CHAPTER XV

The Shu Legacy

It was daybreak. The sky was mixed in a color of bronze and blue, and he men were drowzy from evening fatigue. Aka had a large hangover from drinking the other night, and Shiro was lost in thought. They all sat at their tables, and ate their meals.

Shiro thought about Aoi and Kori. For one, he did not know if Aoi would come back from his fight. Kuan Jin was a beast of a warrior. And Aoi, though a great warrior, may not have stood a chance againts such a ferocity. And Kori was gone, too. Shiro grew suspicious of Aoi having something to do with it. He wondered if they had some sort of fight. Then he wondered if it was just the opposite, and they were hiding something. Maybe they had a romance of some sort, and they wanted to keep it a secret. But Shiro had no idea why they would. Maybe either way, Aoi didn't want to see his reaction.

"Well?" said Aka.

"Huh?" said Shiro, breaking away from his thoughts. "Oh, sorry. I wasn't listening, what were you saying?"

"Ugh, never mind." Said Aka. "So, any idea where Aoi is?"

"He didn't tell me." Said Shiro.

"I doubt he'd have to, you know everything that goes on. Now come on, where is he?"

"Okay, I might know something…"

"Well, what is it?" said Aka.

"Well…he went to Liaokuang to fight Kuan Jin."

Aka stopped talking for a little while and then said, "You're kidding right?"

Shiro shook his head, and said, "No really, he went to fight him alone."

"Why would he do something that stupid? I mean it took both of you to beat him last time. Why would he fight him alone?"

"Maybe he thought taking someone would make him look cowardly." Said Shiro.

"Or suicidal." Replied Aka.

"Honor blinds a lot of people. But also enlightens them. If Aoi took us, he would look like a coward, hiding behind his allies. Plus, there's a chance that Kuan Jin would retreat and return with allies of his own. The results of that could have been even more devastating."

"Or, we could have chased him down and cut him down before he could."

"What's done is done, Aka. He left days ago, he's either dead, or returning now."
Pang Tong discussed and planned taking Shu with Liu Bei. They currently stayed in Shu's territory, who was ruled under Liu Bei's brother, Liu Zhang.
"Liu Bei, I offer you three plans in taking Shu." Said Pang Tong. "The first is to send an army to seize the capitol, Chengdu. The second would be to kill the two generals of the River Fu Pass. The two are the most famous fighters in that land. If you say you are returning to Jingzhou, they will come to say their good-byes. You could then capture them and execute them. Then the Pass and Fucheng are yours. The third is to drop this role you are playing, go back to Jingzhou and make a regular invasion. If you think about this too long, you will get into too much trouble to escape from."

Liu Zhang heard of the conspiracy, and asked of his officers for advice.

Huang Quan, an officer under him, spoke and said to garrison strategic points, and to prevent any entrance from any person from Jingzhou.

Liu Bei sent messengers to the two fighters, Yang Guai and Gao Pei that he was leaving to Jingzhou. The two warriors hid daggers in their robes, so that they could assassinate Liu Bei at the leaving point. So they two, taking only a small escort of two hundred, went down out of the Pass to say goodbye. Most of their forces were left in the camp.

On the way down to River Fu, Pang Tong had said to Liu Bei, "You have need to be on your guard against those two if they come to bid you farewell. If they do not come, then the Pass must be attacked without delay."

Aka Usagi and Shiro Inazuma rode down with Liu Bei. They were both armed, Aka with his large blade, and Shiro with his sword. They were waiting for the battle. Liu Bei was equipped with good chest armor, and a sword, just in case.

They approached the river. Pang Tong told his two generals, Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, to let none make it back to the city. Yang Guai and Gao Pei did not expect an attack, and presumed their assassination would be an effortless one.

Yang Huai and Gao Pei, armed with hidden daggers, approached Liu Bei bearing gifts of sheep and wine. They were led in to where Liu Bei sat under a tent, his adviser with him.

They drank slowly, and the two hundred soldiers were dismissed. After a few minutes, Liu Bei gave a signal.

Shiro and Aka appeared and grabbed the two generals. Pang Tong had the two searched, and the daggers were found, and the two were put up for execution. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, along with their forces took down the two hundred enemy soldiers. Archers barred the escape, and nobody escaped.

They headed to the gate, and they shouted that the generals had returned early because of important business.

Hearing the voices of their comrades, the gate guards had no suspicion of treachery and threw open the gates. In rushed the enemy soldiers and so gained possession of River Fu Pass without shedding a drop of blood. The defenders came over to the side of Liu Bei and were liberally rewarded. This done, the army was posted so as to guard the approaches and maintain what they had captured.

"How can we cease Liu Bei from further approach?" said Liu Zhang.

