The Ground thumped as dozens of horses galloped over the grassy plain. The group moved fast along the trail, some of the riders whooping and shouting as their horses galloped. In all there were about fifty of them. The group was being led by two men who were easily a dozen feet ahead of the rest of the group, one rode a pure black horse, and the other a pure white one. The first man had long flowing black hair that was tied into a ponytail in the back. The other had jagged brown hair that was combed back, except for one strand that hung down between his brown eyes.
Dust rose as the hooves hit the ground. The group had entered a field that was being farmed by a nearby village. As they galloped past people would look up and watch, their faces often held a look of sadness and some, anger. A village soon loomed in the distance. The group shouted some more and urged their horses to go faster. The two men in front smiled. The first man's smile was full of malice. The second mans smile would have been considered kind if it weren't for his menacing features.
Soon the group entered the small village. With a start they all slowed their horses to a stop. The first man got off his horse and began to walk towards a small hut, his blue cloak flowing behind him. With a smile the other man followed him. This man was wearing a black shihakusho under a white robe. The first man pushed aside the bamboo covering in the door way of the hut and entered it, the second man entered soon after.
"Lady Kaede, you look well," The first man said to the old woman who was sitting inside the hut. The old lady looked at the two men who had entered her hut.
"Naraku," She said, making no attempt to hide the dislike in her voice. She turned to the other man, "And Sousuke Aizen…You're back,"
"It's a pleasure to be back my lady," Aizen said with a smile. Kaede cringed.
"Why are you here?" She demanded, "You came not four months ago. Why have you returned so soon?" Aizen frowned.
"It seems the gods don't favor us, Villages seem to have hit a dry spell, we haven't had a very profitable year,"
"So we thought we'd come back and visit my old friend Kaede," Naraku told her with a menacing smirk. Kaede opened her mouth to speak but shouting came from outside. Kaede sighed sadly. They were looting the village, as they did every year. Naraku and Aizen led a group of bandits. They traveled around Japan as they looted and raided every village they sought to. They had been coming to this village for ten years. Naraku said it was his favorite, as he had spent a short time here before he became the leader of a ruthless gang of outlaws.
"Not all villages are doing as well as this one," Naraku said, "We were forced to come back,"
"Yes, heaven forbid you earn your money legally," Kaede mumbled. Naraku frowned. He grabbed Kaede by the neck and lifted her up in the air. Kaede cringed and grabbed at his hand. Naraku scowled in her face.
"You have no idea what it's like. Food is hard to come by these days, we always leave you enough to get by on, so be grateful. Our men need to eat,"
"Since when do you care about other people?" Kaede chocked. Naraku smirked.
"They have their uses, and it's hard to be useful when you're dead," Naraku said, "the same goes for you," He dropped Kaede onto the ground. She fell gasping.
"The only reason why I haven't burned this pathetic village to the ground yet is because it's a good provider," Kaede gritted her teeth.
"Don't make me rethink that," Naraku finished. Narrowing his eyes he left the hut.
"Always a pleasure to see you Miss Kaede," Aizen said as he followed Naraku out.
The two men mounted their horses. The rest of the bandits did the same, their horses weighed down with goods from the village. Aizen smiled as looked out over the village. A crowd had gathered and they were watching the bandits with an angry look.
"It's good to see you all again," Aizen said, "But I'm afraid we must be off,"
"BASTARDS!" one of the villagers shouted. With a roar he angrily drew the sword that was hanging from his belt. He charged at Aizen. With a smile Aizen raised his hand and pointed a finger.
"Byakurai," A bolt of lighting shot from his finger and pierced the charging man. The man fell the ground as blood started pouring from his chest. Still smiling Aizen lowered his hand.
"Now without further ado," He continued, "We're off," Aizen jerked the reigns on his horse. With a whinny the horse turned and started to gallop. Naraku followed him. Shouting and whooping the rest of the bandits took off after them. The villagers watched as they galloped into the distance. Soon enough, they couldn't even hear the pounding of the horse's hooves. Nobody spoke. The village was quite except for one woman crying for her now dead husband. Kaede soon left her hut, to so survey the damage. She walked into the crowd, who were still staring off into the direction the bandits had gone. Finally someone spoke.
"Damn them all!" A man named Haru growled, "Damn them all to hell!"
"Calm down Haru," another villager called Juro said to him.
"Calm down!?" Haru exclaimed, "Every year they come! Sometimes even sooner! And we just sit here and watch while they take our possessions! Our food!"
"And what do you want to do about it?" a man named Kyo asked.
"We should fight them!" Haru said.
"And end up like Shin there?" Juro asked, gesturing to the man Aizen had killed.
"They can't take us all!" Haru protested, "We outnumber them!"
"Barely, and they have power," Kyo said.
"But…"
"Let it go Haru," Juro said, "They leave us enough to get by, let's not risk our lives when they're not in danger,"
"I won't just sit there as they steal food out of my family's mouths!" Haru shouted.
"Haru! Calm…"
"No!" A new voice said. Everyone in the village turned to look at who had spoken. Kaede made her way to the men talking.
"Haru is right," She said.
"Lady Kaede…" Juro said.
"Too long we have endured this, I won't stand for it anymore. They crossed the line when they killed Shin," She said.
"So you want us to fight!?" Kyo asked. "Be reasonable, they're strong! And we have no weapons!"
"Aye," Kaede agreed, "But we have valuables," She said.
"Japan is filled with strong and powerful warriors, perhaps we can hire a few,"
"Hire…warriors…?" Haru asked. Kaede nodded.
"We have enough money to hire some, and perhaps they will take pity on us." Kaede said. Nobody said anything. Finally Haru said.
"I'm for it," He announced, "If it means getting rid of Naraku and Aizen, I'd do anything," He said, "what about you two?" He asked, looking at Kyo and Juro. They looked at each other for a second and sighed.
"Fine," They agreed. Juro smirked, "They took my favorite horse once, and I'd say its time for some payback,"
"My wife will have a son soon," Kyo said, "I won't let my son go hungry when he doesn't have to," Kaede nodded and turned to the rest of the village.
"Well, do you want to get rid of them," There was instantly a chorus of yeah! Kaede smiled and turned.
"You three," She said, looking at Haru, Kyo, and Juro, "Go north, I know of some places strong warriors can be found," She told them.
"Persuade them anyway you can. Can I count on you," They all nodded.
"Good," She turned to the direction the bandits had left, "The next time they come, we'll have a surprise waiting for them,"
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This was an idea I've had for a while. A magnificent seven adventure with people from different Shonen mangas. Hope you like it.
