracks crumbled through the dimension and all that Akemi could do was push. The demon was reaching closer out of the wall and Akemi could feel that Sanomi was receiving the eyes, but barely. She cursed herself and pushed more.
/Sanomi...hold on a bit longer.../ Akemi grew weak...and the demon went through the wall. It started to change form...
Ninja World
Chikako made a Kochou shield for Sanomi so that no one would hurt her. The shield was Chikako's own shield, which was a sapphire orb that had the Kochou symbol in the front. But it couldn't shield Sanomi's frantic screaming of the demon. It was Chikako's last bit of energy she had after giving energy to Akemi-sama.
/Kuso.../ Chikako cursed and saw that more Sound nin were coming behind her. Chikako pierced the heart of the ninjas and they fell in a clash. Chikako sprinkled tiny bit of glitter in her quiver and few arrows appeared inside.
"Chikako-san!" Kakashi shouted. Chikako saw that Sanomi was down on her knees.
"Sanomi-chan." Chikako whispered. She went behind the wall and saw that Sanomi's eyes were both crimson.
"Sanomi! Sanomi! Don't give in!" Chikako bellowed with all her might. Chikako received some scratches on her cheek but she didn't care right now.
"Chi-Chikako-s-san..." Sanomi whispered weakly.
"Sanomi please!" Chikako shouted. A shadowy aura filled Sanomi's body. She made a sharp grin. Chikako gasped.
"Well...nice to see you again...Chikako." It was no longer Sanomi's voice. It was the Kochou Demon. The voice was full of fear and sinister to its owner yet it was a woman's voice.
"Mekia..." Chikako whispered.
"Ah...you remember my name...wonderful..." The Kochou Demon never spoke of a name. But since Chikako was going to be a future spirit she had to know the history of Mekia.
"Urusei!" Chikako shouted, "Get out of Sanomi's body right now!"
"Hah," Mekia spoke, "what a little girl you are. I don't know what Akemi sees in you. And why should I get out of this body? This mortal is wonderful to control..." Mekia stared around the room seeing that shinobi were fighting fiercely.
"Useless bunch, ne?" Mekia asked. Chikako shook her fists tightly. She wanted to hurt Mekia badly, but she'll be hurting Sanomi in the process.
/Akemi-sama...what should I do?/ Chikako closed her eyes with frustration.
"What's the matter? Afraid to hurt me? Well then, I'll just hurt you!" Mekia had unleashed a gigantic axe using Sanomi's body.
The axe was covered with fire at the tip and she started to rush over towards the little girl. Chikako dodged it in a flash and she changed into her Kochou form. The axe was large but it couldn't outmatch Chikako's flying speed. Chikako kept on dodging as much as she could.
/I need help.../ Chikako flew high in the air and Mekia started to follow her. Now was the time to find Sasuke and the others without telling Kakashi that they left. Sanomi's body had grew black devil wings so Mekia had time to follow.
Sanomi's Dimension
/K-K-Kuso.../ Akemi fell to the ground. Silence filled the air in the lonely dimension.
/S-S-Sanomi.../Akemi no longer had the butterfly form but was wearing a torn kimono. The wall had a humongous hole made by Mekia herself. Akemi tried to hold on but it wasn't enough. She closed her eyes of exhaustion but she laid perfectly still and alive.
Now she really had to do something. Mekia was in the mortal world where she wasn't suppose to be. The seal that Akemi closed up on Mekia was very strong. What made the Kochou Demon appear out of no where and total her seal?
/Chikako...watashi wa.../ Akemi struggled to open her eyes, but she laid motionless on the ground.
Ninja World: Forest
"You know you want to battle me, Chikako! Fight!" Mekia kept on screaming as Chikako was flying high in the air. Chikako led her to the forest that the group was. She screeched in a bone-chilling voice,
"Koi you coward! Koi so I can kill you!"
/Sanomi.../ Chikako thought for a moment and she had an idea. She transformed back to her human form with butterfly wings and presented the bow to Sanomi's, or should I say Mekia's face?
