Saint Joseph School

((OOC: This is cronos "maturation" story it starts alittle before today and progresses in stages this is just the begining of his battle with some tsoo out for a scroll that teaches a deadly fighting style his master has keep sercret from the world. This is his own little secret fight thats going to end up takeing the kid out of crono and molding him into the warrior he will become. Hence the aditude changes and what not. There still exists the inablity to focus and take controle of his personality but its to instill in him the warrior he must become to defend what he truly chaerishes in the world. Me beign sick in rl isent helping the quality of the stroy but im trying my best to get it out befor crono out-levels where i really intended the story to take place hehehe

Content:
-Intro
-Part 1 Strike of the Smoke Leopard (1) (2) ))


Crono smiled and adjusted the frames that his friend Ibuki gave him. “Hey There” he said

“Crono!” Eshva exclaimed.

The two meet in an unusual spot, Williams square in the Founders Falls district. The city was beautiful, it was a cool day and the massive waterfall they sat under was serine in its own way, the pillars that held up the ring around the square cast there morning shadows upon the two as they sat.

“Here...” She said holding out an envelope.

“Oh good you got it, I’m sorry that I had to have you do this so early” he said carefully taking the envelope. Without a question of to what its contents where or of its importance, He smiled liking that about her he wouldn’t want to worry her of its purpose or contents.

They reminisced for a moment about a few serious topics mainly about what happened after she blacked out and about there friend Glacial Mass. He pointed out that he was taking it quite hard and his anger almost got the better of him. He could tell that she was worried about him expressing concerns about him not being around. Another topic came up about the failure drow that arrived the night of her being hospitalized. Crono reassured her that he has taken care of him to relive some of the stress on her mind. He was fully aware of his motivations and his lust for power that lies with one of the other students he used Eshva to get to, and so where many others as it seemed.

The morning sun rose a bit more into the sky taking away there solitude of shade knowing that school was about to start she left Crono on the ledge of the fountain but Crono’s concerns where not with his classes, nether with his good friend Ibuki there where some concerns that where rising up within his mind that he knew would take place once he started to take on the Tsoo, These so called warriors where nothing but fluffed up Yakuza who thought they knew kung fu but after knocking off one of there more important member they became aware of Crono's presence. His contacts warned him about this and other things.

He watched his friend disappear from the square his mind focused on her. A smile was about his face as he studied her movements. She was truly a great girl. He took a moment to take in the solitude of the empty square before opening the envelope. Reaching in he pulled out a few peaces of parchment on it where peaces of an old document written in ancient chines escaped the envelope. He took a moment to look over the parchment, they where only puzzle peaces from what he understood it was part of a style of fighting a document that was a codex for a way….a dark form of fighting. The peaces of parchment had a yellow tint to indicate its age and just touching them gave him a chill.

They where important to Master Wushu somehow, he didn’t know why and again he was never supposed to open the envelope. It didn’t matter anyway like the old man would ever know; at least he had an idea of what he was getting into. He shoved the peaces neatly back into the envelope, It was time to head back to the temple to talk to his master. Williams square was not empty, he could feel eyes about him……..

Part 1-Strike of the Smoke Leopard (1)


He stopped a moment a breeze passed him he reached up taking the envelope and putting it into his Brest pocket, It dematerialized and was literally sucked into a device he war on the inside of his vest. Facing down an ally the breeze stopped …what was that? Footsteps? Wait…. No! DUCK! With a surprise attack on him and arrow flew past his ear, the vision was slowed as he watched the arrow only centimeters from his face wisp past him and into the brick wall of the building next to him.

In the time it took him to turn around there where twelve arrows and bows all drawn on him there was a quick moment of silence these where not ordinary warriors there figures where not normal. The one strait in front of him had his eyes exposed they where black a silver glow on the inside…void of feeling or remorse. They where all dressed like Tsoo there gear was a dark gray tattered and torn as if they spend years in a grave. Shadow warriors in the day? They must be after the scroll fragments! He clenched his fists a few times and started his face knowing that the ally there was only death there was no escape he had to fight this one on his own.

