~*Chapter Two*~
The weeks following the coincidental meeting at the secluded tavern with surprisingly little incident. Toshiro and Jack and long passed away from that chilly mountain landscape, and had traveled into more temperate climates. The newcomer had been able to shed his cloak in the warmer weather, and their conversations had turned more familiar.
Toshiro found it odd that the son of his Emperor would rather have him be called by the name the locals in Central Hub had given him rather than his true name, or his formal title, but...who was he to argue? So, he had resigned himself to simply calling him Jack, and that had been the end of the good-natured arguement.
Currently, the duo wastravelling through a sparse forest; the slight crunch of twings under their feet the only rhythm to their travelling. But though they had passed through the mountains and foothills witohut any problems, they were nonetheless cautious. The prolonged absense of an enemy only made an enemy more prone to appear at any moment...there could be no slip in their instincts.
"It would seem that the forest is thinning out," Toshiro said finally, his voice quiet. Jack nodded, joining him at the top of the hill. From the lookout point, they could see over the vast valley, where a small village was...
Was smoking?
"Jack!"
The sound of explosions was near; the stench of blood was in the air.
Toshiro ran ahead to scout the scene, but turned at the crest of the hill and looked grave. "It is Aku's demons; they are attacking the village," he said seriously, his face firm and drawn. He turned then and ran, thankful that Jack was not far behind. Once inside the small village, he saw that the men were not fighting..no one was fighting! The women were crouching in terror, grasping children in utmost fear. Hurrying to one, he knelt beside her. "What is it? Why do you fear them so? Where are your warriors? Why do they not rightfully defend what is theirs?"
The women trembled and looked up into the samurai's face. "They did fight; skillfully...but they are all wounded...or dead...we cannot fight any longer...we women hold no power against such invaders; it is against our village laws for a woman to take up weapons and fight..."
The small child, trembling in the woman's arms, looked at the samurai in confusion, but suddenly, his tear-streaked face brightened. "Samurai Jack!" he cried, pointing furiously. Toshiro turned and smiled.
"Yes, that is my dear friend Samurai Jack...we are here to aid you. But you must not be afraid! Assemble all the women in the village square; Jack and I willdefend you while you do this."
Jack shook his head, "Will his evils ever cease?" He growled as he chased after Toshiro. He was horrified to see the robots had full control of the village's destruction, there was no one in sight fighting them. With a roar, he took out three in one large slash, but they were one of many. He saw some women cowering in the shadows, holding their children, doing nothing to prevent this senseless destruction. He heard Toshiro demand an explanation to as why these women would not fight, and her answer surprised him to no end. Too many times in his adventures had he seen women fight, either allied with him or against him. In this modern world who would have believed the ancient customs of his time had lived to now.
"In desperate need, madam, laws need to be altered in order to perserve them." He said, then spotting the excited youngster in the woman's arms. "Do not worry little one, we will save your village."
Toshiro nodded furiously. "It is this senseless boundary between men and women that Aku wants; what we need is for you to fight. Your son will be safe; take him to where your wounded are; as the rest of the children should be, and bring your strongest women with me," he replied, and stood. "Jack, I will help them ready for battle; as I understand, you are quite adept at taking on demons and robots alone," he said with a knowing smile. He bowed lowly to his friend; he could hardly call him a master, and started off behind the women, blade ready to defend her.
"For too long have I fought them alone, I am well prepared." He replied, watching out for anyone who planned on sticking their weapon thru his friend, which would end with his own sword thru their torso.
The demonlord over his bug bots laughed, "A waste of time! Women are not meant to fight, only to satisfy the needs of men and bear offspring."
Jack narrowed his eyes, thinking of his dear Keiko.
"You and your friend will die, and this village destroyed in honor of our mighty master, the almighty Aku!!"
"What do you know of honor?!" He challenged the demonlord. "You who follow Aku's orders without question, even if it means sacrifice your life. Aku takes advantage of your loyalty, using you for his personal gain and then throwing you aside, worthless!"
"Yawn..." The demonlord was not impressed by Jack's speech, and snapped his fingers, signaling the bugs to fight.
Meanwhile, Toshiro followed the woman, and soon, a great crowd was assembled behind them. The children were hidden away with the wounded, safe, and thus began the hunt for weaponry and armor. "Quickly!" Toshiro called to them as he peered fro mhte doorway, gazing out at the battle as the women readied themselves. "Jack will not be able to hold his own forever!" A great whisper ran across the crowd; Samurai Jack was here?
"Samurai! We are ready!" cried a woman. Toshiro then turned to them and let the door swing open.
"Look at what has become of your home! Demons overun it; Aku is trying to take hold of what has long been yours! My own home fell this way once; and because we were unable to fight, our homeland was torn asunder by his wretched claws! Do not pay heed to what your laws tell you; if need be, I shall make you like a man; you will suffer no-"
"No!" cried a younger woman. "If we fight; we fight with the honor that we are ourselves; no other under no pseudonym. Women - to Battle!"
