Chapter 8

Dante and Shigure on the sidewalk along the side of a long train track. The sun beat down on Dante's now shoulder length hair and made his coat feel warmer than it usually did. Shigure on the other hand seemed unaffected by the heat and had kept her eyes forward for most of the trip. Dante was still wondering why Shigure was hunting for swords. He remembered back to his first day at Ryozanpaku when the Elder introduced him to Shigure. Her room was filled with a lot of different swords; most of them were katana too. He looked at Shigure who did not take her eyes off the sidewalk in front of them.

"So are we just following the tracks?" Dante asked.

Shigure glanced at Dante while keeping her head straight,"Yea…h."

"Don't you know where this place is?" He asked.

Shigure nodded as they began to approach the train station. They turned right on the sidewalk and walked over to a small both with a digital sign above it showing the train times and destinations.

"Right on… time." Shigure said.

She walked up to the booth and looked at the young woman working the counter.

"Two tickets." Shigure said, "To Fukui."

The woman smiled as Shigure handed her a wad of money.

"Here you go." The woman said cheerfully and handed Shigure two tickets.

Shigure took the two tickets then turned around and handed one to Dante. She then led him onto the terminal which was not very busy and only had three other people waiting with them. Shigure silently stood on the side of the train tracks looking to the left and waiting patiently for the train to come. Dante stood in the shade of a nearby pillar to keep cool. He watched Shigure as she patiently endured the heat. He, then sat down and began to doze off.

Meanwhile the three other men waiting for the train spotted the seemingly lone Shigure.

"Hey." One of them whispered, "Look at that chick."

The man's friends looked at Shigure and their jaws were wide open when they saw her figure.

"Damn." The tallest one said, "She sure looks lonely."

The shortest one suddenly gave a devious grin and began to walk toward Shigure, "Why don't we give her some company."

The three perverted men walked toward Shigure. When they spotted Dante they were briefly discouraged, but they were relieved when they found out he was asleep. The tallest one walked up behind Shigure.

"Hey beautiful." He said, "What are you doing all alone here?"

The two other men walked up in front of Shigure, both had devious grins on their faces.

"I'm waiting... for the train." Shigure said blankly.

"Well the train won't get here for another half and hour." The short one said, "So why don't we entertain you until then?"

Shigure raised her eyebrow, not knowing what they were talking about. But all of her questions were answered when the tallest one grabbed her butt. She reached for her sword blushing to strike the man, but stopped when she saw the punishment was all taken care of. Dante stood behind the man with Ebony touching the back of the tall man's head. Dante rubbed his eyes yawning.

"Can't a girl wait for the train peacefully without you jackasses coming along?" Dante said with a tired slur.

The tallest man looked back and began to shake in fear when he saw the pistol to his head.

"Oh!... p-p-please dude!" He whimpered, "Can't we talk this out?"

Dante still hadn't woken up, "Just get lost."

He holstered Ebony and kicked the man in the butt sending him running away in fear with the three other men following close behind him. Dante walked up beside Shigure who had not moved since Dante stood up.

Dante yawned, "I was having a good dream too."

Shigure did not say anything.

"You alright?" He asked.

Shigure looked at him raising her left eyebrow, "What do you... mean?"

Dante chuckled, "Well normally girls tend to get scared when guys do sexual stuff to them. Especially when guys try to molest them."

Shigure raised her eyebrow again, "Sexual?"

"Yeah you know."

Dante expected Shigure to have at least had sex once. What he didn't know was she was never even in a relationship with anyone, or even felt love for someone. Dante had sex plenty of times in his life, so he expected someone as beautiful as Shigure to have at least done it once.

Shigure shook her head causing Dante to raise his eyebrow, "You mean you?"

Dante hesitated wondering if it was appropriate to ask the question he was about to ask.

"Have you had sex before?" Dante cringed instantly regretting having asked her than.

Shigure shook her head with a blank face. She knew what he was talking about, most of that was Tochumaru's fault. He would often steal Kensei's dirty magazines and try to use them as a bed. The first time Shigure curiously read one, being instantly surprised at what was in it, then asking Akisame about it. After Akisame explained the contents of the magazine, Shigure stopped reading the magazine and simply put them back in Kensei's room whenever Tochumaru stole them.

Dante was extremely surprised at her answer, but he was also more relieved that she was still a virgin. Although he didn't know it yet, he wanted to be the person for her to lose it to.

"Have... you?" Shigure asked.

Dante didn't want to answer that question. At least not truthfully. The train began to screech around the corner and slow down at their stop. Dante sighed in relief.

"Thank you public transportation." Dante mumbled to himself.

The train stopped and Dante and Shigure boarded. When they got on not many people were on. They easily found seats that were not near too many people.