There was a brief moment of silence from both sides Crono was outmatched. He needed a way out. His peripheral vision scanned each of the shadow Tsoo, each bore a katana on there back and most likely a set of surikens, twelve arrows…I wonder if… The thump of the tightly strung bow released one after another all twelve seemingly simultaneously. Crono had no choice time dilated around him and he crouched down and his hands touched the ground, like a spring he shot into a forward roll and his boots barley passed under the arch of the twelve arrows. He came back into reality in front of the lead Tsoo and laid a powerful strike with his fist in the shape of a tiger’s claw. Landing perfectly on his chest, the stunned warrior stumbled back a few feet and then dropped his bow and his focus on the lead he forgot about the other eleven…All of them with there katana only inches away from his face. No time to think only act! His legs bent and his right leg fired out into his a dragons tail sweeping his opponents to the ground the last three anticipated the maneuver by taking a step back and there arms pulled there weapons up and lunged after the kick to a vertical slice. Crono pushed with his hands on the ground sending him in a roll away from the three. He came up into a stand and lunged backwards into a back flip as another blade came from his side swiping to the side as his back arched and his hands where on the cement. Encircled again he redirected his momentum into a spin using his hands to fluently execute a spin kick with both lags sending the warriors back. Onto his feet again he swiped his tiger claw outward and into one of the Tsoo, it contacted sending him into his friend. His other arm rebounded and knocked another Tsoo away from him his arms pulled to his sides as his foot struck a thunderous blow to the head of the Tsoo in front of him. His body flowed back into a viper stance and he weaved and slithered his way through a volley of Katana blades. He gained some footing and his boot trusted back and his hand struck forward into a punch at his opponents. Both sent flying from the circle. Avoiding another volley of katana he bent his knee and tumbled forward out of the circle into a Crain stance, closely behind him five warriors with there deadly sword’s came to him. Each running at him there swords already in the air ready to slice, but his feet where faster than there swords. His Foot collided with the face of the first warrior cutting him a path though there deadly swipes. He could hear an odd noise from the warrior as his foot contacted with his body, he wasn’t human… He fallowed up with a storm kick knocking one of the others down and a volley of fist attacks. Each blocked by there black steel gauntlets, Decorated in a hand carved leopard. He flipped again and then into the square more….there was still an empty silence as they gathered numbers in twelve before him this time they where between him and the exit.

There was that breeze again…… a peace of paper gracefully danced in the wind. His breath heavy sweat dripping from his forehead the breeze offered a cool solution to his body heat. Both sides caught a breath of air before they charged each other in a fit of furry. Crono’s foot meet with the chest of one of the warriors with the momentum he pushed him off and trusted his foot into another. A swipe and another he could feel there dark steel near his skin the wind parting at the molecular level. His fist meet with the bodies of more blocks kicks and punches he speed up the space around him and his movements quickened it wasn’t enough though the shadow warriors seemed to keep up with his assaults. A cloud passed between the sun and the ground and the square darkened. Something manifested into the warriors as the stood back ready to face off again. There katana had tendrils of dark around them and there eyes the same all twelve executed there stances again and Crono moved back into a wide legged serpents stance. He did not understand this change; out of nowhere it came confusing the young warrior.

They charged him once more. He steeped back and took the opportunity to strike at one of the foes his hands flat and stiff like a vipers tooth. But as he struck flesh to flesh the Tsoo vanished into a cloud of black smog, then manifested on the other side of his palm. A most confused look came about him it cost him a sliver of flesh along his arm. His stance was broke and his hand went to tend to the cut on his bicep. The feeling of intense pain ripped into him, though the shadowy blade posed more of a chill, a chill that ran deep within his very soul. He winced and felt another on his leg the smoke leopard's claw licked his skin and made a wound that stabbed at his soul. He tumbled from the group stumbling from his wounds. The feeling was short lived and he was able to regain his motivation. Again into his Serpent stance he went. Unknowing of how to fight them there where so many for the young man to handle, Shit…