With that, Toshiro drew his blade as the women drew up an ancient war song of their people, and rushed out to meet the oncoming horde head on. But those words kept ringing in Toshiro's ears as the battle raged; women against demon, valiant and brave...Under no pseudonym...
~*~*~*~
The hordes of robots were unrelenting as two appeared the minute Jack struck one down. He continued to fight his hardest, never allowing these minions of Aku the satisfaction of wearing him down.
"Give it up, samurai," The demonlord hissed, "It's over. You have lost and Aku has won."
"NEVER!!"
"Then just try to obtain victory, for you will fall in the process."
Jack was only wearing his fundoshi by this time, his gei now scraps of fabric lying at the feet of bug bots. His hair ran wild down his back, and his body was bruised and bloody all over, but still he refused to give up.
"HALT!!" The demonlord commanded, his bugs obiently leaving Jack. "Now you face me," He grinned evilly, unsheathing a large no-dachi.
"Coward, letting your robots wear me down before facing me," Jack spat.
"It does not matter, I will get all the credit for defeating you." He lifted his sword high above his head, "SAY GOODBYE, SAMURAI!!" He shouted, bringing the sword down to Jack's torso.
He weakly blocked the mighty blade with his katana, but a swing from the no-dachi knocked it from his hands.
"Now you die," The demon growled, but a horde of village women jumped on the demon, hitting him all over with their weapons. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, he was safe, Aku hadn't beaten him yet.
"Come with us, Jack." A couple of the women picked him up and brought him to the others where they could tend his wounds.
Toshiro swung his blade with all his might, but the demonlord's voice caught him offguard and he looked in time to see the giant bring his blade over Jack, who was helpless. "NO!" he cried, and suddenly...it seemed as though his voice had lost a touch of its masculinty...it was higher, soft in a way, and almost a cry. But in the moment his voice fell, he pulled back and arose to his feet, anger taking over the sudden, short show of fear. He sliced thorugh a last robot and started for Jack, but fell to his knees as the women of the town did her job for him. He bowed his head in shame. "I failed him," he said, and looked at his fallen blade. He reached for it and took it into his trembling hands, and looked up as the women finished the job that they had started...Defending Jack. Sheathing his own blade, he swallowed and stood on shakey legs. He followed the small crowd of women and watched from the door as the women started to tend to him, Jack's blade in her grasp. "Ladies...please, let me take it from here,
" he said, his voice disguised for one last moment. The women complied, and stepped out into another room.
Jack had to know...
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The weeks following the coincidental meeting at the secluded tavern with surprisingly little incident. Toshiro and Jack and long passed away from that chilly mountain landscape, and had traveled into more temperate climates. The newcomer had been able to shed his cloak in the warmer weather, and their conversations had turned more familiar.
Toshiro found it odd that the son of his Emperor would rather have him be called by the name the locals in Central Hub had given him rather than his true name, or his formal title, but...who was he to argue? So, he had resigned himself to simply calling him Jack, and that had been the end of the good-natured arguement.
Currently, the duo wastravelling through a sparse forest; the slight crunch of twings under their feet the only rhythm to their travelling. But though they had passed through the mountains and foothills witohut any problems, they were nonetheless cautious. The prolonged absense of an enemy only made an enemy more prone to appear at any moment...there could be no slip in their instincts.
"It would seem that the forest is thinning out," Toshiro said finally, his voice quiet. Jack nodded, joining him at the top of the hill. From the lookout point, they could see over the vast valley, where a small village was...
Was smoking?
"Jack!"
The sound of explosions was near; the stench of blood was in the air.
Toshiro ran ahead to scout the scene, but turned at the crest of the hill and looked grave. "It is Aku's demons; they are attacking the village," he said seriously, his face firm and drawn. He turned then and ran, thankful that Jack was not far behind. Once inside the small village, he saw that the men were not fighting..no one was fighting! The women were crouching in terror, grasping children in utmost fear. Hurrying to one, he knelt beside her. "What is it? Why do you fear them so? Where are your warriors? Why do they not rightfully defend what is theirs?"
The women trembled and looked up into the samurai's face. "They did fight; skillfully...but they are all wounded...or dead...we cannot fight any longer...we women hold no power against such invaders; it is against our village laws for a woman to take up weapons and fight..."
The small child, trembling in the woman's arms, looked at the samurai in confusion, but suddenly, his tear-streaked face brightened. "Samurai Jack!" he cried, pointing furiously. Toshiro turned and smiled.
"Yes, that is my dear friend Samurai Jack...we are here to aid you. But you must not be afraid! Assemble all the women in the village square; Jack and I willdefend you while you do this."
Jack shook his head, "Will his evils ever cease?" He growled as he chased after Toshiro. He was horrified to see the robots had full control of the village's destruction, there was no one in sight fighting them. With a roar, he took out three in one large slash, but they were one of many. He saw some women cowering in the shadows, holding their children, doing nothing to prevent this senseless destruction. He heard Toshiro demand an explanation to as why these women would not fight, and her answer surprised him to no end. Too many times in his adventures had he seen women fight, either allied with him or against him. In this modern world who would have believed the ancient customs of his time had lived to now.
