Fog surrounded Yasuo as he walked the empty road. Both sides of the road were bordered by an endless forest of bamboo that appeared ghostly and pale from the grey screen. To add to the still ambience, he heard not a sound. There was no chirping of birds or grasshoppers in the air, no rustling of fallen leaves to be heard. Besides the sound of his boots treading the ground, there world was in utter silence. He did not know how long this eerie path would go on for, yet he felt compelled to walk it nonetheless.

For a countless time he walked on single mindedly, feet scuffing the dirt mind focused only on the unknowable destination, when he saw an outline approach him through the fog. As the figure came closer, its features became clearer until it stood only ten paces away. Before him was a large man well taller than he by three heads and composed entirely of muscle with a bright red gash running from his shoulder to his side. He carried a blade that was as thick as an arm that ended in a curve. Yasuo knew this man. He was one of the first to come after him, to bring him to justice. A justice placed upon false accusations, so he was the first to fall to Yasuo's blade.

The muscle bound man barring Yasuo's path now took only a moment to stare at him before running towards him, blood streaming from the fresh wound across his chest. With a yell the large man sent his sword crashing down only to be swiftly evaded as Yasuo jumped back. Upon landing, he propelled himself back into the air, drawing his sword and cutting down across the man's crimson gash severing him in two like he had so long ago.

Unforgiven.

The wind blew as the body fell and dispersed in a cloud of withered leaves laying themselves around Yasuo. He began to resheathe his blade when a rustling from the forest caught his ear. Drawing the rest of the blade out he faced the direction of the noise only to see a blur going around the corner of his eye. The feeling of steel entering his back told them that he was not fast enough in turning to follow the blur, or perhaps he was fast enough seeing how whatever stabbed him did not pierce his heart. Spinning towards the direction of the pain, he slashed at nothing but air around him. Before him stood a dark haired woman calmly drawing out new blades from behind her. Yasuo knew her as well, another soul that had come to hunt him down. The red stain running around her waist reminded him the moment of her death.

"If you're going to stab me in the back like that, the least you could do is take those knives with you." He said, grunting as he moved into a stance with steel stuck in his body. The woman gave a throaty laugh despite the fact that his sword was pointed towards her.

As quick as lightning the female assailant dashed at him. Yasuo made a thrust at her but she nimbly jumped over his attack, spinning in the air and landing two more knives into his shoulders. Behind him, he felt the cold sensation of metal escaping his flesh followed by a powerful kick forcing him to stumble forward. Quickly regaining his footing he turned to face his opponent, blade slashing in an arc forcing her to jump back but Yasuo continued his onslaught. Closing the gap, he unleashed a myriad flurry of attacks. Slashes were quickly parried by her swift knife work and thrusts easily evaded yet he could see that he was driving her to the brink. Feeling threads of air wrapping around his blade he increased the intensity of his advance, knocking the woman's knives out of her hands. Her shocked expression was the last face she made as Yasuo finished her off by slicing the waist in two as if it were butter.

Traitor.

Like his last attacker, her body fell and scattered as long dead foliage. Pulling the knives out of his shoulders Yasuo heard more footsteps coming from the forest. A group of three stood before him, all bearing a red mark in some form, his death mark. Not as much as a word they fell upon him. Again as he slew them, they crumbled into withered leaves and the wind blew their last curses to him only to be replaced by the next party that came for his head. Sometimes they came alone, sometimes many, each one unique from the last. On and on they came, on and on he heard their dying breathes to him.

Unforgiven, Deceiver, Betrayer, Honorless, Traitor, Lost one, Fateless…

When the tide of vengeful hunters ceased Yasuo was marked by numerous cuts and scrapes on his body. Some were red from fresh blood oozing out of raw wounds while others he felt were already beginning to crust over as he stood there panting. The ground around him was coated in a layer of blood painted leaves with a sick stench that could have been carried so far off that one was likely to smell the scene of carnage hours before actually seeing it. His blade seemed to be the only thing not painted red ironically. Yasuo could still feel the layer of wind encircling his sword, adding more sharpness to the already razor edged blade and effectively blowing off any speck of blood that should have normally coated a sword.

