Samurai 7 Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Hearts ❯ Bind! ( Chapter 6 )

CHAPTER SIX: Bind!

What usually took two to three days to travel on foot ended up becoming a two and a half hour ride on fast turtle from Kanna Village to Kougakyo. To the delight of Shichiroji and Katsushiro, they discovered that the villagers had been breeding the strange creatures and selling them to merchants and the Shikimoribito. This suited Kyuzo just fine, except for the other commodity that Kanna has now become notorious for.

The crimson samurai had been holding his breath, but when he inhaled deeply, he almost gagged at the horrible stench. He was gave Rikichi, who was driving the dray from which the stink was coming from, a baleful glower.

"Are you sure it's not manure you've got back there, Rikichi-san?" he called out to the farmer, deeply regretting that he had not taken the clothespin that Okara had offered him. "One whiff of that cart and the Amanushi is sure to run us out of the Capital."

"Sting buns stink, it's true," Rikichi laughed good-naturedly. "But they sure are delicious."

Much to Kyuzo's chagrin, Kikuchiyo rode up beside him and thrust the succulent fruit right in his face. "Here, Kyuzo-dono! Try it!"

"Please keep that thing away from me! It smells like a fart coming from a constipated old man!"
Katsushiro and Shichiroji were relishing their sting buns. Not surprising, since they had clothespins pinned to the bridge of their noses. Shichiroji, however, seemed distant, deep in thought as he chewed on his fruit. Kyuzo knew the blond samurai was wondering what had happened to his commander that he had allied himself with the new Amanushi.

Before he could ride up to his comrade, to his great irritation, Kirara passed by on her own fast turtle, a crossbow sheathed to a harness at her back. Sneering, she exclaimed, "I thought it smelled like a fart coming from a samurai clone."

"Are you so determined to die, girl?" Kyuzo snarled in rebuttal.

As they reached the top of the sand dune, the sight that greeted the six travelers caused them to rein in their steeds to an abrupt halt.

The image of the Honmaru battleship that was the Capital was forever etched in their minds. After all, that huge aircraft nearly wiped out Kanna Village from the face of the Earth. This new Capital, however, filled them with dread.

It was two, three times larger than the old one that it covered the entire city of Kougakyo like a hideous mantle. At first glance, the battleship looked like a giant bat hovering above the city.

Shichiroji threw away the sting bun he had been eating. With a flick of the reins, he told the others, "Let's go!"

As they entered the city, it was all too obvious that Kougakyo was no longer the same city they had visited three years back. Guards, both human and mechanical, marched through the streets. Whereas before the citizenry did not even spare them a second glance, now they were eyed with distrust and outright hostility.

Katsushiro saw an old samurai spit on the dusty ground and declare, "Those are the friends of that damned Royal Adviser! Probably come to join their comrade in tormenting us as well! A traitor of the people – that's what Shimada Kanbei is!"

The young warrior instantly pulled out his sword and pointed it at the aging warrior. "Hold your tongue, old man! I will not have you speak of Kanbei-dono in that manner!"

"But it's true!" another man argued. "The members of the Merchants Guild told us it what Shimada Kanbei himself who was drafting the laws! We believed him to be our savior, but it turned out he is just as power hungry as the Amanushi, perhaps even more so!"

Katsushiro was itching to wet his blade with their blood, but Shichiroji seized his wrist. "It's useless talking to these people," the blond samurai told him. "If we are to resolve this thing, we must find the truth for ourselves."

"You spoke wisely, Shichiroji-dono," someone spoke behind them. "It would not do you well to start a fight here, not with the people riled up like this."

"Masamune-dono!" Katsushiro greeted the old junk man who had been Kikuchiyo's friend. "You're a sight for sore eyes!"

"We don't have time," Masamune said, his eyes darting toward the hostile crowd that had gathered around them. "Come with me! Maro-sama instructed me to take you to the city square where the Amanushi will make his first public appearance. He had you listed as members of his retinue so you have choice seats right at the foot of the stairs leading to the platform."

"Do you think we'll see Kanbei-sama there, Masamune-san?" Kirara asked, not hiding her excitement.

"I am hoping that you will," the old man replied, fixing his monocle. "He is the Royal Adviser after all."

