Ninja Scroll: Gemma's quest
Chapter 1: Rebirth
I don't own any of the characters here, most of them belong to the true creator of ninja scroll. This is
purely fiction, and any resemblances to real people, are entirely by coincidence. I assume absoloutly no
responsibility for anything in this story, except maybe entertainment value. Sheesh...I wish I didn't
have to do that...
A lone figure lay in the snow, which wwas now several inches high. He felt cold. But it wasn't the snow that
was the cause of this. No, it was a different kind of cold. The cold of death. He moved his arm, and a pain shot
through his body. Wisely, he stopped moving.
'Where am I?' he asked himself. This wasn't right... "What happened?" he asked weakly. Opening his eyes, he
could see the new snowfall. It was so white and so pure. Sprayed across it, was warm blood. Then his memory popped
back in to place. His last thought was on a horse. As his head was being sliced off.
Himuro Gemma, leader of the Yamashiro clan was his name. Recently, he had managed to get favor from the Shogun
of the dark by giving information on a gold mine. Naturally, this could benifit his clan. An alliance from such a
powerfull man could definatly ensure the saftey of Yamashiro forever. But first, Jubei, a vagabond ninja -they were
known as ronin- had to be put out of the way. It should have been so easy! Gemma dispatched ten men that day to put
an end to Jubei. Instead, he killed them all, and sought Gemma and vengence.
And so Gemma was alone now. The agonizing pain was all over his being now, shredding his thoughts. Why wasn't
he dead? Of course...reincarnation. A technique Gemma had started learning long ago. Only recently had he mastered
it. Now he could rejenerate automatically, without even thinking about it. Only a handfull of people had ever
managed to master the technique, and they mostly comprised of an old bunch of Budhist monks. Too old to even leave
their precious monastary.
Even if one did have the talent to learn, if you could find a teacher, or scroll that would describe the
principals, you were to be considered very lucky. Long ago, when Gemma was still a Samurai in his clan, working for
the Tokugawa government, he had been to China. There, he found an ancient Buhdist monastary. There he found an old
man who had learned the first basic steps towards reincarnation. Gemma stayed there for six months, and when he had
finally gone back to Japan, he brought the ancient secrets with him, slowly teaching himself the ancient art.
Now, it was all that was keeping him alive. Gemma opened his eyes now with more confidence. He could see
his lifeless body several meters away from him. But no, it wasn't all lifeless. He found that he could move it, with
great pain. Despite any pain, he told himself, I have to reair myself. He made his body stand. Its legs were very
shakey, but it worked. For a moment, he stay there. His mind was throbing. He could feel it pulsating. He tried to
make his body walk. It did for a few steps, then fell to its stomach. But that was enough. Only a few feet away now.
He crawled forwards with his hands, and picked up his head. The pain was still there, and there was a sickening
sensation of holding his own head. But nonetheless, he placed it on his neck, where it should have been. Finally,
closing his eyes, he concentrated. There were sounds of skin being shifted into place, of bones cracking, and
attaching. And of spinal fluid flowing back to his head. He was coming back to life.
For a while, he lay there. The cold snow was very refreshing to him. He could feel himself working normaly
again, and the pain in his head was leaving him already. After a long while, he wasn't sure how long, he stood. His
legs were still shakey, and it seemed that his body was still having a little bit of difficulty obeying commands from'
his brain. He sat down again, and waited, testing his body. After another short while, he stood up very confidently.
He looked around the snow covered road, and began to walk. 'I am reborn', he thought to himself contently.
***
Gemma walked for almost one shole day before he got to his destination. There he collapsed from exauhstion.
Reincarnation or not, he wasn't immune from fatigue. The Shogun of the dark was in command of this region, and Gemma
was supposed to meet with one of his representatives to discuss matters of the state. Instead, Gemma slept for a day,
still tired from his long walk and painfull reincarnation.
He awoke in a lavishly decorated room. There was a small dish of food waiting for him and a cup of tea. He
gratiously ate the food, and slurped the tea down instantly. He felt a little better, and stood up. Just then, a
maid opened the Shoji door. Shoji doors were actually made out of paper. The maid bowed.
"I hope you are well, Gemma-san. When you arrived, you looked like you had been walking forever! Did you
loose your horse?"
Gemma looked at her at length. Where was this? He thought back. Origionally, he was headed to Kokomi village.
on the way to a meeting with the Shogun of the dark. "Yes." He said, not being entirely clear. "Where is the leader
of this village?"
