Chapter 36
He was called Kagesaki. He wiped his forehead before picking up another barrel and slowly walking out towards the rapidly growing pile. Takaya was busy taking a drink of water. Kagesaki snorted. He wasn't expecting to have to do all of this labour. He certainly hadn't been expecting to be put under Takaya's command. That insignificant...
"How many more?" asked Takaya.
"About two" replied Kagesaki, able to hide his true feelings. He doubted either Takaya or the other grunt knew how he really felt.
After all it had been Kuraigu's older brother that had asked him to tag along. Kagesaki had wanted to stay with the Lord but the man had been most insistent. And yet he was not to inform Kuraigu why he was here. Kuraigu always saw him as one of his brother's men- that was why Kagesaki knew that he was here lifting barrels. Kuraigu wanted to keep him away. Kuraigu didn't want to be watched over.
Kagesaki muttered something to himself as he noticed the other man who was supposed to be helping was busy sitting on one of the barrels. He guessed he should just be thankful the idiot wasn't smoking while sitting there. They'd managed to find an open area out in the main street away from buildings, and the flames. Kagesaki looked up at the starless night sky. He doubted the rest of the night would be enjoyable in any way.
Still he had got to help in ransacking one of the larger villages of this land. That was something fun at the very least. He was joined by Takaya and they picked up and moved the final two barrels. With the work finally over Kagesaki allowed himself a drink. As he stood contemplating he pulled out a shuriken. He moved it, watching the reflections of the flames behind him. A "K" was engraved into it. All of his shuriken were personalised. Some laughed at this. No one laughed when on the end of one.
Kaorin and Sakaki were still running, passing through the entrance to the village. Much to Kaorin's dismay the hand holding had been a very brief occurrence, most likely to prove something to Haru. Little did Sakaki know how the girl beside her was now very resistant to the idea of washing her hand again.
As they continued Sakaki was thinking to herself how they had no idea of where Tomo or anyone else might be. No prior plan had been thought out, just try and help. Sakaki had been feeling weary for much of the night, but she had just about found a second wind. Kaorin was running on the energy she had got from being able to work alongside Sakaki. Running, some of the buildings passing-
Sakaki let out a faint cry as she was pulled backwards. Kaorin joined her, falling back into a hedge. Sakaki prepared herself- who would this be?
"Kenji?" asked Kaorin in a familiar tone.
"Yeah" he replied, breathing heavily. Sakaki could see he was quite heavily injured. He collapsed down onto the ground, having used the rest of his strength to stop the two girls.
"What is it?" asked Kaorin, just about noticing the blood in the darkness.
"Ahead…three men" replied Kenji. "More gone…to the academy."
"Is that were everyone else is?" asked Kaorin. Kenji nodded his head faintly, and just about raised his hand. "Something else? What is it?" asked Kaorin.
"Powder" said Kenji. "…have…powder in barrels. It's explosive…." He fell silent for a moment. "Explosive when set on fire."
"D-do you want us to help?" ask Sakaki as Kenji leant back. He shook his head.
"Go. Be…ok…just weak now" he replied quietly.
"Ok" said Kaorin. "Stay hidden, we'll come back to get you" she said. "I promise. Don't you do something stupid like dying heroically" she said.
"Same for you."
She nodded and stood up. Sakaki joined her. With one final look towards Kenji who simply nodded they stepped back out into the street. The two kept close to the burning embers of what had once been a food stand, trying to stay concealed behind the buildings in front.
"How far do you think until we come across those people?" asked Kaorin.
"I think I can hear them" whispered back Sakaki. It sounded like faint talking in the distance.
"We'll have to-"
Kaorin didn't finish her sentence as she jerked back. She started to fall, Sakaki just about grabbing hold of her. She looked down, spotting the shuriken embedded into the girls neck. Blood was trickling along the metal, down into a groove which was part of a "K".
"K-Kaorin?" asked Sakaki.
"I-I'm still here" replied Kaorin raggedly. "It hurts Sakaki. It...hurts."
"You people are not exactly experts at being quiet are you?" called out a voice from beyond the flames.
"What was that Kagesaki? Who are you talking to?" asked another voice.
Sakaki gently placed Kaorin on the ground, the smaller girl already turning pale. Sakaki looked towards the flames, looking indirectly at the people beyond it. They'd hurt her friend, stood between her and more of her friends. She didn't have time. She had to help everyone. She looked down at Kaorin and then back to the flames. Explosive powder. She gulped. Should she do something terrible? Did she have any choice?
