Shirin no Kami
Chapter 10: Second in Command
Everyday in the town of Kyushu post, Bukai is driven to domestic affairs at his house, too busy to have leisure time in the peaceful nature of his own home. Today however, is a different story. Bukai sat with his legs crossed, in front of the Japanese koi pond he had in his front yard, sipping his tea as the breeze lightly blew off his straw hat, revealing his receding hairline. "Ah!" he sighed in relief, "Such a fine day without disturbance. The four deadly sinners have gone out for a day in the town, I am here with my specially imported green tea, and the weather is just perfect to just be in peace today."
"My lord," a guard called as he bowed down to Bukai. Lord Bukai gave an irritated face and squeezed his teacup until it cracked. "What is it now?" he asked impatiently. "An English sow wishes to speak with you. She says she has urgent matters regarding the whereabouts of her captain." Lord Bukai gave a confused expression; he thought all the English sea crew had died in their assignment to get 'Spirit Forest', a survivor made him even more suspicious of the captain's motive before dying. "Send her in," Bukai demanded. The guard walked away, to the front gate, opening it all the way.
A beautiful young girl with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail curled on her front shoulder walked with dignity towards Lord Bukai. He stared at her curvaceous body in her blue naval uniform, giving a perverted smile as he stared at her bosom. However, the thought of her being an English woman made him stop staring; he began to glare at her. "Lord Bukai I presume?" she asked with respect. Lord Bukai nodded his head and gave her a sign to continue. "I am lieutenant Vung, of the house Emily. Her majesty has sent my captain and my fleet to assist you in capturing a land to the west known as 'Spirit Forest'. Is this true?" Bukai nodded, showing his hideous scar to Vung. "If this is the case, then why are my captain and my crew gone? What wild goose chase did you send them to, and why wasn't I notified?"
Bukai turned away from her and looked at his koi pond, "I ask the questions around here," he stated with a tone of rudeness. "You're out of your authority Lord Bukai!" she snapped, "I may be a woman lieutenant, but I can be just as harsh as my captain, maybe even harsher." Bukai disliked such utter disrespect, however, like she said, he was in no authority to ask questions, he complied with answering her questions. "It is my sincerest apologies to say that the captain and the entire crew have died," he replied, "My men scouted the area from afar and found the ships capsized and bodies floating about our beautiful waters. It's a pity such English trash landed in our waters."
Vung was in total shock, the grief of hearing the deaths of her comrades were too great. "How?" she asked, "How could this have happened?" "The natural conditions were just too great for them, they couldn't reckon with nature's mighty force." "IMPOSSIBLE!" Vung snapped, "Eriol was a great commander. If anybody could've gotten through any storm, it would've been him. He's never failed a mission in his life." Vung began to break out into tears thinking about her departed friend and master, "That's just not possible!" She got on her knees, rubbing her eyes from the tears streaking down her face. Bukai with a conniving and sad face offered his hand to pick her up. "I am really sorry about your captain," he said dishonestly, "But now's not the time to mourn over lost friends, I think you should return home. But before you do, please accept this as my parting gift." Bukai placed some money into her open hand.
Vung looked at Bukai's eyes, seeing through his pitiful attempt to be nice. "I can't accept this," she stated, giving the money back, "I cannot accept such gifts." She sniffed away her tears, "Thank you!" she said, "But I should take my leave now." She nobly bowed and walked out of the gate, Bukai giving her a cock-eyed stare as she walked away. "What's the matter?" Greed asked appearing behind Lord Bukai, "Who's the girl?" Bukai gave a wicked smile, "She's the lieutenant of the captain you killed." "Correction," Greed interrupted, "Envy killed him, I only killed the rest of those survivors who managed to make it to the water." Bukai cautiously showed a serious face, "Whatever," he said with an angry tone, "She knows something; we should take care of her as soon as we can, before she tries anything."
Envy and Glutton looked around the pub; the smell reeked with the stench of sake and sweat, a dirty place which personified the character of the drunkards in there. "Finally," Glutton said with his stomach growling, "I was looking for a place where I could eat and drink again." Envy stared at the various men in the pub with disgust, "This place smells funny," he nonchalantly spoke, "Why do you even come to these places Glutton?" Glutton and Envy walked over to the bar counter, "Hey, this place is where I get some real-quality man-time. It's also a place where you can find yourself another man." Giving a humorous huff, Envy closed his eyes and put his hands in his pockets, "I only have eyes for Greed," he stated, "He is the only one who I'll respect. Any other man just won't do."
"Another drink please!" a soft glove stuck their index finger up, ordering another drink. Glutton heard the heavenly voice in his soft ear; he looked to his left, trying to find the source of the voice. Impatient, he got up and picked up people by the collar, tossing them aside. "Out of my way," he yelled throwing people across the room. "Oh Eriol!" Vung cried with her hair untied and messy, "Why did you ask me to stay? Why?"