Without giving the people around them a second glance, they hurried after Masamune. The junk man led them to the place where the public executions were being held. It was ironic, thought Kyuzo, that they would be reunited with Kanbei here of all places. The samurai had nearly lost his head here after that botched attempt to rescue Rikichi's wife. Now, he would be standing on that towering platform as the Amanushi's Royal Adviser.

Just as Masamune said, they saw Ayamaro waving to them right at the front row. Six plush mats had been laid out for them behind the corpulent Kougakyo governor.

"I thank you for your letter, Maro-sama," Kyuzo got down on one knee and bowed to his former Master.

"Like I said, it's the least I could do for you, Kyuzo." Ayamaro smiled broadly, seeing his ex-bodyguard's companions. "It is wonderful to see you again. And Kirara-san, you are absolutely stunning. I see you yourself have become a warrior. How I wish we had met during less pressing circumstances."

Shichiroji gave the governor a grateful pat as he sat down on the mat. "You did well, Maro-sama. Have you seen Kanbei-sama?"

Ayamaro shook his head. "No. I have yet to enter the Capital myself." He gave the six samurai a grave look. "Listen, my friends. There is a reason why I had you sit here with me."

Kyuzo understood at once what the governor meant. "You believe something is going to happen here today."

"Yes. You've seen how restless the people are. They feel that Kanbei-sama had betrayed them. Quite many feel that he should die, which means that his life is in grave danger. Whatever happens here today, all I ask is that you follow my lead."

Kikuchiyo frowned at that cryptic advice. "Just what do you think is going to happen here?"

Ayamaro turned to the strange young man with a large battleaxe slung to his back and gave him a curious look. "And who might you be?"

Before any introductions could be explained, there were drum rolls and one of the Amanushi's councilors, a swarthy man with a beard, strode down from the Capital and onto the platform.

"SILENCE!" the man shouted above the angry roars of the crowd. The guards immediately quieted them. "ALL BOW AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE AMANUSHI!"

At that announcement, the Amanushi himself appeared surrounded by armored bodyguards. Seeing him at last, the six samurai had no doubts that this man was indeed a clone of the former Amanushi. But unlike Ukyo and the other clones, this new Amanushi did not possess a waif-like, foppish persona. Attired in golden robes, he was tall, of strong build, with a hardened face that was not at all girlish like Ukyo. He even possessed a thick mustache that curled at the tips. Wherever this clone had been sent out, it was definitely not the rice fields.

Not at all perturbed by the dark scowls coming from the crowd, Amanushi waved and smiled, as though admirers surrounded him. Reaching the platform, he declined his councilor's invitation to sit on the throne and, instead, walked towards the edge.

"I thank you all for being here today!" Amanushi declared to the crowd. "It gives me so much pleasure to finally meet my loyal subjects in Kougakyo!"

A man shouted a curse at the ruler, and the guards swiftly arrested him.

"First of all," Amanushi continued, "I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation with this new government by complying with our new tax laws. Harsh though they may seem, but they are in your best interest in order that we all shall have a developed nation in which everyone shall have equal opportunities to prosper."

"It is only you who shall prosper!" a samurai yelled. "All of us shall die from starvation!" This man too was hauled away by the guards.

"However, these significant changes would not be possible without the help of my trusted Royal Adviser." With a sweep of his hand, Amanushi gestured back to the battleship. "Allow me to introduce to you the man who would transform this nation for the better. The People's Champion – SHIMADA KANBEI!"

The six samurai trained their gazes towards the battleship, just as a furious roar rose among the people. After three years, they would see their beloved commander once again.

Then, Kanbei emerged from the Capital. The samurai was dressed in rich velvet robes the color of blood, with golden dragons embroidered at the front. A gold circlet encircled his brow. Around his neck was a gold medallion on which was emblazoned the symbol of his rank. Like the warrior that he was, Kanbei carried himself with regal grace as he descended from the battleship, head held up high, despite the angry outcries from the crowd below.

Rikichi couldn't believe that the man who was descending those steps was the same samurai who had saved their village. "No! It couldn't be! Kanbei-sama couldn't have allied himself with that man!"

The crystals in his pocket glowed warmly against Kyuzo's hip. "Don't be fooled by appearances, Rikichi-san."