"Yasuo."

Yone. He thought turning behind him to the source of the voice. Before him stood a man with his dark hair tied up behind his head. He wore a blue tunic much like his but not tattered. His face would have been identical to Yasuo's had they been born as twins but as it was, he was the elder and Yone's face reflected that with harder features then Yasuo's.

"Brother." Yauso said slightly out of breath and unsurprised, like meeting an old acquaintance he would have never wanted to see again.

"We are not brothers, Unforgiven." Yone said as cold as winter, contempt lacing his words. "Not anymore, not after what you've done."

"Say what you want Yone, but we are brothers. Please, for that alone, believe me when I say it was not me that killed out Elder."

Yone, his brother, considered him for a moment, then scoffed. "You truly must have become immeasurably arrogant to believe that your wit has become as sharp as your sword play." Drawing his sword out to Yasuo, Yone continued. "Answer me this then. Who else but you, have mastered the art in controlling the wind, to use it as a weapon. I have seen where our Elder fell and his body bared markings only a blade of wind could have made. Answer me. Now."

"I do not know." Vague memories told him that he repeated that same answer to Yone countless times whenever he asked that question.

"And so, you must be put down." Yone said, raising his sword to assume a stance.

"Don't do this." Yasuo pleaded, blood dripping from his fresh wounds. He felt his muscles tensing, anticipating a lethal strike, ready to counter it.

"For what you have done, I must." His brother replied in a determined voice. Then, in a sad and solemn tone, "I shall forever mourn the memory of my long dead brother." At that he dashed forward. Yasuo was ready for the attack.

Yone made a slash at his side but Yasuo blocked the strike. A shrill whistling sounded as regular steel met his wind sheathed blade. Repelled, Yone stepped back ready to jump back in to thrust his weapon, a maneuver Yasuo saw all too clearly. Had it been directed anyone else, Yone's speed would have made the attack connect. Cursing fate, Yasuo redirected the thrust with the side of his sword. The shrill whistling turned into a screech as he slide his blade against Yone's into a slash that went up his brothers torso to the opposite shoulder.

Yasuo heard Yone's blade hit the ground and stared dejectedly at his fallen brother. Getting on his knees, Yasuo knelt beside his dead brother, the wind slowly blowing his corpse away in a stream of leaves. He stayed there mired in his own blood and that of his pursuers and his brother.

Yone. You died to pursue our Elder's killer. I killed you so that I might find our Elder's killer. He felt his heart twist in anger and strife at the irony of it all.

A gust from behind made him turn his head. What he saw was a white haired woman carrying a black greatsword as tall as she was covered in glowing green symbols. At first he did not recognize her than cold seething recognition hit him. Memories of a hanging tree and a duel beneath it entered his mind.

"You." He said rising, taking up his sword to fulfill the duty his brother died for. The duty that he had killed him for. "You will not get away this time." White hair simply pointed her sword at him and crooked two fingers at him. Yasuo still felt the sheath of air running along his blade, churning at impossible velocities, capable of eroding stone towers into grey hovels. With a cry, he slashed his sword at her, sending out a storm that has been gathering the moment he was named Unforgiven.

When Yasuo woke up he noticed that his face was wet. Soaked actually, yet he still felt mildly groggy. Eyes straining themselves open, he was about to crawl out his bed when he noticed that he was actually sitting on his bed against the wall.

Strange. He thought. Could have sworn I slept inside for once. And in a bed. Another wave came for his face.

Furiously he stood up, eyes wide open and his mind racing as he took in his surroundings. The room he was in was cramped, the only furniture that was in it was the bed he had apparently spent the night sitting on, a small desk to the side with a candle that was reduced to a stub, and an empty bottle. On one side of the room was a lone window showing that it was currently raining. Opposite of that was another desk with a basin on it. And a young man heading back to it with a jug. In angry strides he walked up to the man, spun him around by the shoulder, and knocked that surprised face of his with his own.

