Disclaimer: Song lyrics, Home and Excess Baggage, belong to Staind.

Warnings: Violence and not the ending you would expect.

Author's Note: The 'you' parts refer to Aku.

Jack's Story

(I force myself through another day, can't explain the way today just fell apart like everything right in my face.)

For nearly two weeks Jack had ventured in the desolate wasteland with little food and water. The area around him was covered in red sand and the few trees that did remain were dried and cracked. Even through the hunger and thirst he was driven by the urge to find the magical gem that could lead him home. However, it was a rumor that he had overheard in a tavern and he was beginning to doubt the jewel's existence, at least his gut was anyway.

Stopping in his footsteps, the samurai lifted his head and gazed at the horizon. A small cave cluster was scattered with a long stretch of woods behind them. Excitement, anticipation, both emotions were growing in his body. It was tempting to just bolt into the cave to retrieve the stone but he knew better. There could be a trap set up somewhere.

Taking another step forward the dead brush around him rumbled and split as robots piled out followed by swarms of bounty hunters. Jack drew out his katana, the blade glittering in the sunlight. As the small army approached he launched himself into the air and slashed down, wiping out several forces. The samurai landed on the ground and spiraled on his feet, spinning the blade in full circle, which resulted in more eruptions of shattering metal. More scuttled toward him and he ran in direction of the other division as the one behind him opened fire, sending a spray of bullets at him. The moment he saw the other unit ready to take aim he leapt into the air. Both lines of droids opened fire, resulting in their destruction at their own hands. The bounty hunters came next and soon their blood soon spilled into the earth.

Once finished entered the cave with renewed enthusiasm. The jewel had to exist if Aku had it so heavily guarded. He came to a dead end and searched relentlessly but found nothing. There came a mocking voice in his head. Aku.

"What do you want demon?!" Jack yelled, temper slipping. He fought hard to keep his anger in check but his patience was wearing thin. The long journey had worn him down. "Why do you plague my mind?"

Insult after insult came. He stormed away from the spot, realizing what was lying in wait outside, anguish filling his heart that yet another chance to return to his time had been thwarted by his own stupidity. He should have known better then listening to a rumor. Two weeks had been wasted on his quest; two weeks that could have been spent somewhere else that may have produced something worthwhile. Sadness was flooding into his heart. Memories of home were starting to return.

(And I hide all the pain that I've gained with my wisdom, from you.)

Weariness was sweeping over him and it altered his performance in battle. In the end his was triumphant but he had suffered from injuries. His back was deeply gashed, oozing blood down the back of his robe, and there was a bullet wound in his left thigh. He kneeled to the ground in disbelief. Never had he taken this much abuse at the hands of robots and bounty hunters.

The demon's ominous voice returned and taunted him further, calling him weak and old. For once, Jack didn't argue with the statement. Though he was still young he wouldn't remain that way and it did seem the effects of aging were starting. He cursed himself for the failure. Fighting back tears, he limped into the forest behind the caves. Disoriented from his wounds, he had no clue where he was going. Any place was better then where he was.

(And I'm eaten alive, by what I hold inside. All the things that I live with, I can't easily hide.)

For days he traveled in the woods even with the extent of his injuries. Although he had tended to his wounds he was unable to properly clean them and to make matters worse the bullet was lodged deeply in his flesh. On several occasions, driven mad at the sensation of the shell rubbing against the insides of his thigh, he stopped in attempt to pry it out but it was far too painful and he only seemed to damage the tender flesh further.

He moved on until he collapsed from fever. Even with the ascending sleep he did not rest easy. Dreams were filtering into his mind. Dreams of his homeland a burning wreck and the cries of his people calling out to him. Wave after wave of pain flooded into him driving him to the point of screaming. Everything became dark then.

Jack awoke to find himself in lying in a soft bed instead of the hard ground. The room around him was plain in decor. The walls were beige to match the curtains surrounding only two windows and there was a wooden door in front of him. Rising from the bed he found that he was disrobed, leaving him only in his undergarments. The magical sword was a few feet away from him. The wound around his thigh was bandaged and if felt as if the bullet had been removed. Groping at his back he felt the open cuts stitched shut.

The door suddenly opened making him whip around. There was a woman standing in the doorway, also seeming startled. Jack felt something stir within him at the sight of her. Her hair was ebony, freely running down to her waist, and her eyes were chocolate brown.

"Good evening sir," the woman said. "We have been worried about your recovery."

"We?" Jack asked.

"Oh yes, the entire village of Mishwallow," the woman answered. "I found you out in the woods in such a dreadful condition that I had no choice but to bring you back. Some of the elders aided in tending your injuries, which could have turned fatal. Infection was starting to fester. You have been here for about two days now sleeping."

"I thank you for your kindness," Jack said, "but could I have my clothes back?"

"Oh, those were bloodied so you wouldn't them back," the woman said, shaking her head. "But I managed to make you a new one." She handed him the robe. "By the way, my name is Iris. What's your name?"

"People call me Jack," the samurai answered, placing the robe on.

