Chapter Four: Fall of the Hayabusa Clan
Carrion birds greeted Ryu as he rushed out of the Shadow Ninja Hideout. They flew skyward into the waning sun, cawing their defiance. Before his eyes smoke rose higher and higher. He ran all the faster, but Ayane was faster still. Her work as a messenger allowed her to move quickly. By the time he was halfway down the mountain, she was gone from sight.
As he passed into the Valley of Shadows from whence he came he heard distant cries of battle. And then there was a fluttering noise and shrieks. Bats descended from the sky and attacked him madly. Ducking away from their claws he drew his blade and sliced through them in swift strokes. But yet more of them came. Swarm after swarm came from all around to tear at him.
Dark magic was afoot, and while he fought it off the screams died out. But the smoke rose ever thicker. A chill went down Ryu's spine as the last bat was cut down. He ran, now almost panicked, heedless of blood dripping down his arm.
He didn't concern himself with stealth or caution. All he knew was that his brethren were dying and he was not there to help them. He should have been there! Kureha…
Soon he reached the darker forests that surrounded his home. And he found samurai waiting for him. Samurai.
They came at him with blades, and he ducked and weaved. His sword parried a blade before he brought it around to cleave through the faceplate. The Dragon Sword cut deep, then down and out the other side. But there was no blood. The armor collapsed in on itself and faded to dust, and all that remained was a flickering of violet fire.
The others came at him with greater anger. He parried and fought with all his might, killing one after another. But more were always coming. What were these? How had these spectral samurai come to life? Why were they here?
When the last samurai fell, he had no answers. Only a cut across the cheek. Quickly he drew out bandages and applied them to his face. He would not be able to help his village if he bled out. When he was done, he rushed onwards through the forests.
He leaped across branch after branch, hoping against hope he was in time.
He came to the watchtower. It was fallen. The watchers were lying dead, surrounded by broken armor. And samurai were waiting for him. Ryu knew the faces of those who had been killed.
In a rage, he charged forward and cut through a samurai before it could move. Rolling past another he slashed through his legs from behind. Parrying a blade, he stabbed up through where the heart of this specter would be. Then with another move, he turned the blade and cleaved the helmet from the last.
How many had he killed? How many more were there to fight? These seemed more a rearguard than the main force. He ran on, toward the village. And all was deadly silent.
At last, he came to the river. The bridge had been cast down, and still more bodies lay there. Leaping onto the water, he focused his ki into his feet and ran across it. Then he was back on firm ground again.
This was it.
Whatever had happened lay before him. He didn't want to see it. But he must go.
Ryu ran on, blade in hand. Up the steps he went and through the gates.
The full moon had risen high as the sun fell. Now he saw before him all the stars. And beneath them was his village. Broken. Blackened. Empty. Empty save for bodies lining the streets. Were any left alive? Had anyone escaped?
And then he saw more samurai. And he knew that some were left alive. These ones, at least, would not see tomorrow. He rushed toward them, but as he did some of them raised their hands and motioned. Spheres of white light shot toward him, and he ducked just in time. He felt the heat of them sear over his shoulder blades.
A moment later he was being attacked.
The samurai came at him with their swords. They attacked all at once, driving him before them. It was all he could do to keep alive. Then his sixth sense cried out. He caught sight of a glint from the corner of his eye and ducked low. Daggers stabbed where he had been, and he lashed out at the attacker.
But he was gone in an instant.
Summersaulting backward he avoided the samurai. But Ryu was soon backed up against a cliff.
Now he had no choice.
As they came at him, he summoned his ki. He'd never been good at this. But he had to do it. And for once, the elements obeyed him. A great wheel of fire flared to life around him as the samurai closed in. Instantly it burned them, melting their armor into nothing more than twisted metal.
But they did not scream.
The spellcasters fired more spheres, and Ryu rolled away from them. He hurled a kunai and caught one in the face. Another vanished. On a guess, Ryu stabbed backward and felt his blade connect with something. It pierced deep, and he dragged it out, before whirling round to cleave down the warlock.
Ryu let his shoulders slump. They were dead.
He was breathing heavily. He had never seen combat before. He had trained against other ninja in lifelike simulations. But he'd never fought in life and death.
And then he saw the bodies.
Dozens and dozens of bodies. People he'd known since he was a boy. There was Suna, who loved to sell flowers. And Kazuki, who laughed at almost everything. Both were dead now.
He wandered the blackened remnants before he heard a gasp.
Hope flared in him. He scaled up the toward from which he heard it and found Ayane. She was covered in blood and lying against the floor. Her bow was clutched in her hands.
Kneeling down by her, Ryu looked at the wounds. They were bad. Bandages alone would not help them but… but this was the alchemist, Dosu's house wasn't it. Quickly he leaped down into the lower level and found samurai waiting.
One of their blades nearly found his throat. But he ducked back and cleaved through them in a flurry of strikes. Then without halting to look, he searched through the shelves. Dimly he was aware of the bloodied corpse of Dosu, staring vacantly up. He tried not to look at it.