Five days ago…
Vung walked along the hallway, fastening the sword she had on her holster. She looked around the hallway, seeing the prestigious paintings of the admirals and naval officers who had come to Japan prior to her and Eriol. Her ears picked up the loud racket she heard coming from Eriol's office. "I've had enough of all these empty Japanese threats! I will not allow this to persist any further!" Vung heard a loud bang on the walls, "You tell Bukai that I'll only do this task for him, if he asks for anything else, then to hell with him!" Vung saw Eriol's office door burst open, the messenger ran off with his tail in between his legs by the stern yelling Eriol gave him. Vung slowly popped her head through the door, seeing Eriol still fuming from his yelling, sweating profusely too. "You wanted to see me captain?"
"Yes!" Eriol calmly said offering his hand on the seat, "Please sit down." Vung nodded, Eriol took his seat and calmed himself down. "What's the matter Captain?" Vung asked with a tone of concern, "You don't look so good." Eriol took out his handkerchief and began to wipe his bloodshot red eyes. "I haven't seen my family in months," he cried, "The Japanese are abusing their privileges, continually keeping her majesty's service to serve as a defense." Feeling uneasy, Vung tried to cheer Eriol up by getting out of her chair and coming by his side, "Captain," she said, "I know that you haven't seen your family in ages. But hasn't Lord Bukai already granted that you go to 'Spirit Forest' at once?"
Eriol thought about the statement, feeling Vung's comfortable gloves touch his two shoulder pads. "Lord Bukai is demanding in addition to 'Spirit Forest', he requests for my service for many more months." Vung gave an angry face, "That's not right!" she shouted, "He should know that you've already done enough and let you go!" Eriol nodded his head. Vung nobly bowed to the ground, holding Eriol's glove in her hand, "Please Eriol, let me take your place so that you may return home to see your wife and child again." Eriol stood up, shaking off Vung's comforting hand, "NO!" he defiantly refused. Vung shot her eyes open, unbelieving his response, "No?" she asked. Eriol walked up to a painting of an entire armada floating in the ocean, he stared at it. "Do you know the story behind this painting?" he asked Vung.
Vung shook her head. Eriol began to explain, "Long ago, an admiral and his troops went off to fight a war across the seven seas. When he returned however, all his men except for him died. The only last surviving members were him, and his lieutenant," Eriol turned around looking into Vung's eyes, "I need you to stay here Vung. If anything happens to me or my crew, at least you'll be alive to tell our majesty of our deaths. Besides," Eriol took a pause for a brief moment, Vung wondered what he was going to say, "I don't trust Lord Bukai, he wants something else. 'Spirit Forest' is not enough." Vung didn't agree with Eriol leaving her behind. But as a loyal subordinate, she happily complied, "Yes Captain!" she humbly bowed, "I will not fail you."
Vung was suddenly disturbed from her daydream by a foul odor right next to her. She looked to her right, seeing a huge rotund figure in front of her, overshadowing her with an insatiable hunger in his eyes. "What do you want?" she asked chugging down her cup full of wine, "Can't you see that I'm busy?" Glutton grabbed her by the wrist, picking her up a bit off of the seat, and began to sniff her clothes. "My, my," his tone was perverted, "Aren't you a sweet little thing?" Vung applied all her pressure and twisted her arm out of the big man's grip, "You smell like bloody vomit!" she exclaimed, tossing his arm back to him, "I'm leaving! I can't stand this place anymore." Glutton grabbed her arm again; pulling her closer to him, "Listen you foreign whore," he screamed, "Don't you know it's customary to kiss the first man who greets you?"
Vung got a bit peeved at his statement and twisted out of his grip again, "It's rude to call me a whore especially when you are so UGLY!" Vung put all her strength and kicked Glutton straight in the face, knocking him back to the far wall to the right. A man in a straw hat and cloak got out of his seat before he was hit by the fat stumbling man. Slowly, Glutton stumbled back as he tripped over the seat the man was just in, he fell over and made a huge imprint of himself into the wall. The other men in the bar began to get peeved that a foreigner was actually causing trouble in their pub, especially a woman! "That's it," the pub owner yelled in anger, "I can't stand foreign women in our pub for anything other than prostitution. Get her outta here!" Two scruffy men came and grabbed her by the arm; she simply slipped out of her naval coat and tripped them. They both fell over, face first into the sharp edge of the diner tables. Flipping tables and the sound of crashing silverware filled the air.
Every person in the bar, with the exception of Envy, glared at Vung with angry stares and clenched their fists, making the bubbles between their knuckles crack. "Why you little!" a man charged at her. Feeling his footsteps on the wooden hard ground, the slight rocking indicated his approach. She quickly turned around and threw him over the bar counter and made him crash into the drums of sake and wine. "GET HER!" everyone shouted. Vung gave a smirk as a huge mob started to surround her, "Oh yeah!" she exclaimed, "I never expected to start a bar fight here in Japan!" She slowly slid off her white puffy ruffled shirt, revealing the orange tank top she wore underneath. Her body was very curvaceous, but at the same time, strong and firm.
"Let's go!" she said waiting for a man in front of her charging. She punched him square in the face which made him spit out what he had in his mouth. Some other guy came to her right; she kicked him below the belt. A guy grabbed her from behind; she elbowed his stomach and wrapped her arm around his neck. Using her leverage as she grabbed his head allowed her to flip the man over to another table which broke. Another guy jumped right towards her from behind screaming like a monkey. She calmly turned around, picked up a dish from a nearby table, and cracked it over his head.
