Chapter IV

Defeated

The road ahead stretched far and wide ahead of them on their journey to Masamune's new hell. Or perhaps it wasn't the distance that made this so unbearable; it could have been that he was lying on a horse's bare back bored out of his wits. He was still bound at his wrists and the arrangement was causing an annoying sting in his shoulders.

The three generals rode a few feet in front of him, though he and his horse were at a slight distance to the side, connected only by a taut rope that restrained his overly skittish steed. At least he wasn't forced to walk, he reasoned with himself as he lay on the horse's neck with his face turned away from his captors. They were silent and the droning sound of hooves against the ground beat the inside of Masamune's head like a Taiko Drum.

Inwardly, the Dragon scorned them all including the damned mystic who tortured him with this game and was probably enjoyed it as well. How his clan would ridicule him after they find out what had become of him.

Suddenly, the smooth side of a sword smacked him on the back like a whip. Masamune hissed in pain and shock as he sat upright, bending back as if to ease the sting.

He glared at the general with the katana, who riding close, "What the hell was that for?!"

All but one of the generals stared at him with distasteful expressions. The third, the noble one who rode slightly in front of him with his eyes transfixed on the dusty road ahead as unable to hear Masamune's shouting.

Brandishing the blade at his side, the nearest officer replied, "I have some questions for you"

"Get lost," Masamune scoffed moving to rest his head again.

The general struck him again, rather hard and Masamune cursed in agony, falling from the horses back. The horse planted its hooves, tugging at the horse which it was bound to. The noble general, tugging at the reins, peered upon Masamune as if forced to do so, with a reluctant eyes. Rapidly, crimson clad soldiers surrounded him as he struggled to stand with a sour expression.

Having had enough the squandering, the eldest general rounded his steed and approached Masamune, spear in hand. He halted his horse next to the noble general who had his face turned away completely.

"You are a nuisance," The eldest general said to the Dragon, before glancing towards his younger companion, "Lu Xun, we cannot waste time in returning to the capital"

The noble general, Lu Xun, reclaimed Masamune's sullen face with sympathy, but slowly that compassion faded into emptiness. Masamune, examining the soldiers and their greedy eyes, realized that his chances were waning. And just as the general nodded in defeat, the Dragon knew what he was to do. Inwardly, he smiled in triumph.

Seemingly enthused, the eldest general addressed the soldiers, "Kill him"

As if released from a cage, the soldiers assaulted at him. One drove a sword towards his stomach and he evaded with skilled precision. Another raised his blade over Masamune's head and inclining forward with his wrists spread as wide as possible, the blade slit the ties. Free at last, Masamune struck the soldier hard in the abdomen and wrenched the sword from his hand.

Another soldier lunged at him only to fall in agony as he seized the festering wound in his chest.

Two generals had dismounted and approached, brandishing jagged weapons. Though grinning in victory, Masamune knew better than to gat into a lethal rabble with both. His horse was struggling against the rope bounding its noseband, jerking at the opposing horse. The general still on horseback was struggling to keep his own steed from panicking and doing so in vain.

The young samurai swung the katana swift and hard at Masamune, aiming to cut him down this time. Masamune narrowly evaded, wounded only bay a small cut on his forearm. The Dragon slashed away, pushing the young officer a few feet back. The second general was less of a threat due to the bullet wound in his shoulder, but he struck at the Masamune, though his expression twisted in agony.

The Dragon swung the blade into the slender hilt of the halberd and the force forced the general's arm away, delivering pain as the pressure set in. Taking the chance, Masamune charged the horses, breaking the rope that bound his to the other. He leaped nimbly for the mare's back; she reared in terror and rushed forward into the brush.

He had his arms wrapped tightly around the horse's neck as the horse narrowly missed tree after tree. Just when he thought he had escaped this miserable trap, the mare began to dawdle. He kicked and jagged at the horse's flanks but she wouldn't move forward.

"What the hell?" Masamune snapped jerking at the reins in hopes to anger her, but the horse made no move.

"Where ever do you think you are going, child?" The voice was dark and dangerous. Nu Wa stood propped against a tree that was lush with life despite the dry season. She had her eyes closed and a smile was wide on her flawless face.