"The Crest Steel Bow? You haven't obtained that much attacks ever since my imouto gave that to you." Mekia responded. Chikako relaxed herself and only focused on getting Sanomi back. She had less energy and she had to use the final blow towards Mekia.
"Crest Steel Bow Release!" Chikako formed hand signs and in her hand was a rainbow arrow. She held the bow in her hand and connected it with the arrow.
"Take this!" Chikako let go of the bow and the arrow was flying swiftly towards Sanomi's body. It didn't pierce the body, but pierced the soul of Mekia. The dark soul was on the ground and Sanomi was rubbing her forehead softly. She was finally out of the demon's control.
"N-Nani yo?" Sanomi shook her head.
"No time to explain." Chikako pointed weakly to where Sanomi wanted to look. Sanomi's eyes widened.
"A-Akemi-sama?"
"Iie...that's her tsuin...Mekia: the Kochou Demon."
Mekia had dark brown hair that reached her waist. She was wearing a dark purple dress that went down on her ankles and had a black cape behind her back. Unlike Akemi she had crimson eyes of death, long sharp fingernails, and a dark aura all around the area. Whenever the aura touched a plant, leaves fade away like ash.
Sanomi whispered, "T-Tsuin?" Chikako nodded her head with agreement.
"Sanomi, there's something that you need to know." Chikako gripped her bow tightly, "the Kochou Demon can take away life away from the world. There's a reason why we have the legendary Kochou Samurai such as yourself." Sanomi focused her Kochou chakra and her swift sword appeared in her hand. Mekia just scoffed.
"The Kochou Samurai has a purpose in life. To protect the ones that are in danger in the ninja world. However there is one thing..."
"...And that would be?" Sanomi muttered.
"... defeat the Kochou Demon from 50 years ago."
/F-Fifty years?/ Sanomi thought.
"Kochou Samurai Mirai had weakened Mekia long ago. Once she was weakened, Akemi-sama sealed her own sister away, who was the demon. However, Akemi-sama didn't want to kill her own sister so she sealed her away instead in a mind of a baby. Didn't matter where this baby was...or what time period this baby could be."
"Time period...or place...sealed-" Sanomi's eyes widened.
"Y-You mean to say that I-I-I-"
"Hai...Sanomi...you were that baby..." Chikako whispered and turned her head away of shame.
"Mirai...was destined for a different reason. She owned the sword and blacksmith shop from her family. Her family's ancestors were the Kochou People, who were no longer living because of a tragic incident..."
A soft wind was blowing through the trees as they were silent. Both were standing still, turning away from each. Being honest was the best thing that the Kochou Samurai and Guardian have in common. But when it came to being dishonest...Mekia could only chuckle.
"My, my...nice to know the truth, huh my dear?" Mekia called out.
"I'm sorry for not telling you earlier...but it was Akemi-sama's orders..." Chikako opened her eyes, seeing that Sanomi was in a state of shock.
"Chikako..." Chikako looked at Sanomi, "I want to talk about something later..." Chikako's eyes widened. She thought that the teen would explode with anger and she was a very sensitive person. How could she not talk about it?
"Right now..." Sanomi gripped her Kochou Sword tightly, glaring at Mekia.
"So, you're aiming at me other than the guardian you trusted. Too bad. I'll leave you fools alone for now." Mekia went through Sanomi's body yet Sanomi wasn't being controlled anymore.
"GET OUT RIGHT NOW AND FIGHT!" Sanomi shouted.
"Not now...I must fight my sister...since she is so close to death that I want to finish her..." Chikako gasped quietly and she clutched her left fist tightly.
/Chikako!/ Chikako heard her name being called and it was Akemi.
/Daijoubu Akemi-sama?/ Chikako asked.
/H-Hai. I'll be okay. Promise that you'll look after Sanomi. I still have enough power left./
/Akemi-sama, Mekia will be there to get you. Stay cautious!/
/Right./ Akemi-sama's voice was no longer heard and Chikako stood there looking at Sanomi silently.
