Samurai 7 Fan Fiction ❯ Never Gentle ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )
Anime/Manga: Samurai 7 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.06.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 366 | Status: Work In Progress
by Midori Bond
Dawn broke over the village of Miroden. Many of the men were already out either tending to the animals, or getting ready to set sail. The Nobuseri hadn't been by in nearly a week. Peace was starting to settle over everyone's minds as the rumors of their defeat reached far and wide.
The village elder, Tayama Jiro, sat comfortably in his home. He received word that the new Magistrate, Ukyo had sent samurai out to aid various villages against the threat of the robotic bandits. The idea was sound. Many villages needed to be saved from the atrocities they caused. Miroden, however, was not one of those villages.
The door to his home opened, allowed a slim figure to enter. Eyes the color smoke were nearly hidden by a deep green mask and headdress. "You're up early Grandfather," a woman's voice whispered.
Jiro smiled as he was brought out of his thoughts. She was the reason why Miroden survived for these past few years. She had placed herself between the Nobuseri and the village too many times to count. "I was simply thinking," he confessed. He looked at his adopted granddaughter and fought a sigh. She stood in the shadows, always trying to hide herself. "The Magistrate's samurai should be arriving sometime today."
Her eyes narrowed as she pulled down the fabric covering her face. "So it is true," she said before ripping her headgear off. Mouse brown hair fell in waves down her back. Tanned skin was marred by a thick white scar that covered the left side of her face. "You do know that this Ukyo is going to get us all killed," she said, furious. "Does he not even realize that some villages have worked out trade agreements with the Nobuseri?"
"I fear he does not."
At his quiet answer, she stepped closer to him. Once she was close enough, she practically fell to her knees, gray eyes imploring. "Grandfather, you know I despise the Nobuseri They ripped my life, and my family apart. Out of everyone here, I have the most reason to want to see them all cut to pieces. But even I know that if I make a move against them, everyone else will suffer. How do I sit back and let these... these barbarians into my home and allow them to destroy everything that you've worked so hard to build."
Jiro frowned as she bowed her head. He knew how she felt. She was torn between wanting to rid the village of the threat that hung over them all, and wanting to keep everyone safe now that there was a fragile balance. He placed a wrinkled hand on her hair. "I am the village elder. I must always seek the answers that will insure the survival of my village. However, with the passage of time, I believe that we will have to follow the path Kanna Village has taken," he answered gravely.
"You want us to fight the Nobuseri?" she asked with widened eyes. As she looked into his face, she saw his solemn nod. "Why?"
"The younger generation fears them. They will grow to hate them, and learn to fight back. That may happen now, or during a time where you are not here to protect them."
She turned her face away from his tender expression. "I am just a woman, Grandfather."
A small, familiar smile crossed his face. "You are Samurai, Nari." As she shook her head, he continued to smile. "When your uncle Seiji brought you to me, he told me of your family. He wished that I made sure you were raised as a respectable woman. One that knew her place and stayed by her husband's side. But I failed him. I allowed you to practice with the sword he left with you. I allowed you to fight battles that you were never meant to be in. With your build and cowl, the Nobuseri first believed to be dealing with a boy with more mouth than sense. After Jin-dono learned the truth, he allowed the masquerade to continue. You earned his respect, and I may fear, something else."
Nari looked away from him. "If I have his respect, why would you have us all fight?"
"Would you marry him?" Jiro asked suddenly. He nodded as her eyes flew to him. "He is one of the few men that have power over the Nobuseri It is by his law that we even have a trade agreement. If he came here and demanded your hand, for the sake of Miroden, what would you do?"
"I would have no other choice, I would marry him."
Jiro nodded. "And that is why I want you to lead the Magistrate's samurai." He slowly stood and made his way to the door. "I was supposed to raise a respectable woman. I raised a samurai with more of her father in her than anyone could have guessed. If you wish to marry someone out of love, then I will stand by and not utter a sound. But I will not allow anyone to entertain the thought that I raised a whore."
