Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Tear ❯ Sukura, the Female Samurai ( Chapter 4 )

Sukura, the Female Samurai

The Emperor's samurai snickered as she strode past. She ignored it, just like she did all the other times. She was the only girl the Emperor chose to be one of his body guards. They had a lot of nerve in her mind. She could easily whip out her sword and shred them. Though, being dignified and not as brutish as a man, she held back her desires and continued down the hall.

She glanced out a window and stopped dead in her tracks. There were trees and pagodas spread out among the horizon. They looked as if they were being soaked into the large setting sun. The sky was blood red. She wished that she was able to crash through the glass in her longing desire to be free. The images of the past flashed through her mind.

She was raised in a small village with her father. She did her share and did her best to earn her keep as well as the respect of the other villagers. She wouldn't have a problem with it if they didn't treat her so differently. She still didn't know why. Whenever she'd try to talk to someone, or when she wanted to help, they'd show fear and run away from her. She never knew who her mother was. Her father gave her the story that her mother died before she could remember.

One day, while helping her father cut wood, a demon attacked the village. Killing everyone in its path. Her father told her to run, and she did. She sought refuge in the bushes and painfully watched the demon slaughter her father and only friend. It happened so swift, she could hardly catch a glimpse of the demon. Then, the monster turned and looked right at her with its green eyes. Then, it vanished.

After that, she wandered endlessly for days. She didn't know where to go or what would become of her in the barbaric, dangerous land. The painful, empty feeling of hunger soon took over her, and her body felt limp and numb. One night, she fell asleep, and didn't remember waking up for some time. Then, she opened her eyes. It was like she'd just come out of death. She was in a room on a bed, with a roof over her head. There was a man in there too. He was an elderly man with a long white beard. He taught her many things. How to fight, how to survive, and she was trained in the art of Kendo. She never knew his name, she just called him master. The house she woke up in was actually a Buddhist temple, and her master was the high priest. He treated her like a normal person, and for the first time in her life, she felt like she belonged somewhere.

After living in the temple for many years, her master knew that she'd developed into a woman. Feeling that her training was finally complete, he gave her his most prized possession.

"This is a holy weapon." he told her as he handed her a beautiful katanna.

"Oh, master." she said. "What's it for?"

"This is the ultimate spiritual weapon." he told her. "With it, you will carry out my work and save this land of all its evils. I have trained you well, and I truly believe you are ready."

She unsheathed the blade. The light reflected off it so brightly she thought it would blind her if she stared at it directly. She still didn't fully understand.

"But... master..." she said. "You mean, leave the shrine?"

"You must set out immediately." her master said with a nod. "First thing tomorrow morning."

She obeyed her master's wish, and at sun up, with a sack over her shoulder and her sword tied at her waist, she set out once more without a second glance. She didn't know where she was headed. Her master said that her spirit would take her were she needed to go. One thing was for sure, the destruction of her village, and the murder of her father hadn't left her mind for all those years. She'd find the cursed demon and make it her sworn enemy, and avenge her father.

It wasn't too long before she came upon a village. The villagers told her that a demon was taking people away and killing them. She stuck around until the demon showed up. It was a terrifying ogre. She battled it, using her unique sword skills and killed it. The emperor heard of her deed and her fine sword work, and sent his samurai to recruit her. When they finally caught up with her, she refused to join them. Her quest was solitude. She escaped them, and became a fugitive with a high bounty on her head. Bounty hunters from all over tried to capture her. They wanted her alive, but sometimes, the battles became intense. She began to feel so annoyed by it that she was willing to kill them, but in attempt to slay them, the sword wouldn't kill. Her master told her it would only kill the evilest of souls, not the lives of innocent humans. So she had to continue to dodge and flee them. She earned her keep by going to villages and slaying demons. The villagers would pay her with food, clothes, and other useful goods.

Then, one morning she awoke to find someone standing over her. She couldn't see his face, for he wore a mask that looked like that of a dragon.

He challenged her, wishing to see how strong she was.

Taking the challenge, she drew out her sword and was ready to fight, but before she was able to take a swing at him, he grabbed her wrists and sent powerful shocks through her body, making her body go numb. The last thing she remembered was collapsing.

She later woke up in the Emperor's temple, and ever since then, she was unable to leave. The Emperor made her a bodyguard. If any demons tried to break into the temple, it was her duty to slay them.

She shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts. She pulled herself away from the window, knowing that she'd wasted enough time already, she pushed open the large door and strode inside. She dropped to her knees and bowed to the robed man on the throne.