Ryu found was he was looking for. Several vials of life of the gods. Scaling back up the ladder he went to Ayane and pulled her head up. Unstoppering the vial, he poured it down her throat. The wounds closed but the blood remained.
Her eyes fluttered open.
"A… dark samurai…" gasped Ayane. "Clad in… black… armor…" She shuddered. "Master Ryu… do not attempt to fight it… Please hurry… you must find… Miss Kureha…"
"I will." said Ryu.
Ayane collapsed. She was alive, but she could not fight anymore. This dark samurai, perhaps he had been the leader? Then he would die by Ryu's hand. He snatched up Ayane's bow and quiver and slung them around his body. Then he left the house and made for the shrine.
The Dark Dragon Blade. That was what these creatures were seeking. Yet what unholy force had summoned them?
It didn't matter. He would destroy them all.
As he emerged from the house more samurai came at him. He hardly saw them as he cleaved them down one after another. Chestplates were pierced — faceplates with cleaved. Legs were slashed. And at the end, all lay dead around him. Warlocks were shot down by kunai.
Ryu Hayabusa moved forward.
All of a sudden he heard the beating of hoofs. Horsemen were coming this way. Leaping up into the trees, he drew his bow and arrow as they rode into sight — spectral samurai on horses of flesh and blood. And at their head was a red armored warrior.
"Find him! In the name of Lord Doku kill all who would oppose us!"
Ryu loosed his first arrow, piercing one horseman. Another fell to his shots, then another. They hurled spears at him, but he dropped down and shot another off his mount. The red-armored horseman rode away as the others rushed at him. He ducked away from their spears and shot arrow after arrow.
Finally, his quiver was spent, and he drew his sword as the last horseman charged at him. He caught the shaft of the spear under one armpit. Then Ryu pulled the man off the horse and drove his sword into his faceplate. There was a scream, and the armor went still.
The horses were gone. As if they had never been. Perhaps they hadn't.
It didn't matter. Ryu's path was clear. He would kill every single one of this Lord Doku's men. And then he would kill Doku himself. Or he would die trying.
There was another bridge near here. It led to the shrine where the Dark Dragon Blade was located. It led to where Kureha was. He prayed he would reach her in time.
What was he worried about? Kureha was a powerful priestess in her own right. These ghost samurai would be of no threat to her.
He made his way across the bridge. Then, even as he did so, the gate, he had walked through burst into flames. The red rider came through the others. His horse was aflame, and his eyes were gleaming. Spinning his lance, he rode toward Ryu, who was nearly ridden down.
The blade of the lance tore at the edge of Ryu's mask as he arose. Even as he did the horseman came at him again. This time he was prepared and ducked under the lance. His sword hit the chest plate of the rider and he was thrown. The horse was reduced to ashes in an instant.
But the rider arose and attacked Ryu with his spear. Ryu parried thrust after thrust. He rolled away and slashed, but his enemy caught the blow. He was shoved back, and struck in the stomach with the butt of the spear, sending him sprawling. Rolling away just in time, Ryu tried to get his bearings.
But his enemy slammed a foot down on his chest and raised his spear.
The Dragon Sword flashed. Ryu lashed out with a desperate attack, and the blow met the spear as it fell. The weapon exploded into splinters, and the samurai staggered back. Rising to his feet, Ryu rushed forward and cleaved his head from his shoulders.
That had been far too close. He prayed that Lord Doku was not a better fighter than this one. Raising the Dragon Sword, he made his way to the gates and began the long climb upwards. He saw no sign of his enemies as he did. But he felt the heat of a great fire and saw sparks floating in the air.
Falling to one knee, he gasped in pain. Just a little further. Just a little further.
Drawing out one of the elixirs of spiritual life he downed it. His strength returned, and he was able to climb towards the shrine.
Doku awaited.
Kureha sat within the heart of the shrine, waiting.
Dozens upon dozens of broken suits of samurai armor were around her. Yet she was untouched. Not a sliver had been made in her red and white garbs. Not a cut or scuff was on her skin. She had her staff across her knees, and she was looking at her charge.
The Dark Dragon Blade was glowering at her.
It hated her. It hated her for making its escape so difficult. But not just for that. It hated her for carefully tending to the plants now in flames. For loving her sister. For caring about Ryu. It hated everything that was good and decent about her. And everything that was worth saving about the world.
It was altogether evil.
A door opened. Momiji rushed in. "Sister! Sister Kureha, the shrine is on fire! What do we do?"
Kureha arose. And she sensed something coming. "Stay behind me, Momiji. The last of them is here now. Then we'll leave."
"Then you'll leave." said a mocking, metallic voice. "You are overconfident aren't you?"
Kureha turned to where the man stood. Or what seemed a man. He wore a suit of armor. But within it, there was only a blazing inferno. In one hand was a long sword that the air screamed around. "Your men were overconfident. They thought that because I was a priestess, I would be easy prey.
"They paid the price."
