Retribution
Chapter 11: Attack!
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Author: Jun-I

Pairing: Kambei/Kyuzo
Warnings and Disclaimers: See Chapter 1

Synopsis: Kyuuzou's point of view on the battle for Kanna. Kanbei thinks of Kyuzo.

Acknowledgment: Thx for elfjune for identifying the giant mecha that Q killed in the base as Soubei.

Kyuuzou's POV

I was training the archers in the village when I felt the tremors in the ground. The Nobuseri were launching their first attack. Seconds later, Gorobei sounded his alarm. Chickens and humans started running around in panic. Kanbei ordered all the women to be taken to the priestess's house to hide. Yup, there he goes again, under-utilizing half of our potential defense force. I don't know why the village head says Shimada Kanbei is so good at human resource management. But of course, there was no time to argue with Kanbei. Not that he'd listen anyway. We took our positions, and I noted with some glee that a hefty peasant woman had ignored Kanbei's orders and taken up position with Hei's team on the wall. You go girl!!!

There were more Nobuseri than we expected. But Hei's giant bow took out one of the Nobuseri's floating bases. And my archers held their ground against the Yakans. We successfully repelled the first assault but our work was not yet done. Gorobei and Kanbei had come up with the idea of infiltrating the remaining Nobuseri mothership by turning Gorobei, Katsushiro and myself in as captives. After we entered the ship, I got to cross swords with a few former business associates. I sent Soubei on his way to meet Hyogo in the next world. I guess there are no more mecha and humans - just disembodied spirits - in the afterlife, so Hyogo and Soubei can choose to resume their old relationship or whatever it is they want to do.

Slicing metal was a good workout. I needed the adrenaline rush, especially since I had given up my antidepressants. (Kanna Village did not even have a health insurance plan for employees. And even if they did, we samurai were considered contractors and thus not entitled to benefits.)

We trashed the place and were ready to leave. Shichi and Kiku held the log bridge between the ship and the mountain while I led the way out. But Kanbei was still dilly dallying behind, chatting with the Nobuseri, keeping poor Shichi and Kiku waiting. That man needs to learn to be more considerate. Then he got out just seconds before the ship crashed down the mountainside, leaving Kiku and Shichi barely enough time to escape. Those two were lucky to have gotten a foothold on the cliff face.

The eight of us managed to climb up to a ledge where there was more standing room. Kanbei reached down to help Kirara up, but she refused his hand. (She's been acting touchy around him lately). Then she started fussing over the bandage on his arm. Not that there was time for that sort of thing; a couple of Jumping Rabbits flew up the mountain side and attacked us. Shichi and Hei got to work on them. Then a few tea kettles sprung up. Kirara immediately hid behind Kanbei. That woman needs to invest in her own sword!!!

We had to fight off the mecha warriors. Kanbei was holding on to Kirara's hand all the while, keeping her out of harm's way. The sight annoyed me. The girl could be more of a help than a liability if only she had some proper training. I would train Kirara myself if it meant that she wouldn't need to be treated like a piece of baggage that we have to lug around. Not that Kanbei seemed to mind doing the lugging.

There were no more enemies left standing but the party was not over yet. Kiku kicked the last Yakan over the edge and was instantly hit by a gunshot from below. So there were more Nobuseri down in the misty chasm. We all dropped to the ground. Of course Kirara's reflexes weren't fast enough so Kanbei had to pull her down with him. I was so tired of watching this. I was beginning to suspect that Kirara was not as useless as she appeared to be. She was probably acting that way only around Kanbei.

When Shimada asked for a scout to go check out what our enemies were doing below, Katsu volunteered. As the saying goes, a newborn ox calf does not fear the tiger. I told that kid he'd get himself killed. I got up and walked to the edge. Kanbei looked up at me. He STILL had his hand on Kirara's shoulder. Was that really NECESSARY?

Some men just need to have a woman cowering behind them in order to feel good about themselves. But I am not one of these men. Had never been. Will never be. As for Kirara, she should stick to boys her own age! And how many men does she need anyway? Is it too much to ask her to leave the older guy for me? To kill, I mean.

I controlled my rising blood pressure with some mental effort. I did not give up Ayamaro's great health insurance so I could come here and watch people flirt. I smirked down at Kanbei. Be assured that I was not volunteering to be the scout out of the kindness of my heart. I was simply sick of this 'group dynamic' and could use some 'alone' time.

End Kyuzo POV

Kanbei looked at up Kyuuzou gravely when the crimson warrior volunteered for the risky mission. Kirara could not understand why the practical leader would seem so concerned – Kyuuzou was undoubtedly the best choice for the mission. As the priestess and the six samurai watched Kyuuzou skid down the cliff face and disappear into the mist, she heard Kanbei say to no one in particular, "He will surely return."

Kirara looked questioningly at the tall samurai beside her. She wanted to tell him that with Kyuuzou-dono's skills there was nothing to worry about. But she held her tongue. The water priestess had a vague feeling that the usually rational commander's concern for Kyuuzou was more rooted in emotion than in reason.

"He will come back to settle things with me," Kanbei was still gazing in the direction in which Kyuuzou had gone. Kirara felt a stab of pain in her heart. Her suspicions were confirmed. But did it matter? She knew she could never aspire to his love. And now she knew that she was not the only one who longed for someone in vain.

"For someone like him, the fog may actually be a help rather than a hindrance." Kanbei spoke quietly, as if trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

Kyuzo POV

The scouting mission took me a little more than a day. When I scaled the cliffs up to Kanna the next evening, Kanbei, Shichi, Katsu and Hei were waiting behind the barricade. I jumped down from the barricade, so that I stood facing Heihachi but had my back to Kanbei. I still did not feel like looking at that ojisan's face. For Heihachi however, I brought a present - a cannon I took from the Raiden I killed.

Katsu and Hei were thrilled to bits. Kanbei thanked me. I gave him my status report: there were about 30 Yakans and Tobitos remaining, as well as an obscene number of foot soldiers. Our 'wise leader' asked my opinion on the Nobuseri's plans. I informed him they would in all likelihood attack the next day. Told the guy I was going to get some sleep, and took off.

End Kyuuzou POV

Kanbei gave one last glance to the departing figure of the slender samurai. Kyuuzou was never one to be effusively friendly, but he had at least been civil to the villagers and to the other samurai, with the exception of Kanbei. Around the tall dark warrior, the enticing androgyne was ten times colder.

It must be because of Kyuuzou's preoccupation with their duel, Kanbei thought. But he would rather have some peace between them until that day. In fact, there were times Kanbei felt he would rather not have the duel at all. But he knew he did not deserve the possibility of that kind of happiness after a lifetime of shedding blood.

Still, Shimada could not help wanting to be close to that fascinating fighter. A few times, he had entertained the foolish question of what it would be like to love and be loved by Kyuuzou. Yet the veteran of many wars recognized that there was no going back. They were warriors who had chosen to live and die by the sword. Their impending duel was the only thing holding the two of them together.

In a way, Kanbei was grateful for this grim date. With it, he could be secure in the knowledge that Kyuuzou would always return to him until the day one of them died. He was a fool to desire the mysterious young man, and he knew it. He had bet his life just for the chance of seeing Kyuuzou's face again.

Note: "A newborn ox calf does not fear the tiger" is a Chinese saying.