It wasn't expected the Band of Seven would ever attack us because our village is so poor. But they're a group of ruthless mercenaries and their's a first time for everything. Like me being allowed to fight alongside my fiancée against them. Normally, he wouldn't let me anywhere near a battle althought I'm one of the best fighters the village has. But we have a lot of soldiers wounded from a demon attack so now isn't really a time to be picky.
I grab my kimono which isn't the norm for fighters to wear, but since I'm probably the only female soldier out there I can wear what I want. I tie my black hair up high and slip into the midnight blue and white kimono that ends at my knees. I slide my sword into the sash that keeps it there and slide my sheath of arrows and a bow across my shoulder. I look at Keitaro who's looking at me with worry.
" Asuka, are you sure you want to go out and fight against the Band of Seven?" Keitaro asks.
" Of course. I want to fight alongside you, Keitaro," I say raising my hand to caress his face, His eyes close at my touch and he holds my hand against his face for asecond. Then he opens his eyes only then to lean down and kiss my lips. He doesn't want me to die or get myself kidnapped (again) my the Band of Seven, especially by their leader Bankotsu. He may be the youngest but he's rumored to be the most destructive of the seven.
" Asuka! Keitaro! Get out here!" one of the soldiers calls to us. He pulls away and exits the door with me following him. As soon as we turn around, we catch our first glimpse of what we're up against. The only two that stick out are Bankotsu and Jakotsu, the guy that looks slightley female. They stop about ten yards away from us then Bankotsu steps up.
" Well, so much for a surprise," Bankotsu sighs but he still has that mischevious glitter in his eyes. "Oh well, it'll still be simple to get rid of you guys." His eyes scan our fifty or so people ready to fight then he catches sight of me and grins. He turns to his friends and says," No one touches the girl, she's mine. Understood?"
" You won't lay a hand on Asuka!" Keitaro growls. This only makes Bankotsu grin even more. I pull out my sword and glare at Bankotsu. Rumour was that he'll take a woman or two from each village and rape them. I'll tell you something, that isn't going to be me.
Our village caught wind that we were going to be raided by the Band of Seven so just to be safe, the rest of the women, children, elderley, and wounded evacuated to the nearest village. Only the able-bodied men and me were allowed to stay behind and create a diversion to give time for the others to escape.
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that," he says. Suikotsu runs forward but we had a feeling he would. He sprints staright for Keitaro and I so Keitaro grabs me and we roll to the side. Suikotsu steps and plunges his fist down towards me. His gloves have a few blades sprouting from his gloves so with a simple punch, he can skewer you.
I kick him in the stomach and you would think he would know I would do that but he underestimates women. Serves him right. It gives my enough time to flip up from me spot and land on my feet.
So much Keitaro's worry. As soon as a spring back up, Bankotsu comes right at me with his Banryu. The strike of his Banryu should knock me off my feet but somehow I manage to stand my ground.
" You know, for a girl you're kind've strong," Bankotsu says using for of his strength to push me back. I grit my teeth together.
" Women are just underestimated by men," I say back using more of my strength to push him back. He's stronger than I thought.
" Oh well it doesn't matter," Bankotsu says. Just then a cry of ten or so men is heard and I look over. Jakotsu's sword slaughters fifteen of our men and Ginkotsu sets fire on another fifteen. None of the attacked. Three fifths of our soldiers wiped out in a mere ten seconds. At this rate we don't stand a chance. Thankfully, Keitaro is still alive and fighting with no visible injuries.
When I'm distracted, Bankotsu pushes back and I stumble backwards. He then hits me in the chest with Banryu and I start to fall backwards. I get back on my feet but then he trips me and I fall to the ground. Bankotsu then kicks me in the stomach and I gasp as the air's knocked out of me.
" Asuka!" Keitaro yells to me. He manages to shove Suikotsu away from him and runs towards me. Jakotsu remains behind him, grinning. He raises his sword just as Keitaro raises his to try and protect me.
" Keitaro, behind you!" I cry out. He turns around and just as he dodges Jakotsu, Suikotsu comes around and punches him in the stomach. His crimson blood blossoms across his stomach. Everything then seems to go in slow motion after that. Keitaro collapses to the ground and the remaining fighters are destroyed by Renkotsu's fire.
" Keitaro! Keitaro!" I cry out. He doesn't move or respond in any way, his blue eyes looking at the sunset which they cannot see.
I am the only fighter left.
I jump up from the ground and grab my sword the flung out of my hands after I was tripped by Bankotsu. "Come and get me!" I challenge them.
"Really, Bankotsu? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill her instead of causing all this fuss?" Jakotsu complains.