They charged him once more two by two they passed him there claws reaching out to strike him. His runes activated along his back and legs allowing him to bob and weave in his stance anticipating there attacks. The last two coming though there line attacked him from either side and there katana trusted inward. There was his opportunity, His body coiled back and his hands struck out grabbing there dark gauntlets and led there arms and there weapons into each other and with a howl the twelve became ten. The bodies went from flesh into smoke and a leopard like effigy shot from them back into the neither of the shadows. The ten stood struck and then rage…That was it the swords! Of there own kind somehow where able to be used agents them. The ten charged at Crono, his body crunched and he tumbled under there swipes and slashes and took into his hands the two Katana. They where old he could feel there dark energies flowing into him. It burned at him but it was the only way. With both swords in hands he swung them back hitting the lower leg of two more and they like the first two vaporized into dust. Ten became eight and eight he fought. With the twisted neither reaching at him he was barley able to strake back with the weapons of there own making. Swords clashed and they did so with purple sparks the magical energy that flowed through the weapons conflicted making low tings and spark, sounds of otherworldly energies colliding. Like Metal shears swords swiped, clashed, and a very close dangerous game of life and death was played out. He felt the shadow reaching into him his time energy was distorting and he was losing focus. His mind clouded with random thoughts and voices, it cost him another hit in same arm as befor. He winced again as the mark of the leopard dug into his soul and he chilled for a moment dropping a sword feeling half of the twisted feeling that griped his soul leave. He stumbled for a moment and winced as the eight drew back and reformed there line. He regained himself and took a two handed kendo stance with his weapon. Kendo was something he excelled at….but his teachings where lost in his jumbled thoughts. He shook his head and prepared for the attack.

Once again the Shadow warriors struck out at him the eight fingered leopard claw slammed down on the one sword as Crono blocked. He could feel the twisted darkness flowing from the eight swords and amplify his own. A lopards claw grasped his soul hits fangs neared...and he was forced to his knee barley holding up the eight blades. No…. I will not fail!! The energies that be over loaded and a bright flash of dark energy sent the eight into a disoriented state and on his knee Crono stood and lunged taking all eight out with clean and deadly swipes. They faded into nothing and the time warrior fell to his knees out of breath. He dropped the sword and it made an odd ping to the ground as the blade touched the cement.

Out of energy and out of breath his thoughts raced through his head his glasses fell to the ground and his eyes widened barley able to take the mental strain that was his mind. AH …….AHHHHH ….GET OUT ……FOCUSES …..HOLD ON!..... He held his head and closed his temples rubing them hard and began breathing before collapsing onto the ground holding his head regaining his thoughts feeling the shadow pass.

As the cloud passed and the sun hit the square once more he stood to his feet and around him where the mangled bodies of dry husks each where he slayed the shadow Tsoo. Something in the light… there bides twitched and they disintegrated into a fine black powder, there weapons and all and the wind carried the remains off.

Something then occurred to him. Flashing to the memories of holding the scroll peaces…the same dark feeling he got by holding it, it resembled the same shadowy feeling he got wile holding the dark katana……

He held his arm again over his wounds feeling the blood pore from the clean cuts “What a fucking mess” he griped turning to leave the square…Master Wushu had some explaining to do.

Part 1-Strike of the Smoke Leopard (2)


The trip to the temple in Talos was easy enough, lingering in his young mind was questions. What was this all about? What was with the shadow Tsoo? It never made since to him. Just the feeling he was dragged into this by his master. A slight hint of anger crossed over his mind, that old fuck is getting me into trouble again…Coming out of his thought he was in front of two medium sized wooden doors the temple grounds where not as large and extravagant but showed a lot of Asian architecture and design. The roofs where made of clay tile and there bends and curves showed great detail. It was always amazing to see Asian culture reach so far away from it roots.

He bowed to some of the older monks they where near the door, they bowed back with a wrinkled smile on there face and continued about there duties around the temple. The courtyard was open and lush with a koi pond as well as Asian shrubbery that lined the pond; grass covered the rest of the grounds. Stone paved walkways slithered there way around the temple like a sleeping dragon, Crono always liked walking the path’s they where serine and when we walked the compound it tended to calm and relax the young fighter. The outdoor training area was open to a class. The Instructor was Master Chou; He wasn’t too fond of Crono because of his skill at such a young age. All of the students never held Chou to a higher standard anyway he was a bit jealous and unbecoming when it came to students who showed potential. On of them in particular was another younger student who showed great potential in the Kung Fu arts. His name was Lance, and he was well if you had to ask Crono, he would respond “That guys a dick” Lance was mentioned as the top student at the temple, he had won several award’s before Crono’s arrival at several national and international tournaments and it all went to his ego. That clashed the first time Crono and Lance had to fight. Witch if you asked Crono was rigged because he was never fully welcomed into the temple by the students because of Lance….Jerk…

He glanced at the drills where going on and caught a quick glance from Lance. His eyes shot at him angrily, Oh Jesus…he thought Biff was one thing but to deal with Biff and Lance. Crono bit his lip and shook his head as he limped his way into the main part of the temple...Dont look its not worth it...