Nari stayed frozen as Jiro left the small house. He had made his decision. He was going to break the trade agreement, condemn the village- people she learned to love as family- for her honor. Her head lowered, mouse brown locks dusting the floor. "Don't you realize Grandfather?" she whispered into the wood floor. "I'd rather be a whore than a monster."
It was midday when one of the young men standing watch over the village saw the small troop. He easily climbed down from the tower he was stationed in and ran up to Jiro's house, where the elder was sitting thoughtfully. "There are about ten," the teen said nervously.
Jiro merely nodded as other villagers started to gather in front of his house. "That is fine. We will need as much aid as possible if we are to stand against the Nobuseri" He noticed the gasps coming from many of the women, and chose to ignore them. Nari needed to know his reasons for his change in attitude, they did not. "Please, Kei, show them to me." As the guard nodded and ran back towards the tower, Jiro turned to look over his shoulder. Nari just emerged from his house. Smoke eyes were bloodshot, and Jiro could guess that she didn't sleep after their talk earlier. "I will only allow them to stand, if you lead them," he told her in a hushed voice.
She placed her hand on his shoulder. "I am a woman," she whispered.
"You are your father's daughter."
"Then that is more than enough reason for you to give up this train of thought," she breathed. "Remember, my father abandoned our home. He left me and my mother to die. What makes you think I won't do the same?"
Jiro looked at her with serious onyx eyes. "Because you are Samurai."
Nari shook her head and sighed. "I hope your age isn't starting to affect your sanity Grandfather," she said as the crowd parted before the coming samurai.
A man only a few years older than Nari stepped in front of Jiro. "We are here on the behalf of the Magistrate, Lord Ukyo," he said formally. "With the Nobuseri's defeat in Kanna Village, he has expressed his desire to rid this threat from the other villages under his domain."
Jiro looked at the men surrounding them. A few of them were little older than Kei. They each looked desperate to prove something to someone. A frown settled on his face. Desperation could lead to recklessness. The other warriors looked old and seasoned, but they also looked bloodthirsty. There was no doubt that if given the chance, they too, would have chosen the metallic existence of the Nobuseri Jiro brought himself out of his thoughts. "It is very kind of Lord Ukyo to think of the people. I, myself, started to have thoughts of mirroring Kanna Village," he said diplomatically. Again, he ignored the surprised sounds of his villagers. "However, I must inform you, there is a samurai already living here. If you intend to fight on our behalf, you will have to take orders from her."
The leader of the samurai felt his eyebrow arch. "Her?" he asked before he could stop himself. "You expect us to follow a woman into battle?"
"Nari's better than a bunch of men like you!" a little boy's voice shouted.
Behind her cowl, Nari smiled. Kou's faith in her abilities never seemed to waver. But as one of the larger men stalked over to the boy, she felt her eyes narrow. When his hand started to elevate, Nari moved from Jiro's shoulder. "If you hit that child, I will have your hand," she said coldly.
The bear of a man slowly turned towards her. His eyes raked over her form before he laughed. "I fought in the Great War," he boasted. "If the Nobuseri ain't take a part of me, what makes you think you can?" he taunted.
Everyone stood in shock as Nari shrugged. "Because I can get closer to you than they can," she answered easily. Before he could respond, she was at his side with a duel bladed sword at his throat. As she glared into her opponent's eyes, she pitched her voice so that everyone could hear her. "That's the advantage of staying human. Nobuseri are bigger, all bulk. But if you get close enough, a little sword can take out critical wiring and bring it crashing down." She stepped away from him, never breaking their eye contact. "You don't have to follow me. Each of you came here, you know how to leave."
The leader of the troop smiled as he walked over to Nari. "What is your name?" he asked curiously.
"Nari," she said simply.
He frowned. "No family name?" he asked. When smoke eyes glared at him, he bowed respectfully. "I am Fujimiya Shido, the leader of this band."
Nari continued to glare at him. "What do you want?" she asked bluntly.