"Nice to meet you Jack," Iris chirped. "Once you feel comfortable you're more then welcome to come out in the dining room for supper. It won't be served for about an hour so you can wander about the village. No one will mind. We enjoy having company, especially someone like you samurai."

She winked and left the room. Jack soon followed, entering a small living area that housed tiny oven in the corner and a table in the middle.

"Excuse me, but is this your entire house?" Jack asked.

Iris nodded. "Yes. There is only one bedroom and the bathhouse is out back. I live here alone. Go out and explore the village if you wish though you won't see much. Everything is small here. We don't have much."

The samurai stepped outside and found what she said to be fact. The houses were nothing more then mere huts barely large enough to house more then two people. Kids were running along the mud street playing a game of tag while the adults were scampering about at the markets. Jack stopped dead in his tracks when he came across a wanted poster with his face on it. Glancing around he saw that similar ones were plastered all over the place. Feeling uneasy he made his way back to Iris' hut. The woman was setting up a pot on the table with bubbling stew.

"I assume you know that I am a wanted man," Jack said.

"Yes, of course, the whole village knows," Iris answered. "Don't fear though. Aku will not be informed of your arrival here. We are one of the few villages that want Aku to be destroyed. The only people that disagree are the ones that live the good life in the cities while folk that make an honest living wallow in poverty. Tales of your adventures and mission travel far samurai. Your presence is most welcome here."

"Unfortunately, I must leave as soon as possible," Jack said. "If Aku learns that I am staying here...."

"Oh he won't," Iris interrupted. "Take a seat and have a bite to eat. You look famished."

Jack cocked an eyebrow. The woman's behavior was suspicious as well as the rest of the village. He began to back away.

"I really must be going," Jack pushed.

"Oh please stay for a little longer," Iris begged.

A frown formed over his face. There was something familiar flashing in the woman's eyes. His features softened. He knew now. The woman was lonely. He could relate to her feelings. All his life he had been wandering, never staying in one place long. It never gave him the chance to build strong relationships with anyone. There was emptiness inside him that he longed to fill. He snapped out of the trance, knowing all too well what he had to do. It was impossible to fill that void in this time period, to become involved with someone from the future. The only love he could ever have would be in his own time, own land. No matter his feelings he had to move on.

The woman before him was beautiful and he couldn't deny the attraction he felt, however, thoughts of Ikra flooded his mind and once again he dismissed any trust for the woman along with the village.

"I must leave," Jack repeated. "I once again thank you for everything you and your people have done for me."

He bolted out the door ignoring the heartrending face gazing after him. Racing through the village he disregarded the people staring and calling after him. Soon he was in the woods now pacing himself. The village was a far distance and there was no sign of anyone pursuing him. A pang of guilt came over him.

'Could it be that I have misjudged those people? Could I have misjudged her?' Jack pondered. 'No, no, it had to be a setup by Aku....I'm sure. So why is it that I keep doubting myself?'

He hated the doubts, distrusting people but he no choice to feel otherwise when he was trapped in Aku's malignant world of misery.

(And because of you I've had to walk away from everything.)

Sighing he sat near a rotting tree stump unable to push himself any further. His mood had taken a turn from for the worse. Normally the feelings of depression were easily shoved aside but this time it was becoming too overwhelming. No longer could he hide the emotions surging within him. Frustrated, his cheeks turned beet red and his eyes stung bitterly. He fought hard to suppress the tears but they came down in a misty drizzle, splattering to the ground as they dripped from his chin. Memories of his home and people were out of control in his mind. The world he was in was miserable and he hated every inch of it. He only wanted things to be as they were before the demon had come into his life. He only wanted to be home again. Nothing more, nothing less.

(And I'm so sick of this place and this taste in my mouth.)

There was a loud crash in the distance and the sky turned a dark, threatening red. The samurai gazed up from his perch to view something flaming around the horizon and the moment he saw it his heart thudded loudly and time seemed to stand still. The village of Mishwallow was consumed in flame. A dark shape also caught his eye.

Jack leapt from ground and raced toward the perilous settlement. It was a trap, he knew, but he had to help the inhabitants. He kept running until he came to the edge of the village where he found it a flaming mass. Through the blaze he could make out figures on the ground, slowly burning to ash. Some were still twitching with the fight for life but they were too far gone for Jack to aid them. Only a small portion of the people was present in the ring of fire. He could not see the rest. Immediately he thought of Iris. Suddenly the looming shape came into plain view Aku.

The demon was toying with him, trying to make him think back to the old days of his village, and it worked. Jack recalled his village burning the same way this one was. The screams of his people still seem fresh. Covering his ears, he grimaced at the cries growing louder in his head. So many things were coming back to haunt him and he couldn't bear it.

Then he came back to reality at the sound of Aku's loathsome voice. The screams were all too real. His eyes widened in shock. The demon had just admitted the location of the woman and children. He couldn't believe it. They were being burned alive.