"Ah, our Lord and Daimyo has arrived to see you personaly on the journey. He will see you tonight."
"Tonight is no good. I need to see him today."
"Ah, he is busy So sorry. He will see you tonight."
Gemma didn't feel like arguing with this stubborn, middle-aged woman. He simply got up and got dressed hastily.
Once outside, Gemma noticed that the snow was a few feet higher than before. 'How long have I been out?' he wondered.
The village he was in wasn't as small as he had thought. It was rather large, and from the looks of it, well guarded.
Gemma went into town. Where would the Daimyo be? He asked a few people, but it became apparent that no one knew. So
Gemma returned to the house he came from, bathed, and fell back to sleep.
"Lord Gemma, wake up!" Shouted the short, ugly man who stand in front of him. He was Yaroki, Daimyo of these
parts. He had been sent by the Shogun of the dark to meet with Gemma. The Yamshiro clan was in a dangerous position
as of late. The Tokugawa government was in the process of fortifying their lands, and Yamashiro was reluctant to
agree. With the blessings of the Shogun of the Dark, Yamashiro could, in effect, save itself. But so far, it had
professed a friendly neutrality towards both sides. Well, time to clear that up.
"Wake him up!" Yaroki said to one of the samurai near him. The warrior shook him violently. Slowly, Gemma
awoke. "You've already slept for a day, Gemma. And yet, you need more sleep?"
"If you had been through what I have, you'd understand." He pointed to the huge scar that sliced around his
neck. Yaroki gave him a troubled glance.
"You were attacked?"
"Yes. And all my men slaughtered."
Yaroki thought about this. 'If I loose Gemma, then the Shogun of the dark will have my head! And from the
looks of that scar, I probably almost did! But if he acquired it recently, then why does it look all healed up?'
"Well, we can find the killer later and put an end to his life. RIght now, we have buisness to attend to."
Gemma nodded his head solemly in agreement. For a long time, the two talked. Mainly, on the position of the
Yamashiro clans position. It was directly between Tokugawa territory, and Toyatomi territory. The two were on the
verge of a war. And in a long, drawn out bloody war, Tokugawa would likely win. But that is where Yamashiro would
come in. From what Gemma told them, Yamashiro had recently found a rich gold mine. If the two were to enter into an
alliance, Toyatomi could use the gold towards the destruction of Tokugawa. Then the Shogun of the dark would rule
with an iron fist! Gemma didn't realise it, but this alliance was crucial to the Shogun of the dark. Best not to let
Gemma find out.
In truth, Gemma did realise, and wanted to meet with the Shogun of the dark to make demands. Right now, both
Tokugawa and Toyatomi could use him and his clans gold. Only, the Shogun of the dark provided more opportunity. And
so, the alliance would benifit them both greatly. But in the end, Gemma would get more.
***
The two men talked for great deal during the night. Gemma was to leave to see the Shogun of the dark the
next day, early in the morning. Yaroki went off to bed, but Gemma had slept enough. So instead, he wandered into the
streets. 'Jubei' he thought with rage.It was Jubei! He killed me and my men! But he thinks me dead. This could un-
doubtably proove usefull. Yes, I'll bide my time, and one day I'll be ruling this land, and all of Japan. And then!
Then I can get my revenge on Jubei at my own leisure.' Gemma went back into his house and meditated, clearing all
his thoughts.
'I was almost killed. And my best men all slain by a single warrior. I can't let that happen again. Even
after mastering reincarnation, I still don't have enough experience. Can't leave anything to chance.'
For a while, he thought. 'Truly loyal soldiers would have killed Jubei. Truly loyal soldiers would die for
me. But even truly loyal soldiers can be killed. If only they were more like me...wait! That may be the answer. If I
do enter into the alliance with the Shogun of the dark, then he'll give me a substantial amount of power. No doubt
enough to create my own team of ninja. Each with devastating techniques. Yes, it can be done!' Gemma began to get
more excited over this new prospect. An unbeatable team of ninja, totally loyal to Gemma. 'It would be a great start
to what could one day become a giant empire. And it would be a great way to make a name for myself.' Gemma stayed up
through the night, thinking of various possibilities on this new idea. And he continued to plan, all through the
next day, until finally, his audience with Shogun of the Dark.
Author's Note: I'll admit, this chapter lacked something...lets call it quality an interest. But not to
worry, if you got lost, keep reading. I'll be moving the story away from the politics of Japan, and focus
it on Gemma's personal story. So yeah, read on. And of course, enjoy.