"We must send a force to hold Luocheng. It is the throat of his path." Said Huang Quan. "Liu Bei may have veteran soldiers and fierce generals, but he will not be allowed passage."

Four of the most able of generals---Deng Xiang, Ling Bao, Liu Gui, and Zhang Ren---were sent to the road with fifty thousand troops.

Scouts reported the four generals at Luocheng to Liu Bei, and two camps had been built twenty miles away.

"Who will volunteer to attack the camps?" asked Liu Bei.

Huang Zhong stood up and said, "I will go."

Wei Yan protested, and said, "Lord, Huang Zhong is too old to do such a task, allow me to take his place! These camps are some of the boldest of the country. Veteran, though you are, Huang Zhong, I doubt someone of your age could come close to taking the camp."

"Old am I? You dare compare yourself in any sort of skill to me?" said Huang Zhong.

Pang Tong stepped in and said they would each be sent to one camp. Huang Zhong to Ling Bao and Wei Yan to Deng Xiang.

"Hey Shiro, how about we go with them. Most kills wins, you in?" asked Aka.

"Any time." Said Shiro.

In the morning, the four veterans departed to their designated camps. Shiro was with Wei Yan and Aka with Huang Zhong.

Ling Bao was immediately awoken from his tent, and looked outside. His camp was under siege.

Aka Usagi had his great sword. He was surrounded. A soldier charged at him. Aka swung his blade down, cutting through the man's torso. Another charge and he swung it to the right, cutting him down. He stabbed another, and spun the blade around, cutting the men down.

Shiro, in the opposite camp, was charging. He rode Storm and trampled anyone in his way. He slashed the man to his right down. Deng Xiang was terrified at Wei Yan and Shiro's attack.

Deng Xiang turned to an armored man in the shadow, and said, "You…why are you here if you aren't going to attack."

The man stepped out of the shadow. His hair was jet black, with a white shine. The back of the hair was cut cleanly, but the front stuck out and hung cleanly over his face. He was tall, and had light blue eyes. He wore semi-spiked armor on his torso and arms. On his legs were shin guards, and black leggings leading down to his metal boots. The man drifted his hands on his frontal hair and pulled it back, but it came back to his face.

"None of these men are the one I'm looking for." He said in a calm voice.

"I don't give a care in hell if they aren't your targets, attack them!" said Deng Xiang, frantically.

"Oh fine, but my salary must be raised. I will be waiting behind the camps, and assault them."

"WHAT?! Attack now!"

"Theres nothing I can do for the camps, they are doomed. Their advance will die."

The man smirked and left the tent. Deng Xiang was infuriated.

Aka felt the adrenaline, he was having the time of his life. He ran hard at a group of soldiers. He stopped and slid across the ground swinging his blade. He cut four out of five of them. The fifth tried to escape, but Aka pursued and cut him down in seconds.

Ling Bao saw Huang Zhong charging him. He mounted his horse and charged the exit. Huang Zhong was mounted as well, and he took out his bow. Ling Bao heard a twang sound, and fell off his horse. He was hit with two arrows in his back. He had fallen.

Meanwhile, Shiro had cut several men down with ease, and then charged at Deng Xiang. Wei Yan saw Shiro, and frantically pursued. He was determined to strike the general down himself.

"Inazuma!!!" shouted Wei Yan. "Cease your pursuit immediately!!!"

Shiro stopped to look behind him. Wei Yan rushed past him with great speed. Deng Xiang hit a dead-end in his confusion. Wei Yan caught up and threw his spear into Deng Xiang, who was far too adrenalized to respond. He, too, fell.

"ONWARD!" shouted Shiro.

"Keep going!" shouted Aka.

The two generals alone rode out in front of the lines, and met up with eachother.

"I got twenty four." Said Aka.

"Ah! I only got twenty three!" said Shiro. "Wei Yan stole my kill."

The two rode up laughing, and stopped suddenly. There was a single warrior, wielding Kuan Jin's halberd, the one with the two blades. He sat on a large steed, with spiked anklets. Shiro blinked.

"Shiro, what's wrong?" asked Aka.

"Aoi…Aoi's dead…" replied Shiro, shockingly.

"What?" Aka blinked.

"He went to fight Kuan Jin alone. And that must be Jin…so…he lost…"

"WHAT?! AND YOU DIDN'T STOP HIM?!"

"Wasn't my fight, Aka."

The warrior laughed.

"I am not Kuan Jin, do not worry about that." laughed the warrior. "But if Aoi Kitsune went to fight my brother, then he is surely dead."

"Brother?"

"My name is Kuan Shi, and I too wish to slaughter Aoi Kitsune for his merciless slaughter of our family. But apparently he is dead, so I will settle with you two."