"Oh come on!" she said, "It's that the best you can do?" Her question triggered a huge earthquake which shook the entire bar. The teacups and dishes on the shelf fell over and cracked themselves. Vung slowly turned around and saw who was ready to fight her. "Alright fat boy!" she said with cockiness, "I'll make sure you apologize for calling me a whore." Vung bent her head down and put her arms up, in a boxing position. Glutton snared at her with his anger from her earlier assault on him. He rubbed his bald head and dusted himself off. "You'll regret not kissing me!" All the men in the bar circled around the two fighters, Vung and Glutton, the cheers unanimously cheered for only one of the competitors. "FAT BOY! FAT BOY! FAT BOY!" they cheered. Envy had enough for one day, he walked away from the scene with his hands still in his pockets. "Glutton is so stupid!" he insulted, "He knows he's going to demolish her, yet, he continues to fight with someone smaller and weaker than him. Pathetic, truly pathetic!"
Glutton ran up to Vung, trying to grab her with his massive arms, she ducked underneath it and kicked him on the side knee. Vung wondered why he didn't fall down and kicked him again in the knee. Glutton slowly turned around, looking down on her and giving her a big smile. In panic, she got up and tried to punch into his gut really hard. No effect! She punched again and again and again. Still no harm! Glutton joyfully put his hand over her head, grabbing her entire body off of the ground. She put her hands over his large hand, trying to pry his fingers off her face. Her feet dangled two feet off the ground, desperately on its tippie toes to stand up. Glutton spread out his fingers wide enough to let Vung's eyes see his face before he did his final blow.
"He he!" he chuckled. In one hard swing, Vung screamed as Glutton picked her up over his head, and plowed her into the wooden ground. The wooden ground broke as the back of her head drove into the hardwood, cracking it. Glutton took his hand off of her head, revealing the blood coming out of her mouth and her eyes bare white, she was unconscious. The doors to the pub opened, and out came the cavalry, Bukai's guards. "We heard there was a domestic disturbance here," the guard said, "Who started it?" Everyone in the bar pointed to a foreign girl all curled up and driven into the hardwood ground. The guards picked her up by the arms and legs; one guard took off the sword from her holster and carried it along with him. As the guards carried the unconscious foreigner away from the pub, Glutton stuck out his index finger and ordered his drink.
Greed and Bukai stood side by side looking at the koi pond, the moment of silence captivating them as they stare at the koi pond with their own thoughts in mind. Lord Bukai broke the silence by speaking first, "Have you figured out who will go and get your boy next?" he asked, "After that speed psycho failed, I worry if you sinners are really all that's cracked up to be." Bukai suspiciously turned his head to look at the profile of Greed's face, "As a matter of fact, all of you have powers. But you never told me what your special ability is Greed! Just what is your 'great' power?" Greed smiled at Bukai's question, sensing the insecurity in his tone, "My ability is the best of all," he stated, "Ambition!" Bukai almost laughed from pity, "That seems like a lame power!" he insulted, "Everyone has a physical strength except for you. Why should they fear you?" The ignorance in Bukai's tone was priceless; Greed asked rhetorically, "I lead them, don't I?" Lord Bukai was at a loss for words. "Enough said!"
"Lord Bukai!" a group of guards called out carrying a woman wearing an orange tank top in the arms, "We caught this foreigner starting trouble at the local pub. What are your orders for the foreigner?" Bukai cupped the chin of an unconscious Vung. "See to it that this pretty little flower stays in the dungeon. Feed her everyday. When I have conquered 'Spirit Forest' I'll decide what to do to her…as a matter of fact, let's go fix a fine cell for her to rot in!" Bukai walked away, the soldiers following close behind.
"That fool Bukai doesn't seem to know the extent of your power Master Greed," a shadow appeared out of the bushes behind Greed, "Nobody will truly ever recognize your powers except for me master." Greed turned to Envy, seeing him bow immediately. "I have something to give you," Greed started walking up to Envy, his blushing becoming more apparent. "Anything from you is something I will cherish forever Master Greed," the obsequious servant stated, "Anything of your picking is a blessing for me." Greed handed Envy a set of hanafunda playing cards, "I found these in Bukai's room," he stated, "He told me they are useless to him, and the sharp edges are a nice touch. Think you can use them to catch Syaoran for me?"
"But of course!" Envy confidently replied with a smirk, "Anything for you my dear Master Greed." Greed walked away mumbling something under his breath. Envy was star struck, not only did his master give him something today, but also acknowledged him as the person to bring down Syaoran. "I promise you Master Greed," the fire in Envy's eyes burned, "I will catch Syaoran my way, the smart way. After all, how can one catch prey…" Envy pulled out the cherry blossom card, "…without bait?" Envy put the card in front of his eyes, already with a stratagem by merely looking at the cherry blossom card. "I am the second in command…" he said in a raspy voice, "…and the hunt is on…"