"DIE, SHIMADA KANBEI!"

From the carved out cliffs on either side, ten masked men swung down towards the samurai, brandishing menacing swords. To the dismay of the six samurai, Kanbei made no attempts to defend himself from his attackers.

"KANBEI-SAMA!" Kirara cried out in horror. Instinctively, she drew out her crossbow and fired a bolt at one assassin, hitting him squarely in the chest.

The others leaped to action as well, rushing up the stairs with Kyuzo at the fore. Leaping over the heads of the Amanushi and his startled guards, the crimson warrior unsheathed his swords with the sharp hiss of striking snakes, and cut down two more assassins before they could blink. Another attacker tried to gut him from behind, but he was felled by Katsushiro's blade. With a fierce war cry, Kikuchiyo swung his battleaxe in a wide arc, slashing two assassins who dared to charge at him. The last two attackers were gutted by Shichiroji's spear. From the cliffs, there were sharp reports of guns. With the help of Shichiroji and Kikuchiyo, Kirara and Rikichi were sent flying through the air. Sighting the two snipers hiding behind the rocks, the two farmers brought them down with a rain of arrows and bullets. As they landed on the stairs, they immediately took their places beside their comrades, forming a protective circle around a surprised Shimada Kanbei.

"Minna…" Kanbei gasped in disbelief. "What are you…"

It was Kyuzo who answered with a wry smile. "We're the ones who are supposed to ask you that."

"Kyuzo…"

The Amanushi clapped his hands. Stepping over the corpses of the assassins, he declared, "I am grateful to you, brave samurai, that you have saved my Royal Adviser! Whom do you serve that I may thank him?"

"Mine, Amanushi-sama," Ayamaro replied, first bowing to the ruler before standing up. "However, I was going to offer them to you, to serve as bodyguards to your Royal Adviser. They were once the trusted comrades of Kanbei-sama. Hearing of the threats to his well-being, I thought I would offer their services to you."

"I have no need for bodyguards!" Kanbei shouted back, a bit too hastily it seemed for his old friends.

"Why do you seem to be so determined to get rid of us?" Shichiroji mumbled curiously.

Whatever the samurai was going to say was never uttered as Amanushi approached them.

"Indeed, Ayamaro, I could see that they would serve Kanbei-sama well. Besides, he would have need of trusted men at his side to watch him at all times." Amanushi whirled to face the hushed crowd below. "Truth be told, the reason why I came here is to announce to all my official engagement to my dear Royal Adviser. I cannot let any assassin kill the man who would become my Imperial Consort."

A loud gasp rose from the people at that announcement. But the greater shock belonged to Kanbei himself. If it were not for his battle instincts, his stupefaction would have been all too visible on his face. Only Kyuzo saw the confusion and the warring emotions in those gray brown eyes.

Then, the crimson warrior did the most audacious thing. To the astonishment of Amanushi, his comrades and everyone below, Kyuzo dropped down to one knee before a startled Kanbei. He reached for the bracelets inside his pocket, feeling the clasp of the moon crystal bracelet close mysteriously around his left wrist. As he pulled out the sun crystal bracelet, he took Kanbei's right hand and placed the bracelet around his wrist with a locking click of the clasp.

His hand locking with the elder samurai's, Kyuzo mumbled, "You and I are bound together now, Kanbei."

Amanushi was outraged. "You would dare bind yourself to my Consort! Perhaps I should have you executed this instant!"

Kyuzo bravely faced the angry, jealous ruler and bowed. "If I am to serve as Kanbei-sama's protector, these crystals would help me to know where he is at all times. They are a kind of locator, my lord."

"I see," Amanushi nodded, although not entirely convinced. "Very well then. I shall entrust his welfare to you. Do not allow any harm to befall him or else I shall have all your heads."

Shichiroji knelt before the ruler, the others following suit. "We hear and obey your command, Amanushi-sama."

Before Amanushi could notice, Kyuzo gave Kanbei's hand a squeeze, whispering, "I won't let anyone harm you, Shimada Kanbei."

"And it's because it is only you, Kyuzo, who can slash me, am I right?" Kanbei muttered in turn, as he ascended to the battleship.

Kyuzo did not reply as he followed the samurai up the stairs, with their comrades right behind him.

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