Samurai 7 Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Hearts ❯ Capture! ( Prologue )

WARNING: This story is rated NC-17/X due to yaoi themes (both con and non-con). I don't want any delicate sensibilities to be offended, so if you don't like yaoi, PLEASE DON'T READ.

* * * * * * * * * *

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is the first "Samurai 7" story to come out in MediaMiner. This is also the one story that I am really hesitant to post because I am not certain how loyal fans of "Samurai 7" would react to this. Nevertheless, I am taking the risk mainly because my friends who are huge S7 fans all agree with me…that there are undeniable yaoi hints in S7, especially between Kanbei and Kyuzo, and they would like to read a yaoi story featuring them. It is for them (you know who you are!) that I am writing this. And maybe also to myself, because I wanted so much that there be some satisfactory closure to Kanbei and Kyuzo's intriguing fascination with each other. Oh, and yes, you did not read it wrong. It is indeed Kyuzo x Kanbei.

* * * * * * * * * *

CRIMSON HEARTS
© August 17, 2005 By Rory V. Pascual

PROLOGUE: Capture!

For a whole week, he watched, a task he performed with mixed feelings. The object of his surveillance was a woodsman leading a solitary, yet quiet life in the deep forest far from any towns or cities. Everyday, the woodsman would go out at daybreak to hunt or gather firewood, or to tend to his little vegetable garden. It was a simple life, a life that was certainly not suited for a man of his stature.

He found it hard to believe that the man carefully picking strawberries from a thick patch was a war hero.

Somehow, he could not fathom his lord's obsession for this quiet man. He was certainly not young. By his estimation, he was in his forties. True, he was ruggedly handsome, with a shadow of a beard on his chin, and a head of waist-length grayish brown hair that would make any woman, young or old, green with envy. But there persisted a haunted look in his brown eyes, as though he still walked those battlefields from long ago.

Those were the eyes of a defeated man, certainly not that of a hero.

And yet, ask any lowly farmer, and all would readily narrate the tale of the man, with six other courageous comrades-at-arms, who freed a village from the oppression of bandits and the tyranny of a despot.

In hushed words, these same farmers would say that they hoped this man would take up the sword again and rid them of the new ruler that was tormenting them.

In his opinion, however, the man he was observing was not at all interested in taking up arms. Instead, he seemed content with his life, popping a juicy strawberry inside his mouth and chewed on it thoughtfully, a hint of a smile on his lips.

If only the man knew what a tempting sight he made to his lord, who was also watching his every move through his electronic eyes.

Sure enough, he heard his lord mutter over the comlink, "Luscious! Truly luscious!"

The man stood up, removing his straw hat, and wiped the sweat from his brow. A breeze blew, lifting his thick, wavy mane up and causing his feather earrings to swing like a pendulum.

Then came the shocking surprise. With measured slowness, the man turned to gaze directly at the thick copse of trees where he was hiding.

"How long are you going to continue to hide from me?" the man called out. "Don't you think it's about time you showed yourself?"

For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what to do. His lord, however, whispered only two words to him: "It's time."

At that command, he emerged from his hiding place, gliding through the trees, and stopped before the woodsman, who looked at his hulking metal frame in surprise.

"A Nobuseri, and a Red Spider at that?" the man asked. "And I thought I would invite you to partake of some of my strawberries."

"Don't look surprised," he replied in turn, a droning mechanical rumble in his voice. "If you knew of my existence, then you also knew what I was."

The woodsman shook his head. "I had hoped that I had been mistaken when I heard the humming of your machinery. I thought you had all been destroyed by the last ruler."

"Many of us escaped the mind purge of that mad man Ukyou and the destruction of the Capital. We serve a new master now – a strong one, not a sniveling, vacillating fop like his predecessor."

Those thick eyebrows knitted together in a frown. "Then, the rumors I heard were true. There is a new Amanushi ruling this land. I take it, it was he who sent you here. What does he want from me?"

"My orders are simple. I am to take you to him."

"For what purpose? I am no longer a samurai. I had given up the sword for three years now."

"I am merely following his command. Only he could answer your questions."

There was a moment's silence. Then, the man said, "I've heard very…disturbing…things about this Amanushi. Forgive me, but I'm sure he would understand if I decline his invitation."

"It is not an invitation. I am to take you to him whether you like it or not."

The Nobuseri extended his right hand and fired a volley of sharp needles at the woodsman, which he deflected with a sweep of his basket, spilling strawberries to the ground. Turning on his heels, he ran for his axe that was jutting out of a tree stump.

"SEIZE HIM!" the Red Spider roared.

Two Owls leaped out of the brush, splitting into four fighting mechs to block his path to the only weapon he possessed. The man, however, nimbly leaped over their heads, grabbing the axe's handle as he landed. Pulling it out, he swung the axe in a wide arc, the blade severing the Owls' heads. Six yakans and ten hooded footmen bearing swords charged at him, but he merely hacked his way through his attackers.

The Nobuseri marveled at the man's fluid, yet lethal movements. Yes, this was the great samurai he had heard so much about. Now, he was all the more determined to bring this man to his master.

Again, the Red Spider raised his hand and fired sharp needles at him non-stop. The man parried them with the flat of his axe's blade as he rushed towards his mechanical foe. One needle, however, broke through his guard, fired from the blowgun of a footman who lay in wait behind a bush. The needle pierced the side of the man's neck, an inch above that long scar, eliciting a gasp from his lips. The Nobuseri thought he heard the woodsman cry out a name as he fell to the ground.

Seeing their prey finally subdued, the other Nobuseri emerged from their positions and gathered around their leader.

"Be careful with him," his Master warned as the Red Spider bent down to pick up the fallen man.

"Yes, my lord." With great care, the Nobuseri picked up the unconscious woodsman, laying him on his open palm before curling his metal fingers around him protectively. To his comrades, he called out, "We got what we came here for. Let's go back!"

The Red Spider took off, not waiting for the others who entered their floating ship. Swiftly, he flew through the skies, his powerful jets propelling him for miles and miles until he reached his destination that lay hidden among the snow-capped mountain peaks.

The new Capital…An enormous flying fortress built from two Honmaru battleships. The new Capital was completely outfitted with advanced weaponry. Cannons were aimed in various directions for any would-be attacks. Standing right in the middle of the fortress was a formidable palace of iron and steel. The Red Spider instantly saw his master waiting for him at the porch of his private chambers.

"You did well, Kaguyama," Amanushi praised the Red Spider. Gesturing to his room, he said, "You may put him in there."

The Nobuseri obeyed, carefully squeezing his hand through the narrow entry. When he had accomplished his task, he inquired, "Anything else I can do for you, Amanushi-sama?"

"For now, none. You may go now and claim your reward."

The Red Spider called Kaguyama tilted his head, the closest thing to a bow that he could muster, and flew off to rejoin his comrades.

When the Nobuseri was gone, a smile curled up the corners of Amanushi's lips as he entered his chamber. Kaguyama had laid the man on his bed. His eyes gleamed with rapt fascination. Seeing him in the flesh like this, deep in a drugged sleep with that gorgeous mane flowing over his pillow in waves, the man had exceeded all his expectations. To tame such a magnificent creature would be challenging indeed.

"You belong to me now, O Great Champion of Kanna Village," Amanushi grinned with wicked anticipation. "You are mine…Shimada Kanbei."

* * * * * * * * *