The thud of boot on the wood floor broke the temple master from his meditation. The China man was dressed in fine silk wares, light blue and white underneath. His long mustache and beard, keep strait its color was bright white losing its color from time. Crono always wondered why he never tripped on the darn thing it seemed to drag on the floor. Because of Crono’s rude entry he was meet with a sharp glance by his insulted instructor.

Crono opened his mouth to speak and was meet by the harsh tone of his master. “What is the matter with you…what are you some kind of DOG!?” his hand reached to his facial hair and stroked down the soft strands. His eyes where waiting for some kind of explanation. Crono began to say something again and was interrupted again “What do you think this is Crab Shack!?, You Stupid?! Idiot! Dog! Is that what *I* have been teaching to?? A DOG? No A Dog has more manors than you!” He tossed his facial hair over his shoulder and got up he was walking quite quickly at Crono. Crono stood there in a panic …Oh no!!... he practically leapt to the ground in bowing to the ground kissing his for head to the cold wooden floor of the temple and began explaining himself franticly “I-I-I was …” Crono didn’t get any more out before he was brutally smacked in the side by his masters foot. The pain shot strait though him, enough to hurt more than leave any kind of mark or injury. He fell to his side and scrambled to get back into the bow on the floor. “You where what!?” his master spouted out. “Rudely coming into *My* Temple, I thought I was teaching a student, not some kind of animal!”

“I’m sorry Mas…” Crono managed to spew out again before receiving another kick in the ribs. Falling to his side and franticly fighting the pain to get back on his hands and knees.

His master turned around and looked the other way from his insulting pupil. “I bet you didn’t even get it did you!?” he grunted out angrily “AH a dog who can fetch!”

His master about faced sharply and his glance shot at a manila envelope that lay on the floor before the groveling student.…And then the… The temple filled with a taunting laughter form his master. He reached down taking the envelope and his other hand retrieved and stroked his facial hair.

“Get up what are you!? Some kind of animal?!” he shot out and turned started walking towards a room. Crono clenched his ribs with his hands and winced in the pain. He scuttled to his feet and started to hastily walk after his master. Being right behind him almost into his masters study, when the door was slammed shut in his face. Crono stopped abruptly with the sliding door centimeters from his face. Grimace came over his face as he sighed and looked down …Man …what did I do now?!...

“What are you waiting for!? Get in here!! I have to teach you to open door to DOG!?” yelling ensued striking out at him like a whip from his Asian master.

“Yes Master Wu-“ cut off again. “I WATING!”

Crono bit his lip holding back the words as his fist clenched …Asshole… He opened the door and the room was decorated in various objects urns, vases, all decorated in elegant paintings of Asian background. There was a few shelf’s lined with finely trimmed bonsai trees. In the center his master was firmly seated on a pillow and a small table between him and another sitting pillow. They where lush red and bordered in gold threads. On the table where a simple tea set the steam rose slowly as his master poured the dark brew from the spout. Crono took off his boots leaving them outside the door then steeped in bowed and closed the door behind him before sitting in front of his master. He was presented with tea and the both bowed respectfully and they both drank a moment of silence came upon the two as they silently siped the hot tea.

“You opened it…” Wushu said. His voice showed concern his eyes closed as he talked in a strait calm manor.

“Yeah…” Crono talked in the same manor.

“Then you see them…” A silent moment between the two.

Crono sipped his tea. “…Yeah.”

“They won’t stop…”

“I figured.”

Wushu eyed the bandage on his arm and then closed hi eyes. Crono looked out the window towards one of the large trees what swayed in the wind of the city, he sipped the last of his tea and set the cup down and continued to stair.

“What was symbol on the Warriors?” Master Wushu asked.

“It was black steel decorated in a leopard striking form the shadow.”

“Smoke leopard is a dangerous foe. His warriors will attack you from the shadow. He is most dangerous.” His voice was still strait and stern as he sipped the last of his tea.

“What did you get me into *old man*?”

Master Wushu sipped the last of the tea and looked at Crono his voice was serious showing an underlying concern “You …Got yourself into this….You looked into the package.”

