Part 11: Blessed are the Peacemakers
Azazel felt the cold breeze against his face, as he stood atop a rooftop, staring down at Koto Palace. It was beautiful, the curves of the rooftops, and the elegant way the building seemed to be formed. Guards lined the outside of the gigantic structure, like ants guarding their nest. It was here where the Emperor lived, where he ran his court, where the laws of the land were developed and passed. It was also where the Shadow was, the entity that wanted the destruction of the Templar. Azazel had a feeling he knew who it was, but why? If it were him, then why would he go to the Samurai for help, and not form his own Legion? He wrestled with the thought but was soon interrupted by a metal hand resting on his shoulder. "You know the dangers, right?" Cain spoke softly. Azazel closed his eyes and nodded. He knew that with his brand he was bound to his sin. No confession could cleanse him, no priest could save him from Hell. "I know them like the back of my hand Cain. One life to save the Templar, and prevent all out war? Fair trade." The boy gave a weak smile, before walking backwards, so he reached the other end of the sloped roof. "Once you get in, you kill the gate patrol. Open the gate, us three will join you. We kill the Shadow, Hanzo and the Emperor, then we leave. The power vacuum left will tear the rest apart." Daichi formulated the plan, and spoke it as clear as water; no mistakes or hitches or they all would perish. The Hitokiri leapt off the roof into the market below and punched the biggest man there square in the face. "That's my distraction?" Azazel laughed. Cain and Daichi remain crest-fallen and Azazel sighed, wrapping his cloak around him, placing his Oni mask upon his face and drawing his hood. Cain looked at him and nodded, before the Serpent jumped across the rooftops, before landing near to the gates of the Palace.
Azazel trudged through the muddy streets, adding a slight limp to his gait, and picking up a wooden pole to disguise as a walking staff. Going up to the gates he slammed the stick on the giant wooden door and screamed. After the clank of bolts and two archers at the top of the gate aimed arrows at the old mans back. He screamed again, and a guard, no older than twenty opened the door. He shouted at him in Japanese and the old man simply lifted his stick towards the commotion outside. He then opened part of his cloak to reveal a bloodstain, before collapsing into a puddle. There was a brief cacophony of footsteps and the clank of weapons, before at least five of the guardsmen left the palace, whilst another two lifted the man up by his armpits and carried him inside. In the commotion, they hadn't even checked the mans face. They didn't see the demon they had invited into their home. All they saw, was a helpless and dying man. And none of them were ready for what was to come. Azazel tightened his body so the guards dropped what they thought was dead weight, and as they turned him over, he threw two steel knives into their throats. Removing his cloak and bolting up the stairs he drew both his swords, before smashing one of his blades into the pink flesh of an archer. Another blade slammed into the others, and they fell onto the canopy, their blood dripping through the floorboards. Then he spotted him. A single guard. Just one. Running towards the centre of the canopy, where in its place, a massive bronze dish. In the soldiers hand, was a wooden rod, with a ball of cloth wrapped tightly on it's end. A war gong. Just as the stick hit the drum, Azazel through a dagger at the mans wrist, slitting it wide open. "I know you can't understand me, but I want you to know I will not make this quick." Petrified, the man stumbled back and fell over, beginning to shuffle away from the creature that advanced towards him. The Serpent scraped it's sword against the dish, sparks flying off it, onto the ground below. Just as he was about to have his fun, the man drew his sword and plunged it into his chest. Suicide before dishonour. A flaw all the Samurai held. And an unwelcome one at that. Jumping from the canopy, Azazel landed at the front gate, and pushed it a crack open, and his assailants slipped inside. "Now... find them." Daichi dashed away, leaving Cain and Azazel alone in the dark.
Cain and Azazel Silently dashed in between shadow and shadow, other patrols around the palace were oblivious to their presence. Cain would always make the first move if they were to attack, that was the rule. But rules, in this case were made to be broken. Azazel spotted three Samurai stood next to a barrel, cards and glasses were littered on the top of it. They looked drunk, stumbling around and laughing much too loud. A flash of silver, ad a dagger was in ones chest. The other two drew their swords as Azazel and Cain ran at them. The first was met by Azazel, and they begun to fight. One blade crashed down upon the other, Azazel quickly being pushed onto the backfoot. For saying the guard was supposed to be drunk, he was surprisingly strong. A fist flew at Azazels skull, knocking the wooden mask off his face. Falling to the floor, he rolled and jumped back to his feet. Behind the man who he was fighting, he saw Cain thrust his sword deep into the other guards chest, a fountain of blood spraying across the courtyard. His aggressor ran forward, then stopped dead in his tracks and feel. His head had been removed from his neck, more blood spraying across the ground. Cain walked up to Azazel and grabbed him by his neck, slamming him against a wall. "What in Gods name where you thinking?!" Cain remained quite, but as he hissed, Azazel could feel the hatred in his voice. "What have you learnt? You are young. Weak. You can't expect to overpower someone! Use your strengths, you idiot!." Cain threw him down. "You jeopardise this mission, and you'll have my blade to answer to." Azazel grabbed his mask and placed it upon his face, staring at Cain through the small slits where his eyes were. Cain moved on, straight outside the throne room, Azazel following behind slowly. Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air and smashed into Cains shoulder. He grunted and snapped the shaft of it and drew his sword. "If it isn't the Templar, come to stop the inevitable. Who is it then? Cain and a new one? This will be fun." A cloaked figure, kite shield strapped to one arm, and a sword in the other. He walked forwards, and pulled a round object from a sack hanging limply from his hip. A head, held up by its blood-soaked hair. The Shadow tossed it at Cain's feet. The features of the head were darkened, but still recognisable. Daichi. "I do hope that you last longer than your little pet here." As he spoke, the man removed his hood, revealing a shaven head, with a symbol etched into the flesh of his forehead. "With you out of the way, I may be able to conceal this mess."