"You called, my lord?" she said.

"Yes, Sukura." he said as he stood up. "I have a task for you to perform."

"Yes?" she said as she stood up. It wasn't often when she got to do something.

"There is a demon." he said. "One who has been ravaging villages for quite some time now. I feel that she is a threat to us. She might want to attack the temple and slay me. I want you to go out and destroy her so that doesn't happen."

"You mean..." Sukura gasped. "Leave the palace?" She'd never been actually been asked to leave.

"Yes you silly girl." the Emperor said. "I feel that your skill would be no match for her. There is a high price to her death. The one who kills her would be handsomely rewarded."

"You mean," Sukura said. "I'm not the only one?"

"That's right." He nodded. "She's widely known."

` "But, why would you need me to do it if there's so many more out there?"

"Because, you're the one who is most likely to survive." he said. "And besides, your prize is more of value to you than it is to them."

"What would I do with riches?" she asked.

"Not riches." he said. "Your freedom."

Sukura's eyes widened. She'd long to hear these words.

"My.. Freedom?"

"Yes girl." he said.

"But... why?"

"Well..." the emperor chuckled. "It's simply so I won't have to give up any of my treasure to anyone."

Sukura sighed. She was glad though. Her freedom was more important than treasure, so her master's impudence didn't matter to her.

"I'll leave immediately." she said. She bowed and turned away, but before she left, she turned to her master. "How will I recognize this demon?"

"It's a white cat demon." her master said. "A powerful one with great attacks, and if that isn't bad enough, she can paralyze you with her glare."

"P-paralyze?" Sukura shuddered. The image of her frozen father flashed into her mind, and those green eyes. "I don't care! I' ll do whatever it takes to ensure this beast is dead!"

The temple gates closed behind her. She took a deep breath. Everything seemed beautiful and fresh to her, even the air. She was finally free... Free to get her revenge.

"I don't care Kit!" Hoku growled. "I don't want to go in there!"

"Come on." Kitasato coaxed. "You can stand out in the rain, or you can come in here and dry off."

Hoku stood out in the down pouring rain. Her clothes and hair were sopping wet. She hated being wet when she didn't want to be, but what kit wanted... he was asking for too much.

"I'd rather drown myself than go in there!" she hissed.

"Suit yourself Hoku." Kit said. A spider landed on his shoulder. He brushed it off.

Hoku gulped and stepped back.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of spiders." Kit said.

"No!" Hoku shivered. "I'm not afraid of anything!"

She walked inside and sat cross-legged on a boulder across from Kit. Water dripped from her like a water fall.

"See." Kit said. "This isn't so bad."

"Yeah..." Hoku sighed. She looked around the dark cave. She started wringing the water from her hair. She still felt uneasy, for the last cave she entered wasn't a friendly visit.

"Looks like you brought the downpour in here." Kit chuckled.

"Oh, you're a riot." Hoku said with sarcasm. Just then, a centipede crawled across her leg. She stared at it for a moment, taking note of it's long shiny red body and many scuttling legs. "Aaaaahhhhhhh!" she screamed as she jumped up. The centipede fell off and scurried away.

Kit laughed.

"Shut up!" Hoku yelled. "Urgh! I HATE BUGS!"

"Oh, come on." Kit chuckled. "They aren't that bad." Another spider fell on his shoulder. He picked it up in his hand and sat it on the floor. "Spiders are neat."

"DAMN IT!" she screamed. "I'M STUCK IN A SMALL CAVE WITH THE KING OF BUGS AND HIS ELITE ARMY OF SPIDERS!!!!"

"I think you've lost your mind." Kit sighed.

Sukura walked into a village. The place looked friendly enough. There were people and children running about, enjoying the nice sunny day. Nobody glared at her as she walked by. Though, many of them stared at her. Sukura just figured it was because she had a sword, and a magnificent one at that. She walked into an inn. There was a plump woman sitting there.

"Hello young one." she greeted. "Do you wish to stay here?"

"Yes." Sukura nodded.

"What do you have to trade?"

"Oh, yes of course." Sukura pulled a gold nugget from her pouch. The emperor had given the pouch to her. There was ten gold pieces inside, and she was grateful for it.

"Thank you." the woman said. "Such a generous woman. Nobody has offered us gold in quite some time." she then spotted Sukura's sword. "Oh, my heavens! A woman, carry a sword! I've run this inn for thirty years an never have I seen this before."

Sukura didn't say anything. She was used to this at the temple.