Dante sat down propping his Katana up against his leg. Shigure sat down next to him laying her Katana on her lap. Hours after the train took off Dante quickly fell asleep. After several minutes on sleeping the train managed to hit enough sharp turned to cause Dante to fall. And where did he end up? On Shigure's lap.

Shigure blushed in surprise at what had just happened. Dante's long white hair felt soft against her thigh. She smiled and thought his sleeping face was cute and peaceful. She placed her hand on Dante's head dozing off herself.


The train came to a screeching halt in Fukui. Dante opened his eyes and saw a sideways row of seats. He moved his head slightly and felt soft skin against his ear. He looked toward the floor and saw a pair of female's legs. He jerked his head up and to his surprise the legs belonged to Shigure who looked down at him blankly. He sat up blushing and instantly missing the feel of her soft skin against his ear.

"Oh." He said, "Sorry."

Shigure looked outside at the area they had just stopped at. "We're... here."

She stood up and walked toward the door. Dante jumped up picking up his sword and barely making it out before the doors closed again. He looked around at the wooded area around him.

"So Fukui huh?" Dante looked at the peaceful scenery around him.

"Lets... go." She said walking through the terminal and to the sidewalk.

Dante followed her along the sidewalk until she stopped and began walking down a long winding path. The path was surrounded by tall trees and at the end of the path Dante could barely see a building. As they neared closer and closer to the building Dante could see more of it. The building was two stories tall and colored a natural oak color. They finally broke through the thick green trees and came into a wide open area filled with Sakura trees.

Shigure walked closer to the building. Above the front door was a large sign written in Japanese.

"Damn Japanese lettering." Dante mumbled, "So why are we here?"

Shigure stopped and looked at Dante. She held up a picture of a long Katana.

"This was used to... lure me here." She said.
"So you're gonna take the bait and this sword, right?" Dante asked.

She nodded, "They say they want to trade... my sword... for this one." Shigure took back the picture.

"But they really want your head right? Dante guessed.

Shigure nodded, "Mine is especially popular."

"Is this where they are?" Dante asked.

"No... we are here... to prepare the day before... the battle."

Dante nodded his head, "Sounds good." He slid open the front door and Shigure followed him.

At the front desk was an old man with a happy look on his face.

"Siblings or couples?"

Dante leaned across the desk in disbelief, "Really? You really think we are siblings?"

"Couples." Shigure interrupted, "I have... a reservation."

The old man reached behind him and opened an old looking book.

"Ah yes. Furinji." He handed Shigure a key.

Shigure took the key and her and Dante walked left down a hallway.

"So you ordered with the old man's name?" Dante asked as Shigure put the key in a door.

Shigure nodded, "The old man was... kind enough."

She opened the door revealing the room beyond. The walls were white with a small bathroom to the right of the door an a single bed in the middle of the room.

"One bed?" Dante asked imagining the though of what would have to happen with both of them sharing the room.

Shigure nodded, "Ryozanpaku suffers from... financial difficulty."

"Still." Dante was still imagining sharing a bed with Shigure.

"Two people sharing a bed."

Tochumaru suddenly popped out of Shigure's coat and let out a loud "Chu!"

Dante looked at Tochumaru, "Okay three."

Dante took off his coat and sat down on the bed. He propped his Katana up in the corner of the room and looked around the room awkwardly. Shigure took off her coat and grabbed a towel from the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Dante asked as Shigure reached the door.
"Bath." She said with Tochumaru on her shoulder. "You should always... bathe before a... battle."

Shigure exited the room leaving Dante alone. He began to remember Kenichi saying to avoid the outdoor bath and became curious. He placed Ebony and Ivory beneath his coat, ran to the bathroom, and grabbed a towel himself. He walked down the hall to the front desk.

"Hey this place has an onsen, right?" he asked.

The old man smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's out back. One of the most beautiful in Japan too."

Dante nodded, "Maybe that's why there are so many people here." He said sarcastically walking away.

The man glared embarrassed as Dante walked away. Dante walked around to the back of the building and surely enough he came to a small locker room that had and open door on the other side leading outside. He approached an empty locker and opened it throwing in his boots first. Then he threw in his shirt and jeans, and finally his underwear leaving him bare naked except for his necklace. He looked down and wrapped his towel around his waist covering his crotch. He walked outside and saw a fenced in area across the yard with steam rising from it.

"Well." Dante said, "Whatever Kenichi was talking about. Bring it on."

He walked across the yard and around to the back of the area. He entered the onsen and was relieved to see that it was empty. He walked to the edge of the water and dropped his towel feeling the cold air against his bare butt and penis. He quickly hopped into the water and was instantly relieved and relaxed.

"AAAAAAHHH. That's nice." He said, "I don't know what Kenichi was talking about. This is the best."

He made his way across the water, crouching to keep most of his body under the water. He sat down on a stone seat under the water and laid his arms out on the edge of the onsen. He suddenly heard the swishing of water and opened his eyes to see what it was. He then saw Shigure on the other side of the water.

