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 things 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).

Notes

God…six and a half months without posting a thing. I apologize greatly, but my computer up and knocked out on me so I couldn't write anything, let alone post on the Internet. Plus schools been hectic and to top it off I've had serious writers block when it comes to this chapter. I've had the ending and the next couple of chapters thought out and ready to go…but this one just gave me trouble. But it's here…and I greatly appreciate those who still read…even if I really don't deserve it. On with the story.

Unclouded Truth: A Tale of Fate

By: IceDancer

Chapter 10

The fire crackled in the fireplace, shooting small bits of blazed wood into the chimney above it, its light dancing all over the walls.

Willam had gone to bed long before and Almay had disappeared into one of the rooms for just as long. The house was dark and quiet, and except for the hushed conversation that was taking place in front of the fireplace, the house was perfectly still.

The evening had been a pleasant one, something which was out of the ordinary for both Jack and Ikaya. The events that had taken place in the past days were not important. All the heartache, pain, and questions were now a distant thought, being draped behind laughter and conversation which now only included the two travelers, sitting on the floor next to the makeshift bed Almay put together for Jack on the sofa.

"Kalveh…I can't stop saying his name." Ikaya said, her arms wrapped around her knees while she fiddled with the end of her long skirt, "Kalveh…"

Jack smiled as he fixed a recent tear in his straw hat.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Ikaya asked, turning her body slightly to face him.

"My father taught me when I was young." Jack said.

Ikaya smiled and moved her attention to the straw hat while Jack continued to weave the fibers into each other. They both sat in silence for a moment before being interrupted by the quiet sound of footsteps coming towards them.

"Still awake I see." Came Almay's voice as she walked into the room, "Ikaya, I've placed new sheets on the bed in the guest room. Whenever you feel like going to bed, it's ready."

"Thank you, Almay." Ikaya said.

"And Jack, I'm sorry we don't have an extra bed for you, I hope the sofa will be comfortable enough for the night."

"Yes, it will be fine. Thank you again."

"You're both welcomed…well, look at the time. I suppose I should have been off to bed hours ago… Goodnight you two, and don't stay up too late yourselves."

"Goodnight, Almay." Both Jack and Ikaya said.

"Oh, before I forget, Ikaya, here's something I found while looking through the trunk in the guest room."

Almay reached into her robe's pocket, pulling out an old photograph and handing it to Ikaya. The corners of the photo were bent inward, and the color had faded slightly but not enough to ruin the photo's true colors. It was of a man holding a small baby next to a small group of flowers. He held the baby close to his face and it looked as if he was giving it a kiss on the forehead. Ikaya's eyes widened and she looked up at Almay, who nodded and smiled.

"Where was this taken?" Ikaya said, struggling to get the words out.

"Behind our home, in the small flower garden I had at the time. Kalveh didn't know that I was there when I took the photograph…he was singing to you." Almay said, walking toward her room, "Goodnight."

Ikaya didn't move at all, her attention fixed on the photograph she held in front of her.

"His hair is like mine." She finally said, her voice shaky and hushed.

Jack smiled and placed the now finished straw hat down next to his sword. Ikaya's smile slowly faded, she rested her head on her knees and without taking her attention away from the photo let out a soft sigh.

"Jack…"

"Yes Ikaya."

"That wasn't the first time I'd lost my powers."

"What?" Jack said, completely caught off guard.

"Before the oracles…I'd lost my powers once before."

"Ikaya, I am grateful for your honesty, but you do not have to…"

"No, I've held the truth from you long enough…I need to tell you." Ikaya said, looking at Jack, her face now determined.

"Then continue…" Jack said.

Ikaya looked ahead at the fire, still dancing within its place.

"When I was about five my mother decided that we should settle in a small village located in a lush green valley. We had our own small hut made of mud-brick on the outskirts of the village. There was a small vegetable garden on the side of it and it was only a few yards from a small stream. It was a beautiful place, and the people who lived in that village were so kind. We had lived there for only a short while, but we were so welcomed that it already felt like home.