Neo_Scribe ^_^
Chapter 1: Rebirth
I don't own any of the characters here, most of them belong to the true creator of ninja scroll. This is
purely fiction, and any resemblances to real people, are entirely by coincidence. I assume absoloutly no
responsibility for anything in this story, except maybe entertainment value. Sheesh...I wish I didn't
have to do that...
A lone figure lay in the snow, which wwas now several inches high. He felt cold. But it wasn't the snow that
was the cause of this. No, it was a different kind of cold. The cold of death. He moved his arm, and a pain shot
through his body. Wisely, he stopped moving.
'Where am I?' he asked himself. This wasn't right... "What happened?" he asked weakly. Opening his eyes, he
could see the new snowfall. It was so white and so pure. Sprayed across it, was warm blood. Then his memory popped
back in to place. His last thought was on a horse. As his head was being sliced off.
Himuro Gemma, leader of the Yamashiro clan was his name. Recently, he had managed to get favor from the Shogun
of the dark by giving information on a gold mine. Naturally, this could benifit his clan. An alliance from such a
powerfull man could definatly ensure the saftey of Yamashiro forever. But first, Jubei, a vagabond ninja -they were
known as ronin- had to be put out of the way. It should have been so easy! Gemma dispatched ten men that day to put
an end to Jubei. Instead, he killed them all, and sought Gemma and vengence.
And so Gemma was alone now. The agonizing pain was all over his being now, shredding his thoughts. Why wasn't
he dead? Of course...reincarnation. A technique Gemma had started learning long ago. Only recently had he mastered
it. Now he could rejenerate automatically, without even thinking about it. Only a handfull of people had ever
managed to master the technique, and they mostly comprised of an old bunch of Budhist monks. Too old to even leave
their precious monastary.
Even if one did have the talent to learn, if you could find a teacher, or scroll that would describe the
principals, you were to be considered very lucky. Long ago, when Gemma was still a Samurai in his clan, working for
the Tokugawa government, he had been to China. There, he found an ancient Buhdist monastary. There he found an old
man who had learned the first basic steps towards reincarnation. Gemma stayed there for six months, and when he had
finally gone back to Japan, he brought the ancient secrets with him, slowly teaching himself the ancient art.
Now, it was all that was keeping him alive. Gemma opened his eyes now with more confidence. He could see
his lifeless body several meters away from him. But no, it wasn't all lifeless. He found that he could move it, with
great pain. Despite any pain, he told himself, I have to reair myself. He made his body stand. Its legs were very
shakey, but it worked. For a moment, he stay there. His mind was throbing. He could feel it pulsating. He tried to
make his body walk. It did for a few steps, then fell to its stomach. But that was enough. Only a few feet away now.
He crawled forwards with his hands, and picked up his head. The pain was still there, and there was a sickening
sensation of holding his own head. But nonetheless, he placed it on his neck, where it should have been. Finally,
closing his eyes, he concentrated. There were sounds of skin being shifted into place, of bones cracking, and
attaching. And of spinal fluid flowing back to his head. He was coming back to life.
For a while, he lay there. The cold snow was very refreshing to him. He could feel himself working normaly
again, and the pain in his head was leaving him already. After a long while, he wasn't sure how long, he stood. His
legs were still shakey, and it seemed that his body was still having a little bit of difficulty obeying commands from'
his brain. He sat down again, and waited, testing his body. After another short while, he stood up very confidently.
He looked around the snow covered road, and began to walk. 'I am reborn', he thought to himself contently.
***
Gemma walked for almost one shole day before he got to his destination. There he collapsed from exauhstion.
Reincarnation or not, he wasn't immune from fatigue. The Shogun of the dark was in command of this region, and Gemma
was supposed to meet with one of his representatives to discuss matters of the state. Instead, Gemma slept for a day,
still tired from his long walk and painfull reincarnation.
He awoke in a lavishly decorated room. There was a small dish of food waiting for him and a cup of tea. He
gratiously ate the food, and slurped the tea down instantly. He felt a little better, and stood up. Just then, a
maid opened the Shoji door. Shoji doors were actually made out of paper. The maid bowed.
"I hope you are well, Gemma-san. When you arrived, you looked like you had been walking forever! Did you
loose your horse?"
Gemma looked at her at length. Where was this? He thought back. Origionally, he was headed to Kokomi village.
on the way to a meeting with the Shogun of the dark. "Yes." He said, not being entirely clear. "Where is the leader
of this village?"