"Proof of your skills," Shido said easily. He looked at his men and smiled. "It's only fair. We can only follow those that are stronger, and if you wish to lead us, then you will have to prove yourself."
"Nari doesn't have to prove anything to you!" Kou argued. His blue eyes widened as Nari placed her hand on his shoulder. "Nari, you don't," he whispered in a soft voice.
She squeezed his shoulder. "Go to Grandfather," she told him softly. As he moved away from her, she looked at the crowd around them. "All of you, go to your homes."
The bear next to her snorted. "See, she's too chickenshit to take on Shido. Why would we follow her anywhere?" he said with a laugh.
A pair of the older samurai laughed, but settled when Shido gave them all a look. His eyes were focused on Nari. She had a slim fighter's figure. Because of the cloth covering her face, it was nearly impossible to tell she was a woman. Before she spoke, he thought she was another of the village's teen guards. But the way she held her sword, never tense, never relaxed, it reminded him of someone.
Nari looked at Jiro and nodded only once. "I will take on whoever attacks," she said simply. "I will only hold back death blows." Her eyes cut to the man next to her. "But do not think of that as weakness."
Shido shook his head as he drew his sword. "I will be your opponent. If I fall, whoever wishes to leave may still do so." Without any further warning, he rushed Nari. Their swords locked in a stalemate. Trying to gain an advantage over her, Shido sidestepped. As Nari moved with him, he was reminded of a taller man, with flowing brown hair. He was brought back to the fight on hand when Nari threw her weight down and easily rolled him over her shoulder.
She moved away from him, not bothering with the look of shock on his face. "Keep your mind here," she spat. Her eyes looked at the stunned men around her. "I wouldn't want the men to think that I cheated."
Shido jumped to his feet. Focused purple eyes stayed on her as she rushed him with fluid grace. He raised his sword and blocked the blow intended for his side. He looked at her with a deep frown. "I thought you said you were going to pull your blows."
A single shoulder shrugged. "I wanted to make sure you were still paying attention," she said simply. As his frown deepened, she kicked his leg out from under him. Again, he had gotten a far off look in his eyes. She stepped away from him and re-sheathed her sword. "If you're not going to focus, if this is the best you have, then leave," she ordered. "I will not step over the graves of my people for this carelessness." She turned her back to the samurai and started towards Jiro.
Shido felt his breath leave him as he looked at her. There was no way that it could have been possible. He had been told that his one time commander had a wife and daughter, but all reports said they were both dead. He stood, now realizing who he had to please. With an assassin's stealth, he ran after her.
Nari turned and drew her sword at the same moment. Before she could react, she slashed mercilessly at his chest. As he fell to the ground, she felt the cowl she wore slide off of her face. Her eyes were hard as the other samurai looked at her in shock. The villagers that were still watching were motionless. She always hid the scar on her face. The belief that it was a hideous reminder of the first battle she was ever in kept her in various masks and cowls since she was a child. Her hair flowed with the breeze as she walked over to Shido's prone form. "That was stupid," she said going to one knee. "Don't you know I could have killed you?" she asked.
He looked at her in amazement. It would have been so easy to trade her features for her father's. A slow smile crossed his face. "You held back?" he asked gingerly touching the cuts on his chest.
"I should have went for your gut," she said simply. She easily reached for the top of his tunic and ripped it open. He was bleeding badly, but there was still a chance to save him. "Sara," she called out. As she turned to Jiro, she saw his natural granddaughter standing at his side. "Can you please take Shido-san to Grandfather's home to be treated?" she asked.
As Sara started towards Nari, the bear of a samurai went to Shido's side. "I'll carry him," he said easily lifting his commander.
Nari nodded once. "I take it that you're staying?" she asked dryly.
"I'm Seguchi Momotaru," he said before walking towards the attractive woman with the large ruby eyes. "After Shido-dono is taken care of, we will follow you with complaint," he said over his shoulder.
Two days later, Shido woke to the feeling of cool hands dressing his wounds. He looked up to see a young woman with soft blonde hair and gentle green eyes. "Who are you?" he asked softly.