She knew right now that Sanomi was confused. Chikako felt so guilty, not even telling her a thing about how destiny chose Sanomi to be the one. Sanomi would've been the same ordinary middle-school student and would now be going on to high school. But now she was dragged in on this situation.
"Chikako-san." Chikako saw Sanomi look up in the sky.
"Hai?" Chikako responded.
"I'm glad you told me the truth. Usually Akemi-sama would tell me everything. Demo...she didn't tell me every little thing. You are the one that cleared up any question in my mind. I know why I'm here. I'm destined to be the Kochou Samurai of the legend." Chikako was in a verge of tears, but Sanomi prevented her from crying.
"I'm not mad or anything, Chikako-san. I'm just glad there's a purpose for me. I was drawn to this world to have a purpose. I guess this is it, being a Kochou Samurai in an unknown world." She smirked,
"It's a different feeling that I never felt before in my life. I'm not...doing anything stupid or cause anyone to feel bad, yet," She continued more, "I'm...confused about something else..." Sanomi's voice the whole time was monotone.
"I'm really sorry..." Chikako whispered.
"Don't be..." Chikako opened her eyes and saw Sanomi clutching the handle of the Kochou Sword, "...you don't need to be so loyal. After all I'm just a beginning high school student. Everyday I always wondered why I'm a Kochou Samurai. Sometimes I wish to be an animal. They run, swim, or fly free whenever they want to. But they're just like humans..."
Sanomi spotted a pallid butterfly by a daisy and Sanomi crouched down in the soft grass. She pointed a finger so that the butterfly would crawl up.
"A butterfly flies free with its beautiful colors, yet this one doesn't have colors. Every butterfly is different from one another. Some say that the prettiest one is the most saddest one."
"Why is that?" Chikako asked. Sanomi chuckled.
"Even though it has pretty colors it feels bad for the other butterflies. They don't have the same beauty as itself. Sometimes it wishes to be the same, but it can't. A butterfly has many different characteristics yet it loves being what they are."
The butterfly flew out of Sanomi's hand and Sanomi stood up. A light wind went passed her and she breathed in the air.
"A butterfly can fly free...like me..." She whispered to herself.
"Chikako..." Chikako opened her eyes to look at her.
"I adore you a lot. You remind me of my childhood." Chikako had a faint pink blush on her cheeks.
"I wonder...what you would look like as an adult..." Chikako turned her head away but then she heard a kunai clash in Sanomi's sword.
"Who's there?!" Sanomi shouted. Chikako went inside Sanomi's mind and saw that there were Sound ninja staring at her.
"All right you brat. Where is the group who's looking for Sasuke?" A Sound nin asked harshly.
"Well first of all I'm part of that group." Sanomi revealed.
/Sanomi!/ Chikako shouted.
/Don't worry. I'm winging it./ Sanomi responded.
"Hm? You are? Tough luck kid, but you're time just ran out!" A Sound nin ran towards her and Sanomi could only close her eyes. She wanted to feel the pain of how a Sound nin was fought.
But it never came.
"Hey-what the?" Sanomi opened her eyes and gasped.
"Shikamaru-san!" Sanomi saw Shikamaru using his Shadow Possession jutsu. The Sound nin could not move from this jutsu.
"Hm. Sanomi. You're suppose to be with the group." Sanomi stood up and grasped her sword.
"I'm the 2nd group you know. But I'm glad you're here." Sanomi responded.
"I'm just a decoy, Sanomi. Sakura and Naruto already left with the dog. I'm trying to slow down these guys from getting them." Shikamaru groaned.
/He's running out of chakra./ Sanomi thought.
"Shikamaru, don't do this anymore! I'll fight!"
"No." Sanomi's eyes widened. Shikamaru just said no?
"N-Nani?" Shikamaru groaned.
"I know I'm not one of those guys that would want to do anything, but this is serious. Sanomi, you just had your match and you must still be injured."