Shiro and Aka readied themselves, they saw a bolt of lightning curl around Shi's blade.

"I'm sure Kori Kaze is dead as well, considering she isn't with you and Aoi has been taken care of."

"You lie!" shouted Aka.

"You should hope I am. Now, let's get this over with. I have bloodlust." He chuckled.

Kuan Shi charged at them. His steed jumped high into the air. Shiro and Aka moved their horses out of the way just before Shi landed.

Kuan Shi twisted around and slashed at Shiro. Shiro was almost cut down, but his horse jumped away, which made him fall off. Aka tried to get Shi's back, but Shi rode forward and turned around, stab bing at Aka. Aka fell off his horse and tried to cut Shi's horse down, but missed.

"PATHETIC! It is obvious you are nothing without your comrades! You cannot be the fools who cut down the Kuan family, or took down the Black Fang! You simply hid behind Aoi Kitsune! He and his woman are dead now!"

His woman?, thought Shiro. Nah, can't be…

Shiro lunged and stabbed Shi's horse, forcing him down.

"VERMIN! You will regret the day you slayed my horse!" said Kuan Shi. He rose up and grabbed hold of his brother's blade. "You will suffer death by the hands of a Kuan weapon!"

Aka charged and swung his blade hard. Shi spun back to dodge it, and then swung his halberd at Aka. Aka ducked, and Shiro cut Shi's back. Kuan Shi rolled forward and faced both men.

"Cowards! Can you not fight your own battle?! Atleast Aoi Kitsune was honorable enough to fight one on one! You have to outnumber your opponent to win! For that I spit on you! Even if I died, you would be disgraced with dishonor!"

"He's right. Shiro, I will take him." Said Aka.

"No, we will fight together." Said Shiro. "Just ignore his taunt. We have to take him out before he becomes a greater threat!"

"No, we will do this right." Said Aka. "Kuan Shi! I will fight you alone, but you must remove your armor!"

"Why should I?"

"If we fight, we fight with honor." Said Aka, removeing his plated armor.

"Very well. A fight to the death, no exceptions!"

Kuan Shi removed his heavy armor. The two held their deadly blades and stared eachother off. Aka made the first move. He ran and leaped into the air, hacking down at Kuan Shi. Shi gripped his blade and blocked. The force was pressing down hard. He tilted his blade to the left, putting Aka downward and slashed his back. Aka spun and got a clean blow to Shi's stomach. The both backed away and stood their ground, panting lightly.

"Why fight on? Why don't you just lay down and drop dead?" taunted Kuan Shi.

"Sounds like you're getting scared." Said Aka Usagi.

Kuan Shi charged ragingly at Aka. Aka swung at Kuan Shi, who ducked under it and shoved the blunt end of his halberd into Aka. Aka bent over and held his stomach, but endured. He smirked and spat out a little blood.

"I won't lose." Said Aka.

Kuan Shi went back on the offensive, and swung rapidly at Aka, who was blocking himself with his large blade.

Aka thought to himself, he was running out of moves. Then he held his blade forward, and pushed Shi back.

"Take this you bastard!" shouted Aka. He stabbed at Kuan Shi, who dodged, but Aka went again and managed to get Shi a little.

"Pathetic!" said Shi. His blade burst in electricity and he slammed his halberd againts Aka's blade, sending it into the air and into the ground. Kuan Shi stabbed Aka straight through the stomach, and pulled the bloody halberd out.

Aka backed away, holding his gashed wound and coughing blood.

"I win." Said Kuan Shi, slowly walking towards Aka.

Aka dropped his blade and walked back quickly.

"THIS ENDS NOW!" roared Kuan Shi. He ran at Aka, and a twang sound went off. Kuan Shi stopped. Two arrows were burning in his back. He turned around to see Aoi Kitsune.

"You…you won?! You killed my brother?! Bastard!" shouted Kuan Shi. He charged blindly at Aoi.

Aoi was wounded, but bandaged. He sat on his horse with a fierce face expression, holding his bow. He pulled two more arrows and the arrowheads had a dark aura on them. He fired them and they hit Kuan Shi's chest. He continued his rampageous charge with the upmost ferocity. He leaped high into the air, and Aoi shot him in the heart. Before he could strike Aoi down, he, himself, fell to the ground.

"You…truly are…a demon…Kit…su…ne…" said Kuan Shi. Blood poured out of his wounds, and he died.

Shiro ran to Aoi, and said, "I can't believe it. You actually beat that guy?!"

Aoi nodded, and helped Aka onto his horse. They all returned to the main camp for medical needs.

"I did good, huh?" said Aka.

Shiro nodded, "Never better, Aka."

Aoi sat quietly, gazing at the stars, and thought, Kori…please be safe…