"So they did." said man. "I suggest you send the child away. It would be a shame if she saw what I am going to do to you."
Kureha looked to Momiji. "Momiji, listen to me. The eastern side of the shrine is not on fire. I want you to go there and take the back door out. I'll come and see you as soon as I can. And if I can't find you, remember the notes I told you about."
"But sister-" began Momiji, tears welling in her eyes.
"Go." said Kureha.
Momiji fled. Kureha looked to the man. "Who are you? What do you seek with the Dark Dragon Blade?"
"I am Doku of the Vigoor Empire. And I seek it not for myself." said Doku. "But for my master, the Vigoor Emperor. The time of his ascension is nigh."
"Your master is a fool." said Kureha. "The Dark Dragon Blade corrupts and destroys. Those who hold it do not wield it. It wields them. It preys on their pride, their vanity, the darkness within their souls. It brings the worst aspects of them to the front and then it consumes them.
"You could do no better service to your master than to turn back now."
"To a mortal, perhaps." said Doku. "But the Emperor is no mere man. He is the originator of all fiends. The Dark Dragon Blade will have no power over him. I shall not leave this place until I have it."
Kureha sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that."
She raised a hand and thrust a palm through the air almost gently. As she did the air bent and Doku's stance wavered. He was thrust back through the doors. The wall shattered beneath the weight of his armor and landed hard on the ground.
Kureha walked forward toward him.
Doku rose to the ground and charged at her. But Kureha moved aside from his slash and set a hand to where his heart would be. Doku fell to one knee, making a choking noise as he did so. He dropped his sword, and his hands went to the throat of his armor.
"What… what are you…?" gasped Doku.
"I am the guardian of the shrine." said Kureha. "And I've devoted a great deal of study to my task, Doku. I calculated that the Vigoor Emperor might seek the blade and that he would send you to get it.
"So I looked into means of counteracting this sort of enchantment.
"Right now the very fabric of the spells inlaid to keep you in this world is fading. Strange, isn't it, Doku. All those centuries of blood and murder. Endless swaths of warriors cut down in the single-minded pursuit of further blood. And in the end, you fade into nothingness after fighting an unarmed shrine maiden."
"Curse… you…"
Doku faded. His fire was burning out. His armor was beginning to get loose. And then something happened. A change in the air. Whispers filled it. Suddenly the ceiling in the shrine caved in. The burning wreckage knocked the Dark Dragon Blade free.
With unnatural speed, it spun through the air, possessed by a will of its own. It landed by Doku, who snatched it. His flames were renewed with greater power. He arose bringing around the unholy sword at Kureha.
She caught the Dark Dragon Blade between two palms. For a moment she held it there, focusing her power on draining Doku's strength. Only a moment more.
Then Doku kicked up his old sword and caught it on the other hand. Bringing it around, he slashed at Kureha, who leaped over the attack and landed behind him. She sent a wave of light into him, but he countered it with the Dark Dragon Blade.
There was a flash and flames around them. Smoke poured into the room, and Kureha choked. But Doku was barring the way. She had to get out of here, or she'd choke to death.
Sending a sphere of light at Doku, she rushed past him. She slipped past and made it to the edge of the stairs. But before she could turn around, she felt a blade bite deep into her stomach.
As he sprinted out into the heart of the shrine, Ryu halted. There she was. Kureha was before him in flames. For a single instant, his heart leaped. She was alive! He could save her!
And then she collapsed to the ground. She looked at him with glazed eyes and fell still. She could still be alive.
She had to be alive.
Her killer stood there among the flames. A massive dark samurai. In his hands was the Dark Dragon Blade. Doku.
He turned to Ryu and made his way through the flames.
Ryu Hayabusa took a stance. He had the Dragon Sword. If he was careful, if he fought well, he could win. So why was his hand shaking? Why was his heart racing? Why couldn't he move?
Doku raised his sword to strike.
Move. Move!
Ryu raised the blade and blocked it. The sword collided and it was like the weight of a mountain was set against his guard. He staggered back before an onslaught of strikes. Distance. He needed distance.
Rolling away he brought around his sword. But the blow was parried.
And then Doku drove his blade forward, through Ryu's chest. Agony shot through his body as the samurai lifted him into the air and slammed him down violently. The Dragon Sword flew from his grip, and he hit the ground.
His blood was draining. His vision was going dark.
It was over.
Soon… it would be… over…
The last thing he saw before all was dark was Kurena dragging herself over to him.
Author's Note:
So this chapter was massively delayed. Sorry about that. I tend to focus on stories that get a lot of attention. When a chapter doesn't get any reviews, I focus on other things.
Still, I have renewed interest in Ninja Gaiden. So you can expect some new chapters soon.
One of the things I wanted to subvert was Kurena's status as a disposable woman. I wanted to turn her into a cool character that the viewer would be sad to see go. Not just a motivation for Ryu to go do really cool stunts with.
As for all the guards Doku brought with him into the shrine, Kurenai killed them all. There are only so many ways you can describe Ryu fighting samurai before it gets old, after all.