"Ah, our Lord and Daimyo has arrived to see you personaly on the journey. He will see you tonight."
"Tonight is no good. I need to see him today."
"Ah, he is busy So sorry. He will see you tonight."
Gemma didn't feel like arguing with this stubborn, middle-aged woman. He simply got up and got dressed hastily.
Once outside, Gemma noticed that the snow was a few feet higher than before. 'How long have I been out?' he wondered.
The village he was in wasn't as small as he had thought. It was rather large, and from the looks of it, well guarded.
Gemma went into town. Where would the Daimyo be? He asked a few people, but it became apparent that no one knew. So
Gemma returned to the house he came from, bathed, and fell back to sleep.
"Lord Gemma, wake up!" Shouted the short, ugly man who stand in front of him. He was Yaroki, Daimyo of these
parts. He had been sent by the Shogun of the dark to meet with Gemma. The Yamshiro clan was in a dangerous position
as of late. The Tokugawa government was in the process of fortifying their lands, and Yamashiro was reluctant to
agree. With the blessings of the Shogun of the Dark, Yamashiro could, in effect, save itself. But so far, it had
professed a friendly neutrality towards both sides. Well, time to clear that up.
"Wake him up!" Yaroki said to one of the samurai near him. The warrior shook him violently. Slowly, Gemma
awoke. "You've already slept for a day, Gemma. And yet, you need more sleep?"
"If you had been through what I have, you'd understand." He pointed to the huge scar that sliced around his
neck. Yaroki gave him a troubled glance.
"You were attacked?"
"Yes. And all my men slaughtered."
Yaroki thought about this. 'If I loose Gemma, then the Shogun of the dark will have my head! And from the
looks of that scar, I probably almost did! But if he acquired it recently, then why does it look all healed up?'
"Well, we can find the killer later and put an end to his life. RIght now, we have buisness to attend to."
Gemma nodded his head solemly in agreement. For a long time, the two talked. Mainly, on the position of the
Yamashiro clans position. It was directly between Tokugawa territory, and Toyatomi territory. The two were on the
verge of a war. And in a long, drawn out bloody war, Tokugawa would likely win. But that is where Yamashiro would
come in. From what Gemma told them, Yamashiro had recently found a rich gold mine. If the two were to enter into an
alliance, Toyatomi could use the gold towards the destruction of Tokugawa. Then the Shogun of the dark would rule
with an iron fist! Gemma didn't realise it, but this alliance was crucial to the Shogun of the dark. Best not to let
Gemma find out.
In truth, Gemma did realise, and wanted to meet with the Shogun of the dark to make demands. Right now, both
Tokugawa and Toyatomi could use him and his clans gold. Only, the Shogun of the dark provided more opportunity. And
so, the alliance would benifit them both greatly. But in the end, Gemma would get more.
***
The two men talked for great deal during the night. Gemma was to leave to see the Shogun of the dark the
next day, early in the morning. Yaroki went off to bed, but Gemma had slept enough. So instead, he wandered into the
streets. 'Jubei' he thought with rage.It was Jubei! He killed me and my men! But he thinks me dead. This could un-
doubtably proove usefull. Yes, I'll bide my time, and one day I'll be ruling this land, and all of Japan. And then!
Then I can get my revenge on Jubei at my own leisure.' Gemma went back into his house and meditated, clearing all
his thoughts.
'I was almost killed. And my best men all slain by a single warrior. I can't let that happen again. Even
after mastering reincarnation, I still don't have enough experience. Can't leave anything to chance.'
For a while, he thought. 'Truly loyal soldiers would have killed Jubei. Truly loyal soldiers would die for
me. But even truly loyal soldiers can be killed. If only they were more like me...wait! That may be the answer. If I
do enter into the alliance with the Shogun of the dark, then he'll give me a substantial amount of power. No doubt
enough to create my own team of ninja. Each with devastating techniques. Yes, it can be done!' Gemma began to get
more excited over this new prospect. An unbeatable team of ninja, totally loyal to Gemma. 'It would be a great start
to what could one day become a giant empire. And it would be a great way to make a name for myself.' Gemma stayed up
through the night, thinking of various possibilities on this new idea. And he continued to plan, all through the
next day, until finally, his audience with Shogun of the Dark.
Author's Note: I'll admit, this chapter lacked something...lets call it quality an interest. But not to
worry, if you got lost, keep reading. I'll be moving the story away from the politics of Japan, and focus
it on Gemma's personal story. So yeah, read on. And of course, enjoy.
Neo_Scribe ^_^