"Nah, she's got spunk and she might try to put up a fight," Bankotsu says. " So, you want us to knock you out and take you with us or do you just want to follow?"
" I'd rather die!" I spit out. My pride might drive me to my grave but I will not die at the hands of that mercenary!
" Don't tempt fate, girl," Renkotsu warns.
" Watch me, you murderous bastards!" I hiss at them. I'm pretty angry from watching the love of my life die before my eyes, but I will not let them see that the have broken me inside beyond repair. It'll just make me meet my own demise sooner. I speed towards them and in half a second, I have a cut gushing blood from Renkotsu's arm.
I jump right back as soon as my blade enters his arm. You can see that I've surprised him, it's written all across his face. He's about to take a swig of that stuff that makes him breath fire but Bankotsu puts a hand in front of him.
" Easy Renkotsu," Bankotsu says," I told ya that this one had spunk. What's your name?"
" Asuka, and what's it to you, Bankotsu?" I growl at him. My response makes him grin even more.
" Well Asuka, you're going to be travelling with the Band of Seven for a while," he says.
" What makes you think I'd ever travel with some band of mercenaries?" I ask. "You've killed countless people and for what? Amusement? Money? The adreneline?"
"Hm, I guess you could say more of a passtime and pleasure," Suikotsu says," I just love to hear kids crying for mercy." Children? I grit my teeth.
" Asuka! Keitaro! Where are you?" a childrens' voice calls out. I turn around and see Momoka! She was supposed to follow everyone to the village! I see Jakotsu about to strike and I spring forward to grab the orphan girl by her arms, pulling her out of the way in the knick of time.
" Momoka! Why didn't you follow the others to the village?" I ask her, my voice shaking.
" I just went to go pick some flowers for you and Keitaro! But then a demon showed up and destroyed the villagers!" Momoka says. They didn't escape?
" Where's this demon?" I growl. We didn't stay here to fight for nothing. " Tell him to come here so I can-"
" Keep your eyes on your opponent!" I hear Jakotsu yell at me. I jump up taking Momoka with me and we land next to Keitaro's corpse. My stomach does a flip as I see his unblinking eyes.
"Oh now I see why you want revenge," Bankotsu wonders out loud," We killed your husband so you want to kill us."
" Keitaro! Keitaro wake up! Keitaro!" Momoka says, shaking him to try to wake him up. Keitaro had taken her in when she wandered into the village because a demon destroyed her village. I've been the mother she's almost never had and Keitaro's been the father she never had. No wonder she wants him to wake up ... I do too.
"Over here!" Suikotsu says. I grab her to get her out of the way but I'm a second to late. Her brown eyes grow wide with pain but no sound escapes her. Blood blossoms on the back of her kimono and she falls down beside me. She reaches for my hand and I clutch it like a lifeline.
" Asuka," she says, her voice hoarse from fear. " I just wanted for you two to come home safely. Please, get rid of those mean men and find the demon, Asuka. Please?" Then her eyes close, her head falls back and that's when I know she's gone. At six years old, with her life barely started, she's dead.
" Suikotsu ..." I say," Today's the day you go to hell!" My voice rises to a shout with every word. I sprint toward him with my sword raised, anger and revenge pulsing through me. I bring it down and Suikotsu barely has time to react. That snake-sword Jakotsu has tears into my shoulder (it got to my bone) and I have to take step back.
" Mukotsu!" Jakotsu orders, his voice commanding. I hear a geeky laugh and Mukotsu appears with that smoke machine he has. This purple/blue smoke comes from the end of the tube and encircles me. The Band of Seven disapears with the smoke ... cowards.
" Cowards! Show yourselves!" I demand but then end up coughing. The smoke isn't poisinous so what is it? I yawn ... I'm so tired all of a sudden. I moan and collapse to the ground. I can't move anymore! The smoke must paralyze anyone it crosses pathes with so shouldn't the Band of Seven also be paralyzed. Then again, I'm pretty sure I saw that they had masks on them ... my eyelids drop and I'm pretty sure I've fallen asleep.
Wake up! Wake up, you idiot! A small voice orders me. But I can't wake up ... I'm so tired.
" Hm, well, that was easy," Jakotsu's voice mutters. Someone strong-muscled picks me up and I feel like a rag doll in his arms. He's so warm I have to snuggle in closer to his chest. I feel so cold ...
" I'll carry her back to camp," Bankotsu's voice says. You can pratically hear the smile in his voice.
They've won again, but I won't die. I'm the only survivor of my village and it's my job to avenge them. I won't get myself killed before I avenge everyone ... Keitaro ... Momoka ... everyone.