Reeling back from the impact Yasuo rubbed his head vigorously. "What in the blackest pit do you think you're doing? Who in their right minds would throw water, or anything for that matter, at a sleeping man's face?! I should –"

"Shut your face you drunk! We're in danger!" Feros said, rubbing his head just as hard. "I tried shaking you awake but you kept on sleeping! Mumbling about paths and leaves. We need to leave. Now!"

The urgency in his voice shifted Yasuo's perspective on the situation. For three days they had stayed in this town of Xiao Chung hoping to find the white haired swords woman or at the very least a lead. As of yet, the people they had asked in taverns and on the streets had heard nothing. As for being called a drunk, since each day availed nothing new he always drank a bottle before resigning for the night. Yet three days was a long time, perhaps long enough for headhunters to have homed in on him despite using a fake name. When Yasuo asked about that Feros looked surprised when he nodded.

"Looks like you got most of our things packed. I'll meet you down at the stables and hopefully we can get out before making scene." He said as he went to get his sword and other carry on belongings. That was when they both heard a knocking at their door. Feros looked at Yasuo with bulging eyes, hands stiff on a hunting knife he carried at his waist.

Yasuo made a motion with signaling the younger man to ease his nerves as he strode softy to the door, slowly drawing his blade partway out. "Can I help you?"

"Well for one, you can open the door and speak to my face you vagrant." Yasuo gave a breath with Feros. The familiar yet angry voice was that of Yuren the inn keeper. A wide balding man with a reputation of hording every object in his establishment including the dust in his cellars. Resheathing his sword but still keeping it visible he opened the door Yasuo looked down at the man but not before noticing the muscle standing beside him. Feng he thought his name was, and his job was to make sure the patrons didn't get too rowdy or that no one skipped out on their pay.

"It seems that we are of a mind Dao, what with your sword and my friend back ere. Except, I have cause to bring, em, insurance with me you little weasel." Yuren said giving a chuckle that held little mirth. "Feng here saw your little toady there hitching up your horses and he and I both know that you still have yet to pay us." The fat made gave another chuckle then said in a sinister voice, "You wouldn't leave before paying poor ole me now, would you?"

"Wouldn't dream of it Yuren." Yasuo said, putting a smile he did not feel for this sleazy sack of meat. "In fact I was just coming down to pay it off."

"Ah, now that is what I like to hear! See Feng, you were worried over nothing. Dao here is as honorable and as honest as he looks!" Feng grunted noncommittally. "Now since you're coming down anyways why don't you let Feng escort you down? Only the good ones get his protection . Right Feng?" The inn keeper said, laughing as he went down the stairs.

"I still have somethings to get still. You won't mind waiting Feng ole buddy?" Yasuo asked the muscle. He responded with silence. "Right. Anyways, I'm the one with the money so the lad will just be waiting for me at the stables." Nothing again from the large man. Taking his silence for acknowledgement, he motioned for Feros to descend to the stables while he got the rest of his belongings into a traveling sack.

With sack slung over his shoulder, Yasuo came down to the common room with Feng tailing him he saw Yuren pretending to be busy by wiping the bar counter with that stained towel he kept on him. When he approached the bar tender the wide man put on an eager grin.

"Ah Dao, glad to see you. A shame to see you go. Especially after racking up that impressive tab for the bar. But I had to collect someday. Shall we make a toast to send you off?"

"No thank you." Yasuo replied, counting coins on the counter. During his stay at this inn Yasuo could not exactly pin down why, out of all the patrons residing here, did Yuren seem to take an interest in him. Probably wants to con the outsider. Yasuo thought, pushing three days' worth of payment towards the man plus his bar tab. Respectively that cost three and a half and eight silver lotus coins, leaving only three silver coins in his purse. Perhaps he drank more then he realized. Remembering that he had two nice bottles of spirits in his sack did not make him feel any better.

Sighing internally he spilled the last coins in that purse onto the table. Yuren cast a curious eye to Yasuo. No harm is asking one last time.

"Before I go Yuren, any word of a white haired woman with a black sword coming to town?"