Twice a year the village would throw a festival in honor of the changing seasons. The square in the center of it was alive with color and people were selling all kinds of things for the festival. People dressed in costumes and performed dances to their gods in thanks of the prosperous season and all the children would run around the square, carrying streamers and all dressed in their own beautiful costumes, including myself. The festival was to be a time of happiness, but an old beggar man who had traveled to the village for the festival began to preach to the crowd.

He went on and on about a great evil that had befallen the valley, weaving in and out of the crowd, saying how he felt it near."

Ikaya's voice grew quieter and her breath began to shorten. She tightened the hold she had on her legs, the photograph she had held was now at her feet and her gaze was fixed onto the shadows on the floor.

"He got closer to the group of children I was with, and pulled out an old glass box. I didn't know what was in it, but I felt like it was something to be feared. He hobbled closer and closer, with each step my palms began to sweat more and more and my heart began to skip. The old man never stopped talking when he reached into the box and pulled out the blue amulet that was hidden inside of it. I began to step back, and my heart started to beat faster and faster. I just remember feeling like I wanted to get away from him…away from that amulet he shook in his hand. Then, he raised it, high above his head and began to recite an incantation as loudly as he could. Before I could do anything I remember my stomach hurting and then everything went black."

"You do not remember what happened?" Jack asked quietly.

Ikaya looked up at him and shook her head 'no'.

"What do you remember?"

"I remember waking up in my mothers arms. Night had fallen, we were wandering through the woods again and although it was dark I could see that she was covered in wounds and bruises. I asked her what had happened, and why we left the village.
'We had to…' was all she said to me.
I never questioned it again, and had Munsoli not told me what had happed years later, I doubt I would have ever known." She said, her voice trailing off.

"Ikaya…" Jack whispered, "what happened at the village?"

Ikaya lowered her head, and after a few moments of struggling to get the words out, she continued.

"When the old man recited the incantation, I lost control of my powers and it resulted in the complete destruction of village and everyone in it. Had my mother not been in our hut at the time she might have been destroyed as well…but she didn't escape injury."

Jack's eyes widened, but he quickly regained his composure for fear of how it might make Ikaya feel. They sat for a few moments in silence, but eventually Ikaya began to get up and walk toward the hallway that led to the guest room.

"Ikaya…" Jack said, before she disappeared around the corner, "Please do not be cross with me, but did you ever discover what spell the old man said?"

"Yes…it was a protection spell." She said, turning around and disappearing into the dark hallway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You two know we wouldn't object to you staying longer." Almay said, standing out in front of the blacksmith shop.

"Yes," followed Willam, "it would be a treat for you to stay a few more days."

"You've done so much for us already." Ikaya said, adjusting her cloak around her neck.

"Yes, and we must return to our search." Jack said, bowing to the both of them before receiving a big hug from Almay.

"If you must then you must." said Willam

"But we will miss you both." Almay said, her eyes filling with tears.

"And we will miss you too, thank you again for everything." Ikaya said, giving Almay and Willam a hug.

"Well if you must go then who are we to keep you." Willam said, "If you head down this road it will lead out of the village and onto the next city, it'll take you about two hours to walk there."

"I've made you two some food for the walk." Almay said, handing them a small sack.

"Thank you again, Almay…Willam. I'll never forget you." Ikaya said.

They both turned, and began to walk down the road.

"We're just glad that we got to see you again, Ikaya. And we're glad we got to meet you Jack. You take care of our little girl, you hear!" Willam shouted after them.

"I will, of that I promise." Jack said, shouting back.

Ikaya smiled as they walked down the road. She knew that what she had told Jack the previous night had to have made him think of the danger that could befall him if he continued to travel with her. For now though, she was glad that he hadn't decided to go on alone, and she was glad that he would still be there to help her on her own search.