She smiled as she looked at him. "My name is Hotaru," she said easily. "I've been one of your keepers since you screwed up."
He frowned as she continued to wipe at his chest. "Most would be impressed that I was able to survive a mortal wound like that."
"I would have been more impressed if you had never fought with Nari to begin with," she muttered. With a frustrated sigh, she shook her head. "I don't know what she or Grandfather have been thinking. With her sword and skills, she could slaughter the Nobuseri that come here."
"You think highly of her," Shido said lowly.
"Well, the trouncing she gave you wasn't even a fraction of her skill," she said with a smile.
Shido closed his eyes. "Do you have to insult me at every turn?" he asked tiredly.
"I'm just giving you what you and your men gave my cousin," Hotaru said in a low voice. When he opened one eye to look at her, she shrugged. "It's true."
He stayed silent as he continued to think about Nari. He allowed Hotaru to change his bandages and frowned as he forced himself to sit up. "Where is she?" he asked politely.
Hotaru gathered her herbs and bandages. "She should be outside with the troops. They're all making arrangements and preparing to fight the Nobuseri when they arrive." She stood and went to the door. She knew that she should tell him to lay down and rest, but for some reason, she knew that he would just ignore her. "If you decide that you want to come outside, there's clean clothes for you just next to the screen."
Shido watched her as she left. It appeared like Miroden had more than one woman that didn't know her proper place. As he forced himself to his feet, a smile crossed his face. Miroden was going to be a refreshing change.
Nari frowned as she watched Momotaru and Shen spar. The younger man was trying his hardest to score a hit on the veteran, but he was just making a fool of himself. She stepped off of the tree stump she was standing on and walked over to the pair. "Shen-noji, you have to stop thinking so much," she said lowly. "Let each move guide you into the next." She took Shen's sword and faced Momotaru. "If he blocks," she started, lunging at the larger man. When the blades met, she moved both swords in a circle away from them all, "then you find a way to negate his attack." Before either could do anything, her foot came up, barely missing Momotaru's face. "Your sword isn't your only weapon."
Shen nodded slowly as she returned his sword. Everything she said made perfect sense, he was just having a problem with putting it into his own mind. He bit his lip and faced Momotaru again. "Okay, let's try it again."
Nari shook her head. "No. Do it," she ordered. She walked over to her tree stump and rang a small bell Kou had given her. She looked at the few samurai, and villagers that were trying to sharpen their combat skills. "The Nobuseri have missed their last two pick ups," she started. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shido and Jiro walking closer to them. "I don't want you all to think that just because they aren't here, the threat is gone. It's not. In fact, until we receive word that all Nobuseri are destroyed, the danger to us all only increases."
Shido leaned back against a tree as he watched his... her men. They all were caught in the spell of her voice. Soft, regal, confident. Just like her father.
"I know you all have been doing your best to improve, but today is the last day that I will be training you," Nari announced. "If I don't see improvement in your fighting abilities, then I will order your assistance elsewhere." She looked at Shen and saw how his head lowered in shame. "There is no honor in dying a needless death. If you could make a better archer than swordsman, I would all the sooner hand you a bow and arrow. If you are a technician, then by all means, go with Nyogo-dono. He needs help desperately. I will not waste time and assets when the danger to the women and children grows."
Jiro stood next to Shido and smiled. "She is a natural commander," the elder said easily. "And very skilled with sword and arrow."
"Yes," Shido agreed. "Her father will be thrilled to see what a woman she's turned into."
Widened eyes looked at the injured samurai. "You know who she is?" he asked in a whisper.
Shido nodded. "I realized it when fighting her. She's the daughter to one of the greatest heroes of the Great War."
"Do not mention it to her. She has... issues with her father." Jiro saw the way Nari was sparring with Kei. He couldn't hold back a low hiss of sympathy when her elbow connected with his jaw. "If you want to stay on the good side of her blade, you will do your best not to mention Shimada Kambei."