"You!" Masamune snapped, "What is wrong with my horse?!"

"Perhaps you have already forgotten our little bargain," Nu Wa replied as her eyes flutter open, moving away from the tree as if she were walking on air. She had the rapier in her palm as she gently swayed it to and fro, "Have you forgotten the punishment as well"

Masamune pursed his lips and glared dejectedly at the mystic. He quailed at the astute and sinister expression on her face as she gazed at him through violet orbs.

"Maybe you truly are hopeless; shall I simply take your soul now?" She pointed the blade up at his face from where she stood at the horse's side, a deadly smile forming. For a moment, she wavered with her eyes glancing from him to the path behind him.

Then Nu Wa grinned wider, "Let us see what happens first"

Masamune was gazing at her in stunned perplexity when he heard the pound of horse hooves begin quiet in sound and quickly grow as they approached. Instinctively, she turned and realized it was a lone officer approaching rapidly. His grip tightened on the reins, yet the horse made no movement. When the Dragon peered once again at his side, the mystic had vanished. The tree where he had discovered her was as the others, absent of life.

Masamune searched the landscape just as the general came upon him, blocking his path as if his horse was going to budge. It was the noble general; Lu Xun, was it? Yet his expression didn't seem at all impartial anymore.

"I spare you once and you kill my soldiers; Inexcusable"

"Did you think I was just going to stand there?" Masamune quipped irrationally, directing the tip of the blade at the general who remained undaunted, "Get lost or you'll share the same fate"

Lu Xun scowled, an ample change from his previous demeanor, "You wounded my friend yet I spared you, you deserve what is to happen"

"I don't' think so!" Masamune, drawing one foot onto the horse's back, leaped forward, slashing haphazardly at the empty air. The officer's horse sidestepped in terror, tossing the rider to the side. Fortunately, the fall took Lu Xun out of the blade's range and gave him an opportunity to unsheathe once blade from his hip.

The Dragon, skilled more with guns rather than traditional swords, bypassed the general's horse which was quickly trotting away in panic. Lu Xun as on his feet with a slender blade in one hand. His expression was deterred as if he was wavering whether to fight Masamune. But The One-Eyed Dragon gave him no moment to waver as he struck hard.

His sword clashed with the saber, whose wielder was steady to fight on defense rather then offense. Suddenly, Masamune withdrew before swing rapidly and colliding with Xun's saber. The general gasped at the vigor forced him to release the saber which sailed a fair distance away.

Sneering in triumph, Masamune raised the blade high over his head as Xun lifted his open palm over his head, instinctively trying to ease the death that was sure to come. Then the Dragon caught a partial glimpse of a peculiar marking that was half covered by the wrappings, only visible when Xun bent his wrist towards his face in defense. He recognized it from several places; history books, ink drawings, and…

Suddenly a sharp pain pierced Masamune's heart like a dagger. For a moment, he though the general had struck him but he still had his wrist raised prepared for death. The sword slouched in his grasp as Masamune placed his free hand to his heart.

Writhing and hissing in agony, Masamune was at a knee, feeling as if the very life was being stolen from his body. With his eyes clamped shut, he could see the Mystics beautiful yet harsh smile.

"Does it hurt, child?"

Masamune dug his nails into his own chest as he growled through clenched teeth.

"Now you know whom I have chosen," Nu Wa replied from within, "This will be the final time I will pardon such bold disobedience; defy me once more and I will kill you"

Then, as abruptly as it had arisen, the pain in his soul was gone and he was kneeling in the same spot. He felt a hand on either side of his face, warm and gentle. When he prier his eyes ajar, the red clad general was half kneeling in front of him and his anxious expression had returned.

Masamune was fully prepared to strike him, but the Mystic's words sank into his thoughts with callousness. Instead, he grasped Xun's wrist and bent it for a better view. He drew the soft cloth back, revealing the marking wholly. Xun gasped in astonishment as he quickly withdrew his hand and stood, face scarlet with humiliation.

Masamune gritted his teeth as he glared at the ground. There was no qualm in his mind; the Mystic had chosen Lu Xun. And the undying truth fully sank into Masamune's mind that this wasn't just a game anymore. But did Xun know as well?