"Tell me." Sukura said as the woman led her down a hallway. "Why is it so strange to see a woman carry a sword?"

"Oh, my dear, woman don't have it all that." the woman sighed. "It's always the men that run things. We woman are here to clean house, and bear children."

"That's silly." Sukura said. "I can't imagine ever doing things like that."

"Well..." the woman said, "Than you're one of the lucky ones."

The woman stopped and slid open a door.

"This is it." she said. "I hope you enjoy your stay. If there's anything you need, just ask me."

"Actually, there is something." Sukura said. "Has this village seen any demons?"

"Oh, all the time, dear." the woman said. "Nothing that the men can't fight off. Except the other day when Marrowind showed up."

"Marrowind?" Sukura questioned.

"The evil plague that kills everyone in it's path." the woman said. "Luckily for us, a young friend of mine and his lovely accomplice showed up and scared it away."

"Is Marrowind... at cat demon?" Sukura asked.

"No..." the woman shook her head. "Not that I know of, but Kitasato has a friend that is a cat demon, oh, and strong she is. From what I hear, she'd killed the greatest demons in the west. I don't think my little Kit should be running around with such a brutal woman, but she's a lovely one. Loves him I think she does."

"What is your name?" Sukura asked.

"Kana," the woman replied. "And you?"

"Call me Cricket." Sukura smiled.

Kana bowed and walked away.

Sukura went inside her room. She sat her pouch on the sleeping mat, then walked up to the window and peered outside. The description of the cat demon that Kana had given her was confusing. The cat was indeed fearsome, but who was this other demon. This demon that everyone seemed to fear.

Not too long after, it began to rain. Sukura sighed. Her idea of going out and exploring was shot. She decided instead, to take a dip in the indoor bath. She took off her white Kimono and folded it by the tub. She then stepped into the water. It soothed and warmed her to her very bone. She took a long time to plan what she'd do the next day. She still had intentions to slay the demon. Whoever this Marrowind was, was no concern of hers. She'd set out at day-break.

The next morning, she set out once more. The rain had stopped, but it was still cloudy. Sukura wished for the sun. She loved the warmth and light.

Earlier, Kana gave her the names of the two demons that she was talking about the day before. She didn't care if they were friends of Kana. Hoku would die. She didn't know nothing about her companion, Kitasato, but if he tried to get in her way, then he'd die as well. To her, all demon were scum. She found the road that they were headed down. Their foot prints would have been washed away in the rain, so she had to rely on the path and where it would take her.

"I still don't see why you had to kill him." Kitasato called.

"He was going to kill us." Hoku called down from the tree she was sitting in. "He said it himself that he was going to kill us and take our fur and sell it to a brothel."

"Ah..." Kit sighed as he leaned against the tree. "Apparently you Chinese have the gift of exaggeration." he then looked up at her. "You know, we should track down this man killer we keep hearing about."

"And what if I don't?." Hoku said.

"Come on." Kit said. "Don't you care about what happens to them?"

"Yeah," Hoku hissed. "If they become a part of my food supply."

"Why not." Kit shrugged. "At least there'll be some sport in it."

"Look, Kit." Hoku said as she landed in front of him. "I know what you're trying to do, and I don't want to be a part of it. I don't care who this man-killer is. I have interest in finding Marrowind only."

"I didn't say I was trying to do anything." Kit said. "But come on. Didn't you feel even a least bit sorry for that village back there. Something obviously slaughtered all of them without hesitation. I think that something like that would be a threat to us all."

"What about you?" Hoku asked. "This man-killer obviously a demon. Have you ever once stood up for the fact that you are a demon too?"

"Is that a trick question?" Kit grinned.

"HOKU!"

Hoku and Kit turned around to see a woman standing behind them.

It was Sukura. She had her sword unsheathed. It's shining blade was pointed at Hoku's chest.

"I have come to slay you!"

"Huh?" Hoku said. She stared at Sukura for a moment. She then laughed. "Pathetic human." she grinned. "Do you actually think you could kill me?"

"This sword was foraged from the hands of good. It was given to me by a holy man. It can and will destroy the evilist of souls."

"Please." Hoku chuckled. "Do you honestly think that scrawny piece of metal and that line will suffice in slaying me?"

"I will perform the order of my master, the emperor, and my father." Sukura said through gritted teeth. Looking Hoku's green eyes enraged her even more. The flashback of her father's death and the green eyed demon standing over him. "Prepare yourself vile beast!!!"

"Bring it on!!" Hoku roared as the two lunged for one another.