"Demo, you had your match earlier than me. Your Shadow Possession jutsu contains a huge amount of chakra. Your chakra is still running low after fighting Temari! Don't push it!"
"Don't argue with me!" Sanomi gasped at the sudden response. Shikamaru struggled to hold on more with his chakra.
"Sanomi...join the group. I'm the decoy. These Sound nin are no big deal. Go now!" Shikamaru shouted.
"Matte-"
"GO!" Shikamaru remembered something. Pakkun said there was a ninth Sound nin following them. Shikamaru sensed the ninth one up in the tree. He tried to use a small amount of the jutsu but it wouldn't reach.
/Oh great...I'm done for.../ Shikamaru thought as the Shadow Possession jutsu faded away. He was still pissed as Sanomi was still with him.
"What are you doing? I told you to go!" Shikamaru shouted at her. Sanomi went in front of him with the sword at hand.
"Go!" Shikamaru argued. But Sanomi was still remaining in her place.
"Man...girls are troublesome..." He muttered.
"I heard that!" Sanomi had an anime vein on her head.
"Well it's true..." Shikamaru said.
"Shikamaru-san, no time for that!" Sanomi pointed to the Sound nin in front of them.
"Is this girl a joke? Playing with a sword is dangerous." The Sound nin was about to get them when suddenly Asuma went behind Shikamaru.
He had the ninth Sound nin unconscious under his arm. Asuma started to fight them with so much force that Sanomi and Shikamaru could only stare. The Sound nin fainted or retreated away from the small group.
"Shikamaru, well done. You can rest now." Shikamaru stared at him. Sanomi made a nod and a smile for him. Shikamaru moaned with lack of chakra.
"Kariko Sanomi right?" Sanomi heard that Asuma spoke with her.
"Hai." Asuma grinned.
"Shikamaru will be fine under my aid. Catch up with the group."
"Are you sure?" Sanomi asked.
"Ee." Sanomi gave a quick thought and nodded.
"Ja ne." Sanomi went up on top of the trees and Asuma said one more thing.
"Be careful!" Sanomi put a thumbs-up and went through the vast forest where there was more danger awaiting her.
Sanomi's Dimension
"Ah!" Her older sibling Mekia was kicking Akemi roughly.
The dimension was half destroyed and Akemi had to do something immediately before the dimension would be gone forever. If it does go away, the mind of a Kochou Samurai would cease to exist. To prevent Sanomi from getting hurt again, Akemi-sama had shield Sanomi's mind so she wouldn't feel the pain of battle. Akemi used a huge amount of energy needed for the shield so she had to persevere as much as possible.
"Shouldn't you be strong? You are the Kochou Spirit." Mekia chuckled. Akemi clutched dirt on the ground.
"Mekia! Why? Why did you go to the dark side?" Akemi questioned sadly as she struggled to get up. Mekia thought about answering the question but,
"It doesn't concern you."
"IT DOES CONCERN ME! Tell me now!" Akemi screamed as a shadow ball was now hitting her.
"Why should I tell you? Things are left unsaid imouto. Live with it...or not live at all." Mekia smirked.
"Iie..."
"Nani?!" Mekia bellowed.
"I'll live." Akemi stood up trembling but she did her best to stand up straight in front of her sister, "I'll live to stop you. The only time I die is by protecting the Kochou Samurai."
"Hm..." Mekia muttered, "you are just as pathetic..." Mekia grew one more shadow ball. But once she saw that Akemi disappeared she was shocked.
"D-Doko?"
"Right here!" Mekia turned around and the only thing that she saw was a bright light in front of her eyes.
She was blinded and saw that Akemi used her Kochou Style: Light Beam tactic. Mekia stood up as she rubbed her eye. In a blink Akemi was in front of her and she fought her hardest. Using a crystal kunai she slashed Mekia's sleeve and Mekia backed away from her.
"Smart..." Mekia grinned evilly. Akemi panted slowly. The Kochou Spirit and Demon remained standing and continued the fight...