Samurai 7 Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Hearts ❯ Attack! ( Chapter 9 )

CRIMSON HEARTS
© December 18, 2005 By Rory V. Pascual


CHAPTER NINE: Attack!

Shichiroji strode through the long hallway in silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed the movements of the man at his side.

Kyuzo was walking slowly, his back as straight as a board. The blond knew that the samurai's wounds were still causing him pain. Even with bandages, contact of those welts upon the cloth of his thick frock coat would have been terrible. Sure enough, a sweat drop trickled from his temple.

The sudden brightness of the crystal at Kyuzo's wrist drew Shichiroji's attention. Before he could inquire about that strange rock, Kanbei emerged from a side corridor. Somehow, it did not surprise Shichiroji to see that his great commander's crystal was glowing just as intensely as Kyuzo's. There was a disapproving frown creasing the older samurai's forehead as he approached them.

"What are you doing here?" Kanbei instantly rounded on Kyuzo, the crystal having confirmed the presence of the perennial thorn in his side. "You're supposed to be in the infirmary!"

The crimson samurai stiffened at that stern scolding. "I'm fine. These are nothing but scratches. It is my duty to be at your side at all times."

"And how, pray tell, can you protect me in that condition? You'll be more of a liability to me than a protector! You're dismissed! I don't want to see your face until you're completely healed!"

Kyuzo's jaw hardened, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Is that an order, Kanbei-sama?" He spoke the samurai's name dryly.

"Yes, it is!" Kanbei pointed to the opposite end of the hallway, the crystal on his wrist shining brightly as though showing the way. "Now, go!"

Without even bothering to give his elder a bow, Kyuzo turned on his heels snappily and stomped away, his boot heels tapping on the floor.

It was only when the red-dressed warrior was out of sight and hearing range that Shichiroji dared to speak, a lopsided grin on his lips. "Weren't you a bit too harsh on him?"

An irritated sound was drawn from Kanbei's mouth. "I find his gall too irritating. The real Kyuzo was never a push over as this one is."

"We've only been with Kyuzo for a short time, and we never really got to know him very well," Shichiroji remarked as he walked beside his old friend. "Who's to say that the real Kyuzo would've shown the same…ease…with us with the passage of time as his clone is doing now. Irritating though he may be, I never saw anyone so damned determined to protect you as he." The blond samurai added with measured slowness, "All of us share his convictions."

"And I told you I don't need protection!"

The sliding doors at the end of the hallway opened, letting in bright sunlight that Kanbei had to blink for a moment. He then stepped out on to the large balcony overlooking the bow to see it stripped of all the equipment they had used during training.

"It looks very different from what it was days ago," mused Shichiroji. "You were a hard taskmaster, but still it was an enjoyable, learning experience. Kirara, Rikichi and Kikuchiyo…they have all improved tremendously. I have no doubt that they can hold their own in any battle."

"If I had a choice," Kanbei reluctantly revealed, "I never would've trained them. But they have to be prepared for anything that might happen."

"Why are you saying that? Is something going to happen?" Shichiroji inquired with a raise of his eyebrows. "You're planning something, aren't you?"

Feigning innocence, the elder warrior replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

The blond samurai breathed out a sigh of mild exasperation. He gave Kanbei an appraising look. "You know, looking at you now, one would believe instantly that you've changed a lot. The Kanbei-sama I used to know would never wear such finery. I suppose it's expected, after experiencing the good life."

Kanbei fell silent. He knew how he appeared to his old friend. The former ronin was attired in fine robes of gold and crimson with curly toed sandals on his feet. His long hair had been tied in a tight bun and tucked inside a crown that was secured to his head by black silk cords tied under his chin.

With measured slowness, the older samurai replied, "I suppose such a luxurious lifestyle does grow on you. You get accustomed to it quite easily. Although I must admit it's the clothes that I'm having trouble with. He made me wear these ceremonial robes when I know he doesn't have any official functions today. Those rags I used to wear while traveling were more comfortable than these."

"Is it that easy to betray all your friends and the people who believed in you?" Shichiroji's hand closed around his friend's arm and jerked him around to face him. "How long are you going to keep on lying to us? To me! I'm your friend! You know you can tell me anything. Why can't you tell me the truth? What hold does the Amanushi have on you?"

Great pain was reflected in Kanbei's eyes. "The kind of hold that strangles me too hard that I would die from lack of air. And you had to come here as well. I was more at ease with all of you far away from this place."