"Feh, that's all you're interested in isn't it Dao. The only white haired women here are the crones walking the streets." Yuren said rolling the silver coins across his fingers. Yasuo thought as much yet there was something in the man's voice, and his sneer, that made it clear that he had more.

"What is it?" Yasuo asked testily.

Yuren shrugged. "Oh, just the most peculiar tale. Now, I don't know anything about black swords but I heard that there was a white haired not too far from here."

"Where!"

"Hmmm, nevermind. The story is ludicrous. Probably all lie-" With blinding speed Yasuo had drawn out his sword and placed its edge right up against the inn keepers neck. A thin stream of blood oozed from the razor thin scratch. He felt eyes watching him now and Feng looked ready to tear off Yasuo's head but was disturbed at how fast he had drawn that sword. Himself, he hoped Feng was smart enough to not confirm who was fastest.

"I'm only going to ask once Yuren. Where was the woman last seen?" The wide man's face began to redden in anger.

"You little prick. You think you can just come to my house and-" Yasuo put more force into the sword, the red stream became thicker. "Spirits take you! Pit swallow you I'll talk!"

"Start yapping then, my arm's starting to get tired." Yuren scowled when he realized that Yasuo did not intend to lower the blade until he got everything out of the inn keeper.

"It's just hearsay but… I heard a cart driver let a white haired woman onto his cart. A fine looking dame the way I hear it. The strange part was that she did not want to come to town despite her ragged state. Rather I heard that she ran off towards the hill lands. Why are the pretty ones always the mad ones?"

Never came to town? "How long ago was this?" Yasuo asked, his voice cold and emotionless. He didn't mean to put more pressure on the blade.

"I-I- th-three days? Four days? I don't know! That's all I got! Really!" The panic above all else convinced him. Resheathing his blade, Yasuo made his final goodbye's to the inn keeper who had tied his towel over his neck and to the muscle who swallowed when Yasuo looked at him.

Three or four days. Yasuo thought as he walked towards the stables where their horses, Kicks and White, were getting prepped to leave. Three or four days ahead. Dammit she fooled us good. How many days will it take for us to catch up to her now?

Hopelessly thinking up ways to shorten the distance between them he saw the most peculiar site. Feros had his bow out and fully nocked and aimed at something at the street entrance to the stable.

"Feros what are-"

"Well, well. Seems like the rumors were right brothers. Seems little Yasuo was here after all." Said an unfamiliar voice.

Turning towards to voices owner Yasuo saw a woman with two men at either side of her. She wore a skirt that left one of her legs bare while covering the other and wore hard leather armor with a round metal pauldron over her right shoulder with a spiraling engraving. Planted onto the ground beside her stood a polearm with a thick blade that curved towards the tip, a guan dao. The men beside her wore the same pauldrons and light armor as well. Tat their sides they carried single edged sabers. All in all, they looked mean and sure about their business.

"I've been called many things," Yasuo said, striding in front of Feros' line of fire without a care in the world. He felt his partner stare at him disbelievingly. "but 'little' rarely comes up." The woman was almost of height to him. "I take it you're here for my bounty?"

"Is there any other reason a girl like me would go for a guy like you?" she asked sweetly. "After all, a girl loves a guy with money, and when I bring you in me and my brothers won't have to think about our purses for a long time." The men around her smirked in greed and confidence. "So do us all a favor and come quietly. I'd hate to hurt you. Or that little friend of yours." The last sounded like an afterthought.

"His name is Feros. What was his answer when you asked for me?"

The woman grimaced. "He nocked an arrow at me. On second though, I might just thump him around just for general principle after I'm done with you."

Yasuo laughed, "Ya, that is just not happening." and he drew his sword. He heard the strings on Feros' bow tighten. Remembering how the youth reacted to seeing a human corpse Yasuo turned his head to him. "You can point that thing down now, I got this." Turning back to face the woman in the street he heard strings relax, albeit hesitantly.

"Fighting ladies. I can see where the boy gets his manners. Word of advice kid. When picking role models, don't pick honorless serial killers. Do you know how much blood is on his hands?"

Walking forward he heard Feros' retort and had to smile. "Shows what you know. Didn't anyone tell you to not to believe everything you hear?"