"Please brother, you needn't do this. You were spared when we wished you dead, surely that should be enough?" Cain spoke, panting as he did, blood slowly dripped from the arrow wound. "You took everything from me! You expect mercy, from the man you wronged?", the Shadow barked, "You are naïve aren't you? And who is this, hmm? You send an apprentice to kill me as well? Pathetic." The Shadow raised his hand, and two Orochi walked out from the dark corners of the plaza they were in. both of them wore ornate armour, with Kusanagi swords. You could tell from their appearance that they were the elite guard of Emperor Hasashi. "Don't kill them. Just make them weak and I'll have my fun at the end of it all."
The two wolves circled the injured ram and his young. The atmosphere was one of dread, and you could smell the fear that reeked from Cain and Azazel. Cain was losing blood. Fast. "Go.", Azazel whispered to his higher up. "Find Hasashi and Talon. Get back to Honor and Aqua and get them to rally their forces."
"I can't let you do this alone, it's suicide..."
"And I can't let you die. Go. Please..." Azazel whispered again, choking on the last word. Cain nodded and pushed the door to the throne room open and ran inside. One of the Orochi tried to follow, but Azazel dashed over and kicked him square in the chest. Then it began. Both of the assassins rushed forwards towards Azazel, swiping their glistening blades at him. Not even raising his swords, the Serpent slid and stepped from the blades. Finally raising his blades, he twirled around one of them, nicking him in his back. The enemy turned quickly and cut Azazels shoulder, before the other one on them sliced open the back of his leg, making him fall to one knee. The Shadow clapped as he did, shouting at them, "Entertainment at its' finest! A lone Templar, one who is helpless at that. Remove your mask, boy." Azazel grabbed the bottom of his mask and flung it across the courtyard. The shadow gasped slightly as he saw his black, stubbled hair; his grey and dead eyes. "Samael... I..." the Shadow began, but he couldn't find the words. "I'm sorry Draven.", the boy muttered, "but you should've just killed me...". Draven tilted his head in confusion as the boy lifted a small vial up to his lips. Gulping the clear liquid inside, Azazel collapsed onto all four of his limbs and began to scream. He felt his muscles harden, and his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. He felt his blood pulse through his body. But he didn't feel human. It felt as if he had been possessed, as if the devil himself had taken a hold on him. He sighed, and his breath formed a steamy cloud as it poured from his mouth. He stood and dropped both of his swords. "You wanted your fun, Draven. Here I am..."
Azazel slammed his bare fist into te Orochis neck, sending him backwards. Dashing t the back of him he grabbed them by the neck and threw them to the ground. He then slammed his foot onto the mans stomach and his stomach pumped, food and acid spewing out of his mouth. Azazel then slammed his fist into the mans face, knocking him out. Turning to the other Orochi, he ran up his body, backflipping of his chest and kicking him smack in the jaw. Azazel then dashed forward and screamed, slamming his shoulder into his aggressors waist and then lifting him up, throwing him down onto the floor, before taking a dagger and throwing it into his throat. Both of them would drown in their own bodily fluids. "My God, you have improved young one... join me." Draven spoke with conviction and pride for his former apprentice. "Together we will end them. Make them pay for what they took from us!" Azazel roared, then ran towards Draven, filled with hatred he had never felt before. Draven didn't flinch, or move. He simply raised his shield and flipped Azazel over his shoulder, then brought his sword deep into his pelvis. Azazel snapped out of his rage and saw the silver blade in him. Draven removed it and knelt down. "I'm sorry boy. But I can't let you stop me." Draven turned and walked away, blood still dripping from his blade. Blood puddled around the young Serpent, as he gasped for air not wanting to pass out. But he knew, deep down, that he was dead already. Silence hung like a blanket, covering the scene of death he had caused. His eyes sealed shut as he heard the doors to the throne room fly open, and saw Talon and another Samurai carrying Cain. They rushed over to the boy, and a single word escaped his lips, before he slipped out of consciousness. "Draven..."
Woooo, finally back in the swing of things. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I enjoyed writing it. Also go check out Gods, cause yeah just do it please. Please? No? Awwww damn, worth a try... (no but please, I've looked at the views of the stories and Draven is doing fine. Gods on the other hand has got me hella depressed, due to the fact that 20 people read the first chapter, and now literally A SINGLE PERSON has read the opther two chapters, and for me that is really, really depressing. With Draven I'm not that bothered, although it did go from 219 views on the first chapter and dropped and has kinda kept slowly dropping, it still has a good amount of readers. But again Gods is like a little love project, but I'm very close to giving up on it, due to only one guy or girl actually enjoying the story, if that makes sense. Bit of a rant but you can see where I'm coming from I think. Anyway hope you guys enjoyed.