Disclaimer:

This story is based on the cartoon 'Samurai Jack'. I do not own Samurai Jack or anything associated with the show. That honor goes to the folks at Cartoon Network and the shows creator, Genndy Tartakovsky. The only thing I do own are all the original characters portrayed in my story. So to recap, Samurai Jack and all related characters and places © Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network, All original characters and storyline © Adriana Limon (Nanas, IceDancer).

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Notes

Well, looks like I broke the promise I made in the last chapter. Sorry to everyone, but I lost interest for a little while…but now, after along break (and an even longer laugh at a cowardly comment) I've decided to start writing again.

I apologize again, to all who deserve one!

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Unclouded Truth: A Tale of Fate

By: IceDancer

Chapter 8

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Jack opened his eyes slowly to see the moon shining down on him.

His head was pounding and although he was sore all over he managed to sit up. He lifted his head and looked around, expecting to see the remains of the oracles palace but instead found himself sitting in a small clearing next to a large lake.

A fire had been made a few feet from where he sat, Ikaya's bag and staff lay near his feet along with his sword.

Jack turned to the lake. It was calm and still, the moon's reflection shining up from it and the smell of the water lingering in the air.

A sight such as this would have usually calmed the samurai, but all he could think about was the oracle's warning, and his massive headache.

"I see you finally decided to wake up." Ikaya said.

Jack turned, Ikaya was walking up to the fire, a small bundle of fruit in her arms.

She looked so tired and although she wore her soft smile Jack could see the fatigue on her face.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, sitting down.

"Not well." Jack said, looking at the ground.

"That's how I felt when I woke up, here, this will help you feel better." she said, handing him a round, purple fruit.

Jack took it without lifting his head.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked.

"Almost two days," Ikaya said, taking a bite from one of the fruits and sitting down up against a nearby tree, "I got through all but one of my mothers letters."

"That is good." Jack said, looking at Ikaya.

There was a brief moment of silence between them.

"There's a town… a couple miles from here. We can get to it through the main road on the other side of those trees, when you get better I mean." she said.

"Ikaya…" Jack started.

"Please…Jack." was all Ikaya whispered, never taking her attention away from the fire.

The night got colder. Jack turned to the water and began to think. He wanted to find out what had happened at the oracle's palace. Why had Ikaya lost control of her jewels powers, but mainly he wanted to see if he could make sense of what the oracle's warned him about.

"The crimes that will be done by her own hands…" Jack whispered to himself.

Ikaya had never given him any reason to be suspicious of her in any way. Up until now she seemed to be in full control of her abilities and she never let her emotions get the better of her. So why had she lost control of them now? Was it a spell? Had the oracles cast a spell on Ikaya? Jack didn't know, and it seemed that although Ikaya did it was obvious she didn't feel like talking about it.

Jack looked over at Ikaya, who had fallen asleep against the tree. The fruit in her arms had rolled onto the floor.

She looked so peaceful, almost like a child asleep in the moonlight. She must had been up the entire two days that Jack had been out. That had to be the reason why she had looked so tired.

Jack smiled and took the blanket off of himself, covering Ikaya with it and sitting next to her.

What if the oracles were wrong. Ikaya was such a caring person, she would never hurt an innocent. Jack took a bite of the fruit she had given him. Almost instantly all the pain in his body began to disappear to his surprise.

He looked back at Ikaya, the smile on his face growing wider until he noticed the skin around her jewel. It was bruised, and looked as if a huge rock had been hurled at her.

Jack felt uneasy, the amount of energy that came out from her must had been massive to make a bruise like that. If she was capable of producing that much energy…

Jack shook his head and tried to stop his train of thought. He didn't want to think that Ikaya could very well hurt people if she had lost control of her powers again, or worse…by her own choice.

Jack stiffened and worry fell over him. Should he listen to the oracles warnings, or should he stay with Ikaya like he had promised.

He sighed and glared straight ahead. He needed more time to think about what was more important to the samurai. Follow the warnings given to him and possibly save all living things… or stay loyal to the woman whom he felt he owed his life.