The woman let out an angry breath. "I change my mind. I'm glad were fighting. Gives me something to vent on." With a snap of her fingers her posse moved to either sides of the street, barring anyone entering and creating a dueling arena wide enough so that she and Yasuo stood in the center. He had to raise an eyebrow.

Pulling her polearm from the ground, the woman moved to the opposite end of the street. "My name is Xun Lin, boss of the Silver Spiral Gang, and I challenge you, Yasuo the Unforgiven." The crowd that had gathered gave out gasps of shock and murmured comforting words to each other. A monster had just came to town.

"What's your game?" Yasuo inquired, taking on a stance and circling her.

Walking along the circle, the woman answered in a pleased tone. "I just want you to remember the moment when the crowd celebrates your defeat as you rot in a cell or before they send you to the headsman. I'm not too clear on the sentence they plan for you." Without a pause, she struck forward.

The large blade of the dao went for Yasuo's head which got deflected by an overhead slash. The woman recovered quickly, taking the recoil of his strike and twisting herself so that the butt end headed to the side of his head. Ducking down he rolled into the direction of the woman's swing, going under the staff. Upon rising he was forced to jump back as the woman thrusted the blade of her polearm where he had rolled.

Pushing forward, Lin lifted the blade as an uppercut and engaged in a flurry of thrusts aimed at his chest and head. Moving backwards, Yasuo managed to stay a hairs breath away from her incoming strikes. Changing her attack, his opponent swung the polearm in a circle around her, using the full length of it to distance herself and force Yasuo to evade to the side.

A yell from Feros made him look behind to see that one of Lin's lackeys had moved up from the edge of the ring. The lackey had dropped his sword and was on the floor, clutching the arrow that was sticking out of the side of his knee. Looking towards his partner he saw that he was already nocking another arrow onto his bow.

"Someone get that urchin!" Lin yelled as she came towards Yasuo, stabbing her weapon at him. He deflected it with his sword, forcing it to cut above his shoulder and tearing the clothes he had gotten as a gift. Two of the four thugs were moving in towards Feros and he saw the last one make a move towards him.

Spinning herself backwards and swinging the guan dao over her head, Lin swung her staff at his neck forcing him to duck and once more at his legs making him jump. At the same time the last lackey came from the side, slashing sideways to cut him in two when he landed. Screams came from the stables. Something in him popped.

Parrying the flanking attack, Yasuo moved like the wind and grabbed his attacker by the arm and pulled him where he stood as he leapt forward, switching places just as Lin's dao came swinging in again. The look of shock was a fleeting thing on her face as she realized that she just separated her partner's scalp from the rest of his head. That fleeting moment was all Yasuo needed. Moving in, he stabbed her in the naval. She dropped her weapon to clutch at the wound when Yasuo retracted his blade. Attention fully on the stables he let out a breath.

There Feros stood with small splatters of blood on him with a nocked arrow in his bow. Halfway from the stable entrance there was one lackey groaning on the floor. He had arrows protruding out of one shoulder, one in the knee on the opposite side and another in the front of his ankle. The second got closer. Lying three steps away from the youth the last lackey had arrows in his knees as well, cursing at him despite an arrow pointed to his face.

"You had best put an arrow in me kid or I swear I'll find you and make you pay! Well what are you waiting for! Do it!" Yasuo knocked the man out with a kick to the head. Feros shuddered as he looked up to see Yasuo, apparently just noticing him there.

Turning to face the crowd he outstretched his arms, very pointedly making his bloodied sword visible. "Anyone else want to try us!?" The crowd had gone pale after witnessing the brawl that just ensued. Xun Lin started shouted curses and vows of vengeance upon him "Then get on with your little lives!" Doubtless, someone from there must have gone to get the town guard.

Sheathing his sword, he faced Feros. He put an arm on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. "Couldn't kill him could you? I did warn you something like this might happen. You got lucky this time, but one of these days you will kill your first man. That's what happens when you travel with a fugitive." He made his grip harder. "Last chance. You can back out. If you travel with me, I can guarantee that you'll either kill someone or die trying not to."