"Huh. That's and... interesting way to... get in." She said.

Dante blushed at the sight. He was able to see her perfectly. Her breasts were above the water revealing her bare nipples. The water was also clear which made it very easy to see her vagina under the water. He started to blush even more at the realization. If he could see her crotch through the water, then she could see his penis under the water. He quickly covered his crotch.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

Dante instantly regretted asking that question. Who cares why she was in there. The important part was that they were naked together in an onsen.

"Mixed bath." Shigure said, "Good job... not getting the towel... in the water."
Dante suddenly uncovered his crotch seeing no point to do so now that he realized she saw his penis already.

"Okay then." He said awkwardly.

He dunked his head under the water and shot up pulling his hair out of his eyes. He sat at the edge of the water again laying his arms on the edge and closing his eyes in relaxation.

Suddenly more movement was heard in the water. Dante opened his eyes and Shigure was gone. He looked to his right and saw nothing. Then he looked to his left and saw Shigure sitting very close to him. He could not resist to look down at her naked body but quickly looked away trying not to be a pervert. However he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy having his arm around Shigure.

"You react... differently than... Kenichi." Shigure said, "When I brought him... he gained... a nosebleed."

Dante chuckled, "Well I'm not Kenichi."

He looked at the water again, "Plus I'm used to seeing girls by now."

He looked over at Shigure who had her usual blank expression on her face

"So why are you sword hunting anyway?" Dante asked curiously, "You never really told me."

Shigure hesitated but then looked at him.

"My father... made swords called... Hitogiri Bouchou... I lived with him when I was... very young... he taught me most of the basics... of weaponry... he also taught me to read... and write."

Dante already felt bad making her talk about her dead father, but Shigure continued.

"Before he died he got... very sick... Every time he got a customer... he asked them to... kill him... in battle... None were strong enough... until Akisame."

Dante's eyes widened in shock.

"Akisame came and befriended... my father... He did not... want to... kill him... but in the end he did... Before their final match... My father left me my sword... It has all the secrets... of the steel inside... Not long after his death... Yami attacked me for my sword... but Akisame... fought them... for father's sake... I hunt swords... because I don't like the thought... of his swords being used... for evil."

Dante now felt extremely bad for making her think about her past. It was at that moment that he felt closer to Shigure. Since they both grew up without their parents. Shigure's face showed much sadness but to Dante's surprise she smiled.

"Sorry." Dante said, "I didn't want to bring up bad memories."

Shigure shook her head smiling even more, "You brought back... good memories... You reminded me... why I am at... Ryozanpaku."

Shigure smiled and looked directly at Dante. Dante did not know what to say next. His heart beat faster than it ever had before. Shigure's did as well. She was feeling something she had never felt before and it confused her.

"What is this?" She asked, "This feeling... deep in my... stomach... It's... weird."

Dante chuckled and leaned in closer feeling Shigure's breasts almost touch his own well toned chest. Suddenly Shigure shot out of the water to the other side of the onsen. Dante looked at her confused but quickly knew why. Two men in black hakama wielding long katanas shot jumped over the wall and stabbed Dante in the chest. They pushed their swords downward until their grip guards were touching Dante's chest. Dante rolled his eyes in anger and shoved the men away launching into the wall. He stood up without covering himself with their swords still poking out of his chest. He looked down and pulled both swords out of his chest healing the bloody holes instantly.

Dante threw the swords at the men, "You son of a bitch. Couldn't you have waited like one more minute to kill me?"

The men looked at Dante fearfully but keeping their aggression.

"Kill the freak!" One of them shouted with his sword in his hands once more.

Dante laughed and kicking the attackers in the face, knocking them out instantly. Shigure watched Dante fight the attackers when four other men jumped over the bamboo fence and surrounded her.

"Aaaaw." One of them said, "That sure was cute. Watching the weapons prodigy fall head over heels. But it got boring very quickly, so I'll just take your head now."

Shigure pulled off her pink bow and flung it at an overhead tree. Then she pulled it back taking with it her sword.

"Lets... go then." Shigure said with her back to the enemies.

They all accepted the challenge and charged at Shigure with their swords raised. Dante looked at Shigure in awe at the rare sight of her having her hair down. Shigure gracefully leaped over the enemies cutting their swords in half before she landed. The men looked at their broken weapons and threw them to the ground.

"Take her without weapons!" One of them shouted.

Dante rushed around the onsen in less than a second and was behind the man before he raised his fist. The man lifted his fist and cocked it back to swing at Shigure. Dante grabbed his hand smiling.

"Hey." He said in a joking voice, "You wouldn't hit a girl would you? What a barbarian."

Dante punched the man sending him flying over the fence, then he turned to the others and kicked them one by one knocking them all out. He smiled at Shigure.

"Next?"