The young general had retrieved his saber off the dusty ground, his cheeks still slightly flushed. Masamune slowly met his eyes when he felt Xun looming over him again. With an oddly horrified expression, he said, "I…I do not want to kill you"

Though Xun would be doing Masamune a gracious favor if he had; even though Nu Wa would undoubtedly intervene. If he was to die, the Mystic wouldn't let such an opportunity go to another.

Masamune stood, brushing himself off with a frown. The wound on his arm where the general had cut him, stung as dust and filth smothered the gash. He gave Xun a tenacious look as he pitched the blade a far distance away. It hit the sandy ground with a jarring thud. His hands were balled into tight fists at his sides as the sullen gesture ordained surrender. The rather shaken general regarded him with wary brown eyes.

"Don't just sta…" Masamune trailed, careful with his reproachful words. Half turning to hide his perturbed expression, he chided, "What are you going to do?"

Xun's tone was suspicious, "Why are you surrendering?"

"So you don't know?" When Masamune faced him, Xun's had one fine brow raised. Even with that marking, it was evident that the young Wu general suspected nothing about his significance. Yet, the One-Eyed Dragon was unable to decide if that was to his advantage or not.

So he swiftly added a lie, "I don't have anywhere else to go; you've dispatched all my followers"

He noticed that Xun had the particular wrist hidden behind his back as he slowly sheathed the saber at his side. He was evidently calculating what to do in his mind and after a moment he said, "That simple? How can I trust you; I pledged to bring you back dead"

Masamune, with a sigh of aggravation, offered both his wrists which were still red and tender from the prior ties. He felt like such a fool to be so easily defeated yet he strained to remain silent. The younger man considered the opportunity to bind him again, evidently mystified that Masamune had become compliant so abruptly. Then, shaking his head, he backed away to retrieve his grazing steed.

"You're letting me go?" Masamune inquired as he lowered his hands to his sides.

"No," Xun replied, mounting the horse and tugging at the reins, "You must come back with me; Meng—my fellow generals— will want proof that I caught you"

"How do you know I won't flee?" Masamune asked, amused and tempted with the chance.

"I don't," Xun replied with incisive eyes, "Yet I doubt you will since you already had the opportunity"

Masamune frowned in aversion. This man wouldn't be easily be fooled and it would certainly make the game difficult for the Dragon. Nu Wa couldn't help but give a dark giggle in the back of his mind.


Da Ji shuffled cautiously through the trees, seeking refuge in their looming shadows. Frowning she glanced to the path behind her; she had traveled a far distance in the night though she wasn't certain of where to search first. Teleporting was no use if she had no absolute destination. She had to find the girl called Himiko, the key to pandemonium. Alas, the child could be anywhere.

The chagrined sorceress was hastily passing through the foliage when she heard a bold and mordant voice say from above, "Leaving the battle so soon, Da Ji?"

Da Ji peered up and was fortunate enough to evade the mystic's stony globe that met the earth with a thunderous crash. Shrieking, she stumbled aback just as an ivory haired boy bound from a tree.

Regaining composure, Da Ji sneered, "What do we have here…The great mystic, Taigong Wang himself"

Young and handsome, the mystic kept a snobbish expression as he regarded her with violet eyes. In one hand he held a cane which he slung of over his shoulder, "Of your own free will you joined Orochi. You must pay the price"

Da Ji lifted one hand in the air as if to study her painted nails in boredom. The she glared at Taigong Wang with a frown, clearly annoyed that the mystic was stealing precious time. Placing her hands together and smiling sweetly, Da Ji said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not going back to that stuffy old place"

"You can run all you please," Taigong Wang replied tenaciously, taking a step forward, "You will pay in the end"

"We'll just see about that," The dark sorceress smiled and turned with a wave. Skipping a few feet away, she vanished in a vivid cloud of violet light in search for Himiko. With the arrival of this mystic, who would normally be forbidden from intervening with the human world, well, it certainly seemed like something was about to happen.


Sorry, not much yaoi going on yet but the wait won't last much longer. I hope you enjoyed though. Ciao!

EDIT: I resubmitted this chapter to fix Taigong Wang's name. Sorry about that.