"In desperate need, madam, laws need to be altered in order to perserve them." He said, then spotting the excited youngster in the woman's arms. "Do not worry little one, we will save your village."
Toshiro nodded furiously. "It is this senseless boundary between men and women that Aku wants; what we need is for you to fight. Your son will be safe; take him to where your wounded are; as the rest of the children should be, and bring your strongest women with me," he replied, and stood. "Jack, I will help them ready for battle; as I understand, you are quite adept at taking on demons and robots alone," he said with a knowing smile. He bowed lowly to his friend; he could hardly call him a master, and started off behind the women, blade ready to defend her.
"For too long have I fought them alone, I am well prepared." He replied, watching out for anyone who planned on sticking their weapon thru his friend, which would end with his own sword thru their torso.
The demonlord over his bug bots laughed, "A waste of time! Women are not meant to fight, only to satisfy the needs of men and bear offspring."
Jack narrowed his eyes, thinking of his dear Keiko.
"You and your friend will die, and this village destroyed in honor of our mighty master, the almighty Aku!!"
"What do you know of honor?!" He challenged the demonlord. "You who follow Aku's orders without question, even if it means sacrifice your life. Aku takes advantage of your loyalty, using you for his personal gain and then throwing you aside, worthless!"
"Yawn..." The demonlord was not impressed by Jack's speech, and snapped his fingers, signaling the bugs to fight.
Meanwhile, Toshiro followed the woman, and soon, a great crowd was assembled behind them. The children were hidden away with the wounded, safe, and thus began the hunt for weaponry and armor. "Quickly!" Toshiro called to them as he peered fro mhte doorway, gazing out at the battle as the women readied themselves. "Jack will not be able to hold his own forever!" A great whisper ran across the crowd; Samurai Jack was here?
"Samurai! We are ready!" cried a woman. Toshiro then turned to them and let the door swing open.
"Look at what has become of your home! Demons overun it; Aku is trying to take hold of what has long been yours! My own home fell this way once; and because we were unable to fight, our homeland was torn asunder by his wretched claws! Do not pay heed to what your laws tell you; if need be, I shall make you like a man; you will suffer no-"
"No!" cried a younger woman. "If we fight; we fight with the honor that we are ourselves; no other under no pseudonym. Women - to Battle!"
With that, Toshiro drew his blade as the women drew up an ancient war song of their people, and rushed out to meet the oncoming horde head on. But those words kept ringing in Toshiro's ears as the battle raged; women against demon, valiant and brave...Under no pseudonym...
~*~*~*~
The hordes of robots were unrelenting as two appeared the minute Jack struck one down. He continued to fight his hardest, never allowing these minions of Aku the satisfaction of wearing him down.
"Give it up, samurai," The demonlord hissed, "It's over. You have lost and Aku has won."
"NEVER!!"
"Then just try to obtain victory, for you will fall in the process."
Jack was only wearing his fundoshi by this time, his gei now scraps of fabric lying at the feet of bug bots. His hair ran wild down his back, and his body was bruised and bloody all over, but still he refused to give up.
"HALT!!" The demonlord commanded, his bugs obiently leaving Jack. "Now you face me," He grinned evilly, unsheathing a large no-dachi.
"Coward, letting your robots wear me down before facing me," Jack spat.
"It does not matter, I will get all the credit for defeating you." He lifted his sword high above his head, "SAY GOODBYE, SAMURAI!!" He shouted, bringing the sword down to Jack's torso.
He weakly blocked the mighty blade with his katana, but a swing from the no-dachi knocked it from his hands.
"Now you die," The demon growled, but a horde of village women jumped on the demon, hitting him all over with their weapons. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, he was safe, Aku hadn't beaten him yet.
"Come with us, Jack." A couple of the women picked him up and brought him to the others where they could tend his wounds.
Toshiro swung his blade with all his might, but the demonlord's voice caught him offguard and he looked in time to see the giant bring his blade over Jack, who was helpless. "NO!" he cried, and suddenly...it seemed as though his voice had lost a touch of its masculinty...it was higher, soft in a way, and almost a cry. But in the moment his voice fell, he pulled back and arose to his feet, anger taking over the sudden, short show of fear. He sliced thorugh a last robot and started for Jack, but fell to his knees as the women of the town did her job for him. He bowed his head in shame. "I failed him," he said, and looked at his fallen blade. He reached for it and took it into his trembling hands, and looked up as the women finished the job that they had started...Defending Jack. Sheathing his own blade, he swallowed and stood on shakey legs. He followed the small crowd of women and watched from the door as the women started to tend to him, Jack's blade in her grasp. "Ladies...please, let me take it from here,
" he said, his voice disguised for one last moment. The women complied, and stepped out into another room.
Jack had to know...
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