"It was Kyuzo-dono. He told me, when he came to Hotaruya, that he had heard your voice, calling out his name, that was why he awakened. He knew you were in trouble so he sought us out to join him in searching for you." There was resentment in Shichiroji's next words. "Why it had to be Kyuzo-dono's name that you uttered, I could never understand. That man is only interested in fighting you."

"Do I detect a tone of jealousy in your voice, Shichiroji?"

A strangled squeak was elicited from Shichiroji's throat at that soft query. His face was beet red and he could not get his tongue to work at all.

"You're a samurai, Shichiroji," Kanbei reminded his younger comrade. "You know of the fierce rivalry that exists between warriors. I want to know why you harbor resentment towards Kyuzo."

"I wouldn't call it…resentment." Taking a deep breath, the blond samurai made the painful admission to his friend. "I saw you that night in Kanna Village…at the graves. You were weeping before Kyuzo-dono's grave."

"I wept for all our lost friends."

"But not as much as you had for Kyuzo-dono, and never in front of us. To weep with such heart-wrenching sorrow for someone you never got to know all that well… It only tells me that even before Kougakyo, you already knew Kyuzo-dono." Shichiroji looked straight into his friend's eyes. "I never asked you this because the memories might cause you pain, but I have to know. After the fall of Saionji Castle, after you had set me adrift in that pod, what happened to you, Kanbei-sama? What is going on between you and Kyuzo-dono?"

It was Kanbei's turn to fall silent. At the intense stare that his subordinate was giving him, he felt as if he had fallen into another trap. The truth was his key to freedom; he knew that. But could Shichiroji accept the truth when he himself could not take it. To tell or not to tell…

The choice was taken from him by a blinding white flash and a roaring wind that blasted past them. Lifting their heads, the two men were horrified to see not just one, but three massive laser beams, all fired from the battleship's main cannons, heading in the direction of the southwest.

Katsushiro, Rikichi and Kirara ran out onto the bow. "Is that the main cannon?" Katsushiro demanded. "Are we under attack?"

"We don't know," Shichiroji replied, just as confused. "That blast caught us by surprise as well."

Kanbei made to look to the southwest to ascertain what was fired at, but he almost jumped to find a grim-faced Kyuzo beside him, blocking his view of the black mushroom cloud of smoke rising at the horizon. The crimson samurai only said two words, but it caused a chill to crawl up Kanbei's spine.

"Otama Village…"

"KANBEI-SAMA!"

All whirled to see Kikuchiyo panting heavily, body bent forward with hands gripping his knees for support. His face was as white as rice paste.

Kikuchiyo was on the verge of tears. "Kanbei-sama…the Amanushi! I…I was studying the weapons systems of this ship when he came. He asked me if I wanted to try out the main cannons. He set the coordinates for the desert, that's what he told me. I never had time to check where the cannons were pointing." The young warrior shook his head. "I couldn't disobey him!"
As he said this, the Amanushi's hover palanquin went up beside the bow.

"Come with me, Kanbei-sama," Amanushi invited, extending his hand to the startled samurai. "We have official business to attend to. Have your friends join us. We might encounter some…resistance."

Refusing that offering hand, Kanbei climbed aboard the palanquin on his own. The others followed suit, taking defensive positions around the main cabin. With everyone on board, the palanquin zoomed off in the direction of Otama Village.

Otama Village… Kanbei's mind was spinning with tumultuous thoughts.

Nagai and his Nobuseri squadron had caught the villagers hoarding bushels of rice. Following his instructions, Nagai had strictly given the villagers a warning, taking only a third of the hoarded crops. Since that incident, the samurai had made certain that only Kaguyama's or Nagai's squadron's patrolled the area.

Kanbei's heart was pounding like a hammer. That could only mean there's a spy! Does this mean that…

"Is something troubling you, Kanbei?" Amanushi inquired in seeming innocence. "You seem quite disturbed."

That question only confirmed the warrior's suspicions that the cunning ruler knew something. Kanbei allowed his anger towards the younger man to rise. No! I will not be caught in your trap!

The samurai glared at the evil king. "What are you up to this time? I nearly got blasted away when you fired those cannons!"

"Oh, but it wasn't me!" the Amanushi exclaimed defensively. "It was your man who did it…that young engineer."

"At your orders! This is why you made me wear these cumbersome robes! You're going to make me clean up your mess again!"

"Well, you are my Royal Adviser."

"Before you know it, there'll be more assassins after my head. All the more reason that I should train my men…"

Amanushi inched closer and closer toward the infuriated warrior. "Are we back to that again? I told you I don't want to see you damaged."