Feros' eyes seemed to show signs of doubt in this quest but that was only for a moment. Closing his eyes and taking a breath he looked back at Yasuo. "I need to do this boss. Someone has to see that white haired killer get punished. I need to tell my town that she got what she deserved. For my sister." He hesitated but continued. "I suppose that taking her in will take longer then what we both thought huh." Feros didn't really mean it as a question but Yasuo answered anyways.

"Seems like it." He refrained from telling him that it would be a long and bloody road. At least the company wasn't terrible. Xun Lin's voice died down to and heated mutter.

Knowing that this was not the best time but not caring he took out a bottle from the saddle bags on Kicks and took a swig of it. Feros looked at him with a disbelieving expression. Wiping his mouth, he handed the bottle to the youth. "To celebrate that you didn't have to kill anyone today."

"I'll kill you!" Lin shouted at them.

Hesitantly, probably questioning if it was worth a toasting to, Feros took the bottle and took a swig of his own. Coughing he handed it back to Yasuo. "Ka- what in the pit is in that- Ack- that's the rawest thing I've ever tasted."

"Something I drained from Yuren's cellers. Speaking of which, we had best leave before he finds out."

"What about them?" Feros gestured to their assailants. "Won't they come after us?"

Yasuo shrugged. "Undoubtedly after they recover, but we'd already drank to you still having clean hands. Be bad luck to dirty them now." Feros nodded agreeably and turned towards the horses.

"Sooner we leave the better then right? Someone must have alerted the town guards. Besides, I doubt they could find us again after we leave." Feros said, climbing up on White. Yasuo refrained from telling him that the ones that survived always managed to find him again.

Varus strode complacently in the moonless night, guided by an invisible hand. In one hand he twirled an arrow that writhed in his corrupted hand. The arrow glowed red but gave of little light in the darkness. It probably sent a feeling of unease to all that saw it. He wouldn't know, to him it was a part of his twisted flesh. A burden and curse he must endure for breaking his vows. In his other hand he carried an insidious violet bow. Like the arrow it felt very much alive and was formed from the powers of the corruption that flows through his body.

He walked the forest barefoot, in the sense that no clothing covered the lower part of his body. The corruption had taken its toll in that part of body. Now his legs were covered in a dark carapace that left a trail of tainted ground wherever his feet lands. His forearms looked no different, they had the appearance of clawed gauntlets made of some sort of dark unworldly metal.

He slowed his pace until he saw the thing that he was following. A Noxian left behind after the war. He remembered his 'participation' in that conflict. Bound by oath and vows he guarded the temple that sealed a great blight all the while knowing that his hometown at the bottom of its steppes was being burned down. When he heard that his home bared no survivors, he forsook all oaths and honor and surrendered himself to the soul eating blighted powers he oh so valiantly protected a life ago. Now all that was left to do was to exact retribution on those that took all he held dear in the world.

The Noxian dog looked up at Varus with semi-living arrows writhing between his shoulder blades and below his right lung, taking in his visage. A pale purple skinned man with silvery hair wearing a red scarf and a pale circlet, containing a single red gem in the center, that wrapped around his head. Over his heart he wore a talisman that belonged to his family. His dead family. With one last effort, the Noxian spat towards Varus. The spit landed on his foot making a sizzling sound as the saliva was burned away.

Noxians. Always so stubborn. Even in defeat.

The man laughed at the futility of his last act of defiance, spitting up blood and clutching the arrow protruding below his lung. "Get on with it then you bloody git. You better hit me right this time, or so help me-" Varus' arrow went into the man's skull.

In the back of his mind, he felt a spark die out. Another life snuffed out. Another Noxian dead. Curse or Blessing, the soul damming powers that he had surrendered to and inherited had given him the means to fulfill his vengeance. Like a blood hound with a scent, Varus could feel the targets of his retribution scattered all across Ionia. The closest tugged at him like a fish caught on a line.

Feeling nothing left keeping him in this region, he went off into the night following his hunter instincts with the only thing left to drive him. Exterminate all Noxians in his beloved Ionia.