Crono was silent for a moment before his master spoke again “I tell you story Cronology…Long ago there was monk and ninja both on adventure to far away…There journey was to the far reaches of shadow plain. There distend meeting was fate they where Yin and Yang both sent to reset balance of this world agents evil known as Void Dragon. Much like your Order, Void Dragon uses mystics to slip in and out of space and time. There battle led them though many plains of space. Void Dragon was danger to all of man he was jellious and hated men; even though he could not walk this plain he could still use influence to control avatars of his own image. Four avatars of Void Dragon where made, Storm Shadow Tiger, Black Crane, Venom Snake, and of course Smoke Leopard.”

The master Sighed before continuing

“The monk and the ninja defeated the avatars and traveled to the void to defeat Void Dragon. The battle was said to take as long as a million years but only take plaice within a matter of moments. The laws that bind us here where different from that of the void, but the monks and ninjas arts where formed into an art that they both thought each other. Mixing the teachings of Ninjitsu and Shaolin Kung Fu they formed a great art that was used to defeat the dragon and banish him into the depths of the void. The cost however was monk life. With only Ninja knowing the art traveled though the lands stricken with hatred and sorrow that his other half was lost and gave into the shadow and wreaked havoc upon any in his path. Ninja thought this art and wrote it down on scroll, the scroll of the Tenma Ryuu, Way of Demon. Void Dragon survived and made new more deadly Avatars of him self. He knows that the Scrolls exist and on the scrolls is the teaching of katana technique that teaches user to tear open world into the void. Void Dragon wishes to use technique to come unto this plain and wreak his vengeance upon the Tenma Ryuu and the earths people.”

There was a silence in the room as the master looked out the window.

“Last Tenma Ryuu entrusted fragments of scroll to many people. I have most of scroll Void Dragon has some. Now that you know story then you will be part of its history young grass hopp’a, I am to old to protect it and now that Void knows where last scrolls are Shadow Leopard will be lurking in every corner of Paragon looking for scroll.”

Crono with a stern look on his face looks over at his master “This inset my fight old man.”

“FOOL!” He shouts “It became your fight when you opened the envelope and touched the scrolls!”

“WELL IT’S NOT MY FIGHT AND I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT!” Crono screamed back in a fit of anger. This was an outrage …Why me!?... His fist slammed on the table between them

“You!!” His master spouted angrily “Are an outrage to this dojo you bring disgrace!!!” He pointed rudely “Out!!! GET OUT OF MY TEMPLE!!! FOOLISH CHIELD!!!”

Crono stood at a loss for words in his anger he stepped out of the room throwing the door open and placing his boots back on angrily moving out of the main hall of the temple.

As Crono made his way down the steps of the temple onto the winding path he was greeted by lance. Leaning agents a tree with his arms across his chest. And a ginger smirk on his face like he got what he wanted.

“Hey Crono, What’d yeah do to piss off the old man now hua?” he said in an amazingly annoying tone of voice that Crono had no tolerance for.

“Fuck you Lance…” Crono snapped back.

Lance stepped out in front of Crono like he does every time he wants a challenge. Crono went to step around him his looking down and Lance stepped right in his way again still with the smirk on his face. “Come on Cro…”

Crono’s fist plowed into the tree nearly dislocating every bone in his left hand but leaving a fist sized depression in the bark. Lance for a moment looked stunned but played it cool, stepping out of his way backing off a bit “Ok …ok …”

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Lance Watched Crono exit the temple the monks in the garden where watching him leave in silence as if they knew what had happened going back on there dally tasks. Lance turned looking around and gingerly walked into the temple hands behind his back as if to mind his own business. He weaved in and out between the pillars of the mane hall and stopped once he got a nice line of site view into Master Wushu’s Chamber. Master Wushu was standing there with and envelope in his hand facing away from the door. Lance smiled widely a tint of wicked ness as he saw the envelope. He darted off silently and made his way off the grounds of the temple. As the afternoon sun cast a gloom over the wall he stood there outside the walls and spoke confidently the tone of wickedness in his words. As he saw Crono walking off in the distance down the path. Still smirking

“Just like I told you its all here…”

Upon the ground was Lances shadow and a figure steeped from it a dark looking Tsoo Enforcer wearing black off grey baggy battered clothing a dark katana strapped to his back and the covered eye. It stood there looking at Lance then leaped away into the caste shadow on the wall with the grace of a leopard...................

-Cronos muse sits there at its desk tapping its pencel agenst its head before a grimmace runs over its face....

"Bah" it says

Crumaling up the paper before tossing it over its sholder and moveing onto bigger and better things-

(Aka, muse threw this one away so err yeah its dead)