"If you won't let me train them, then at least return my sword to me! Better to be damaged than de–"

Kanbei gasped as strong hands cupped his face.

"I do love it when you're so feisty," the lecherous monarch muttered as he leaned forward, eager to bestow a kiss upon those parted lips.

Suddenly, the curtain was swept aside to reveal a bland-faced Kyuzo, who simply announced, "We've arrived, Amanushi-sama." Before the evil lord could berate the crimson warrior for his intrusion, Kyuzo yanked the curtain back. It did not escape Kanbei's notice that Kyuzo had been gripping his katana so tightly that his knuckles were white.

Breathing in exasperation, Amanushi stood up. "Oh well! We have a lot of time for fun and games later on. You and I should try out the private bath that I had recently added to the east wing."

Kanbei knew what the ruler meant by the word 'games', and it was something he was definitely not looking forward to. Getting to his feet as well, he replied between gritted teeth, "If that is your wish."

"Of course that is my wish!" the Amanushi declared in surprise. "You are my Imperial Consort after all."

"I'm not your consort yet." As Kanbei struggled to control the urge to slaughter the man who disembarked before him, this left the samurai unprepared for the sight that was waiting for him.

What remains of Otama Village were ruined huts, charred, jagged posts, dark ash, and corpses scattered all over the place. At the edge of the village were the blasted remains of two Nobuseri. Kanbei had never seen them before, which only confirmed his suspicions that the Amanushi had planted spies in the squadron.

The samurai was relieved to see Nagai, a Raiden with bright red chrome paint, alive and well, but he and his troops carried themselves stiffly as they waited for the Amanushi to speak. A tiny light in Nagai's strobe eye flashed in code.

"Those two were the spies," Nagai told his leader. "But we are not sure how much information they gave to the Amanushi."

With his right hand at his side, Kanbei quickly signed a reply with his fingers, "You can brief me on this later. Just be careful how you answer to the Amanushi. He is trying to trap us. Any survivors?"

"Women, children, the elderly, some of the wounded. My soldiers have them hidden in the forest. To keep up with the pretense, they've been bound and heavily guarded. We will relocate them to other villages for the time being. I am not sure if there were others who managed to escape. That attack caught us off guard."

Their silent conversation was interrupted by the Amanushi's low and ominous voice. "Nagai-dono… There seems to be far too few bodies."

The Nobuseri had a ready answer. "The village has been totally decimated, Amanushi-sama. We were barely able to escape the attack. Two of my men had perished from the cannon fire."

Blasts from three main cannons… Kanbei glared at the monarch beside him. I'm really surprised that there were even survivors.

"What about the rice they had hoarded?" Amanushi inquired.

"We have found their hiding place and kept the crops secured. But the attack has left the field barren. No rice would grow in that field for years to come."

As expected, it was Kirara who could not contain her outrage. "This…this is too cruel! How could you massacre innocents like this?"

"But I'm not the one responsible for this carnage." The devilish ruler pointed to a stunned Kikuchiyo who had fallen to his knees. "It was your comrade who fired those cannons."

"But YOU ordered it!"

Seeing the Amanushi's face darken and fearing for the young woman's life, Katsushiro stepped between Kirara and the evil lord. "Forgive her outburst, Amanushi-sama. She was once a farmer, so she cannot help but sympathize with the plight of this village. She often forgets that such…destruction…is a part of war."

Rikichi gaped at the young samurai, aghast. "I can't believe you just said that, Katsushiro-sama! This is not a war! This is slaughter!"

"From which village do you come?" Amanushi demanded. That question silenced the two farmers instantly. "Since you are friends of my dear Royal Adviser, then I believe you are from Kanna, am I correct?"

"So what if they are?" Shichiroji was getting just as infuriated. "They have nothing to do with what just happened here."

"Perhaps not. But unknown to all of you, Kanna has been enjoying my special favor because of the village's close friendship with my betrothed. You should watch your tongue, girl, if you don't want my favor upon your village revoked. It would be such a waste." The shrewd lord stole a glance at the seething samurai. "Kanbei-sama had toiled so hard for your benefit."

Kirara would have said more, but a pitiful figure emerged from behind a ruined storehouse, clutching a wound in his side. The farmer's eyes blazed with fire when he saw the Amanushi and Kanbei.

Brandishing a machete, the farmer roared, "DAMNED MURDERERS! DIE!", as he charged toward the two men.

The Amanushi was too slow to evade that coming lethal strike. Kyuzo acted with deadly accuracy. Kanbei felt warm blood splatter on his face as the crimson samurai downed the farmer with an upward slash. The poor man fell to the scorched earth, blood pooling underneath him.