Kaorin coughed, moving weakly on the ground. More blood oozed out across the metallic weapon.
Sakaki gulped again. She was a ninja in training. Unfortunately for her she'd have to do some horrible things in the future to help others. Ninjas were trained to fight, to protect, to defend…to kill. Standing up fully she began to make a series of finger movements.
She stepped out into the open, three men turning to look at her. Two looked surprised. The man to the left laughed- she recognized the voice as that of Kagesaki. The man to the right dropped his drink and went to get a knife.
"I'm sorry" said Sakaki. Kagesaki mouthed a swearword.
She completed the final finger seal and shot a ball of fire at the men. Takaya let out a scream that was abruptly cut short as he was vaporised. Sakaki was thrown back, landing on the path. She looked towards the smoking crater that remained. The three men were gone.
She jumped in surprise as Kaorin grabbed her hand.
"I'll be ok Sakaki" she stated. "Go and help Tomo. Just don't forget to get a doctor after this is all over."
"I won't."
"I know…after all you aren't Osaka" said Kaorin smiling weakly.
"I'll be back" said Sakaki.
The door smashed inwards, three hooded men in black light armour charging into the corridor. They looked towards the lone man and drew their own swords. Kimura thought they certainly seemed overly confident. He held up his sword. He hadn't fully realized just how long it had been since he last used the weapon. He groaned as two more entered the room. How many more could there be?
Though it seemed like an eternity, it was only a matter of seconds from the door crashing open to the men charging him. He released a jutsu he had been performing while waiting, a bolt of electricity shooting into one of the men who fell to the floor juddering. The others didn't wait and charged. Kimura held up the sword, gripping it tightly with one hand.
Making quick finger signs he leapt forwards, pushing into the middle of the four standing men and completing the final sign. As he came to a stop his appearance became that of the hooded figures attacking him. Having been quick he moved from where he had been, thankful that they didn't carry uniform weapons.
"Where the hell did that guy go?" asked one of the men.
"It's one of the tricks of the ninja" said another.
Kimura watched one of the men point to the person next to him. "I bet you're him!"
"No he is" said Kimura, pointing to another.
In the confusion and yelling Kimura stepped towards the middle of the group and ducked down. One spotted this and turned to speak as Kimura gracefully swung the sword around, slicing through the stomachs of the four men. As they all yelled or screamed out Kimura struck again, slashing through their legs, the men all falling to the floor. There they remained, groaning and trying to move, stand up, as Kimura stepped back. He looked at his handiwork. That had been pretty quick.
"Very impressive master ninja" said a voice from beyond the broken door. Kuraigu stepped through the doorway, a large figure in the corridor. The remains of the door crunched as he stepped on them. "As to be expected from the one called Kimura."
"Thanks" replied Kimura. "It means a lot. Any more goons for me to fight?"
"No, I thought it would be far more interesting to do this myself" replied Kuraigu. He paused momentarily as though deep in thought. "And to make it more interesting for you, I assume you have heard of two students named Kagura and Koyomi?" asked the man.
"Yeah" replied Kimura. He didn't like where this was going.
"Well you see, while out for a stroll some men of mine from the forest appeared with these two attractive females. Luckily for you they weren't seriously hurt beforehand, and I thought they would make useful prisoners" stated Kuraigu. "However I assume you are getting tired of my voice, and I have no more interest in talking to you, so let's start this fight."
Kimura nodded faintly and charged, ducking down to aim for the knees. Kuraigu unsheathed his sword and blocked the attack, Kimura feeling the force reverberate in his arms. He jumped back as Kuraigu marched forwards, his sword kept steady, no unnecessary movements or waste of force.
Getting close again Kuraigu attacked in a fluid movement. The sword slashed through part of the stone wall as though it wasn't even there and clanged against Kimura's own sword. Kimura stumbled back. Crap! He couldn't waste more time here, he'd have to defeat this guy and rescue Yomi and Kagura. Perhaps they'd reward him with a kiss!
No, he knew now wasn't the time to think about such things. But Tomo was stuck underground, with the stairway just a few meters from him the only way out on this side of the building. With the attacks this building had faced it could in fact be the only way out. Tomo, Kagura, Yomi- he had to rescue them all.
He stepped back and renewed his grip on the sword handle. He closed his eyes and moved his fingers on the sword hilt. He reopened his eyes and charged, jumping through the air. Kuraigu swung his sword and smashed through the flying body…of wood. Remains of the door fell to the floor as Kimura dug his sword into Kuraigu's side.
"Sorry about that" growled Kimura.