Crying out he jumped over the walls of fire, risking his own life, to land in the middle of the ring to aid the remaining people. In the hut in front of him he could out a tiny woman near the window holding an infant. He bolted toward the weeping woman but the flames abruptly rose in front of him, preventing him from reaching the house. The image of the woman in the window was still present but the flames spreading in the household encircled her and she collapsed to the floor along with the child in a burning heap.

Jack glared up at the demon. It was obvious Aku was manipulating the fire with his will, making his task the more difficult. He tried another house but the same results followed. The cries around him were starting to quiet leaving him in a panicked state. The people around him were dying and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He felt helpless.

"Look what I have saved, though, samurai!" Aku bellowed. "Recognize her? I can see why you have grown fond of her. She is quite pretty. Ah, how wonderful it is to see...love...blossoming in your heart. That is what you would call it, right?"

Jack gazed up to view the demon holding the struggling Iris. His heart sank at the sight of her tear stained cheeks and frightened eyes.

"Get out of here Jack!" Iris screamed. "Get out while you still can! Forget about me! There's nothing left you can do! Leave at once so you can live!"

The demon clenched his hand, causing the woman to stop her words and gasp for air. Aku chuckled and drew out his long, red tongue to give a nauseating lick to the woman's face. Hatred steamed in Jack's mind at the revolting act.

"Release her at once Aku!" Jack screamed, waving his sword menacingly at the demon.

"What is that warrior? Oh, you want me to let her go? Do you truly want that?"

Jack cursed him.

"Very well samurai. I will be more then willing to grant your command."

All too late did Jack realize what the demon was about to do. Before he could react Aku dropped Iris into one of the enflamed huts, sending her crashing through the straw roof to the hard floor below. Jack strode toward the building but Aku landed in front of him and the vibrations sent the samurai sprawling. Catching his balance he gazed around to find another way to reach the woman but every time he made a move the demon mimicked him. It was impossible for him to get to the house and even if he did make it the woman would be dead. His chest heaved from sobs of despair. Aku was mocking him again but the words drifted by as his mind swam with other thoughts.

'If only I had stayed a while longer I could have prevented this disaster,' Jack thought to himself. 'I would have been able to save these people from this miserable end. I would have been able to save Iris.'

He gazed back up at the demon, face contorted with pure rage and hatred. His face was stained with fresh tears and his eyes were turning bloodshot. So, the demon had finally challenged him to a final battle. Jack gladly accepted.

(And I'm left here with nothing, nothing to live for, but you.)

The battle was a lot more strenuous then Jack had anticipated. His old wounds had weakened him and he barely kept up with the raging Aku. Flaming debris was slamming to the ground around him, making the fight even more difficult. One wrong move and he could be burned alive. The black smoke was sliding into his nostrils and filling his lungs. It was making him cough violently and he knew that if he didn't make it to fresh air he could easily pass out.

He tried to back away from Aku but the demon seemed to catch onto his plan and prevented him from getting far. A burning log fell near him and he jumped to the side, taking his eyes off of Aku. By the time the samurai looked up the claws were all ready descending upon him quickly. The claws grazed across his stomach and when he reeled across the ground the claws sliced into his back. Blow after blow was delivered in a frenzy. His head was whipped back and forth at the powerful blows and he became dizzy. The sword he held was knocked from his hands and he went limp.

Aku ceased his attacks to lower himself to the samurai's level. He was taunting Jack.

(It's not easy to hide, all this damage inside. I'll carry you with me 'til I'm not alive.)


As the samurai laid there in a puddle of his flowing blood realization came upon him. There was only one purpose for him now. He would free the world of Aku's torment and in the end he himself would freed.

Howling he stretched his arm toward the sword, managed to grab it, and spun around on his back. Aku's claw came down on him but the demon had left his chest exposed. The samurai swung and met his mark. The blade pierced the demon's chest, leaving him gapping wide eyed. At the same time Aku's claws fell upon Jack, slicing him in the belly. The samurai jerked at the burning agony and glared down at his stomach. The damage had been done. He was split open, freely bleeding. Jack's arms fell limply to the ground, letting the sword remain embedded in the curling chest of Aku. The demon collapsed against the ground slowly withering away, hissing in agony. Tears streamed down the samurai's face as he grunted in pain. Locking eyes, demon and man, gazing deep within themselves. They stayed that way far into the night until the fire slowly turned to embers; until Jack's heaving chest began to still and Aku was nothing more then a dark puddle on the ground. The world had finally been freed from Aku's tyrannical reign but in doing so had lost the protection of the samurai. Sobbing, he closed his eyes to the growing darkness and drew his last breath.

(I just wish I was back home.)

The darkness vanished from Jack's eyes and bright light came over his vision. A feeling of warmth and comfort tingled through his body. He opened his eyes and gasped in wonder. The sight of his land, restored to its original beauty, filled his vision. In the rays of the shining sun he could make out two figures, a man and a woman. Immediately recognizing the two he bolted toward them and wept tears of joy. Two sets of loving arms were his welcome. Another figure waiting for him in the distance but he would reach her later.

At long last the samurai was home and reunited with his lost family. All memories of Aku and the torment he had suffered disappeared. Final peace had come to him.

"You have made us proud my son. Welcome home."

End