As he sheathed his blade, Kyuzo faced the stunned ruler. "I believe this means that you are now indebted to me, Amanushi-sama."

The evil ruler was flabbergasted to hear these words from the man whom he suspected was having a relationship with his betrothed. "Why should I be indebted to you? It is your duty to protect us!"

"I am not your bodyguard, but Shimada Kanbei's," Kyuzo calmly pointed the fact out to him. "You should be thankful that instinct has prompted me to come to your aid. Your own guards did not do anything at all to protect you."

The ruler's guards exchanged nervous glances. The Amanushi snarled at the inept guards. Seizing a gun from a foot soldier's hands, he shot down his bodyguards.

"Stop! ENOUGH!" Kanbei spoke for the first time, his voice hoarse with controlled anger. "Haven't there been enough deaths today?" He gazed up at the Nobuseri. "Nagai-dono, clean up this mess will you?" The samurai gestured to the body at his feet. "All this blood is making me sick in the stomach!" He looked at the monarch as though he were scolding a petulant child. "Kyuzo-dono is right. You are indeed indebted to him. He is under no obligation to give you his protection."

Seeing that he could not argue with the older man, the Amanushi waved his hand flippantly. "What reward is it that you desire, samurai?"

Kyuzo went down on one knee. "I could think of no reward that interests me at this time, Amanushi-sama. I shall present my boon to you at a later time."

"Maybe I should just spare you from the lash the next time you show your impudence…"

"AMANUSHI-SAMA!" Kanbei exclaimed, the rebuke heavy in his voice.

"There is no need to get so hot and bothered, Kanbei-sama. Is my word not good enough for you?"

Bastard! The warrior cursed inwardly. You've never kept your word!

"Let's return to Kougakyo!" the evil ruler announced to all. "Let this incident serve as a lesson to all villages who choose to defy me!" Turning hotly on his heels, Amanushi strode toward the waiting palanquin.

Kanbei approached a guilt-stricken Kikuchiyo and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. The young scholar looked at him questioningly, tears limning his eyes.

"Dry your tears, Kikuchiyo-dono," he advised kindly. "I do not hold you responsible for this. I will carry the weight of the sins of this incident on my shoulders."

"But Kanbei-sama…" Kikuchiyo was about to argue, but the samurai started to walk away, following the monarch.

"I don't understand!" Kirara's words were filled with confusion and growing disillusionment. "How could you condone this massacre? Don't tell me that you've changed this much! Kanbei-sama, how could you be partner with that terrible man in this tyranny?"

Those accusations proved to be intolerable to the veteran warrior.

Whirling, Kanbei exclaimed, "Yes, Kirara-dono, I have changed! You're blind if you didn't see it right from the start! Do you want to know what I am to that man?" He looked at all his friends, especially Shichiroji. "Do all of you really want to know? Then, be the guards at the private bath tonight. Listen. Watch." The warrior again turned to Kirara, a daring smirk on his face. "That is, if you have the stomach for it."

As Kanbei stormed toward the palanquin, Kyuzo walked over to Kirara, who was about to pursue the elder samurai. His hand whipped out as he struck her hard on the cheek.

"KYUZO-DONO!" Katsushiro was shocked by what his comrade had done.

"How dare you!" Kirara muttered, clutching her aching face.

"I dare to hit a woman like you because you don't possess a civil tongue inside that pretty head of yours!" Kyuzo berated the girl, his crimson eyes flashing daggers. "Your presumptuousness galls me! Just because you are madly in love with Shimada Kanbei like a simpering idiot doesn't mean that you know him!"

"And are you telling me that you do?"

"Certainly much more than you! If you had any sense, you should have realized how that damned mouth of yours has caused him pain!"

Shichiroji stared at the furious samurai, unable to speak. Never had he seen Kyuzo this angry before. And his words…those were a clear confirmation that he indeed knew Shimada Kanbei from way back. He was shocked back to his senses when he saw Kyuzo grab Kirara's wrist.

"Hey! Stop that, Kyuzo-dono!" the blond warrior declared.

But Kyuzo was too furious to care. Jerking Kirara close, he gave the terrified girl a smoldering glare. "You heard what Kanbei-san said. You will be guarding the bath with me tonight whether you like it or not. I will string you up to the rafters if you dare to disobey me. You will listen AND watch. I am way past caring about whatever sensibilities that you possess. You will know the truth about that man whom you claim to love."

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